A feminist critical discourse analysis of male dominance and violence in Zakes Mda’s the Madonna of excelsior and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s purple hibiscus
- Authors: Ibitoye, Antonia Folasade
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Feminism and education , Feminism and literature
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63320 , vital:73249
- Description: This study critically explored male dominance and violence in Africa, through the lens of South African author, Zakes Mda, and Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, in their novels, The Madonna of Excelsior (2004) and Purple Hibiscus (2003), respectively. Women globally often continue to live with male dominance, and this unequal gender structure has propelled feminists to commence movements to counter all forms of discrimination against women. For the study, excerpts from the two novels were used as data, to investigate male dominance and violence in Africa. To achieve the goals of this research, the study used socialist feminist theory, post-colonial feminist theory, and black feminist theory as the theoretical framework. This combined framework explicates that there is not just one system of oppression at the core of unequal treatment of women by men. Rather, it is a combination of structures related to social class, gender, race, sexuality, culture and society. Feminist critical discourse analysis (FCDA) was employed to analyse the data with the aid of ATLAS.ti software. FCDA was selected as an analytical framework because of its concern for the emancipation of women and social justice with transformation.What prompted the area of concern and the research problem of this study was an awareness of the extensive gender inequality in Nigeria and South Africa, which tends to be rooted in male dominance and violence. As a result, this study contributes to creating awareness of gender inequality, suggesting ways of combating violence against women and female suppression as well as promoting new conceptualisations of masculinity, femininity, and inequality. This research study explored how language use constructed identity, gender, and power relations and how these have reflected male dominance, and violence in Africa in the novels chosen for this study. This study is significant because it did not only analysed the marginalisation and suppression of the female gender but further exposed the strategies that were adopted by women to confront patriarchal oppression and domination as well as the resultant effect on the perpetrators as depicted in the novels for this study. The distinctiveness of this study can be viewed from three different perspectives. Firstly, it is one of the first research works to use FCDA to address the social problems of male dominance and violence. Secondly, it is the first research work which recognises the use of the novel as an essential source of data for FCDA on male dominance and violence. Using the novel as a data source supports the fact that novels are relevant data sources because 5 they often reflect the happenings in society, such as the incidence of gender inequality. Lastly, this project is distinctive because of its ability to combine socialist feminist theory, black feminist theory, post-colonial feminist theory as the theoretical framework and FCDA as the methodological approach. The study is limited to two novels from two African writers because the novels are reflections of the challenges faced by women in Africa and because of the novelists’ unique use of language and the representation of male dominance, violence and female suppression in Africa. The choice to restrict the scope of the study to Africa, selecting Nigeria and South Africa was because, both novels are set in African context and also as a result of the gravity of the identified social and equity issues in Africa. For further research, the study could be extended beyond the African continent to other continents. By so doing, other feminist theories could be used while FCDA could still be used as an analytical framework. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of male dominance and violence between South Africa and Nigeria could also be explored or between Africa and the western world. This study, therefore, explored how language use constructed gender identity and how this reflected male dominance and violence in Africa through the novels, which provided the data for analysis. Following the principles of FCDA, the study sought to create social awareness and to build an understanding of the need not only to resist male dominance and violence but to extend understandings of gender differences with the intention of generating a collective change and transformation in society for gender equality. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
Exploring university level admissions decision-making based on access testing and undergraduate admissions variables
- Authors: Oakes, Elizabeth
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: decision-making , Social-Judgement Theory , Cognitive-Continuum TheoryLens Model Equation
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62969 , vital:73078
- Description: Decision-making is an essential everyday cognitive function. How people go about making judgements and decisions is difficult to pin down. The reason for this lies in the inherent nature of decision-making, which is uncertain and variable because decision-making is a human cognitive process that is context-dependent. However, the body of research on judgement and decision-making (JDM) is concerned with describing what people are 'actually' thinking, when they make decisions or judgements. This study applied the descriptive theories of the Social-Judgement Theory (SJT) and the Cognitive-Continuum Theory (CCT), in order to understand decision-making in an undergraduate, entry-level admission decision-making context, in which decision-makers used access testing and school results, to make admission decisions at Nelson Mandela University. The sample consisted of four consultants from the Centre for Access Assessment and Research (CAAR) who volunteered to participate in the study. While the sample was small, it was nonetheless deemed to be adequate as 57% of the consultants at CAAR were included in the sample. Using the SJT methodological approach, an experiment was conducted to mirror the real-life context of decision-making