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An inquiry on the efficacy of structures by South African government to promote intergration of traditional medicine and modern medicine: A case of Mossel Bay, Western Cape Province

  • Authors: Heynes, Derick Vincent
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Traditional medicine -- South Africa -- Western cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46890 , vital:39723
  • Description: The two health systems are currently functioning parallel to one another as it seeks to contribute towards improving the health care delivery systems in South Africa. The myriad of literature available on the topic has nudged this phenomenon into the spotlight, and this realisation became even more apparent since South Africa’s transition from a system of separate development (also known as apartheid) to a democratic dispensation in 1994. Traditional Medicine, also known as folk medicine or complementary and Alternative Medicine (also known as CAM), is regarded as the oldest form of health care system that has been around since the dawn of time. It is in ancient cultures that method of healing have used to cope and deal with various diseases that have threatened their existence and survival (Abdullahi, 2011). Botha (2004) puts it succinctly as she notes that the clash between traditional methods of healing and Western medical science in places like South Africa requires that we ask questions like “What is health?” “What does healing mean?” and outlines that the contemporary move towards the recognition of alternative medicine is concurrent with a shift in Western thinking on the nature of science, healing and human being. These concepts namely; “What is health?” and “What does healing mean?” will be expounded in the chapters that follow. The researcher concurs with Botha (2004) views in that access to basic health services, as well as related infrastructure, such as water supplies, sanitary works and roads, generally remains one of the biggest problems on the continent and this has a huge impact on health care delivery systems, particularly in South Africa.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

An investigation of the security of passwords derived from African languages

  • Authors: Sishi, Sibusiso Teboho
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Computers -- Access control -- Passwords , Computer users -- Attitudes , Internet -- Access control , Internet -- Security measures , Internet -- Management , Data protection
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163273 , vital:41024
  • Description: Password authentication has become ubiquitous in the cyber age. To-date, there have been several studies on country based passwords by authors who studied, amongst others, English, Finnish, Italian and Chinese based passwords. However, there has been a lack of focused study on the type of passwords that are being created in Africa and whether there are benefits in creating passwords in an African language. For this research, password databases containing LAN Manager (LM) and NT LAN Manager (NTLM) hashes extracted from South African organisations in a variety of sectors in the economy, were obtained to gain an understanding of user behaviour in creating passwords. Analysis of the passwords obtained from these hashes (using several cracking methods) showed that many organisational passwords are based on the English language. This is understandable considering that the business language in South Africa is English even though South Africa has 11 official languages. African language based passwords were derived from known English weak passwords and some of the passwords were appended with numbers and special characters. The African based passwords created using eight Southern African languages were then uploaded to the Internet to test the security around using passwords based on African languages. Since most of the passwords were able to be cracked by third party researchers, we conclude that any password that is derived from known weak English words marked no improvement in the security of a password written in an African language, especially the more widely spoken languages, namely, isiZulu, isiXhosa and Setswana.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Efficient market hypothesis in South Africa: an analysis using the flexible form unit root test

  • Authors: Nomatye, Anelisa
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Stocks -- Prices -- South Africa , Stock exchanges -- South Africa Stocks -- South Africa Johannesburg Stock Exchange Economic indicators -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42825 , vital:36697
  • Description: An efficient stock market is characterised by prices that are reflective of all the information such that there are no opportunities for arbitrageurs. In an efficient market, it is impossible to beat the market, therefore it follows that stock prices in an efficient market should follow a random walk. This study investigates whether the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is an efficient market using the JSE Top 40 listed stocks, thus the relevance of the EMH in the current South African market is analysed. A corerlation analysis is undertaken to find whether the individual stocks in the different sectors are correlated in their returns, or if there are any intersector correlations. This analysis showed that individual sector stocks are mostly correlated, however, the individual sector stocks do not show a relationship with common sectors. The data used is monthly data of the individual stocks from 31 January 1999 to 30 June 2018. The study takes into consideration that the period is post the Asian Contagion and during the dot.com bubble. Also considered is the Global Financial crisis that occurred in 2007/2008. The study period thus allows enough time for market corerction. The study utilises the conventional unit root tests; the augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF), Phillips- Perron (PP) and the Kwiatkowski–Phillips–Schmidt–Shin (KPSS) tests. Also utilised are modified unit root tests of Elliot, Rothenburg and Stock (ERS) (1996) as well as Ng and Perron (2001). Due to criticisms of the initially utilised unit roots, the nonlinear test of Kapetanois et al. (2003) and the Flexible Fourier form (FFF) is employed. Based on the empirical analysis, the study demonstrates that although the studies received conflicting evidence the FFF demonstrates the most “power” of the tests, thus is deemed to provide more accurate results. This test provided evidence of stationarity in the JSE market, thus implying inefficiency. The results were different for only two of the forty stocks, namely, Shoprite and Bidvest which implied efficiency. The study thus found that the EMH is not relevant to the current South African market and other theories should be considered in analysing the market. This also provides a case for behavioural finance to be analysed, as the assumption that all investors are rational is questioned.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

