Influence of family structure on food security status of farming households in Alice, South Africa
- Authors: Ijila, Olusegun Jeremiah
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Food security Families--South Africa--Eastern Cape Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Agricultural Economics
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11537 , vital:39081
- Description: Achieving food security in sub-Saharan Africa remains a major challenge despite efforts made by a majority of the countries to reduce abject poverty and food insecurity. Just as these countries prioritized food security under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), they are equally putting it on top of the agenda under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the face of the political and economic developments seen in the country since 1994, South Africa is overwhelmed by poverty and unemployment. But efforts to address these problems have not given due recognition to the question of family structure which is complex and varied, with immense potential implications for ownership and distribution of resources and the bargaining strength that are likely to determine the food security status of various farming households. Furthermore, the contribution of households towards agricultural production differs according to the way family organizes itself. This study was carried out to determine the influence of family structures on food security status of farming households in Alice, South Africa. Data were collected from 120 farming households’ selected using purposive sampling method. To collect data, a well-structured questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews. Consequent to that, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and binary logistic regression model. The dominant family structures are nuclear, single-parent, working parent and cohabiting. The analysis revealed that nuclear family where father, mother and their children have access to labour and financial resources could be more comfortable than single parent family. Working parents would probably be more food secure because both parents are able to combine incomes while food insecurity might exist within cohabiting families since the union is less stable because of scarce resources occasioned by their inability to combine their resources to pursue a common goal. The results further revealed that single parent family structures and socio-economic characteristics like age, marital status and year of education of the household head were significant in terms of their influence on food security. The study therefore, recommends that old people should be encouraged to participate in agricultural production due to the wealth of experience gathered over the years. It is probably safe to conclude that encouraging marriage would provide better opportunities to raise the necessary capital to support positive productivity changes that would have implications for enhanced food availability and affordability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Ijila, Olusegun Jeremiah
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Food security Families--South Africa--Eastern Cape Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Agricultural Economics
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11537 , vital:39081
- Description: Achieving food security in sub-Saharan Africa remains a major challenge despite efforts made by a majority of the countries to reduce abject poverty and food insecurity. Just as these countries prioritized food security under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), they are equally putting it on top of the agenda under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the face of the political and economic developments seen in the country since 1994, South Africa is overwhelmed by poverty and unemployment. But efforts to address these problems have not given due recognition to the question of family structure which is complex and varied, with immense potential implications for ownership and distribution of resources and the bargaining strength that are likely to determine the food security status of various farming households. Furthermore, the contribution of households towards agricultural production differs according to the way family organizes itself. This study was carried out to determine the influence of family structures on food security status of farming households in Alice, South Africa. Data were collected from 120 farming households’ selected using purposive sampling method. To collect data, a well-structured questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews. Consequent to that, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and binary logistic regression model. The dominant family structures are nuclear, single-parent, working parent and cohabiting. The analysis revealed that nuclear family where father, mother and their children have access to labour and financial resources could be more comfortable than single parent family. Working parents would probably be more food secure because both parents are able to combine incomes while food insecurity might exist within cohabiting families since the union is less stable because of scarce resources occasioned by their inability to combine their resources to pursue a common goal. The results further revealed that single parent family structures and socio-economic characteristics like age, marital status and year of education of the household head were significant in terms of their influence on food security. The study therefore, recommends that old people should be encouraged to participate in agricultural production due to the wealth of experience gathered over the years. It is probably safe to conclude that encouraging marriage would provide better opportunities to raise the necessary capital to support positive productivity changes that would have implications for enhanced food availability and affordability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Performance comparison of the residential types of air source heat pump water heaters in South Africa due to the refrigerant thermo-physical properties
- Authors: Sikhonza, Mandlenkosi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Heat pumps Water heaters
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9275 , vital:34317
- Description: Globally hot water heating contributes enormously to the increase in energy consumption in the residential sector. Coal being a fossil fuel and non-renewable source of energy remains the major source used for electricity generation. The burning of coal is the primary cause of CO2 emission into the environment which causes climate change and global warming. Energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies were employed as one of the alternative ways of reducing global warming. In most residential areas in South Africa, the water heating generates 30 -50percent of the monthly electricity bill (Zhang and Huan, 2013). In this light, residential load management (RLM) is a significant part of the load management programme of Eskom’s overall demand side management strategy. Through RLM, the electricity load is being transferred from peak times to off times by switching the geysers during peak hours because geysers consume more electricity and contribute significantly to the national grid constraint problem (Eskom, 2012).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Sikhonza, Mandlenkosi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Heat pumps Water heaters
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9275 , vital:34317
- Description: Globally hot water heating contributes enormously to the increase in energy consumption in the residential sector. Coal being a fossil fuel and non-renewable source of energy remains the major source used for electricity generation. The burning of coal is the primary cause of CO2 emission into the environment which causes climate change and global warming. Energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies were employed as one of the alternative ways of reducing global warming. In most residential areas in South Africa, the water heating generates 30 -50percent of the monthly electricity bill (Zhang and Huan, 2013). In this light, residential load management (RLM) is a significant part of the load management programme of Eskom’s overall demand side management strategy. Through RLM, the electricity load is being transferred from peak times to off times by switching the geysers during peak hours because geysers consume more electricity and contribute significantly to the national grid constraint problem (Eskom, 2012).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Bird-Monk Seding
- Authors: Rampolokeng, Lesego
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5049 , vital:20758
- Description: This novella is made up of interlinked stories from a rural township in the North West province. The stories of this surface-tranquil place are told through descriptive passages, vignettes, snatches of dialogue, profiles and picture-postcards, all organically interwoven and entwined, and rendered in non-linear fashion. They are set in shebeens, shops, farmlands and the dusty empty spaces of the South African landscape, peopled by police, tourists, and prostitutes of all sorts. The pervasiveness of violence in all forms has the fictional narrator reflecting on the violence of his own past. A smattering of musicians' musings gleaned from interviews and album liner-notes helps him navigate his way through this morass, the rage and frustration that simmers beneath it all.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Rampolokeng, Lesego
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5049 , vital:20758
- Description: This novella is made up of interlinked stories from a rural township in the North West province. The stories of this surface-tranquil place are told through descriptive passages, vignettes, snatches of dialogue, profiles and picture-postcards, all organically interwoven and entwined, and rendered in non-linear fashion. They are set in shebeens, shops, farmlands and the dusty empty spaces of the South African landscape, peopled by police, tourists, and prostitutes of all sorts. The pervasiveness of violence in all forms has the fictional narrator reflecting on the violence of his own past. A smattering of musicians' musings gleaned from interviews and album liner-notes helps him navigate his way through this morass, the rage and frustration that simmers beneath it all.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Exploring best practices for crisis communication
- Authors: Hlela, Nomfundo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Communication in organizations Corporations -- Public relations , Crisis management Communication in management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15060 , vital:28118
- Description: In the past few decades, corporate crises have received high media attention and revealed the impact that a disaster can have on a company’s reputation. A breadth of scholarly literature has already analysed crisis communications and key elements of an effective response. In this study I examine crisis communications strategies of two companies (British Petroleum and Domino’s Pizza) who responded differently when faced with a crisis. The study will explore the companies’ actions and various media materials including public statements, press releases and social media platforms. This information will be presented alongside corresponding news coverage to reveal how the media translated these actions. Results show that by accepting responsibility and marketing efforts to stop the disaster, a corporation can transform its communication strategy and recover its reputation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Hlela, Nomfundo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Communication in organizations Corporations -- Public relations , Crisis management Communication in management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15060 , vital:28118