at CAAR. As CAAR consultants were used to test, and school results being presented on a profile when they made decisions, a sample of 120 of these was drawn from a repository, with 60 of them requiring decisions for degree admission (to B Com Accounting) and 60 for diploma admission (to the Diploma in Accountancy). Ten degree and 10 diploma profiles were duplicated to check for consistency in decision-making. As SJT suggests restricting the number of cues used, a process was instituted to identify the cues perceived to be used most frequently to make decisions at CAAR. This resulted in 5 cues being included on the cue profile. In Phase 1 of the experiment the CAAR consultants made admission decisions using a familiar cue profile in terms of how the information was presented visually and numerically. In phase 2 the information was presented using a different visual format, which was more closely aligned to the intuitive decision-making mode that most consultants used. A 2 x 2 within-subjects experimental design was thus employed with two independent variables, namely, profile type and program type. Descriptive statistics and correlational and regression analyses were used to describe the judgement policies of the consultants in terms of the time taken, the difficulty ratings, and the cue use and its importance). The indices of the Lens Model Equation (LME) of SJT were used to describe the decision-achievement levels, and the Task-Continuum Index (TCI) was computed to describe which cognitive modes were used. xvii The results revealed that decision-makers have unique, varied, and changeable judgement policies, with regard to the time taken, the perception of difficulty, and the decision outcomes and had a tendency to rely more on the school results, while the regression models derived indicated that test results made a stronger contribution to the decision outcome. The consultants found degree decisions easier than diploma decisions, and the consultants perceived the contribution and weighting of the cues somewhat differently, once the format of the cue profile had changed in Phase 2, although they made decisions more quickly in Phase 2. The decision-makers also displayed individualised patterns of decision achievement that differed for degree and diploma programs. Furthermore, in terms of the cognitive mode, decision-makers were thinking quasi-rationally and they largely used the cognitive modes of computer modelling or expert judgement. Thus, by synergistically using the two theories of JDM, the researcher was able to determine baseline information for understanding decision- making in an admission context. Furthermore, suggestions were made in terms of the nature of the feedback and training that could be provided to decision-makers to enhance their future decision-making. Suggestions were also made regarding how the methodology used and findings of this study could be applied in other contexts, such as when training students in psychological assessment. , Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Health Science, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
A reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process
- Authors: Kinsman, Estonia Jasmine
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Financial planning industry , Affluent consumers
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60786 , vital:67404
- Description: The globally applied six-step financial planning process which is used by CFP® professionals to provide financial advice is designed to ensure that the financial advice is suitable, based on the needs of the consumer. However, given the diverse cultures in South Africa, this study argues that the six-step financial planning process (as it is currently applied) may not be suitable, as it requires contextualisation based on the unique needs of South African consumers. The various population groups in South Africa have their own sets of beliefs, values and cultural practices, and thus view aspects such as wealth (the creation, preservation and transference thereof), marriage, death and retirement, differently. Thus, financial planners who are not knowledgeable about different cultures, diverse financial needs, or the provisions of customary law, may not be able to provide suitable advice. The primary objective of the study is thus to reconceptualise the six-step financial planning process to be more inclusive, in order to better serve the financial planning needs of South African consumers. A comprehensive literature review was undertaken to provide the context and framework within which the reconceptualisation of the six-step financial planning process could be approached. An investigation of the financial planning environment and the financial planning process was completed to determine how the six-step financial planning process is currently applied in the South African context. Further, an investigation of culture and the cultural dimensions – power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, masculinity, timeorientation and indulgence – was conducted, as it was clear that these cultural dimensions cannot be generalised to all South African consumers, due to the large degree of diversity within the population. It was also determined that there are various factors that contribute towards the cultural diversity of South African consumers, which may influence their financial needs and the type of financial advice that is required. These factors include race and ethnicity, marital regimes, procreation and family structures. To further illustrate the diversity of financial needs of South African consumers, a discussion of Black households and the application of financial planning legislation and customary law was provided. Black households are considered to be under-serviced, historically financially excluded, have low levels of financial literacy, and are mostly collectivist in nature. It is for these reasons that Black households are the focus of the study. Some of the financial needs that vi are common among Black households include land and property ownership, family wealth, family homesteads, lobola capital and ‘black tax’ expenditure. Given that the literature review established how the six-step financial planning process is currently applied, an interpretivist research philosophy was adopted in order to gain a deeper understanding of how the six-step financial planning process should be