A critical discourse analysis of the construction of adolescent-friendly services within training documents used by the National Adolescent-friendly Clinic Initiative in South Africa

  • Authors: Ferrucci, Daniella
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Discourse analysis Teenagers Reproductive health
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12722 , vital:39315
  • Description: The objective of this study was to critically explore the construction of adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health and services within the South African National Adolescent-Friendly Clinic Initiative (NAFCI), by examining the training manuals and information booklets used to train the health service providers working within this programme. This was completed through the use of Foucauldian discourse analysis (FDA) and positioning theory. FDA was used to look for themes or discourses that emerged in the text, and to examine the role that power and language played in the talk around adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Positioning theory was used to explore the manner in which the young woman and health service provider were positioned within the documents, and the implications this had in relation to sexual and reproductive health and services. The discourses that emerged included discourses of risk, namely the “adolescent-in-transition” and the “sex-as-danger-and-disease” discourse; followed by the empowering discourse, the discourse of rights and responsibility, expert advice, and management and surveillance. These discourses generally depicted adolescent sexual and reproductive health in a mostly negative and problematic manner, which needed to be managed and governed by the more powerful and dominant medical expert. These discourses also positioned the young woman and the health care provider in contradictory ways. The young woman was either positioned as risk-seeking and problematic, due to her sexual behaviour, leaving her vulnerable in terms of her health and power; or she was positioned in a positive, healthy and responsible light. The health service provider was also positioned in contradictory ways. First she was positioned as an advisor and expert, due to her knowledge and skills; but then her position shifts into that a problem and a hindrance to accessing sexual and reproductive health services. The implications of these discourses serve to make sexual and reproductive healthcare a problem located within the individual. It fails to acknowledge the structural imbalances that are known to South Africa, but rather tries to construct it as a problem that needs to be managed by placing responsibility on the young woman and the health service providers.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Exploring the identity construction of Johannesburg bodybuilders with Photovoice

  • Authors: Rogers, Keegan
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Identity (Psychology) Bodybuilders Athletes
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12631 , vital:39294
  • Description: Identity is a complex concept involving not only who one is, but who one is becoming. Identity is often shaped by one’s experiences and by one’s environment. The identity of bodybuilders is constructed through their experiences, which are often hidden. Using Participant Action Research, specifically Photovoice, the participants were provided a platform to share their experience from their own perspective. This research aimed to explore the identity of bodybuilders and what shapes their identity. Four male bodybuilders between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-eight participated in the study. The sample of participants consisted of two black males and two Caucasian males. The four athletes either selected or took photographs of significant aspects in their life that they felt contributed to their identity. The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with the athletes regarding the photographic images they took. The interview transcripts and photographs were analysed using Thematic Analysis. Five main themes were identified: Diet (including water intake and on/off season cycles), Presentation of physique, Psychological impact on self-confidence, Risks involved with bodybuilding and Impact on personal life. Significances of the themes were discussed with the aim of increasing awareness regarding the experience of bodybuilders and how their experience as bodybuilders has shaped their identity.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Exploring women's experience of fundal pressure during the second stage of labour

