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Individualism and collectivism as moderators of the relationship between achievement motivation and entrepreneurial interest among undergraduate students at Walter Sisulu University

  • Authors: Magadlela, Asanda Sinazo
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Individualism -- Psychological aspects Collectivism -- Psychological aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18543 , vital:42607
  • Description: The purpose of this study” is “to explore individualism and collectivism” “as moderators of the relationship between entrepreneurial” interest “and achievement motivation”among undergraduate students. The study is focused on analysing the relationship behind the variables and what drives the University students of Walter Sisulu University towards the business development of young people. “Researchers have traditionally associated individualism with high rates of firm creation, arguing that an orientation towards achievement and the pursuit of personal objectives” (dominant aspects of individualist cultures) “are determinants of entrepreneurial activity.” “The current analysis shows that a culture correlates to entrepreneurship”, “but cannot uphold the idea that higher levels of individualism mean higher rates of entrepreneurship.” “Many universities have introduced entrepreneurship education to promote the interest” of undergraduates in “becoming future entrepreneurs. Here, the researcher tries to retrieve the undergraduate’s interest and achievement motivation which influences them to entrepreneurial intentions. Based on” the “literature” review, it identifies various factors that are used in the predictions of entrepreneurial interest. “These factors were” adopted “to explore” student’s interests. “Survey questionnaires were distributed to” two campuses from the University of Walter Sisulu, namely; College street campus (East London) and the Potsdam campus which is the main campus of the University. “A total of” 154 “valid data” was “analysed using multiple regressions. The results show that entrepreneurial” interest “was predicted by achievement” motivation, individualism and collectivism.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

A critical analysis of A2 Fast Track Lowveld sugar cane farms in Zimbabwe in global value chains: interrogating the lives of farmers and farm labourers

  • Authors: Chingono, Kudakwashe Rejoice
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: International trade , Sugar trade -- Zimbabwe , Sugar growing -- Zimbabwe -- Social aspects , Agriculture -- Zimbabwe -- Social aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSocSci
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/93933 , vital:30972
  • Description: The sugar cane industry has for many years been a lucrative business with a booming global market. In Zimbabwe, the sugar cane industry is no exception, as it has been regarded as one of the most efficient in the region and even in the world. The sugar cane farms and mills in Zimbabwe are located in Triangle and Chiredzi, in the south-eastern part of the country and they are under the ownership of Tongaat Hullet and the Zimbabwean A2 farmers. The focus of this is on the A2 fast track farms in Hippo Valley, which are now owned by black farmers but as out-growers for Tongaat Hullet. The crucial question addressed in the thesis is whether the A2 sugar cane farmers and their workers, located at the production end of the sugar cane global value chain, are benefitting from their involvement in this value chain. A number of scholars argue that global value chains lead to economic and social upgrading at the production end of the chain, based on thoughts contained in modernisation and trickledown theory. There is an assumption, then, that integration into the global economy leads to economic upgrading which translates into social upgrading. In drawing upon critical global value theorists, bolstered by the Marxist perspective, considers the importance of a more critical view of global value chains in relation to the sugar cane industry in Zimbabwe, with the particular focus on A2 farms. Thus, the main objective of the thesis is to consider the lives and livelihoods of A2 sugar cane farmers and sugar cane workers through a case study, in the context of global value chains and arguments around economic and social upgrading. This is pursued through a case study of six A2 farms, which involved interviewing farmers, supervisors, and both permanent and temporary workers. The thesis concludes that there is no significant evidence of social upgrading amongst the labour force, and that the A2 farmers are in constant tension with Tongaat Hullet in seeking to engage in economic upgrading of their status as commercial farmers.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Climatic suitability of Dichrorampha odorata Brown and Zachariades (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a shoot-boring moth for the biological control of Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King and H. Robinson (Asteraceae) in South Africa