applied in a South African context. Further, the research approach in the context of this study is an inductive one, as the six-step financial planning process is an existing theory that was reconceptualised by considering the perceptions and experiences of 16 CFP® professionals and 14 Black South African households. A mono-method qualitative research methodology was used, with a single qualitative method of data collection (semi-structured interviews), and a single qualitative method of data analysis (latent content analysis). The findings of the study were used to provide a reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process which takes into consideration the fact that the image of a financial planner plays an important role when trying to establish a professional relationship with a client. The findings reveal that Black consumers in particular, generally have a negative image of a financial planner, which is influenced not only by their perceptions of a financial planner, but also by their self-perception of their own financial situation. The reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process also incorporates the finding that discussions around personal finances are considered impolite and taboo among the Black African community, which influences their ability to talk about these topics, trust a financial planner, and establish a professional relationship with them. The findings also reveal that a racial and gender bias exists among Black consumers – they prefer interacting with a White male financial planner, as they perceive them to be more competent and have more experience with finances and wealth accumulation. It was also found that CFP® professionals believe that having cultural awareness and cultural intelligence can reduce bias in the way that questions are asked, so as not to offend the client. Thus, cultural awareness was also incorporated into the reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process. It was also noted that it is important to ascertain clients’ level of financial literacy during the information gathering stage. Black consumers opined that in this regard, it is the role of the financial planner to both ascertain and ensure their clients’ financial literacy, and to offer financial education to ensure client understanding. vii Although the premise of the study is that South African consumers have unique financial needs due to the high degree of diversity among the population, it was the opinion of CFP® professionals that Black consumers, in particular, do not have unique financial needs – instead, they define their needs differently, have different exposures to financial resources to address their financial needs, and also prioritise and satisfy their needs differently. The prioritised financial needs of Black households (sub-themes) that emerged from both participant groups include the need to make provision for black tax, estate planning, funerals, and property ownership. Black household participants mentioned (to a greater extent than CFP® professionals did) the need to make provision for lobola and initiation schools, as these form part of several traditional ceremonies. The need to make provision for a family home was mentioned by Black household participants but not by CFP® professionals. It was discovered from Black household participants that stokvels are the most common micro-finance tool used by Black consumers, for various reasons. In fact for some, stokvels are preferred over formal financial products because they perceive that they yield a higher return, and others use them successfully to supplement their current provisions. These findings (among others) were incorporated into the reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process which is presented in this study. This study has made a contribution to the financial planning body of knowledge by presenting a reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process, and providing new knowledge on each of the associated six steps and their suitability in a South African context. This study also provides justification and evidence for the inclusion of aspects within the sixstep financial planning process that enhance the understanding of cultural diversity and needs of Black households in particular. Justification has also been provided for the inclusion of cultural aspects and diverse needs of Black consumers the in the academic curriculum of FPI and FSCA recognised qualifications, as well as the facilitation and learning outcomes of business and product-specific training that FSPs are required to provide to their representatives. The study findings also have implications for the development of the academic curriculum and assessment materials for CFP® professionals by recognised education providers, the FSCA regulatory examination, and the FPI professional competency examination. In addition, the study has provided evidence for the need to develop financial products, or customise existing financial products, that address the viii needs of Black households – especially culture-specific financial needs such as black tax, lobola and funding for initiation schools. Key words: Black households; CFP® professionals; culture; diverse needs; reconceptualisation; six-step financial planning process. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2023-04
Community involvement in Coastal and marine tourism at Nelson Mandela bay, South Africa
- Authors: Vena, Anelisa
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Oceans’ economy-- Nelson Mandela Bay , Coastal and marine tourism
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63157 , vital:73191