  • Authors: Okafor, Uchenna Benedine
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Labor (Obstetrics) Childbirth
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , Magister of Curationis
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15532 , vital:40424
  • Description: Background and Aim: Despite the use of fundal pressure globally, there is a scarcity of information available on how women experience the application of uterine fundal pressure (UFP) during the second stage of labour. The aim of study was to explore the experiences of women concerning UFP application during the second stage of labour. Understanding women’s perception about UFP is important in informing the generation of new ideas to improve on the application of UFP for better outcomes. Methods: This was a qualitative, interpretive, and phenomenological analysis designed to explore the experiences of women regarding the application of UFP during the second stage of labour. Hermeneutics was applied to interpret the participants’ descriptions of their experiences as they tried to make sense of their exposure to UFP; bearing this in mind, the participants’ own interpretation was not distorted. The researcher immersed herself in each transcript, in order to make sense of each participant’s experiences and to gain a sense of what the participant had experienced during UFP application. Each interview was transcribed and analysed independently; and the convergences and divergences of themes were identified without losing the original meaning of each participant’s description before moving on to the subsequent interviews. The target population was women who had had UFP during second stage of labour. A purposive sampling method was used to select three women who were admitted to the DVDHMOU during the research period and who met the inclusion criteria. Information was collected through individual face-to-face interviews and semi-structured interview guide. The principal question was framed as: “Can you please share with me how you felt when the midwives pushed on your tummy to get the baby out”? An audio tape was used to record the interviews, and a notepad was used to make notes of gestures such smiles or other facial expressions. After each interview, the recorded interview was transferred onto a laptop and a file was opened for the interviewee, identified by a pseudonym. The interviews were transcribed verbatim as Word documents. Trustworthiness was maintained by applying the principles of credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability. Ethical approval was granted by the Ethical Committee of the University of Fort Hare. Permission to conduct the study was sought from the Eastern Cape Research Committee and Buffalo City Metropolitan Health District. Informed consent was obtained from the participants prior to data collection. Each interview was analysed separately after completion. Data was analysed using thematic content analysis applicable to interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) studies using six steps: reading and re-reading; initial noting; developing emergent themes; searching for connections across the emergent themes; moving to the next case; and lastly, looking for patterns across cases. Findings: The findings of this study indicated that the informants had feelings of fear, loneliness, worry and tearfulness; but also happiness associated with UFP during second stage of labour. They were also worried and expressed fear and anxiety concerning their infants; and their ability to give birth increased as they get tired in the process of pushing during UFP application. However, seeing their infants for the first time took most of the worries away, and all informants expressed relief when the birthing process was over. They also felt that their birthing experience was a very painful event; and were left alone, and they had not been given anything to drink or eat during labour. Midwives threatened them that their inability to pushing appropriately, could cause the death of their infants, leaving them with feelings of guilt and despair when their babies did not cry directly after birth. The findings demonstrated that midwives did not properly inform women what to expect during the second stage of their labour, whilst the midwives expected birthing mothers to know what was happening to them and how to react. Women in labour therefore depended almost entirely on information received from family members, and went into labour with preconceived ideas about labour pain. Although women do experience pain during the second stage of labour, the application UFP increased their pain. Four main themes emerged from the analysis, which are: perceived severity of UFP pain,emotional/physical reaction to UFP pain, perceptions of UFP and perception of midwives care and treatment. Conclusion: The uterine fundal pressure is not a pleasant experience for the women in the second stage of labour. Labouring women experienced pain, fear, and anxiety. However, they felt a sense of happiness after delivery. Before the application of UFP during the second stage of labour, midwives should explain to women the process of UFP application and what they can expect to happen; and where possible, and after explaining the procedure, midwives should get written permission before they apply the intervention during labour.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The contribution of small-scale fisheries to rural livelihoods and food security : evidence from Hamburg, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Budaza, Nwabisa
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Small-scale fisheries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Fishery management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10338 , vital:35396
  • Description: Small-scale fisheries are known to provide food and income to millions of people around the world, but their role and existence is often ignored in development planning. The growing human demand for animal protein has become one of the foremost world challenges for which aquatic organisms have a significant role to play. In South Africa, small-scale fisheries have been recognized since the end of Apartheid, but the extent of the contribution of the sector to rural livelihoods and food security is not well understood. Using data drawn from a sample of 80 fishers in the coastal community of Hamburg, Eastern Cape, this dissertation presents an assessment of the contribution of small-scale fisheries to rural livelihoods, income and food security. The primary data were collected from the fishers using a structured questionnaire and non-probability sampling. The data were analysed with the assistance of descriptive techniques and a few simply statistical tests. The results of the study indicate that fishers in Hamburg catch a wide range of fish, which include wild kob, octopus, spotted grunter, white/black mussel cracker and white steenbras. Fishers in the study area are not solely dependent on small-scale fisheries for their livelihoods, income and food security, but generally supplement their welfare payments with fishing in order to sustain their livelihoods. About 78percent of the surveyed fishers depend on government grants, including old age grants, child support grants and social care grant. In terms of employment, 15percent of the surveyed fishers are casually employed, while 6percent are formally employed on a contract basis. Although they are not only dependent on fishing, nevertheless fishing is an important source of livelihood, income and food security. About 37percent of the fishers harvest marine resources for home consumption, while 7percent harvest solely for income, and 56percent harvest for both home consumption and income. Income generated from fisheries is approximately R935 per month and is used to buy food, electricity, fishing equipment and other household needs. The findings from this research underline the need for interventions such as coordinated institutions, improved infrastructure, improved monitoring and enforcement systems, as well as improved access to permit/fishing rights for sustainable use of marine resources.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An investigation into the popularity of Latin soap operas among Zambian viewers: a reception study of Lusaka women