- Description: In the past few decades, corporate crises have received high media attention and revealed the impact that a disaster can have on a company’s reputation. A breadth of scholarly literature has already analysed crisis communications and key elements of an effective response. In this study I examine crisis communications strategies of two companies (British Petroleum and Domino’s Pizza) who responded differently when faced with a crisis. The study will explore the companies’ actions and various media materials including public statements, press releases and social media platforms. This information will be presented alongside corresponding news coverage to reveal how the media translated these actions. Results show that by accepting responsibility and marketing efforts to stop the disaster, a corporation can transform its communication strategy and recover its reputation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Funding and governance of cooperatives: a case study of Magwa and Majola tea estates in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Velani, Chuma
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Cooperative societies -- Finance -- Law and legislation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14411 , vital:27585
- Description: The purpose of this research study is to assess the funding and governance models utilised in the operations of cooperatives, with specific reference to Magwa and Majola Tea Estates in the Eastern Cape. Luyt (2008) observes that poverty levels in South Africa remain high, and have not been greatly reduced since 1994. There is general agreement amongst Eastern Cape communities that more than two decades after apartheid has ended, nearly half of South Africa’s population continue to live in poverty. A common understanding, is that cooperatives are geared and established to address poverty, address both social and economic development, even though they also emphasise a social focus, they are expected to be operated on sound business principles.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Velani, Chuma
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Cooperative societies -- Finance -- Law and legislation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14411 , vital:27585
- Description: The purpose of this research study is to assess the funding and governance models utilised in the operations of cooperatives, with specific reference to Magwa and Majola Tea Estates in the Eastern Cape. Luyt (2008) observes that poverty levels in South Africa remain high, and have not been greatly reduced since 1994. There is general agreement amongst Eastern Cape communities that more than two decades after apartheid has ended, nearly half of South Africa’s population continue to live in poverty. A common understanding, is that cooperatives are geared and established to address poverty, address both social and economic development, even though they also emphasise a social focus, they are expected to be operated on sound business principles.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Taxation of non-residents in South Africa with specific reference to withholding taxes
- Van der Merwe, de Vos Wouter
- Authors: Van der Merwe, de Vos Wouter
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Double taxation -- South Africa Intergovernmental tax relations , Income tax -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Income tax -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21296 , vital:29473
- Description: This treatise tests the effectiveness of withholding taxes imposed by the South African tax authorities with respect to amounts paid from a South African source to a non-resident in respect of interest, royalties and foreign entertainers and sportspersons. The first research objective discusses the alignment of the meaning of words and phrases in both the domestic law of South Africa and Double Tax Agreements (DTA.) The second issue outlines whether the DTA supports the domestic law through the waiving of tax claims in favour of the country of source. In last instance the attribution of income is discussed. The interpretation attached to the words for the purpose of levying normal tax, serves as the methodology for identifying inconsistencies with the levying of withholding tax. The wider scope of withholding taxes with respect to the meaning of ‘interest’, ‘royalties’ as well as ‘foreign entertainer and sportsperson’ misaligns with the corresponding meaning of it in the DTA. This creates the risk that amounts paid to non-residents will either not be subjected to withholding tax in the source state or that the income will be taxable in the resident state as a result of the application of other articles of the DTA. DTA’s concluded between South Africa and other countries are based on the OECD Model Tax Convention. These DTA’s tend to favour the residence state with respect to the waiving of tax claims. The source state’s right to collect withholding tax on income from royalties and interest is prevented if the foreign person is physically present in South Africa for more than 183 days and if the interest/royalty payment is effectively connected with a permanent establishment in South Africa. The domestic law and DTA are misaligned with respect to the attribution of interest and royalty income since the recipient of the income for the purpose of the domestic law is not necessarily the beneficial owner of the debt claim or intellectual property. It can therefore be recommended that South Africa must renegotiate DTA’s to favour taxation in the source state. Withholding tax provisions must also be redrafted to align them with the DTA meaning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Van der Merwe, de Vos Wouter
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Double taxation -- South Africa Intergovernmental tax relations , Income tax -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Income tax -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21296 , vital:29473
- Description: This treatise tests the effectiveness of withholding taxes imposed by the South African tax authorities with respect to amounts paid from a South African source to a non-resident in respect of interest, royalties and foreign entertainers and sportspersons. The first research objective discusses the alignment of the meaning of words and phrases in both the domestic law of South Africa and Double Tax Agreements (DTA.) The second issue outlines whether the DTA supports the domestic law through the waiving of tax claims in favour of the country of source. In last instance the attribution of income is discussed. The interpretation attached to the words for the purpose of levying normal tax, serves as the methodology for identifying inconsistencies with the levying of withholding tax. The wider scope of withholding taxes with respect to the meaning of ‘interest’, ‘royalties’ as well as ‘foreign entertainer and sportsperson’ misaligns with the corresponding meaning of it in the DTA. This creates the risk that amounts paid to non-residents will either not be subjected to withholding tax in the source state or that the income will be taxable in the resident state as a result of the application of other articles of the DTA. DTA’s concluded between South Africa and other countries are based on the OECD Model Tax Convention. These DTA’s tend to favour the residence state with respect to the waiving of tax claims. The source state’s right to collect withholding tax on income from royalties and interest is prevented if the foreign person is physically present in South Africa for more than 183 days and if the interest/royalty payment is effectively connected with a permanent establishment in South Africa. The domestic law and DTA are misaligned with respect to the attribution of interest and royalty income since the recipient of the income for the purpose of the domestic law is not necessarily the beneficial owner of the debt claim or intellectual property. It can therefore be recommended that South Africa must renegotiate DTA’s to favour taxation in the source state. Withholding tax provisions must also be redrafted to align them with the DTA meaning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Exploring the unfair labour practice relating to promotion in the education sector
- Authors: Moela, Matlose Phineas
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Unfair labor practices -- South Africa Discrimination in employment -- South Africa Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12209 , vital:27044
- Description: This research paper explores the means at the disposal of employers and employees to address the phenomenon of unfair labour practice relating to promotion in the workplace. Furthermore the paper endeavours to illustrate that there are aspects of South African law that provide a framework within which unfair labour practices can be addressed in the workplace. As I explore these fundamental issues of the law, the fairness relating to recruitment and selection practices will be examined. Some recommendations are also made as to how departments and organisations must address promotion issues at the workplace. There are often perceptions of alleged unfairness committed by employers in the workplace. These perceptions emanate from a number of allegations. The allegations include but are not limited to past practices, policy considerations, acting in higher positions, prior promises, being better qualified, receiving higher marks in the interviews, irregular conduct by the interviewing panel, unfair decisions by appointing authority or their failure to apply their minds, affirmative action or equity considerations. The study seeks to explore some of these allegations and further provide certainty as to what the legal recourse is under those circumstances. The research further seeks to provide the legal certainty pertaining to issues of promotion in the workplace. The study commences on a general approach to the principles of law relating to unfair labour practice in the public sector. Further developments of the law relating to promotion as it applies to the education sector are explored. The study culminates with possible remedies available to instances where an unfair conduct has been found to be committed by the employer during the promotion process. There is sufficient case law which covers the promotion processes. The study also exposes forms of relief which can be awarded to applicants who had lodged disputes in which it is found that indeed the employer had committed unfair labour practice relating to promotion. The study further aims to explore both procedural and substantive fairness with regard to appointment and promotion processes. Issues which are dealt with concerning fairness in promotion disputes include polygraph tests, whether there are hard and fast rules to the process, whether employees have the general right to promotion, what the requirements for fair appointment or promotion are, the law on substantive fairness, affirmative action and promotion, the consequences of failure to appoint the most suitable candidate, dealing with candidates who obtained higher scores in the interviews, promoting a candidate who had not met minimum requirements and promoting candidates based on flawed scores. The research also deals with frivolous referrals of disputes and costs which can be awarded against such applicants. Further issues which are dealt with in this research include the concept of “joinder” which is critical where there is an incumbent in the post which is disputed and the relief sought is that such post must be set aside. Further clarity is given on who is supposed to be joined in a dispute which is referred in the education sector. The CCMA rules on joinder are also clarified. The consequences of failure to join the incumbent are also dealt with. The research is also clarifying the concept of prematurity or ripeness in promotion disputes and its consequent lack of jurisdiction if such is referred.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Moela, Matlose Phineas