- Description: The purpose of this study is to understand the local communities’ involvement in CMT in Nelson Mandela Bay NMB, Gqeberha and to monitor government information sharing platforms for local communities about the ocean’s economy. A qualitative research approach and a purposive sampling strategy derived from a non-probability sampling approach were utilised in this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants in Nelson Mandela Bay from the CMT business operations, marine NGOs and local community members and a document analysis was utilised to monitor government information sharing platforms for local communities about the oceans’ economy. The study adopted the exploratory approach in investigating CMT inclusivity of local communities at Nelson Mandela Bay. The exploratory approach enabled the research to meet its objectives as there are limited number of studies that address this issue at Nelson Mandela Bay, Gqeberha. The findings revealed that both CMT business operations and marine NGOs experience difficulty in obtaining funding, there is limited funding available, and no clarity is drawn if whether CMT operations can benefit or not. The findings further revealed that due to numerous entry barriers it makes it difficult for new entrants to get into the sector and lastly there is lack of community involvement for two stakeholders namely the CMT businesses and local community members. It was also revealed that this sector tends to be exclusive because it is costly to enter this industry. In terms of limitations the sample size of the study was small, namely 20 participants comprised of five CMT business operators, two NGOs representatives and thirteen local community members. Initially, the maximum number targeted was 27 and the minimum number was 17 in this study. Coastal and marine tourism at Nelson Mandela Bay is still at its infancy stages. Therefore, the significant role of this study is to enhance value to the existing body of knowledge in this area with specific reference to the local community involvement in CMT at Gqeberha, South Africa , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-04
The development of South African secondary school teachers to adopt a STEAM approach: A mixed method study
- Authors: Steyn, Catherina
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Professional Development , Social Cognitive Theory , Mathematics
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63218 , vital:73234
- Description: Creativity is seen as one of the most important skills required for success in the 21st century and therefore teachers should set the example and become creative and innovative when skilfully applying their knowledge to teach. In STEAM, art is included in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) mix as a new innovative educational approach which is believed to increase creativity. The advantages of STEAM are widely accepted for a number of reasons and it has become very popular in countries that are known for their excellent mathematics performance, but it is unknown in most South African schools. Although a few studies have been done on STEAM in South Africa there is a lack of research on the professional development of mathematics teachers and the adoption of the STEAM approach in the mathematics classroom. This mixed methods study aims to determine the diffusion of the STEAM approach, and the influence of professional development on that diffusion and adoption in the South African Mathematics classroom. A convergent triangulation design was used in conjunction with a simultaneous quantitative and qualitative approach involving three different groups of participants. The quantitative approach concentrated on the hypothesis that secondary school mathematics teachers still embrace traditional teaching methods. The qualitative approach was directed towards answering the question on the knowledge and awareness of STEAM and the adoption of the innovation. The combination of two theories, namely Roger’s Diffusion of Innovations and Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory were found to provide the most suitable framework to describe the process in the findings. The instrument used in the quantitative approach was an online questionnaire and in qualitative approach the data was collected using interviews, assignments and questionnaires. It was found that although Mathematics teachers are open to learning about innovations, they still rely on traditional teaching methods. Teachers recognise the advantages of STEAM and want to use it but feel constrained by the curriculum, the pressure to perform and a lack of resources. Short activities that are curriculum based are welcomed and used by the teachers. However, they struggle to set up their own iii activities and then abandon the idea. In addition, they are not comfortable with projects involving teachers from other disciplines or including art activities in a mathematics lesson. The adoption of STEAM becomes much easier if there is a strong professional learning community and support from school management. The positive reactions of the learners on the STEAM activities motivate the teachers to adopt the approach. The diffusion of STEAM into the mathematics classroom is not instant but takes an average of two to three years. This time factor should be taken into consideration when planning a professional development programme. The programme should include scaffolding to assist teachers to become confident in using STEAM activities but also in using technology which is the key to finding and using new activities. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-04
The relationship between savings and economic growth in Southern African customs union (sacu) countries
- Authors: Tala, Lavisa
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Economic development--Southern Africa , Customs unions
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63111 , vital:73187
- Description: This study empirically investigates the nature of the relationship between savings and economic growth in SACU member countries, namely: South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Eswatini, using panel data for the period 1990-2021. A high savings rate is believed to be instrumental in stimulating economic growth, making it vital is for policy makers to understand the nature of the relationship existing between savings and economic growth in order to design and implement appropriate policies. To ensure robustness of the empirical results, this study applied different panel data estimation procedures. Using Pooled OLS, Random Effect, Fully Modified OLS, Dynamic OLS and Mean Group, Pool Mean Group and Dynamic Fixed Effect, the study discovered that gross domestic savings have a positive impact on economic growth among SACU member countries. Based on the results, gross domestic savings emerged with different coefficients indicating sensitivity to the estimation technique although statistically significant. Furthermore, the study dealt with the issue of linearity in the savings-growth nexus, by estimating the threshold level. Estimated results reveal evidence that gross domestic savings above 16 percent threshold have a negative effect on economic growth, while below the threshold, level savings impact economic growth positively. The study recommends, among other things, that policy makers design and implement policies that promote financial inclusion to mobilise domestic savings so as to increase economic growth. The major goal of economic policy should be to encourage households to save and ensure that domestic savings are invested in productive projects and sectors of the economy. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-04