  • Authors: Mushambatwa, Iñutu
  • Date: 2017
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7702 , vital:21287
  • Description: This study explores the way Zambian women make sense of the representations and discourses in the Latin soaps that they watch daily. The study seeks to find out what pleasures and values Zambian women get from these soaps given that the Latin and Zambian cultures are very different. This is in the context of Zambia being a socially conservative patriarchal and Christian nation, where the legal and traditional practices focus on the authority of the man in relationships, particularly in marriages. The lens through which this study is conducted is provided by the media imperialism thesis and its critiques. The study explores the underlying proposition of the thesis that global media are uncritically received by people in the Third World which contributes to global cultural homogenisation. Drawing on ethnographic critiques of this position, my study provides a close examination of actual viewers in actual contexts in order to understand the complex relationships that often exist between global media and local audiences. Using qualitative methods rooted in reception analysis, the study explores the pleasures women get from these soap operas and in particular, the symbolic means that these soaps provide for what has been referred to as ‘symbolic distancing’. Symbolic distancing foregrounds the way local audiences use global media to distance themselves from the cultural confines of their local environments, exposing them to other worldviews and understandings from which they can critique their own lived conditions of existence. In line with this, the study evaluates whether the viewers’ perceptions and values have been changed by the viewing of these Latin soaps.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Climate change mitigation and resilience by four major supermarkets in East London, South Africa

  • Authors: Sibanda, Patience
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Climatic changes -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Climate change mitigation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Agriculture -- Environmental aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5406 , vital:29231
  • Description: Climate change is a human development challenge. Its negative impacts have the potential to reverse the human development gains made in Africa. South Africa, just like many other countries in the Global South, is being negatively affected by climate change. The country`s economy is largely dependent on agriculture, extractive industries and manufacturing, all of which are vulnerable to climate change in different ways. This vulnerability means different public and private stakeholders must institute sustainable climate change mitigation and adaptation measures so as to ameliorate climate change impacts. Gradually transforming to an environmentally friendly ‘green economy’ and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are some of South Africa’s climate change mitigation priorities. Just like the public sector, the private sector has a major role to play in this transition to a low carbon economy through minimising its carbon emissions in their operations. Against this background, this qualitative research examines the role played by four major supermarkets (Shoprite, Spar, Pick n Pay and Woolworths), in climate change mitigation and resilience building. It does so through an appraisal of their mitigation and resilience programs. The four supermarkets were purposively selected in East London, Eastern Cape. Data collection combined heavy reliance on desktop discourse analysis with field interviews in the form of purposively sampled key informant interviews. The results show that the four major supermarkets are implementing a variety of climate change mitigation and resilience strategies. These include reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, prioritisation of renewable energy, recycling and environmentally friendly packaging, promotion of sustainable ways of farming and improved fuel efficiency in their transport systems. In terms of policy improvement, the study recommends that there is need for supermarkets to learn from each other’s’ climate change mitigation initiatives so as to advance South Africa’s ‘green economy’ agenda.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Physiochemical and heavy metals fingerprints of the final effluents of Adelaide and Seymour wastewater treatment facilities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • Authors: Mutukwa, Dorcas
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Water -- Purification Effluent quality -- Testing
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8089 , vital:31520
  • Description: Wastewater contains pathogens, heavy metals, nutrients, organic matter and other toxic chemicals and when discharged into the environment without proper treatment, it may cause adverse health problems and environment degradation. There have been reports in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa of inadequate treated wastewater effluents being discharged into freshwater environments. This study reports on the physicochemical and heavy metals qualities for two wastewater treatment facilities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa over a six-month sampling period (September 2015 to February 2016). Wastewater effluent samples were collected from the influents, final effluents and receiving waterbodies as well as sludge samples in replicates. The physicochemical parameters were analysed using standard methods (APHA, 2012). The acid digested heavy metals samples were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (iCE 3500 Thermo Fisher Spectrometer). The concentrations were compared to recommended limits used in South Africa and World Health Organisation (WHO). Physicochemical qualities assessed at Adelaide wastewater treatment plant ranged as follows: temperature (21.6 - 30.5 oC), turbidity (2.1 – 71.3 NTU), electrical conductivity (EC) (743.0 – 898.3 μ/Scm) and dissolved oxygen (DO) (2.11 – 3.50 mg/L) while the ranges of the parameter assessed at Seymour wastewater treatment plant ranged as follows: chemical dissolved oxygen (COD) (41.7 – 115.3 mg/L), EC (628 and 797.7 μ/Scm) and nitrates (4.6 – 11.0 mg/L. The heavy metals concentration for the final effluents at Adelaide wastewater treatment plant ranged as follows: Cd (0 – 0.002 mg/L), Cu (0 – 0.096 mg/L) and Fe (0 – 0.498 mg/L). Cu concentrations in sludge at Seymour wastewater treatment plant ranged between 83.82 and 132.07 mg/L. Reduction efficiencies of Adelaide in removing chlorides and sulphates were 33 and 36 percent respectively. Findings of study revealed negative impacts of inadequately treated effluents on receiving waterbodies and this puts communities which rely on the water as immediate source of fresh water for domestic purposes at health risk.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Psychological capital as a moderator on the relationship between work-life balance and turnover intentions amongst selected bank employees in the Amathole district, Eastern Cape province