  • Authors: Nqayi, Slindile Brightness
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: CLIMEX , Chromolaena odorata -- Biological control -- South Africa , Tortricidae -- South Africa , Bioclimatology -- Software
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92208 , vital:30681
  • Description: Biological control using natural enemies introduced from the native range is an integral component of the management of Chromolaena odorata, a serious invader in the eastern regions of South Africa. A number of biological control agents for C. odorata have been released in South Africa, and one of them, Dichrorampha odorata, has failed to establish. To understand if D. odorata failed to establish due to climate incompatibility, its thermal physiology was investigated. Thermal tolerance data were used to determine the developmental thresholds and number of generations that D. odorata is capable of going through in South Africa per year. These predictions were generated using CLIMEX temperature data and the degree-day parameters K and t0. Developmental time decreased with increasing temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 30°C, with immature stages not able to complete development at 18°C and 32°C. The developmental threshold, to, was determined as 8.45 °C with 872.4 degree-days required to complete development (K), indicating that D. odorata is capable of producing a maximum number of 6.5 generations per year in South Africa. The CLIMEX data indicated that the east coast regions of South Africa, which are the heaviest invaded areas by C. odorata in South Africa, were climatically most suitable for D. odorata to. D. odorata lower (LLT50) and upper (ULT50) lethal temperatures were -4.5°C and 39.64°C for larvae and 1.83 and 41.02°C for adults, and D. odorata adults were able to maintain locomotory functioning at 4.4 to 43.7°C, respectively. Acclimation at low and high temperatures indicate that when D. odorata was kept at a lower temperature of 20°C for 7 days, it became tolerant to warmer and cooler temperatures (1.95 and 44.41°C) when compared to D. odorata reared at 25°C (3.36 and 43.67°C) and 30°C (5.92 and 42.93°C). Dichrorampha odorata is therefore climatically suitable for release and should establish in South Africa to control C. odorata. The establishment and persistence of D. odorata will not be limited by climatic conditions but rather the distribution of its host weed, C. odorata in South Africa. Also, this study presents a decision-making protocol for the release of D. odorata to allow better performance in the field.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Regulation of minimum wages and minimum conditions of employment in the citrus industry in the Gamtoos river valley

  • Authors: Colesky, Rienette
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , South Africa -- Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 Minimum wage -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/38002 , vital:34279
  • Description: Labour legislation has been reformed to protect and to promote the right of employers and employees after 1994. It has been many years since the introduction of these acts and although there is a continuous process of refining these acts the most important matter is whether these acts have a real impact on the employment for which it was intended. The focus of this study is to particularly look at agricultural labour and to examine the effect the introduction of minimum wages and minimum conditions of employment had on agricultural labour in the Gamtoos River Valley. It was found that there is great compliance to labour legislation. Third party certifications that influence the accessibility of overseas markets enhance compliance. Labour comprises a large pool of atypical workers who serves the need for flexibility in the industry. Due to the temporary nature of these workers, decent work is not achieved. A smaller core group of skilled workers is employed on a permanent basis. Employers invest in these employees. The nature of the workforce limits union activities and no labour is outsourced in the Valley.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Experience and realities of unemployed youth in Kieskammahoek, Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Makapela, Lubabalo
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Youth -- Employment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Unemployed youth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5336 , vital:29199
  • Description: This study examines the experiences and realities of unemployed youths in Keiskammahoek, in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It looks at the challenges are that experienced by unemployed youths in Keiskammahoek, an area which already has high volume of unemployment. It also explores the factors that account for unemployment amongst the youths in this area. The study adopted a qualitative research approach and the data was collected through semi-structured interviews and observations. Purposive sampling was utilised to collect data from 22 participants who included the rural youths, professionals and decision-makers. The findings of this study reveal that the majority of youths are unskilled and are not easily absorbed in different sectors of the economy. This study recommends that the government needs to target and maximize programmes that are supported by social and economic policies for young people’s benefit in order to alleviate the youth unemployment challenges.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

A study of the influence of employee empowerment on organizational citizenship behaviours of teachers within Grahamstown independent senior schools

  • Authors: Johnston, Dean Allan
  • Date: 2016
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:869 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021314
  • Description: This research investigates the influence of empowerment on organisational citizenship behaviours (OCB) of teachers within Independent Senior schools in Grahamstown. Teachers, as a schools driving force, contribute immensely to the education of its students as well as determine the success and effectiveness of the school as an educational institution. The nature of a teacher’s work, and indirectly the principal’s job of managing these teachers, is complex and difficult to define as there are only certain behaviours which can be contractually obliged from teachers. Further behaviours which are beneficial to the organisation, such as OCB, need to be induced via incentives or encouraged via certain behavioural management initiatives, such as increased levels of empowerment. It is important for schools to encourage their teachers to participate in such beneficial behaviours as not all behaviours can be dictated or managed through contractual limitations. Previous studies and literature reviewed suggest that OCB is an important variable that significantly influences a schools performance. Such studies and literature suggest that empowerment could induce greater levels of OCB. The concepts of OCB and empowerment are defined and discussed and a 58 item Questionnaire is formulated based on the two concepts, drawn mainly from Short and Rinehart (1992) and Bogler and Somech (2004). The Questionnaire is divided into two parts, firstly OCB and secondly empowerment. Each section of the Questionnaire is divided into the relevant categories and dimensions as prescribed by past literature. The first part determines the behaviours which the participants believe form part of a teachers ‘in-role’ behaviour, therefore also determines which behaviours the participants believe are ‘extra-role’ or OCB. The second part determines the participant’s perception of their empowerment in their own workplace. This research makes use of an online Questionnaire. The data is collected and described using averages, modes and medians. This data is organised in a manner which further allows for a Pearson correlation analysis test to be run. This test is used to establish the correlation relationship between the two variables in this research and the statistical significance of this relationship is analysed by observing the respective p-value. The conclusion is drawn that there exists four statistically significant positively correlated relationships between the empowerment dimension (decision making, status, self-efficacy and impact) and OCB. However there exists a weak positively correlated non-statistically significant relationship between empowerment and OCB. This suggests that empowerment as a whole does not greatly influence higher levels of OCB, however the four individual dimensions of empowerment do have a positive influence.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Calibration and wide field imaging with PAPER: a catalogue of compact sources