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Unfair labor practices -- South Africa Discrimination in employment -- South Africa Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12209 , vital:27044
- Description: This research paper explores the means at the disposal of employers and employees to address the phenomenon of unfair labour practice relating to promotion in the workplace. Furthermore the paper endeavours to illustrate that there are aspects of South African law that provide a framework within which unfair labour practices can be addressed in the workplace. As I explore these fundamental issues of the law, the fairness relating to recruitment and selection practices will be examined. Some recommendations are also made as to how departments and organisations must address promotion issues at the workplace. There are often perceptions of alleged unfairness committed by employers in the workplace. These perceptions emanate from a number of allegations. The allegations include but are not limited to past practices, policy considerations, acting in higher positions, prior promises, being better qualified, receiving higher marks in the interviews, irregular conduct by the interviewing panel, unfair decisions by appointing authority or their failure to apply their minds, affirmative action or equity considerations. The study seeks to explore some of these allegations and further provide certainty as to what the legal recourse is under those circumstances. The research further seeks to provide the legal certainty pertaining to issues of promotion in the workplace. The study commences on a general approach to the principles of law relating to unfair labour practice in the public sector. Further developments of the law relating to promotion as it applies to the education sector are explored. The study culminates with possible remedies available to instances where an unfair conduct has been found to be committed by the employer during the promotion process. There is sufficient case law which covers the promotion processes. The study also exposes forms of relief which can be awarded to applicants who had lodged disputes in which it is found that indeed the employer had committed unfair labour practice relating to promotion. The study further aims to explore both procedural and substantive fairness with regard to appointment and promotion processes. Issues which are dealt with concerning fairness in promotion disputes include polygraph tests, whether there are hard and fast rules to the process, whether employees have the general right to promotion, what the requirements for fair appointment or promotion are, the law on substantive fairness, affirmative action and promotion, the consequences of failure to appoint the most suitable candidate, dealing with candidates who obtained higher scores in the interviews, promoting a candidate who had not met minimum requirements and promoting candidates based on flawed scores. The research also deals with frivolous referrals of disputes and costs which can be awarded against such applicants. Further issues which are dealt with in this research include the concept of “joinder” which is critical where there is an incumbent in the post which is disputed and the relief sought is that such post must be set aside. Further clarity is given on who is supposed to be joined in a dispute which is referred in the education sector. The CCMA rules on joinder are also clarified. The consequences of failure to join the incumbent are also dealt with. The research is also clarifying the concept of prematurity or ripeness in promotion disputes and its consequent lack of jurisdiction if such is referred.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Restructuring in higher education institutions: a case study of centralised cleaning services at Rhodes University
- Authors: Ntlokwana, Ziyanda
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3738 , vital:20540
- Description: The centralization of cleaners at Rhodes University has been the university’s response to the pressures put on higher education. This form of restructuring is the university’s attempt at dealing with the government’s cuts in funding despite the increasing demands placed on higher education institutions. The demands on universities necessitates that they compete on a global scale ,which sometimes sees many universities adopting a ‘neoliberal logic’ and as a result cutting labour costs to survive and compete. The aim of this study was to examine the nature and form of restructuring at Rhodes University and its impact on the workers’ lives. This research made use of both quantitative and qualitative research methods: namely, a quantitative survey that focused on the cleaners and in-depth interviews with trade union representatives. This research discovered that the restructuring programme at Rhodes University is different from that at other universities through its avoidance of outsourcing and the retrenchment of workers. Despite this tricky balance, however, the effects of this form of restructuring largely embody outsourcing characteristics and as a result disadvantage the cleaners.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ntlokwana, Ziyanda
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3738 , vital:20540
- Description: The centralization of cleaners at Rhodes University has been the university’s response to the pressures put on higher education. This form of restructuring is the university’s attempt at dealing with the government’s cuts in funding despite the increasing demands placed on higher education institutions. The demands on universities necessitates that they compete on a global scale ,which sometimes sees many universities adopting a ‘neoliberal logic’ and as a result cutting labour costs to survive and compete. The aim of this study was to examine the nature and form of restructuring at Rhodes University and its impact on the workers’ lives. This research made use of both quantitative and qualitative research methods: namely, a quantitative survey that focused on the cleaners and in-depth interviews with trade union representatives. This research discovered that the restructuring programme at Rhodes University is different from that at other universities through its avoidance of outsourcing and the retrenchment of workers. Despite this tricky balance, however, the effects of this form of restructuring largely embody outsourcing characteristics and as a result disadvantage the cleaners.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
A study of barred preferential arrangements with applications to numerical approximation in electric circuits
- Authors: Nkonkobe, Sithembele
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Electric circuits , Numerical calculations , Sequences (Mathematics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5433 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020394
- Description: In 1854 Cayley proposed an interesting sequence 1,1,3,13,75,541,... in connection with analytical forms called trees. Since then there has been various combinatorial interpretations of the sequence. The sequence has been interpreted as the number of preferential arrangements of members of a set with n elements. Alternatively the sequence has been interpreted as the number of ordered partitions; the outcomes in races in which ties are allowed or geometrically the number of vertices, edges and faces of simplicial objects. An interesting application of the sequence is found in combination locks. The idea of a preferential arrangement has been extended to a wider combinatorial object called barred preferential arrangement with multiple bars. In this thesis we study barred preferential arrangements combinatorially with application to resistance of certain electrical circuits. In the process we derive some results on cyclic properties of the last digit of the number of barred preferential arrangements. An algorithm in python has been developed to find the number of barred preferential arrangements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Nkonkobe, Sithembele
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Electric circuits , Numerical calculations , Sequences (Mathematics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5433 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020394
- Description: In 1854 Cayley proposed an interesting sequence 1,1,3,13,75,541,... in connection with analytical forms called trees. Since then there has been various combinatorial interpretations of the sequence. The sequence has been interpreted as the number of preferential arrangements of members of a set with n elements. Alternatively the sequence has been interpreted as the number of ordered partitions; the outcomes in races in which ties are allowed or geometrically the number of vertices, edges and faces of simplicial objects. An interesting application of the sequence is found in combination locks. The idea of a preferential arrangement has been extended to a wider combinatorial object called barred preferential arrangement with multiple bars. In this thesis we study barred preferential arrangements combinatorially with application to resistance of certain electrical circuits. In the process we derive some results on cyclic properties of the last digit of the number of barred preferential arrangements. An algorithm in python has been developed to find the number of barred preferential arrangements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Exploratory study : how do Somali shop owners (SSO) succeed in running businesses in Soweto : a South African perspective
- Authors: Mokitlane, Ofentse Clifford
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Business enterprises, Foreign -- South Africa , Small business -- Management , Small business -- South Africa , Foreign workers -- South Africa , Employment in foreign countries , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015653