Validation and adaptation of statistical models based on the SAPS III score to predict in-hospital mortality in a South African ICU
- Authors: Pazi, Sisa
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Police -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Statistics – South Africa , Mortality – South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61360 , vital:70602
- Description: In-hospital mortality prediction remains an important task in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). In particular, the estimated in-hospital mortality risk is essential to describe case-mix, for research and clinical auditing purposes. Furthermore, in settings with limited hospital resources (e.g beds) such as the South African public health care system, the estimated in-hospital mortality risk is essential for resource allocation and to inform local patient triage guidelines. Commonly used models for prediction of in-hospital mortality in ICU patients includes, but not limited to, the Simplified Acute Physiology Score III (SAPS III). The SAPS III model was developed in 2005. Notably, the SAPS III model was developed without data collected from African based hospitals. Given the general application of the SAPS III model, including benchmarking and quality control, the development of such a model based on local data is of paramount importance. To this end, this study developed a model for prediction of in-hospital mortality based on data collected in a hospital in South Africa. Logistic regression modelling was used to develop the proposed mortality risk assessment model. The results indicated that the proposed model exhibited superior discrimination and classification abilities compared to the SAPS III model. Future research includes the external validation of the proposed model in different hospitals in South Africa. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-04
Wage differentials by sector and gender in Botswana
- Authors: Motswapong, Masedi
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Wage differentials -- Botswana , Wage Decomposition
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62128 , vital:71998
- Description: The study examines wage differentials in the public and private sectors and gender wage gaps within these sectors in Botswana. Raw data from three nationally representative surveys collected is used. These surveys include the 2005/06 Labour force, the 2015/16 Multi-Topic Household and the 2019 Quarterly Multi-Topic. To address the set objectives, the study utilises the quantile regression model and decomposition methods proposed by Firpo, Fortin and Lemieux (2009) and further used the reweighted RIF-OLS OaxacaBlinder decomposition method proposed by Rios-Avila (2020). Results from three surveys demonstrate evidence of wage inequalities in Botswana. Findings revealed that the wage differential in the public and private sectors has weakened over the years, though it is still a significant concern. The public-private sector wage gap decreased from 72% in 2005/06 to 56% in 2019. However, a different trend is observed in the gender wage differentials, where the gap gradually increased over time. Gender wage gaps in the public sector were 4% in 2005/06; in 2015/16, the gap increased to 27% and 49% in 2019. On the other hand, in the private sector, the average wages were 7.34 and 6.98 for males and females in 2005/06, respectively, implying a wage gap of 35%. This trend holds for the other two samples. The gender wage gap in 2015/16 fell to 23% and increased to 28% in 2019. Results from the quantile regression estimates show that returns to education differ in both the sectoral and gender sections. Further, for males and females, returns for education tend to rise as the education level increases. Returns for education for the private sector are higher than for the public sector. For gender wage differences, education returns for females are higher than for males at all levels, supporting findings that females are more educated on average than males. For decomposition results, findings show that observed characteristics, such as education levels, negatively affect wages at the lower levels and positively at other parts of the distribution in the sectoral wage section. For the gender wage gap section, results show that workers’ characteristics had mixed contributions to the wage gap; it narrows the gap at the lower levels and widens it at higher levels of the wage distribution. Further, results suggest the presence of labour market discrimination and evidence of the “sticky-floor” viii effect in both sectors. Additionally, findings from the reweighting RIF-Oaxaca estimates show that the public-private sector wage gap takes an inverted U-shaped distribution in different levels of the wage distribution. Similarly, composition effects positively affect the gap at lower levels, whereas wage structure effects affect the wage gap at the highest distribution level. Overall, the study’s findings have some significant policy recommendations. The study has indicated that the country has no policy to reduce or eliminate wage differentials in the labour market. Hence, Botswana policymakers need to formulate policies to eliminate wage inequalities. Furthermore, it is recommended that the government should continue investing in human capital development. Education is vital in bridging the wage gap within the labour market. Additionally, there is a need to promote tolerance within society and promote ways of appreciating women’s work. It is also recommended that males be encouraged to work in jobs where women are overrepresented. The study's findings contribute to the ongoing wage inequality debate, and it is hoped that the study will benefit policymakers in Botswana. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-04
Spousal experiences of living with a gambling disordered partner and intimate partner violence in South Africa: a grounded theory study