  • Authors: Philip, Liju
  • Date: 2016
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2397 , vital:20285
  • Description: Observations of the redshifted 21 cm HI line promise to be a formidable tool for cosmology, allowing the investigation of the end of the so-called dark ages, when the first galaxies formed, and the subsequent Epoch of Reionization when the intergalactic medium transitioned from neutral to ionized. Such observations are plagued by foreground emission which is a few orders of magnitude brighter than the 21 cm line. In this thesis I analyzed data from the Donald C. Backer Precision Array for Probing the Epoch of Reionization (PAPER) in order to improve the characterization of the extragalactic foreground component. I derived a catalogue of unresolved radio sources down to a 5 Jy flux density limit at 150 MHz and derived their spectral index distribution using literature data at 408 MHz. I implemented advanced techniques to calibrate radio interferometric data that led to a few percent accuracy on the flux density scale of the derived catalogue. This work, therefore, represents a further step towards creating an accurate, global sky model that is crucial to improve calibration of Epoch of Reionization observations.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Incidence and molecular characterization of Hepatitis E virus from swine herds in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

  • Authors: Adelabu, Olusesan Adeyemi
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Hepatitis -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Virology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13966 , vital:39734
  • Description: Hepatitis E virus-mediated infection is a serious public health concern in economically developing nations of the world. Globally, four major genotypes of HEV have been documented and the swine HEV identified to date in different countries belongs to either genotype 3 or 4. It has been reported to cross species barrier and cause infections in humans. Hence, Hepatitis E has been suggested to be zoonotic owing to the increase of evidence through various studies. Thus far, genotypes 1 and 2 are exclusively found in human population. However, little data are available regarding the occurrence of HEV in South Africa, especially in the Eastern Cape Province. Hence, this study was designed to assess the prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus among swine herd in selected communal and commercial farms in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A total of 160 faecal samples were collected from swine herds in Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities of Eastern Cape Province and screened for the presence of HEV. Faecal samples were collected, using sterile swabs, from swine between the age of 2 to 6 months old, placed on ice and transported to the laboratory for further analysis. Viral RNA extraction was carried out followed by nested reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used for amplification, after which the amplified products were examined by electrophoresis and viewed under ultraviolet illumination. The positive PCR products were sent for sequencing. Of the 160 faecal samples screened, only seven were positive (4.4percent) for HEV. The nucleotide sequence analyses revealed isolates UFT 01-03 sharing 82percent to 99percent identities with other strains with accession numbers KX896664, KX896665 and KX896666 and UMCF 01-04 with KX896667, KX896668, KX896669 and KX896670 from different regions of the world Phylogenetic analysis also showed that all seven isolates from this study clustered with both human and swine HEV from different geographical regions of the world especially with Japan Human and swine strains, Netherland swine HEV strains (AY032758, AF332620) and human HEV strain from France (JQ763611). We conclude that HEV is present among swine in the Eastern Cape Province, albeit in low incidence, and this does have public health implications. There is need for maintenance of high hygienic standards in order to prevent human infections through swine faecal materials and appropriate cooking of pork is highly advised.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Rural development agency support to emerging farmers in the Eastern Cape Province