  • Authors: Nyahwema, Cloudious
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Employee competitive behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Human capital -- Psychological aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13556 , vital:39679
  • Description: Globalisation has facilitated high mobility among 21st century employees allowing brain circulation to occur. However, high employee mobility also means organisations are losing employees to competitors some of which are global business moguls with better resources leaving emerging businesses at a disadvantage. Lately, the South African banking sector has also been affected with high employee turnover requiring the need for investigation. For these reasons, the main objective of the study was to investigate whether psychological capital significantly moderates the relationship between work-life balance and turnover intentions among selected bank employees in Amathole district, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study also examined if there is a positive and significant relationship between psychological capital and work-life balance among selected bank employees. In addition, the study sought to examine if there is a positive and significant relationship between psychological capital and turnover intention among selected bank employees. The study followed a quantitative research approach. Therefore, survey questionnaires were used as means of data collection and data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Research results indicated that psychological capital significantly moderates the relationship between work-life balance and turnover intentions among selected bank employees. A significantly positive relationship between psychological capital (PsyCap) and work-life balance among selected bank employees was found. The results also revealed that there is no significant relationship between psychological capital and turnover intentions among selected bank employees.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Development of a stemmer for the isiXhosa language

  • Authors: Nogwina, Mnoneleli
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Computational linguistics Language and languages Xhosa language
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2611 , vital:27938
  • Description: IsiXhosa language is one of the eleven official languages and the second most widely spoken language in South Africa. However, in terms of computational linguistics, the language did not get attention and natural language related work is almost non-existent. Document retrieval using unstructured queries requires some kind of language processing, and an efficient retrieval of documents can be achieved if we use a technique called stemming. The area that involves document storage and retrieval is called Information Retrieval (IR). Basically, IR systems make use of a Stemmer to index document representations and also terms in users’ queries to retrieve matching documents. In this dissertation, we present the developed Stemmer that can be used in both conditions. The Stemmer is used in IR systems, like Google to retrieve documents written in isiXhosa. In the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa many public schools take isiXhosa as a subject and also a number of Universities in South Africa teach isiXhosa. Therefore, for a language important such as this, it is important to make valuable information that is available online accessible to users through the use of IR systems. In our efforts to develop a Stemmer for the isiXhosa language, an investigation on how others have developed Stemmers for other languages was carried out. From the investigation we came to realize that the Porter stemming algorithm in particular was the main algorithm that many of other Stemmers make use of as a reference. We found that Porter’s algorithm could not be used in its totality in the development of the isiXhosa Stemmer because of the morphological complexity of the language. We developed an affix removal that is embedded with rules that determine which order should be followed in stripping the affixes. The rule is that, the word under consideration is checked against the exceptions, if it’s not in the exceptions list then the stripping continue in the following order; Prefix removal, Suffix removal and finally save the result as stem. The Stemmer was successfully developed and was tested and evaluated in a sample data that was randomly collected from the isiXhosa text books and isiXhosa dictionary. From the results obtained we concluded that the Stemmer can be used in IR systems as it showed 91 percent accuracy. The errors were 9 percent and therefore these results are within the accepted range and therefore the Stemmer can be used to help in retrieval of isiXhosa documents. This is only a noun Stemmer and in the future it can be extended to also stem verbs as well. The Stemmer can also be used in the development of spell-checkers of isiXhosa.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Monitoring changes in vegetation distribution to ascertain the extent of degradation in the savannas of Nkonkobe Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • Authors: Masiza, Wonga
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Savanna ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Vegetation management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2027 , vital:27598
  • Description: Savanna degradation is an environmental problem occurring in most countries around the world and it poses threats to biodiversity conservation, the food industry, and other economic sectors. According to FAO, South Africa’s rangelands exhibit the highest rate of fragmentation in comparison to range ecosystems in neighbouring countries including Lesotho and Swaziland, and consensus among researchers is that communal rangelands are more degraded than commercial rangelands. Although researchers and communities have identified the occurrence of land degradation in communal savannas at a local scale, land degradation has been poorly estimated because little has been done to quantify the extent and dynamics of perceived and observed changes associated with land degradation. The main goal of this study is to provide empirical insights on the direction of changes in the communal savannas of Nkonkobe Local Municipality in order to inform policy formulation and implementation. Additional to the communal sites is a private farm included for comparative analysis of trends in communal and commercial savannas. Landsat imagery was used to map, assess, and quantify the extent of land degradation in Nkonkobe Local Municipality, over a period of 30 years between 1984 and 2014. Field investigations were undertaken in June 2015 to acquire reference data to guide supervised classification of Landsat images. Three algorithms (Mahalanobis-distance, Minimum-distance, and Maximum likelihood classification) were compared to identify a classifier that produced the best results. The maximum likelihood classifier produced the best results with classification accuracy levels of 95.24 percent, 89.66 percent, and 95.65 percent for Honeydale Farm, Thyume, and Sheshegu respectively. Regression analysis revealed that both communal and private lands have experienced statistically significant increases in bush encroachment and decreases in surface water. Communal savannas have been confronted more by expansion of built-up area, decrease in open grassland, abandonment of arable land, soil erosion, and a steady invasion by Acacia Karroo compared to the privately owned commercial farm. The land cover changes measured through this investigation suggest an environmental shift that threatens biodiversity and agricultural activity. The study provides empirically informed insights about the direction to which these savannas are changing with the hope that the findings will prompt formulation and implementation of effective policies.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