- Description: This is a qualitative study which seeks to understand how Somali shop owners run successful businesses in the township of Soweto in South Africa. This research report has three sections, namely (1) the academic paper which comprises a shortened literature review, the research method, findings, and the discussion; (2) an extended literature review and (3) the research methodology. It is important to mention that these three sections are related and not necessarily stand-alone sections. Despite the hostilities faced by the Somali shop owners from the host communities in South Africa, it is notable that they are successful, small-sized entrepreneurs in most townships of South Africa (SA). Previous research on Somalis has predominantly focused on their assimilation into the societies in their host countries, and on how they are led into self-employment because of the unfavourable labour markets in the host country. In this vein, there is a need to understand how they run successful businesses in the townships of SA. This study seeks to answer the following research question: How Do Somali Shop Owners Succeed in Running Businesses in Soweto, South Africa (SA)? In pursuit of answers to the above research question, this study was confined to three locations in Soweto, namely Orlando West, Chiawelo and Rockville which have a relatively high number of Somali entrepreneurs who have been in operation for longer than three years. This qualitative study explored the multiple perspectives of reality of Somali shop owners. Purposively, 14 Somali shop owners were identified initially using purposive sampling. Subsequently, theoretical sampling was used to identify Somali shop owners who were interviewed regarding how they successfully run their businesses in the locations of Orlando West, Chiawelo and Rockville in the township of Soweto. A total of eighteen semi-structured, in-depth and face-to-face interviews were conducted with these shop owners as a means of gathering data to the point of saturating their perspectives. Data collection ceased when new perspectives were no longer evident as interviewees were being repetitive. Open-coding and constant comparison was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study show that ethnicity plays a predominant role in the success of the Somali shop owners. The intra-ethnic networks and trust-based support systems are pivotal to how Somali shop owners run successful businesses in Soweto. The key findings manifested showed that various forms of support came from Somali communities, family and fellow countrymen which were also central to their success. Another key finding showed that Somali shop owners run their businesses by complementing, rather than predominantly competing with the other local businesses, which ultimately differentiates them in this way. The study also revealed that responsiveness to local customer needs by enhancing the value of their business to the locality is also characteristic of how Somali shop owners build customer loyalty. This study contributes to our understanding of how Somali entrepreneurs conduct successful businesses in a hostile host country. The findings have implications for business development training and programmes which support immigrant entrepreneurs. The findings may also be extended to inform how business development programmes would be designed to equally support local entrepreneurs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Mokitlane, Ofentse Clifford
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Business enterprises, Foreign -- South Africa , Small business -- Management , Small business -- South Africa , Foreign workers -- South Africa , Employment in foreign countries , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015653
- Description: This is a qualitative study which seeks to understand how Somali shop owners run successful businesses in the township of Soweto in South Africa. This research report has three sections, namely (1) the academic paper which comprises a shortened literature review, the research method, findings, and the discussion; (2) an extended literature review and (3) the research methodology. It is important to mention that these three sections are related and not necessarily stand-alone sections. Despite the hostilities faced by the Somali shop owners from the host communities in South Africa, it is notable that they are successful, small-sized entrepreneurs in most townships of South Africa (SA). Previous research on Somalis has predominantly focused on their assimilation into the societies in their host countries, and on how they are led into self-employment because of the unfavourable labour markets in the host country. In this vein, there is a need to understand how they run successful businesses in the townships of SA. This study seeks to answer the following research question: How Do Somali Shop Owners Succeed in Running Businesses in Soweto, South Africa (SA)? In pursuit of answers to the above research question, this study was confined to three locations in Soweto, namely Orlando West, Chiawelo and Rockville which have a relatively high number of Somali entrepreneurs who have been in operation for longer than three years. This qualitative study explored the multiple perspectives of reality of Somali shop owners. Purposively, 14 Somali shop owners were identified initially using purposive sampling. Subsequently, theoretical sampling was used to identify Somali shop owners who were interviewed regarding how they successfully run their businesses in the locations of Orlando West, Chiawelo and Rockville in the township of Soweto. A total of eighteen semi-structured, in-depth and face-to-face interviews were conducted with these shop owners as a means of gathering data to the point of saturating their perspectives. Data collection ceased when new perspectives were no longer evident as interviewees were being repetitive. Open-coding and constant comparison was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study show that ethnicity plays a predominant role in the success of the Somali shop owners. The intra-ethnic networks and trust-based support systems are pivotal to how Somali shop owners run successful businesses in Soweto. The key findings manifested showed that various forms of support came from Somali communities, family and fellow countrymen which were also central to their success. Another key finding showed that Somali shop owners run their businesses by complementing, rather than predominantly competing with the other local businesses, which ultimately differentiates them in this way. The study also revealed that responsiveness to local customer needs by enhancing the value of their business to the locality is also characteristic of how Somali shop owners build customer loyalty. This study contributes to our understanding of how Somali entrepreneurs conduct successful businesses in a hostile host country. The findings have implications for business development training and programmes which support immigrant entrepreneurs. The findings may also be extended to inform how business development programmes would be designed to equally support local entrepreneurs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
What makes news on the front page? : an investigation of conceptions of newsworthiness in the East African Standard
- Authors: Nzioka, Roseleen M
- Date: 2013-06-19
- Subjects: East African Standard (Nairobi, Kenya) Journalism -- Social aspects -- Kenya Journalism -- Editing -- Kenya Newspapers -- Sections, columns, etc -- Kenya Mass media -- Political aspects -- Kenya Newspapers -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3519 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008178
- Description: Determining what is newsworthy is a daily challenge even to the very people who source news, produce and disseminate it. This study is part an exposition and exploration of the different approaches that media researchers have used to explain and determine the value of news. Like similar research before it, this study more specifically delves into the news selection process of news of one particular newspaper with the goal of investigating why and how news is selected for publication in the front page. News is the 'result of many forces: ranging from source power, journalistic orientation, medium-preference and market model, news values and production routines and processes. The study briefly expounds on the different definitions of news as perceived in terms of the developed and developing world. Just as journalists do not operate in a vacuum, a close examination of the various definitions reveals that news cannot be defined in isolation. Its definition is intrinsically tied to that of news values. Also explored here are debates about news values and their Western rootedness. Here reference is made to literature regarding theories on the social construction of meanings and on the gatekeeping concept.The study is informed by similar research in gatekeeping studies and sociology of news studies. It is important to state at the outset that the study is not concerned with how news is produced but why there is a bias for certain kinds of news. I am interested in explaining why and how the writers and editors at the East African Standard make decisions about what is worthy of being published on the front page of the newspaper. This distinction is necessary because the theories that inform this study transcend news sourcing and production. This study takes cognizance ofthe fact that one cannot separate social processes from the individual and vice versa. For this reason, this study investigates and analyses the biases of individual gatekeepers at the East African Standard as well as their collective biases. In the concluding section, this study calls for an alternative paradigm for journalism and news. The foregoing discussions in the other sections prove that a universal definition of news and what is newsworthy will not suffice and there is need to contexualise it.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nzioka, Roseleen M
- Date: 2013-06-19
- Subjects: East African Standard (Nairobi, Kenya) Journalism -- Social aspects -- Kenya Journalism -- Editing -- Kenya Newspapers -- Sections, columns, etc -- Kenya Mass media -- Political aspects -- Kenya Newspapers -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3519 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008178
- Description: Determining what is newsworthy is a daily challenge even to the very people who source news, produce and disseminate it. This study is part an exposition and exploration of the different approaches that media researchers have used to explain and determine the value of news. Like similar research before it, this study more specifically delves into the news selection process of news of one particular newspaper with the goal of investigating why and how news is selected for publication in the front page. News is the 'result of many forces: ranging from source power, journalistic orientation, medium-preference and market model, news values and production routines and processes. The study briefly expounds on the different definitions of news as perceived in terms of the developed and developing world. Just as journalists do not operate in a vacuum, a close examination of the various definitions reveals that news cannot be defined in isolation. Its definition is intrinsically tied to that of news values. Also explored here are debates about news values and their Western rootedness. Here reference is made to literature regarding theories on the social construction of meanings and on the gatekeeping concept.The study is informed by similar research in gatekeeping studies and sociology of news studies. It is important to state at the outset that the study is not concerned with how news is produced but why there is a bias for certain kinds of news. I am interested in explaining why and how the writers and editors at the East African Standard make decisions about what is worthy of being published on the front page of the newspaper. This distinction is necessary because the theories that inform this study transcend news sourcing and production. This study takes cognizance ofthe fact that one cannot separate social processes from the individual and vice versa. For this reason, this study investigates and analyses the biases of individual gatekeepers at the East African Standard as well as their collective biases. In the concluding section, this study calls for an alternative paradigm for journalism and news. The foregoing discussions in the other sections prove that a universal definition of news and what is newsworthy will not suffice and there is need to contexualise it.