  • Authors: Ndlazi, Tembisa
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- Developing countries Farmers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11626 , vital:26945
  • Description: The objective of the study is to analyze the impact of the ECRDA in projects managed by Eastern Cape emerging farmers. In this study, emerging farmers are farmers that are participating in the market and have intentions to produce and sell at a large scale. The study also investigates the challenges facing the emerging farmers supported by ECRDA as well as the support given to these farmers by ECRDA. The study is based on randomly selected farmers around Eastern Cape Province that are supported by ECRDA with finance to buy production inputs. Six interviews have been conducted around Eastern Cape, one in each of the six district municipalities. The information was transcribed and verbatim text was produced. From the verbatim text about 8 themes and sub- themes were identified and were analysed using qualitative content analysis method. The themes that were identified are: The first theme was the lack of infrastructure make a conducive farming environment. The second was the insufficient service from ECRDA officers, as well as those from the department of agriculture. The third theme that emerged was the availability of farming land from which the clients plough, and also use as a grazing land for their livestock. The fourth one focuses on the access to capital, and the challenges that are encountered when applying for loan at ECRDA. The fifth theme is the concern about the safety of the maize they plant, not only from the unattended livestock, but as well as thieves, when the maize is ready. The sixth theme is the availability of market, where the farmers are able to sell their produce when it is ready. The seventh theme was skills development, and whether farmers are trained in order to be effective and efficient farmers. The last theme focuses on loan repayment, how the farmers repay the loan from the ECRDA. These themes constitute the main challenges that hinder the sustainability of emerging farmers’ projects.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Surface characteristics of rock glaciers in the Jutulsessen, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

  • Authors: Rudolph, Elizabeth Magdalena
  • Date: 2016
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2667 , vital:20314
  • Description: Rock glaciers are landforms that present downslope movement of debris under the influence of ice and gravity. These landforms can be used as paleo-climate indicators as well as proxies for climate change. Rock glaciers have been investigated in a variety of climates and landscapes, however continental Antarctica, Dronning Maud Land specifically, remains understudied. This thesis aimed to investigate and classify five rock glaciers observed in the Jutulsessen, Dronning Maud Land. The surface characteristics and geomorphology were assessed and used as generic classifiers. Size, shape and landscape association was established by field surveying and GIS, whilst sediment and clast characteristics were determined from sampling. A surface temperature profile was created from short-term high frequency temperature measurements. All of the rock glaciers exhibit either undulating surfaces or patterned ground, or both, which suggests active-layer related processes. Sediment particle size analysis is inconclusive. The 137Cs-content and fabric analysis suggest movement regimes similar to other rock glaciers with higher activity at the head, and variable movement directions at the toe. Relative “activeness” is inferred from morphology: Grjotlia, Grjotøyra and Vassdalen were classified as lobate, spatulate and tongue-shaped respectively with Grjotlia the most stable. A new morphological classification of ‘crown-shaped’ is suggested for Brugdedalen and Jutuldalen, and they also appear most active. The control of local climate on rock glacier mechanics is emphasised by the findings, and thus climatic interpolation from a single weather stations is not useful. Increased spatial and temporal coverage of sediment profiles, surface topography and active-layer characteristics could be used to elucidate the processes and controls of these landforms in the Antarctic.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

The diets of co-occuring anurans in a small South African river: assessments using stomach contents, stable isotope ratios and fatty acid profiles

  • Authors: Sikutshwa, Likho
  • Date: 2015
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54405 , vital:26562
  • Description: During their life cycle amphibians change their habitat and feeding, and are important consumers in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The trophic ecology of anurans has been studied intensively using gut content analysis, but very little work has been done using biochemical techniques such as stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. These biochemical techniques produce data that allow for additional inferences about the trophic ecology of anurans, as they reveal what the organisms assimilated over time rather than what was recently ingested. The investigation of the feeding ecology and trophic interactions of anurans using gut content analyses together with stable isotope and fatty acid analyses will help us to better understand their ecological roles. The objective of this thesis was to assess the feeding ecology of four anurans (Amietia angolensis, Amietophyrnus rangeri, Strongylopus grayii and Xenopus laevis) in a temperate river using a combination of gut content, stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. Frogs, tadpoles and potential food sources were sampled in two sites (upstream and downstream) in the Kowie River, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Gut content analyses identified 147 prey items belonging to 12 prey orders in the stomachs of the sampled specimens. In both A. angolensis and S. grayii the most important prey category was Coleoptera, followed by Hemiptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera at both sites. Aquatic prey items (aquatic hemipterans, chirinomids and blackflies) were the most important food sources for X. laevis (Alimentary Index (IAi) = 6.4; 5.2; 4.2). In Am. rangeri, Hymenoptera was the most important prey category (IAi = 8.3). The trophic niche overlap between A. angolensis and S. grayii was biologically significant (> 0.6), and in the remaining species there was no significant trophic niche overlap. Amietia angolensis showed a larger trophic niche (Levin’s measure; B = 7.7 and Bst = 0.84 downstream, and upstream B = 7.6 (Bst = 0.82) compared to the other species. The gut content analyses showed that frogs feed on a variety of prey items that constitutes food sources from both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Stable isotopes indicated that aquatic derived sources contributed significantly more towards the diets of X. laevis, A. angolensis tadpoles and S. grayii tadpoles compared with the other anurans, whereas aquatic and terrestrial derived food sources contributed equally to the diets of A. angolensis and S. grayii. Increased trophic positions in A. angolensis and S. grayii occurred throughout their development. The four different species had similar fatty acid profiles in the upstream region, and fairly similar δ13C values, suggesting that they probably consumed similar food. Fatty acid profiles of anurans in the downstream region showed distinct separations among the species. Tadpoles had high levels of diatom-associated fatty acids (20:5ω3; A. angolensis tadpole – 8.4 %, S. grayii tadpole – 9.4 % upstream and downstream; 9.1 and 6.1 % total fatty acids (TFA), respectively). All four species had substantial contributions from bacterial fatty acids, and large proportions of saturated fatty acids (30.6 - 50.0 %) including those with 14 and 18 carbons, indicating that bacterial and detritus food sources played an important role in their diets. The fatty acid profiles revealed high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and essential fatty acids (EFAs) in all species, indicating a good quality of food and that the quality of food consumed was similar among species. The results demonstrated the usefulness of a combination of traditional techniques (gut content techniques) and biochemical techniques (stable isotopes and fatty acid analysis) for assessing consumption and assimilation. The amphibian assemblages examined derived much of their energy from terrestrial and aquatic sources. This information will allow more precise and comprehensive assessments of trophic interactions in freshwater habitats, along with aiding in future amphibian conservation and management efforts.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