The impact of South Africa's economic diplomacy on Africa's development

  • Authors: Mlaba, Lindokuhle Hendrick
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Economic development Africa -- Economic conditions Economic development -- Political aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11531 , vital:26935
  • Description: South Africa has become a significant role player in the international relations since being readmitted into the world community after the first democratic election in 1994. The primary focus of country’s international relations is the African continent. South Africa has played a pivotal role in bringing peace across the continent. There has also been an increase in South Africa’s engagement with the continent on economic and trade issues. South Africa’s economic diplomacy has been scrutinized from different angles. There has been perceptions of a South Africa with imperialists or hegemonic tendencies resembling those of the West. There are also those who view South Africa’s economic role in the continent in the positive light as a contributor to economic growth and development. The South African governments have always preached the notion of the “African agenda” and the interest in fair trade and engagement with the continent. This study assesses different debates regarding South Africa’s economic diplomacy in Africa and explores if this is benefiting the continent’s development. The study also considers if such economic diplomacy has positive spin off for the South African economy. Since economic diplomacy is operated at government level the study also considers how economic diplomacy is coordinated in South Africa. There are a number of recommendations presented for the improvement of economic diplomacy in South Africa.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

The promotion of ethical egoism through morality mechanics in mass effect, fable III & fallout new vegas: a role-playing video game exploration

  • Authors: Grobler, Carli
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Egoism , Ethics Altruism
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7699 , vital:23393
  • Description: The aim of this study is to determine whether or not ethical egoism is promoted during gameplay of three role-playing video games namely Mass Effect, Fable III and Fallout New Vegas. The rapid expansion of the video gaming industry as well as game studies as an academic field have made it necessary to understand what effects video games may have on society. This study shows that gamers come into contact with various ethico-moral dilemmas during gameplay and act in an egoistic manner in order to complete video games. Firstly, an explanation of game and gameplay are provided as well as an outline of two game studies methodologies, namely narratology and ludology. These two methodologies are then combined into a hybrid approach which is used to analyse the video games from both a narrative and gameplay point of view which allows for a more comprehensive analysis of each respective game. Thereafter, a discussion of B.F. Skinner's behaviourism is given in order to better understand gamer behaviour. Skinner's concepts of positive reinforcement, schedules of reinforcement and operant conditioning are then linked to video games to show behaviourism's influences on game design. Ethical egoism, as theorised by Thomas Hobbes and Jesse Kalin, provides the ethico-moral theory necessary for the analysis of the morality mechanic in each game. Ethico-moral dilemmas identified within each game are discussed with regards to the hybrid approach which details both narrative and gameplay consequences of in-game ethico-moral decision making. The study concludes that gamers are ethical egoists when engaged in gameplay, due to their desire to complete the video game. However, during gameplay, gamers are exposed to altruism which is often promoted through the narrative and the nature of in-game objectives. Suggestions for further studies are also given for example a more detailed analysis of gamer behaviour, a qualitative study of in-game ethico-moral actions as well as a study of games that are non-violent in nature.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

The relationship between stock market development and savings mobilization in South Africa