- Authors: Oppelt, Thelma
- Date: 20223-12
- Subjects: Gambling and crime -- South Africa , Gambling Disordered
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62980 , vital:73079
- Description: I have been motivated to conduct this research on a professional and personal level. As an only child, I grew up with individuals who gambled every day of their lives, and the spouses/partners who struggled with being labelled by society as weak to stay with them. Furthermore, I have personal insights into the Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) stories of the women, having been tagged along with my mother who worked at a women’s support centre in our community. I can appreciate the help that these women provide to each other and the perspectives they lend to this study. The insights I bring from my personal experiences have assisted me in making a personal connection with this research area. I became the first in my family to attend university, even though my father was a cleaner and never completed high school. I performed well as an undergraduate and completed my first degree, with Psychology as a major. My master’s degree challenged me to look at spouses’ experiences of the psychological and financial trauma of living with a male gambling disordered partner, and out of it the doctoral thesis of Intimate Partner Violence as a specific form of violence in a gambling disordered relationship was formed. I worked as a researcher for five years at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). At the HSRC I had come to realise that I had to find a solution for my difficulty in working on projects far removed from Psychology or human interactions. I was always the first person to be nominated to do qualitative interviews and analyse the data, but all in fields far removed from my chosen field of study. However, I do appreciate that if I had not done all those projects, I would not have been ready to embark on my PhD journey. Upon leaving the HSRC, I started as the Senior Programmes and Safe House Manager at a not-for-profit organisation. I do not think that I would have been able to do justice to the stories that many of the individuals have described in this research study, without xvii working for an organisation that advocates for the safety of individuals who find themselves in such circumstances. On a personal level, even though I have never gambled in my life, I believe that gambling is a personal choice. I have volunteered at sober living homes and have seen some of the problems that spouses and their families experience. Because of my own experiences, I decided that the topic for my PhD thesis could explore the way Intimate Partner Violence is socially constructed and the implications of being the spouse of someone who is challenged by a gambling disorder. , Thesis (PHD) -- Faculty of Health Science, 2023
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- Date Issued: 20223-12
Catatonia a manifestation of serious mental Illness: prevalence, presentation, management, and outcomes in a mental health unit
- Authors: Zingela, Zukiswa
- Date: 2022-07
- Subjects: Mental Health , Catatonia , Psychomotor disorders
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60400 , vital:64706
- Description: Catatonia is a psychomotor abnormality that may be caused by severe physical or mental illness or by substances. It has a wide-ranging prevalence from less than 10% to just over 60%, worldwide. This thesis investigated multiple aspects of catatonia in an acute mental health unit setting. Critical aspects examined include the psychological experience of catatonia and assessment, prevalence, presentation, management, and treatment outcomes of catatonia. The research design was a prospective descriptive triangulation study that used a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach. The theoretical framework applied in this thesis was a positivist paradigm approach to explore the quantitative data collected, with application of deductive reasoning, supported by statistical analysis to detect correlations between catatonia and demographic and clinical data. The research explored the experience of a person with catatonia from the beginning to the end of the catatonic episode, inclusive of neglected areas such as the patient’s psychological and experiences. Sources of information included participant reports, clinical notes, and assessments conducted using screening tools for catatonia. Key knowledge gaps on catatonia were identified as target areas for this thesis. These are the prevalence of catatonia in a South African setting; the use of assessment tools like the Bush Francis Catatonia Screening Instrument (BFCSI), the Bush Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS), and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (5th Edition; DSM-5) in this setting; interventions for catatonia; treatment outcomes; and the subjective experiences of catatonia, as described by patients. To date, there have been five publications produced from this thesis. The first paper was on the protocol for the research and was published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Open and presented the literature review, research design, and methodology for the planned Abstract ii research on catatonia (which has ultimately been presented in this current thesis). This paper also identified the aforementioned critical knowledge gaps. The second paper was published in the Biomedicine Central (BMC) International Journal of Mental Health Systems. This paper described a 6-month prevalence rate of catatonia of 11.9%, and concluded that the BFCSI and BFCRS had the highest inter-rater reliability (IRR) and pick-up rate when screening for catatonia, while the DMS-5 had low IRR, and the lowest correlation with the BFCSI and BFCRS. The 12-month prevalence rate was found to be 18.3% and was described in the third paper which was published in the PLOS One Psychiatry. Both lorazepam and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were found to be the most widely used treatment at the study site, with good response rates and outcomes. The results were published in the 4th paper in SAGE Open. The fifth paper was on the subjective and psychological experience and published in the BMC Psychology journal. It described the psychological and subjective experience of catatonia as narrated by participants which is characterised by intense experiences of fear, anxiety, and sadness that manifested as extreme withdrawal, combined with obedience or submission. This research has yielded new knowledge with potential applications at a regional, national, and global level. New knowledge yielded includes the need for screening of patients for catatonia across all acute settings, the need for training of both medical and nursing personnel in the assessment of catatonia, the effectiveness of screening and assessment tools, effective interventions for catatonia and outcomes. The descriptions of catatonia at an emotional, cognitive, and behavioural level also highlight the need to develop psychological strategies and targeted psychological interventions to complement the current management strategies. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-07