The productive utilisation of child support grants in Benoni

  • Authors: Njingti, Yvonne Senge
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Child support -- South Africa -- Benoni , Social security beneficiaries -- South Africa -- Benoni
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4879 , vital:20718
  • Description: This treatise investigated the productive utilisation of child support grants (CSGs) with particular reference to Benoni town. The South African government introduced the CSG, which replaced the old maintenance grant in 1998. The aim of the CSG is to cater for the needs of vulnerable children living in South Africa such as education, basic health, food, shelter and protection. Since its introduction, CSG has been able to reach millions of vulnerable children in South Africa. Despite this success, the grant is still fraught with administrative inefficiencies and fraudulent activities committed by some CSG recipients. The researcher’s findings exposed the inappropriate and wasteful expenditure associated with the grant usage, by recipients of CSG. The researcher discovered that some mothers use grant money to buy alcohol and beauty products for themselves instead of the child’s needs. The reason associated to this wasteful expenditure was that the child is kept under the care of the grandmother who takes good care of the child, thus giving the mother the opportunity to use the grant she collects as she wishes. The main aim of this investigation was to find out how CSGs can be effectively and efficiently utilised by parents and guardians in Benoni and to make recommendations for better usage. The study also examined the effects of CSGs on children in Benoni and whether they are beneficial or not. The qualitative method of research was used and the study was descriptive in nature. Questionnaires were distributed to state officials and interviews conducted with CSG recipients. The findings from this research revealed that some of the respondents use the money to buy alcohol and beauty product for themselves instead of the child’s needs, making the implementation of CSGs ineffective and inefficient. This shows that there is a misuse of state funds by recipients of CSGs whereas there are millions of vulnerable children out there who do not have access to this cash transfer. The department of social security is encouraged to ensure effective and efficient utilisation of CSGs by recipients through state officials.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

The use of probiotics in the diet of farmed South African abalone Haliotis midae L