- Full Text:
Counting planes
- Authors: Rawlins, Isabel Bethan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Prose poems , Flash fiction , Short stories , English , Creative writing (Higher education) , Short stories, South African (English) -- 21st century , South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , South African poetry (English) -- 21st century , English language -- Writing
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:5966 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001816
- Description: This collection of prose-poems and flash fiction, together with a few short stories, shows how romantic relationships colour our perspectives on the world. The collection has echoes throughout of speakers' voices, theme, imagery and tone. There is a narrative logic too, but working on a subtle level of echo and resonance
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Rawlins, Isabel Bethan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Prose poems , Flash fiction , Short stories , English , Creative writing (Higher education) , Short stories, South African (English) -- 21st century , South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , South African poetry (English) -- 21st century , English language -- Writing
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:5966 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001816
- Description: This collection of prose-poems and flash fiction, together with a few short stories, shows how romantic relationships colour our perspectives on the world. The collection has echoes throughout of speakers' voices, theme, imagery and tone. There is a narrative logic too, but working on a subtle level of echo and resonance
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Development and validation of in-process control test kits for biodiesel production
- Authors: Fibi, Pumza Oscarine
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Biodiesel fuels -- South Africa , Biomass energy -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10416 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012645 , Biodiesel fuels -- South Africa , Biomass energy -- South Africa
- Description: The production of biodiesel from vegetable oils is not a new technology; it has been around since the 1950’s and both the research in terms of the different feedstock that can be used and the production of biodiesel has since been gaining momentum as there needs to be a new, sustainable and domestic alternative to petroleum fuels. These petroleum fuels pose enormous threats to the environment and therefore need to be replaced as they are mostly contributing to climate change and global warming not to mention the frequent price hikes which are crippling the South African economy. Biodiesel production using vegetable oils seems to be and is the future and a law has recently been passed which sanctions the production of biofuel locally.[1] South African fuel producers will instigate obligatory blending of fossil fuel with biofuel as the country moves to encourage investment in its biofuels sector. The production of biodiesel locally and the blending of biodiesel with other petroleum products will reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuel. The already established petrochemical companies like BP, Sasol and Engine are therefore mandated to purchase these biofuels if and when the biofuels meet the required South African National Standard (SANS) 1935 requirements. This is then where the challenge comes as most of these growing biofuel companies cannot afford to purchase testing equipment.The growing companiesthen discover upon completion of the biofuel manufacturing process that their product does not meet the required standard specification. The failure translates to a financial loss as the final product can possibly not be reworked. The aim of the project is then to assist these companies who are manufacturing biofuel, by providing them with in-house biofuel process methods which will allow for early detection, should there be a need to redo a step in the process and not wait until the completion of the production process. These in-house process-testing methods will range from pH determination, titration tests which will determine the soap content and the percentage free fatty acid content, water determination, density and visual testing. It is not cost-effective for these biodiesel manufacturers to send their samples for outsource testing as evidently the results obtained would be out of specification hence the need to provide these biodiesel manufacturers with in-house analytical testing techniques that will aid in monitoring of the biodiesel production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Fibi, Pumza Oscarine
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Biodiesel fuels -- South Africa , Biomass energy -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10416 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012645 , Biodiesel fuels -- South Africa , Biomass energy -- South Africa
- Description: The production of biodiesel from vegetable oils is not a new technology; it has been around since the 1950’s and both the research in terms of the different feedstock that can be used and the production of biodiesel has since been gaining momentum as there needs to be a new, sustainable and domestic alternative to petroleum fuels. These petroleum fuels pose enormous threats to the environment and therefore need to be replaced as they are mostly contributing to climate change and global warming not to mention the frequent price hikes which are crippling the South African economy. Biodiesel production using vegetable oils seems to be and is the future and a law has recently been passed which sanctions the production of biofuel locally.[1] South African fuel producers will instigate obligatory blending of fossil fuel with biofuel as the country moves to encourage investment in its biofuels sector. The production of biodiesel locally and the blending of biodiesel with other petroleum products will reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuel. The already established petrochemical companies like BP, Sasol and Engine are therefore mandated to purchase these biofuels if and when the biofuels meet the required South African National Standard (SANS) 1935 requirements. This is then where the challenge comes as most of these growing biofuel companies cannot afford to purchase testing equipment.The growing companiesthen discover upon completion of the biofuel manufacturing process that their product does not meet the required standard specification. The failure translates to a financial loss as the final product can possibly not be reworked. The aim of the project is then to assist these companies who are manufacturing biofuel, by providing them with in-house biofuel process methods which will allow for early detection, should there be a need to redo a step in the process and not wait until the completion of the production process. These in-house process-testing methods will range from pH determination, titration tests which will determine the soap content and the percentage free fatty acid content, water determination, density and visual testing. It is not cost-effective for these biodiesel manufacturers to send their samples for outsource testing as evidently the results obtained would be out of specification hence the need to provide these biodiesel manufacturers with in-house analytical testing techniques that will aid in monitoring of the biodiesel production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
The role played by local economic development (LED) project in poverty alleviation in rural areas
- Authors: Mapukata, Mnoneleli
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Economic development projects -- South Africa , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9127 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018566
- Description: The purpose of the study was to investigate the role played by Local Economic Development (LED) project in poverty alleviation in rural areas, with special reference to Ward 11 project, in Weza Administrative Area, in Willowvale (Mbhashe Municipality). The overall purpose was to investigate whether the LED project has contributed to the positive change in socio-economic conditions of rural people at Weza Administrative area. The study looked at how the projects in other countries around world played a key role in poverty alleviation. The study also looked at challenges the project face and the role played by various government departments, private sector in supporting the project. In depth case study was used in the study and the study involved various data collection instruments / tools like interviews, questionnaires and observations. Findings of the study suggest that the project plays a critical and vital role in poverty alleviation in rural areas; it provides employment and put food on the table for various families.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mapukata, Mnoneleli
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Economic development projects -- South Africa , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9127 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018566
- Description: The purpose of the study was to investigate the role played by Local Economic Development (LED) project in poverty alleviation in rural areas, with special reference to Ward 11 project, in Weza Administrative Area, in Willowvale (Mbhashe Municipality). The overall purpose was to investigate whether the LED project has contributed to the positive change in socio-economic conditions of rural people at Weza Administrative area. The study looked at how the projects in other countries around world played a key role in poverty alleviation. The study also looked at challenges the project face and the role played by various government departments, private sector in supporting the project. In depth case study was used in the study and the study involved various data collection instruments / tools like interviews, questionnaires and observations. Findings of the study suggest that the project plays a critical and vital role in poverty alleviation in rural areas; it provides employment and put food on the table for various families.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The African Peer Review Mechanism : towards Africa's governance audit