  • Authors: Katsande, Tamuka
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Stock exchanges Saving and investment Financial services industry
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , Economics
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11762 , vital:39104
  • Description: South Africa has a well-developed financial sector, particularly the stock market, which performs better than those of other developed countries. However, it is interesting to note that irrespective of the advancement in the financial sector, the country has low levels of savings. Given this background, the study empirically examined the relationship between stock market development and savings mobilization in South Africa. Employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) cointegration test for the period 1990 to 2012, using quarterly time series data. Based on the McKinnon-Shaw hypothesis, which advocates that the stock market development promotes the growth rate of savings, a model linking the savings and their determinants was specified. The empirical results revealed that there is a long-term relationship between savings and the other variables including rate of interest, income, age, M3 as a percentage of GDP, bank credit to the private sector as a percentage of GDP, and stock market used in the model. It was also established that the stock market plays a positive role in mobilizing savings in South Africa. In addition, it was also found that the financial sector development has a positive relation with savings, although the interest rate was found to be negatively related to savings. The empirical results indicate that the stock market has a positive effect on savings; however, given the extent to which the financial sector is developed, South Africans in general have access to different financial products which in a way may negatively impact savings as they are net borrowers rather than savers. It is crucially important, therefore, for the general public to be advised on the use of financial products. These empirical results are supported by findings of Mavrotas and Santillana (1999), Kelly and Mavrotas (2003) Odhiambo (2006), Sahoo and Dash (2013), Kapingura and Alagidede (2014), who concluded that the stock market as one of the indicators of financial development positively influences savings.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

The exploration of influence as a leadership competency amongst emerging adult males

  • Authors: Munyai, Pfarelo Pardon
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Leadership , Leadership -- Psychological aspects , Influence (Psychology) , Control (Psychology) , Social media , Executives -- Training of , Executive ability , College students , Young adults , Educational leadership , Executive coaching , Male college students , Leadership -- Study and teaching (Higher) , College student government
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:852 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017520
  • Description: The association between leadership, influence and power is well developed in the literature. However, there is a notable lack of research on youth leadership development, especially as it pertains to their exercise of influence. This paper was borne out of the need to explore how youth - emerging adults’ males in particular - exercise influence as a leadership competency within their voluntary leadership positions. Using semi-structured face-to-face interviews and the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), the research primarily focused on influence tactics and how they were employed. This included assessing the related power bases and principles of influence that were manifest, as well as the learning and development that occurred when reflecting on the outcome of the influence process. Data was analysed using an open coding procedure. Incidents explored in the study were primarily interpersonal in nature. This was reminiscent of lateral influence that characterised the peer to peer contextual environment of the study. The study found that in their influence pursuits, emerging adults followed a rational approach to influence. The distinguishable power bases and their relative importance in application were context dependent (Krause and Kearney, 2006:59-86). In addition, various proactive influence tactics were employed with a leaning towards those perceived as positive, honest and non-manipulative in application, which was congruent with Head Student role expectations and the culture of the organization. The utilization of social media as a communication platform from which various tactics could be launched was a novel and notable finding. Consequently, the results were presented primarily under two themes, exploring how tactics of influence are used face to face and via the social media platform. In addition, the study emphasised the ethical implications of the exercise of influence in both of these platforms and related to this, the challenge of influencing friends or close associates, without undermining leadership integrity. Overall, the various influence incidents presented and their outcomes, evidently shaped leadership development by reinforcing tactics which worked and stimulating continuous reflection and learning, adaptive strategies and the development of new means to deal with resistance and non-compliance. All of these are critical to shaping future influence behaviour. Primary recommendations include the need for a proactive approach to educating youth on leadership and influence through formal programmes, if they were to be empowered with tools to develop and maximize their leadership potential. Equally, practitioners need to be sensitized to the significance of their role as catalysts in nurturing youth leadership development. In addition, the novel use of social media as a leadership influence platform was recognised as significant and as such, a candidate for further research. Beyond the limited scope of this study, other angles worthy of further research include, factoring in elements such as gender, cross-cultural differences and the aspect of voluntary versus incentivised (or paid) leadership positions. The research is presented in an academic paper format, and is structured in three sections. These sections are written up as relatively independent sections, but are complementary in covering the full scope of the research. Section One, which is essentially a paper in a format of an academic journal article, represent the primary section and covers the results of the study, together with discussions and recommendations. This is followed by a literature review (i.e. Section Two), which delves into all the relevant literature explored. Section Three covers the methodology, research design and research procedure pursued. As part of the addendum, a comprehensive summary of the incidents explored is presented. This gives insight into the nature of the various incidents, the influence tactics preferred, power bases and influence principles manifested, together with the outcomes of the incidents. Furthermore, lessons drawn in reflection are noted, which participants viewed as critical, in that they shaped the way they now intend to exercise influence and thereby reflects their personal leadership development.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

The experiences, challenges, motivations and coping strategies of informal caregivers in a Grahamstown township