  • Authors: Maliza, Siyabonga
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Haliotis midae -- South Africa , Abalones -- South Africa , Haliotis midae -- Feeding and feeds , Haliotis midae -- Effect of chemicals on , Haliotis midae -- Growth , Haliotis midae -- Immunology , Probiotics
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:5382 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018178
  • Description: Physiological stress in farmed abalone can lead to immunosuppression and increase the susceptibility to bacterial, viral and parasitic disease, often followed by mortality. Thus, handling and poor water quality can reduce farm production efficiency. Probiotics in aquaculture have been effective in a wide range of species in enhancing immunity, survival, improving feed utilisation and growth. Three putative probionts identified as a result of in vitro screening had been beneficial to laboratory-reared abalone in a previous study. The aim of this study was to produce an abalone feed that contains a suite of probionts that may promote abalone growth and health under farming conditions. The objectives were to compare growth and physiological responses (i.e., haemocyte and phagocytosis counts) of abalone fed a commercial feed (Abfeed®S 34, Marifeed, Hermanus) supplemented with probiotics (i.e., the probiotic diet) to abalone fed the commercial feed without probiotic supplementation as a control treatment in a factorial design with handling method as an independent variable. This experiment was conducted at HIK Abalone Farm (Pty Ltd) for a period of eight months with initial weight and length 36.1 ± 0.05 g and 58.6 ± 0.06 mm abalone-1. Another experiment was carried out at Roman Bay Sea Farm (Pty) Ltd with initial weight and length 34.7 ± 0.17 g and 62.3 ± 0.18 mm abalone-1, but this experiment included one factor only, i.e. the presence and absence of the probionts in the feed. At HIK there was no significant interaction between diet and handling on average length and weight gain month-1 after four (p=0.81 and p=0.32) and eight (p=0.51 and p=0.53) months, respectively. Average length (additional handling = 73.9 ± 0.52 mm, normal farm handling = 75.8 ± 0.57 mm) and weight gain (mean: additional handling = 68.5 ± 1.20 g, normal farm handling = 74.3 ± 1.86 g) increased significantly in animals that were handled under normal farm procedure and were either fed probiotic or control diet after eight months (p=0.03 and p=0.02, respectively). There was no iii difference in length gain or weight gain of abalone fed the probiotic diet and those fed the control diet (ANOVA: F(1,16)=0.04, p=0.84; F(1,16)=0.14, p=0.71, respectively). After four months phagocytotic count was significantly different between dietary treatments with mean values of 74.50 ± 10.52 and 63.52 ± 14.52 % phagocytosis count per sample for the probionts and control treatment, respectively (p=0.04), there was no difference after eight months at HIK Abalone Farm. There was no effect of stressor application (p=0.14) and no interaction between dietary treatment and stressor application for this variable i.e., phagocytosis count (p=0.61). There was no difference in feed conversion ratio between treatments with values ranging from 2.9 to 3.8. At Roman Bay Sea farm, there was no significant difference in mean length gain between abalone fed the probiotic and control diet after eight months (repeated measures ANOVA: F(4,28)=16.54. Mean weight gain of abalone fed the probiotic diet was significantly greater than those fed the control diet after eight months (repeated measures ANOVA: F(4,28)=39.82, p(0.00001). There was no significant difference in haemocyte counts between animals fed either probiotic or control diet after four and eight months at Roman Bay Sea farm (p>0.05).
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  • Date Issued: 2015

A teaching case study on the effect of growth on organisational leadership and culture at hardware warehouse as the organisation grew from one store to 18 stores

An evaluation of the delivery of the Eskom Customer Safety Education Programme in the Queenstown Customer Services Area.

  • Authors: Mtyalela, Kanyisa Highly
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Eskom (Firm) , Customer relations -- Management , Safety education -- South Africa -- Queenstown , Safety education -- Evaluation , Safety consultants -- Rating of -- South Africa -- Queenstown , Public safety -- South Africa -- Queenstown
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:839 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013569
  • Description: The aim of this research is to evaluate the Eskom customer safety education programme in the Queenstown Customer Services Area. The research focuses on the implementation of the programme with the aim of assessing whether there is need for optimisation in the way that the customer education and training is delivered. The paper consists of three sections. Section one is directed to Eskom and is made up of (i) a review of the literature that is relevant to the Eskom safety education programme, (ii) the findings made from the study and (iii) recommendations from the author. Section two is a review of the key concepts which were identified for this paper and these are: (i) education and training, (ii) consumer education, (iii) citizenship education, (iv) training programme development, and (v) training programme evaluation. Section three provides detail on and justifies the research methodology that was followed for this paper. The author adopted the deductive approach and collected data from literature sources and Eskom documents as well as face-to-face interviews with the Eskom trainers and customers. Qualitative data was collected from the interviews and is presented in section one of the report in the form of (i) narratives, (ii) graphs and (iii) tables. The research has identified some shortcomings in the delivery of the training and recommendations have been made on how these shortcomings can be addressed. Trainer skills, training evaluation and training tools are amongst the issues that require attention in the Queenstown Customer Services Area. The results revealed that 67 percent of the trainers have not received training related to conducting customer forums. Inconsistencies with regard to the evaluation of the training interventions were also identified and there were differences in terms of the training tools that are utilised at the forums. The recommendations made by the author are based on the literature that was reviewed as part of this study and are aimed at addressing the delivery of the training. The respondents all displayed an understanding of the objectives of the Eskom safety education programme and made recommendations in terms of how Eskom can reduce the tampering of Eskom equipment. The recommendations made included the involvement of the community as well as unannounced door-to-door audits aimed at identifying damaged and tampered Eskom equipment. These recommendations are in line with the guiding principles of safety education presented in McWhirter (2008: 32) which include the involvement of young people in real decisions to help them stay safe, as well as the use of active approaches in addressing safety issues. A review of the electrical contact incidents which were reported to Eskom in 2011/12 revealed that in 61,5 percent of the cases that occurred in the Eastern Cape, Eskom had conducted electricity safety education before the incidents occurred. The recommendations in terms of the training delivery should be implemented to improve the delivery of the training. The author however recommends further research on how Eskom can reduce the number of electrical contact incidents that occur, as it has been proven through previous studies that safety education “has an impact on knowledge, behaviour, risk and skills and no papers have provided evidence of the impact of safety education on injury rates” (Mulvaney, Watson and Errington, 2012: 27).
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2014