- Authors: Molete, Nathan Teboho
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: African Peer Review Mechanism New Partnership for Africa's Development Peer review -- Africa Auditing -- Africa Africa -- Politics and government -- 1960-
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2867 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007681
- Description: The concept of accountability has grown to become an integral part of a broader political and socio-economic transformation. Closely associated to it is the concept of "auditing" which has established itself as a main driving force of accountability and a core means of delivering it. The extent of the rise and expansion of "auditing" has subsequently come to influence every aspect of modern life and this has led to a situation in which practices have had to adapt to the principles of "auditing" processes. Auditing has become prevalent in both the public and private spheres and this impact has far reaching consequences. The concept of "auditing" is evident in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and is central to its review process. This thesis focuses on the concept of "auditing" in order to illustrate how the APRM has borrowed and applied insights from other disciplinary practices so as to enhance an understanding of accountability and transparency as features of "good governance" and to explicate how these concepts are conceived within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). It also clarifies the relationship that exists between "peer review" and "auditing" and argues that rather than being considered as two poles marked by distance from each other "auditing" and "peer review" are closely related and mutually constitutive.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Molete, Nathan Teboho
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: African Peer Review Mechanism New Partnership for Africa's Development Peer review -- Africa Auditing -- Africa Africa -- Politics and government -- 1960-
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2867 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007681
- Description: The concept of accountability has grown to become an integral part of a broader political and socio-economic transformation. Closely associated to it is the concept of "auditing" which has established itself as a main driving force of accountability and a core means of delivering it. The extent of the rise and expansion of "auditing" has subsequently come to influence every aspect of modern life and this has led to a situation in which practices have had to adapt to the principles of "auditing" processes. Auditing has become prevalent in both the public and private spheres and this impact has far reaching consequences. The concept of "auditing" is evident in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and is central to its review process. This thesis focuses on the concept of "auditing" in order to illustrate how the APRM has borrowed and applied insights from other disciplinary practices so as to enhance an understanding of accountability and transparency as features of "good governance" and to explicate how these concepts are conceived within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). It also clarifies the relationship that exists between "peer review" and "auditing" and argues that rather than being considered as two poles marked by distance from each other "auditing" and "peer review" are closely related and mutually constitutive.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
A statistical evaluation and analysis of mosquito repellent combination
- Authors: Asquith, Ilse Bernadette
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Mosquitoes -- Control , Insect baits and repellents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10422 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015732
- Description: The present product development project was aimed at studying the synergism and/or antagonism amongst various known insect repellent actives with the view to formulating a multi-active repellent product with improved properties when compared to current single-active commercial products. Advanced statistical methods were used to identify synergism between individual active substances and to define a formulation as close as possible to the “ideal” formulation. Several mosquito repellent samples were prepared and sent to the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) in Pretoria to test for their efficiency in repelling mosquitoes. From the results of the repellency tests of the various active combinations, three actives were identified that showed promising signs of synergism. These actives were then studied in further detail to determine their optimum combination. In addition, it was shown that when using a natural flavourant as promoter and incorporating a slow-release agent into formulations for aerosols and lotions, a product is obtained that gives comparable levels of efficiency to current commercial products, but at much reduced levels of active loading. Accelerated stability tests performed on the final combination of the three actives used in the final formulation showed no adverse reactions over a three-week study. These tests shall be repeated once the final application form (lotion, aerosol, etc) and product packing have been decided.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
- Authors: Asquith, Ilse Bernadette
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Mosquitoes -- Control , Insect baits and repellents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10422 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015732
- Description: The present product development project was aimed at studying the synergism and/or antagonism amongst various known insect repellent actives with the view to formulating a multi-active repellent product with improved properties when compared to current single-active commercial products. Advanced statistical methods were used to identify synergism between individual active substances and to define a formulation as close as possible to the “ideal” formulation. Several mosquito repellent samples were prepared and sent to the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) in Pretoria to test for their efficiency in repelling mosquitoes. From the results of the repellency tests of the various active combinations, three actives were identified that showed promising signs of synergism. These actives were then studied in further detail to determine their optimum combination. In addition, it was shown that when using a natural flavourant as promoter and incorporating a slow-release agent into formulations for aerosols and lotions, a product is obtained that gives comparable levels of efficiency to current commercial products, but at much reduced levels of active loading. Accelerated stability tests performed on the final combination of the three actives used in the final formulation showed no adverse reactions over a three-week study. These tests shall be repeated once the final application form (lotion, aerosol, etc) and product packing have been decided.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
Modelling false positive reduction in maritime object detection
- Authors: Nkele, Nosiphiwo
- Date: 20xx
- Subjects: Computer vision Neural networks (Computer science)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science )
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17168 , vital:40862
- Description: Target detection has become a very significant research area in computer vision with its applications in military, maritime surveillance, and defense and security. Maritime target detection during critical sea conditions produces a number of false positives when using the existing algorithms due to sea waves, dynamic nature of the ocean, camera motion, sea glint, sensor noise, sea spray, swell and the presence of birds. The main question that has been addressed in this research is how can object detection be improved in maritime environment by reducing false positives and promoting detection rate. Most of Previous work on object detection still fails to address the problem of false positives and false negatives due to background clutter. Most of the researchers tried to reduce false positives by applying filters but filtering degrades the quality of an image leading to more false alarms during detection. As much as radar technology has previously been the most utilized method, it still fails to detect very small objects and it may be applied in special circumstances. In trying to improve the implementation of target detection in maritime, empirical research method was proposed to answer questions about existing target detection algorithms and techniques used to reduce false positives in object detection. Visible images were retrained on a pre-trained Faster R-CNN with inception v2. The pre-trained model was retrained on five different sample data with increasing size, however for the last two samples the data was duplicated to increase size. For testing purposes 20 test images were utilized to evaluate all the models. The results of this study showed that the deep learning method used performed best in detecting maritime vessels and the increase of dataset improved detection performance and false positives were reduced. The duplication of images did not yield the best results; however, the results were promising for the first three models with increasing data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 20xx
- Authors: Nkele, Nosiphiwo
- Date: 20xx
- Subjects: Computer vision Neural networks (Computer science)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science )
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17168 , vital:40862