  • Authors: Ntshobane, Zephania Zingqi Zongamele
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Caregivers -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Caregivers -- Psychology , Volunteers -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Voluntarism -- Psychological aspects , Adjustment (Psychology)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3236 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013171
  • Description: The health care system in South Africa is currently under strain and it does not cater for everyone's needs. This has left a gap in society whereby you will find that the poor citizens of the country are not being catered for in terms of getting access to adequate healthcare. With this existing gap, there are Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in some of the poor communities in the country. These NGOs have volunteer caregivers who go around the community and taking care of the sick people. Research has often ignored these volunteer caregivers, this current research study investigated the experiences of these volunteer caregivers. The goals of the research study were to investigate the experiences of the caregiver, the motivations of the caregivers and the challenges that they encounter and how they cope with the challenges that arise while performing their caregiving duties. The study was based on the phenomenological paradigm. This paradigm believes that the subjective experience of the individual is an essential source of information. In-depth interviews were conducted with the four participants who took part in the study. An interview guide was utilised to help guide the interview process. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used in analysing the data. IPA is a way of analysing data, which investigates how a person, in a given setting understands an experience. The findings showed that the caregivers had both negative and positive experiences. They experienced the care recipients as being appreciative of them. However, they experienced the family members of the care recipients as being uncaring; financial constraints were also a negative experience. Several challenges were stated by the participants, including a lack of government support, alcohol abuse by the care recipients and challenging working conditions. The participants were motivated to volunteer as caregivers by a number of things. Altruistic motivation was the first, which included the love for the community and the poverty in the community. Reciprocity was another motivating factor, as well as religious duty and career advancement. In this research study there was one coping strategy that came out; the participants stated that they seek advice and consult with someone or go for supervision within the organization when they are faced with a difficult situation. The findings in the research study were similar to those found in previous research. One notably different finding was that in previous research, the caregivers have been found to abuse alcohol in order to cope with stress. However, in this research study, the care recipients are the ones who are abusing alcohol. The research recommends that the government assists the informal caregivers, either financially or with infrastructure.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2014

Evaluation of a workshop method for increasing awareness of sexual harassment on Rhodes University Campus

  • Authors: Edelman, Loren Michell
  • Date: 2013-10-02
  • Subjects: Sexual harassment Sexual harassment in universities and colleges
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3195 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009450
  • Description: The aim of this study was twofold: 1) to educate and inform the student population about sexual harassment, and 2) to evaluate which one of two different training programs would be more effective in increasing awareness of sexual harassment on campus. A pre-test post-test group design was implemented. A sample of students (N=132) living in 14 different Rhodes university residences participated in the study on a voluntary basis. Subjects were divided into two groups. Group 1, participated in a workshop based upon a video entitled One man's meat is another man's poison, produced by the University of Cape Town. Group 2, was subjected to a more passive educational method where the video was played from beginning to end without any interruption. Awareness of sexual harassment was operationalised in terms of the subjects' attitudes towards sexual harassment, their perceptions of sexual harassment, and their sexual harassment myths. Results suggested a significant relationship between participation in the training programs and a change in awareness of sexual harassment, as measured by the changes in the pre-test and post-test scores. Results also suggested that males benefit most by simply viewing the video, while females benefit most by workshopping the same video. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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An exploratory study of the factors that influence the retention of managers in small to medium business enterprises

  • Authors: Carr, Nathan Lars Armitage
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Executives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Human capital -- Management Personnel management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Organizational effectiveness -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:813 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007740
  • Description: Integrative Summary: Small to Medium Business Enterprises (SME's) are widely recognised as the driver of economic growth. SME's are responsible for employing large sections of the working population and, in doing so, facilitate the development of skills for many thousands of workers. Whilst SME's may differ (according to various definition criteria such as size or turnover) from other types of organisation, they share one common denominator across all organisations: their overall effectiveness depends largely on the individual and collective people that make up the organisation -their employees. In this context the central question relevant to the research is "how do SME's retain their valued employee managers?" A quantitative research method was applied in the research. Data was collected by way of a structured self-administered survey questionnaire designed from a post positivist paradigm. The survey was constricted by way of modifying and adapting previous surveys designed to investigate factors that influence staff retention, to be relevant to managers employed by SME's. The sample consisted of 35 managers employed by SME's in and around East London in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The results of the research give rise to a number of clear indicators on the key retention factors of employee managers. Based on the research results SME's that want to have the best chance of retaining their employee managers need strong and effective leadership within the organisation, must address soft organisational factors that are conducive to an open and trusted working environment and the roles of managers must have inherent job factors that allow a sense of freedom to plan and execute tasks autonomously. Economic factors such as pay and financial benefits were identified through the research as being the least important factor when it came to manager retention. These conclusions provide SME owners and senior managers with insight into the factors that are most likely to influence their ability to retain employee managers.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2013
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