Sarkaiym

  • Authors: Sutherns, Michael Courtney
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) -- Research -- South Africa , Creative writing -- Fiction , South African fiction (English) -- Study and teaching (Higher) , South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:5976 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012998
  • Description: The kingdom of Sansland situated on the Azanian Peninsula has been ruled by Sorricians, the sky people, ever since they landed on terra firma centuries ago. The indigenous population are forced to engage directly in the social and economic perpetuation of their own domination beneath the Sorrician heel. Until revolution flares in the antipodes, and soon, even the gods themselves seem to take an interest in the inevitable course of events. But all is not what it seems. The revolution appears to proceed too rapidly. The kingdom’s trade infrastructure collapses too easily. The Sorrician rulers are inexplicably and unrealistically confident in their ability to repel an attack on the capital. It will take a man of conscience, a regular soldier and a boy priest to restore appearances back to reality.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2014

The role of co-operatives in the socio-economic developmet of Dutywa villages

  • Authors: Mqingwana, Cwaka Batandwa
  • Date: 2010
  • Subjects: Rural development , Sustainable development
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:9069 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1306 , Rural development , Sustainable development
  • Description: The purpose of the study was to investigate how the co-operatives can be used to uplift the standard of living in the rural, with specific reference to Dutywa villages of Ngcingwane, Mangati and Mbewuleni. In other words is ‘how do we make co-operatives work’. The overall purpose of the study was to investigate whether co-operatives have contributed to positive change in the socio-economic conditions in the three villages of Dutywa. The research further analyzes the performance of the co-operatives in terms of their leadership and management structures. The research was also to find out what the challenges are and what are the gaps associated with the performance of the co-operatives. The research was also to look at how the support from different government departments and other government agencies are used to enhance the co-operatives governance. Lastly, the research was to find the best model for co-operative development and what needs to be done to enhance the capacity of the co-operatives. In the study that was carried out, four different approaches were used. The research was based on action research which involved a range of instruments like questionnaires, focus group interviews, conversation and observation. Both comparative and qualitative research frameworks were used for different purposes and at different times. Comparative approach is used when the three co-operatives are compared to each other. Differences on governance and administrative issues on governance such as capital, market and the impact thereafter is reported on. The research assumption was that co-operative development is a viable tool for economic development of the rural areas. This can help many South Africans and many communities come out of poverty. However, there are 6 limitations that are caused by the inability of government to co-ordinate co-operative development. Despite the role that co-operatives play in South Africa, co-operatives still experience a number of challenges. These challenges are, amongst others, lack of access to finance, lack of access to market, lack of business skills, lack of infrastructural facilities and lack of knowledge about the co-operative. In view of the challenges facing the co-operatives, the government instituted a number of state departments and parastatals for funding and other necessary support. These are DTI, DEDEA (in the Eastern Cape), ECDC, SEDA, Department of Labour and municipalities. The objectives of these support institutions are to provide necessary support needed by co-operatives and to ensure that co-operative development is sustainable. The findings of this study suggest that co-operatives play a vital role in the socio-economic development of the rural villages. Co-operatives create self-employment and sometimes employment through temporary employment offered; provide space and time for socialization and lastly co-operative members are sometimes through their produce able to provide basic foodstuffs to the family. In view of the socio-economic benefits of the co-operatives in rural villages of Dutywa, it is highly recommended that various support programmes that are already there within the departments should be enhanced. Assistance to co-operatives should not only be limited to government funding for co-operatives but more concentration should be on finding market for their products.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2010

The relationship between accounting choices and share prices : a study of South African listed companies