- Description: Target detection has become a very significant research area in computer vision with its applications in military, maritime surveillance, and defense and security. Maritime target detection during critical sea conditions produces a number of false positives when using the existing algorithms due to sea waves, dynamic nature of the ocean, camera motion, sea glint, sensor noise, sea spray, swell and the presence of birds. The main question that has been addressed in this research is how can object detection be improved in maritime environment by reducing false positives and promoting detection rate. Most of Previous work on object detection still fails to address the problem of false positives and false negatives due to background clutter. Most of the researchers tried to reduce false positives by applying filters but filtering degrades the quality of an image leading to more false alarms during detection. As much as radar technology has previously been the most utilized method, it still fails to detect very small objects and it may be applied in special circumstances. In trying to improve the implementation of target detection in maritime, empirical research method was proposed to answer questions about existing target detection algorithms and techniques used to reduce false positives in object detection. Visible images were retrained on a pre-trained Faster R-CNN with inception v2. The pre-trained model was retrained on five different sample data with increasing size, however for the last two samples the data was duplicated to increase size. For testing purposes 20 test images were utilized to evaluate all the models. The results of this study showed that the deep learning method used performed best in detecting maritime vessels and the increase of dataset improved detection performance and false positives were reduced. The duplication of images did not yield the best results; however, the results were promising for the first three models with increasing data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 20xx
The biology of Acia lineatifrons (Naude) (Homoptera : Cicadellidae) on grapevines in the Western Cape
- Authors: Marais, Elleunorah
- Date: 1988
- Subjects: Homoptera
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5597 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002047
- Description: The leafhopper, Acia lineatifrons (Naude) was identified as a pest on grapevines near Tulbagh in 1978 and has since been reported on grapevines all over the South Western Cape. A. lineatifrons causes browning of the leaves which often results in the shedding of the discoloured leaves. Heavy defoliation before harvest can result in sunburn damage to the grapes, whilst premature leaf loss after harvest adversely affects the ripening of the canes and the accumulation of reserves. This project was aimed at obtaining basic information on the biology and population dynamics of A. lineatifrons as well as to identify priorities for future research. This information is needed to develop a reliable crop-linked predictive model, methods for monitoring pest populations as well as to develop efficient short- and long-term control measures and pest management strategies. The life cycle of A. lineatifrons was studied in the laboratory. At 26°C the mean incubation period of the eggs was nine to eleven days, the mean developmental period for the five nymphal instars was 15 days and the minimum pre-oviposition period five to ten days. This adds up to a mean generation time of 29 to 36 days at 26°C. At 20°C the mean nymphal development period was 25 days, confirming the strong influence of temperature on the development rate. Fecundity was determined in the laboratory as the number of nymphs produced per female. The mean of 8,5 nymphs per female recorded at 26°C is very low compared to that of other leafhopper species (see Appendix 2). The low fecundity measured was most likely due to sub-optimal environmental conditions in the laboratory, a reduction in the suitability of the host plant under these conditions and handling of the females. The seasonal occurrence of A. lineatifrons on grapevines was studied over three seasons. It was found that the leafhoppers overwinter in the adult stage on indigenous Rubus spp, and that they enter the vineyard from the end of October until the beginning of November. Peak populations occurred between the middle of February and the end of March after which the population declined steadily towards the end of the season as the vine leaves were shed. The sex ratio of the overwintering population on R. chrysocarpus was heavily female biased, possibly due to differential mortality of the sexes. During the growing season the sex ratio was slightly male biased and reached equality on several occasions, both on the Rubus and on the grapevines. The movement of A. lineatifrons between the Rubus and the grapevines was investigated, but no evidence of a directional migration from the Rubus to the grapevines was found. Furthermore, no evidence was found to indicate that morphologically distinct short- and long-distance fliers, as found in Cicadulina species by Rose (1972b), exist in the A. lineatifrons population. Host preference tests also showed that adult leafhoppers apparently have no significant preference for grapevines to Rubus or vice versa. It seems, therefore, that the leafhoppers' move onto the grapevines at the beginning of the growing season is not prompted by a host preference. Chaboussou (1971) suggested that certain organic fungicides may cause leafhopper outbreaks because they affect the suitability of the vines as host plants and alter leafhopper fecundity. The effect of Mikal-M (active ingredient Fosetyl AL/Mancozeb), a systemic dithiocarbanate fungicide, on A. lineatifrons was investigated. Laboratory experiments showed no significant effect on fecundity and leaf analysis of potted vines treated with Mikal-M indicated no significant difference in total leaf nitrogen compared to untreated control plants. However, the field experiment on the effect of Mikal-M on the population build-up of the leafhopper showed that significantly more leafhoppers occurred on the vines treated with Mikal-M than on those treated with a conventional inorganic fungicide, copper oxychloride. In view of the far-reaching implications this can have on the viticultural industry, further research on the effects of organic fungicides on leafhopper populations is recommended to confirm the generality of these results so that recommendations regarding the use of these fungicides may be made. The question as to why A. lineatifrons became a pest only recently was raised. Three possibilities were considered, namely (1) that A. lineatifrons is a species of tropical origin which moved down the continent and became established in the Western Cape only recently, (2) that is has been in the Western Cape at least as long as the grapevines, but required prolonged exposure to establish itself on the new host and (3) that is has been on the vines for some time, but was noticed only recently when outbreaks occurred. These outbreaks could have been caused by the introduction of organic fungicides or the depletion of natural enemies by insecticides used to control other insects in the vineyards. Due to the lack of evidence this question could not be answered conclusively. Other research priorities that were established are the development of methods for damage assessment and monitoring of leafhopper populations, determining if A. lineatifrons can transmit grapevine virusses, the development of an economic threshold level and the identification of natural enemies of A. lineatifrons to enable the development of efficient pest management strategies (Summary, p. 63-65)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1988
- Authors: Marais, Elleunorah
- Date: 1988
- Subjects: Homoptera
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5597 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002047
- Description: The leafhopper, Acia lineatifrons (Naude) was identified as a pest on grapevines near Tulbagh in 1978 and has since been reported on grapevines all over the South Western Cape. A. lineatifrons causes browning of the leaves which often results in the shedding of the discoloured leaves. Heavy defoliation before harvest can result in sunburn damage to the grapes, whilst premature leaf loss after harvest adversely affects the ripening of the canes and the accumulation of reserves. This project was aimed at obtaining basic information on the biology and population dynamics of A. lineatifrons as well as to identify priorities for future research. This information is needed to develop a reliable crop-linked predictive model, methods for monitoring pest populations as well as to develop efficient short- and long-term control measures and pest management strategies. The life cycle of A. lineatifrons was studied in the laboratory. At 26°C the mean incubation period of the eggs was nine to eleven days, the mean developmental period for the five nymphal instars was 15 days and the minimum pre-oviposition period five to ten days. This adds up to a mean generation time of 29 to 36 days at 26°C. At 20°C the mean nymphal development period was 25 days, confirming the strong influence of temperature on the development rate. Fecundity was determined in the laboratory as the number of nymphs produced per female. The mean of 8,5 nymphs per female recorded at 26°C is very low compared to that of other leafhopper species (see Appendix 2). The low fecundity measured was most likely due to sub-optimal environmental conditions in the laboratory, a reduction in the suitability of the host plant under these conditions and handling of the females. The seasonal occurrence of A. lineatifrons on grapevines was studied over three seasons. It was found that the leafhoppers overwinter in the adult stage on indigenous Rubus spp, and that they enter the vineyard from the end of October until the beginning of November. Peak populations occurred between the middle of February and the end of March after which the population declined steadily towards the end of the season as the vine leaves were shed. The sex ratio of the overwintering population on R. chrysocarpus was heavily female biased, possibly due to differential mortality of the sexes. During the growing season the sex ratio was slightly male biased and reached equality on several occasions, both on the Rubus and on the grapevines. The movement of A. lineatifrons between the Rubus and the grapevines was investigated, but no evidence of a directional migration from the Rubus to the grapevines was found. Furthermore, no evidence was found to indicate that morphologically distinct short- and long-distance fliers, as found in Cicadulina species by Rose (1972b), exist in the A. lineatifrons population. Host preference tests also showed that adult leafhoppers apparently have no significant preference for grapevines to Rubus or vice versa. It seems, therefore, that the leafhoppers' move onto the grapevines at the beginning of the growing season is not prompted by a host preference. Chaboussou (1971) suggested that certain organic fungicides may cause leafhopper outbreaks because they affect the suitability of the vines as host plants and alter leafhopper fecundity. The effect of Mikal-M (active ingredient Fosetyl AL/Mancozeb), a systemic dithiocarbanate fungicide, on A. lineatifrons was investigated. Laboratory experiments showed no significant effect on fecundity and leaf analysis of potted vines treated with Mikal-M indicated no significant difference in total leaf nitrogen compared to untreated control plants. However, the field experiment on the effect of Mikal-M on the population build-up of the leafhopper showed that significantly more leafhoppers occurred on the vines treated with Mikal-M than on those treated with a conventional inorganic fungicide, copper oxychloride. In view of the far-reaching implications this can have on the viticultural industry, further research on the effects of organic fungicides on leafhopper populations is recommended to confirm the generality of these results so that recommendations regarding the use of these fungicides may be made. The question as to why A. lineatifrons became a pest only recently was raised. Three possibilities were considered, namely (1) that A. lineatifrons is a species of tropical origin which moved down the continent and became established in the Western Cape only recently, (2) that is has been in the Western Cape at least as long as the grapevines, but required prolonged exposure to establish itself on the new host and (3) that is has been on the vines for some time, but was noticed only recently when outbreaks occurred. These outbreaks could have been caused by the introduction of organic fungicides or the depletion of natural enemies by insecticides used to control other insects in the vineyards. Due to the lack of evidence this question could not be answered conclusively. Other research priorities that were established are the development of methods for damage assessment and monitoring of leafhopper populations, determining if A. lineatifrons can transmit grapevine virusses, the development of an economic threshold level and the identification of natural enemies of A. lineatifrons to enable the development of efficient pest management strategies (Summary, p. 63-65)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1988
The origins, growth and development of the Bantu Presbyterian Church of South Africa
- Authors: Van der Spuy, Daniel
- Date: 1971
- Subjects: Bantu Presbyterian Church of South Africa -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BDiv
- Identifier: vital:1230 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007287
- Description: From Preface: "The function of the historian is neither to love the past nor to emancipate himself from the past, but to master and understand it as the key to understanding the present." (E.H. Carr, What is history?, 1964 p.26.) The existence of an independent Bantu Presbyterian Church (B.P.C.) has raised many questions and problems which could only be probed by tracing its history. It is fascinating that even with the passing of so many years the issues at stake are still in the forefront. Perhaps in understanding the past one may better understand the present, but only one with acute vision will know the "right solution". The "Presbyterian mission" has been one of many in South Africa and has been present for over 150 years, yet I found little, as far as published work is concerned, which deals comprehensively with the various bodies comprising this mission. Nor is it clear, even in Presbyterian circles, what its history and policy has been, or meant, in the life of this country. Unfortunately, material is not always readily available, (which I found to my dismay), and both time and expense is involved in collecting such. I have consequently had to rely on scanty information as well as the dry-as-dust, uninformative blue books of the B.P.C.and P.C.S.A., which may indicate trends but very little by way of individual thought. With some spadework done by a few, it is an ardent hope that more will be done to uncover the past to knit the Presbyterian tradition together, that it may take its place amongst other histories, not in any partisan manner, but only to contribute to a healthy ecumenical climate where the worth of each tradition is acknowledged and used to increase the spirit of closer co-operation. The question of Presbyterian Union has long been present. My hope is that this thesis may clarify and encourage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1971
- Authors: Van der Spuy, Daniel
- Date: 1971
- Subjects: Bantu Presbyterian Church of South Africa -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BDiv
- Identifier: vital:1230 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007287
- Description: From Preface: "The function of the historian is neither to love the past nor to emancipate himself from the past, but to master and understand it as the key to understanding the present." (E.H. Carr, What is history?, 1964 p.26.) The existence of an independent Bantu Presbyterian Church (B.P.C.) has raised many questions and problems which could only be probed by tracing its history. It is fascinating that even with the passing of so many years the issues at stake are still in the forefront. Perhaps in understanding the past one may better understand the present, but only one with acute vision will know the "right solution". The "Presbyterian mission" has been one of many in South Africa and has been present for over 150 years, yet I found little, as far as published work is concerned, which deals comprehensively with the various bodies comprising this mission. Nor is it clear, even in Presbyterian circles, what its history and policy has been, or meant, in the life of this country. Unfortunately, material is not always readily available, (which I found to my dismay), and both time and expense is involved in collecting such. I have consequently had to rely on scanty information as well as the dry-as-dust, uninformative blue books of the B.P.C.and P.C.S.A., which may indicate trends but very little by way of individual thought. With some spadework done by a few, it is an ardent hope that more will be done to uncover the past to knit the Presbyterian tradition together, that it may take its place amongst other histories, not in any partisan manner, but only to contribute to a healthy ecumenical climate where the worth of each tradition is acknowledged and used to increase the spirit of closer co-operation. The question of Presbyterian Union has long been present. My hope is that this thesis may clarify and encourage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1971
A study of cation exchange in South African soils
- Authors: Du Toit, A A
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Soil chemistry , Ion exchange
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4462 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011506 , Soil chemistry , Ion exchange
- Description: The colloidal fraction is the vital part of a soil. These extremely minute particles determine the nature of the soil and are mainly responsible for its many and varied functions. The most important of these functions is perhaps the ability of the colloids to adsorb and exchange cations, the elements so essential to all organisms as building materials. When pure water is passed through a non-saline. soil, the leachate will contain very few dissolved cations. If, on the other hand, an electrolyte such as a weak solution of sodiun chloride, is passed through the same soil, the leachate will contain considerable quantities of calcium, magnesium and potassiun chlorides as well as much of the original sodium chloride. The number of equivalents of the cations collected will be approximately the same as the number of equivalents of sodium ions added. Sodium ions have displaced some of the calcian, magnesium and potassium ions from the soil. This phenomenon is known as cation exchange. Intro., p. 1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1952
- Authors: Du Toit, A A
- Date: 1952
- Subjects: Soil chemistry , Ion exchange
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4462 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011506 , Soil chemistry , Ion exchange
- Description: The colloidal fraction is the vital part of a soil. These extremely minute particles determine the nature of the soil and are mainly responsible for its many and varied functions. The most important of these functions is perhaps the ability of the colloids to adsorb and exchange cations, the elements so essential to all organisms as building materials. When pure water is passed through a non-saline. soil, the leachate will contain very few dissolved cations. If, on the other hand, an electrolyte such as a weak solution of sodiun chloride, is passed through the same soil, the leachate will contain considerable quantities of calcium, magnesium and potassiun chlorides as well as much of the original sodium chloride. The number of equivalents of the cations collected will be approximately the same as the number of equivalents of sodium ions added. Sodium ions have displaced some of the calcian, magnesium and potassium ions from the soil. This phenomenon is known as cation exchange. Intro., p. 1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1952