  • Authors: Bunting, Mark Bevan
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Financial statements -- South Africa , Accounting -- South Africa , Managerial accounting -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:989 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002724 , Financial statements -- South Africa , Accounting -- South Africa , Managerial accounting -- South Africa
  • Description: It is widely assumed that the managers of companies behave in a self-interested and opportunistic manner when making the discretionary accounting choices that are applied in the preparation of published financial reports. Empirical research has found evidence for this in the United States, Britain, Spain, France and Australia, amongst other countries. There has, however, been no prior work of a similar nature in a South African context. The purpose of this study is to extend this body of work by examining the relationship between a number of potentially opportunistic (profit-increasing, income-smoothing and solvencyimproving) accounting choices made by the managers of South African listed companies, and growth rates in the share prices of those companies. Data in respect of thirty-nine medium-sized South African listed companies are analysed for evidence of the expected positive relationship between opportunistic accounting choices and share price growth. No evidence is found for this relationship. This may be due to limitations in the research design, inadequacies in the interpretation of the agency theory from which the hypotheses are developed, or a combination of both. Refinements in the research design or a re-interpretation of the theory may be successful in addressing these matters as part of future research efforts.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2009

A critique of dispute resolution in the public service

  • Authors: Smith, Boy Siphiwo
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa , Civil service -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
  • Identifier: vital:10234 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/754 , Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa , Civil service -- South Africa
  • Description: Effective, efficient and expeditious resolution of labour disputes plays a crucial role in terms of the realization of one of the primary objectives of the Labour Relations Act (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) which is the achievement of labour peace. Although there is no proper definition of a dispute offered by the Act, there are several elements raised by authors within the labour relations and labour law fields which constitute a dispute. Two types of disputes are discussed, namely disputes of right (emanating from entitlement) and disputes of interest (based on demands not provided for, and these are also known as disputes based on matters of mutual interests). Labour relations in South Africa has a history that is tarnished by segregation and dualism, where there was a system of labour relations and labour statutes for all races (except for Africans). The first statute dealing somewhat comprehensive with labour disputes, the Industrial Conciliation Act, did not apply to Africans. This situation (exclusion of Africans) prevailed until the early 1980’s. Therefore, although the apartheid system was legislated in 1948, its segregation practices based on race existed long before 1948 and also extended to the workplaces. The turning point in the labour relations arena in South Africa was the appointment of the Wiehahn Commission. As a result of the recommendations by this Commission, African Workers were for the first time included in labour legislation. So, of great interest is the fact that African Workers attained labour rights before the demise of the apartheid system. The birth of the Act with its dispute resolution fora like the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (hereinafter referred to as “the CCMA”), Bargaining Councils, Labour Court and the Labour Appeal Court, revolutionized dispute resolution in the country. However, there are some challenges that have emerged even within the new system. Prior to 1993, labour relations in the public service, simply just did not exist. This was mainly due to the fact that the public service was excluded from mainstream legal framework governing labour relations. The State was very much in control of what was happening with regards to employment relations in the public service. There were some structures developed for engagement with the State like the Public Service Commission (PSC) which was politicized to push the agenda of apartheid, Public Servants Association (PSA) for White Public Servants, Public Service Union (PSU) for Indian Public Servants and Public Service League for Coloured Public Servants. There was no structure established for African Public Servants though. Nevertheless, these established structures were useless. One of the recommendations of the Wiehahn Commission was the inclusion of public servants within the mainstream labour relations framework and this was never pursued by the then government. It took the wave of strikes in the early 1990’s for the Act to be extended to the public service. Even with the inclusion of public service within the scope of the Act, there are still challenges pertinent to the public service. Central to these challenges is the problem of fragmentation in terms of approach regarding dispute resolution and the fact that there are too many pieces of legislation dealing with dispute resolution. This situation has also resulted in a jurisdictional debacle within the public service. Also, there is a huge challenge in terms of dealing with abscondments / desertion within the public service. In terms of the way forward, there is an initiative to streamline the public service. In this regard, there is a Draft Single Public Service Bill and also the Public Service Amendment Bill.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2008

Brain drain, exodus and chicken run : media discourses on emigration

  • Authors: Bright, Sue-Ann
  • Date: 2005
  • Subjects: Mass media and language -- South Africa , Mass media criticism -- South Africa , Discourse analysis -- Social aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3163 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007672 , Mass media and language -- South Africa , Mass media criticism -- South Africa , Discourse analysis -- Social aspects
  • Description: This paper explores the discourses of emigration in a South African daily newspaper from 1988 to 2001, and discusses the implications of these discourses on the way in which emigration is constructed within South African society In this paper, Potter and Wetherell 's (1987) approach to discourse analysis is utilized. It makes use of interpretative repertoires, to explore the functions and consequences of the discourses. The discursive framework thereby reveals the different subject positions related to nationalism, race and class. It is argued that economics and notions of culture and social class, do more than provide a useful medium through which the phenomenon of emigration can be understood. They also support the affirmations of certain groups of people above others, by claiming that emigration is unpatriotic and disloyal. This paper concludes by identifying the negative connotations of media discourses in the construction of emigration and acknowledges that many alternate constructions are silenced in this matter.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2005
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