Credit risk management impact on loan performance in development finance institutions in South Africa
- Authors: Lekhelebana, Letlatsa George
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Development finance institutions , Credit -- Management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57698 , vital:58217
- Description: Development Finance Institutions ( play an important role in being a catalyst for economic development and growth where they operate. TUHF Group operates as a niche commercial property D FI funding entrepreneurs that seek to bring to market properties that deliver multi let housing units. This also deals with the pro blem of the lack of housing that South Africa has. For DFIs to operate optimally and be financially sustainable , they need to source funding from either shareholders or the financial markets. Financial markets require that the DFIs operate in a profitable manner to qualify for funding and this is also driven by the way the DFI manages the loan book’s integrity. This study examines the relationship between credit risk management policy, processes and procedures in practice and the TUHF Group and their impa ct on the performance of the loan book. In order that the research aim and objectives are fulfilled, and the research question answered, the study undertook an extensive review of existing literature on DFIs, the impact on economic development and growt h, the impact of badly performing loan books on the performance of companies and how this is impacted on by credit management structures, policies and procedures. An empirical study was conducted through the collection of primary data from the internal doc uments at TUHF Group and among some of the staff members at TUHF through a structured interviews based on open ended questions. The research revealed that there is indeed a link between the credit risk management processes and procedures at TUHF and the performance of the loan book, the findings indicated that the current policy and procedures is not sufficient for a well performing loan book and the pr imary data showed worsening performance of the loan book over time. These findings further indicate a requirement for TUHF to improve the credit policies and architecture for a sustainable financial performance in future. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04
Human capital of financial planners and value creation in South African financial planning businesses
- Authors: Palframan, Jaqueline birgitta
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Human capital -- South Africa , Corporations--Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58123 , vital:58582
- Description: Improved healthcare enables people to live longer and thus spend more time in retirement than ever before. In addition, South Africans have a low propensity to save and invest, resulting in the danger of them living longer than their finances permit. The financial planning industry is also experiencing the technological automation of many transactional services, which could make the “traditional” role of financial planners redundant. Furthermore, financial planning businesses are prone to failure, especially during the start-up phase. As such, appropriate business management strategies, especially those relating to human capital, are critical to facilitate the effective development of financial planning businesses and which will enable financial planners to better engage with existing and new clients, resulting in creating more value creation for their financial planning businesses and benefitting the South African economy at large. It is a well-known fact that people who engage with a financial planner report better outcomes in terms of financial and general well-being than those who approach financial planning with a “do-it-yourself” mindset, which further emphasises why the longevity of financial planning businesses in South Africa is important. To date, however, limited academic research has been conducted on the influence of financial planners’ human capital on value creation in their financial planning businesses. Furthermore, although research in the financial planning field is growing, previous research has mostly focused on areas pertaining to financial advice, the financial planning process and products used in financial planning, rather than on the creation of profitable businesses or on how to create value within these businesses. Against this background, the primary objective of this study is to investigate the influence of selected Human capitals of financial planners on value creation in South African financial planning businesses. More specifically, the study investigates the influence of the independent variables of Social capital (measured individually in terms of its sub-categories, Relational social capital, Network social capital and Cognitive social capital), Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital on the dependent variables (Perceived financial value creation and Perceived non-financial value creation). v Based on the primary objective and research questions of the study, as well as the assumptions of the researcher, this study was positioned in the positivistic research paradigm and a deductive approach to theory development was adopted. The purpose of the study was explanatory, and a mono-method, quantitative methodological approach was selected. A survey strategy using a cross-sectional approach was undertaken and a measuring instrument in the form of an online questionnaire was developed to gather the data required. After undertaking a pilot study, the electronic link to the covering letter and online questionnaire was sent to potential respondents identified through the convenience and snowball sampling techniques. The data collection yielded 360 usable responses from South African financial planners on which to undertake the statistical analysis. Data analysis ensued to investigate the hypothesised relationships between the independent and dependent variables. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on each of the factors that made up the measurement models. These CFAs were compared to the various goodness-of-fit indices and then validity and reliability assessments of the factors were conducted to confirm the suitability of the measuring instrument. Thereafter, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, average variance extracted (AVE) estimates and squared correlations between the constructs were reported. The hypothesised model was confirmed based on these analyses. Descriptive statistics and correlation results on the dependent and independent variables were then reported. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used as the statistical technique to test the significance of the hypothesised direct and moderating relationships. The results confirmed a direct, significant relationship between all the independent variables, namely, Social capital (measured individually in terms of its sub-categories, Relational social capital, Network social capital and Cognitive social capital), Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital, and the dependent variables (Perceived financial value creation and Perceived non-financial value creation). Regarding the hypothesised moderating influence of Social capital on the relationships between the independent variables Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital, and the dependent variables, it was found that only Relational social capital and Network social capital moderated the relationship between Psychological capital and Perceived financial value creation. vi This study has contributed to the body of knowledge of financial planning in general, as well as how the human capital of financial planners influences both financial and non-financial value creation in financial planning businesses. Practical recommendations were made that could enhance financial planners’ value creation in financial planning businesses, which, in turn, would influence the sustainability of these important businesses. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04
Investigating the first level pass-through effects of the SACU Region monetary transmission mechanism
- Authors: Mkhombo , Thando
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Monetary transmission , Central bank -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57927 , vital:58428
- Description: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the first-level pass-through effects of monetary policy transmission in SACU using the wavelet analysis methodology. The thesis comprises four empirical themes. 1. Investigating the time-frequency relationship in the Fisher’s effect for SACU countries. 2. Investigating the time-frequency relationship in the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) for SACU countries. 3. Investigating the time-frequency relationship between the exchange rate and the stock returns for SACU countries. 4. Investigating the time-frequency relationship between interest rates, exchange rates, and stock returns for SACU countries. Whilst there exists a considerable amount of empirical works which have studied the four themes in SACU countries that are covered in this study, there is a need for more empirical investigation for several reasons. Firstly, a majority of the studies have focused on South Africa with very little empirical literature existing for Botswana and Lesotho. Secondly, the previous SACU based studies present contradicting findings. Thirdly, Most of these studies did not cover the themes comprehensively, as is the case in this study. Finally, to the best of my knowledge, this methodology has not been employed in any SACU related literature until now. Altogether, the thesis bridges the inconsistencies found in previous SACU-related literature and offers fresh implications for policymakers and market participants. From an empirical perspective, the wavelet coherence analysis proves to be a powerful tool in reconciling previous contradicting empirical evidence on the existence of the Fisher effect in SACU countries. From a policy perspective, more fined tuned implications are derived from the findings of the study as wavelets are able to depict a more accurate description of the different first-level monetary transmission relationships. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of business and economic sciences, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04
Lived Experiences of Repeat Sex Offenders in a Zimbabwean Juvenile Prison Regarding Secondary Desistance
- Authors: Chingozho, Johnson
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Sex Offender -- Zimbabwe , Prison violence
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58750 , vital:60084
- Description: Juvenile sex offending is a serious crime that represents a social dysfunction for the offender, an injury to the community and a traumatic experience for the victim. Sex offending is generally perceived to be a conscious and intentional decision. Adolescent sex offending may be attributed to emotional immaturity and faulty thinking patterns. While interventions have been developed in Western settings, it appears they have failed to reduce reoffending among juvenile sex offenders in Zimbabwe. This is attributed to a lack of a culturally responsive psychological programme developed for the Zimbabwean adolescent sex offender. The study employed a phenomenological qualitative research approach that is exploratory, descriptive and theory generative in design. The Integrated Theory of Desistance from Sex Offending (ITDSO) underpinned the research study. The ITDSO’s three temporal dimensions namely: decisive momentum, rehabilitation and reentry were instrumental in the framing of the interview questions used in fieldwork and the development of the Zimbabwe Adolescent Sex Offender Psychoeducational Programme (ZASOPP). The research study took place in four phases. Phase 1 of the study constituted an integrative literature review utilising Whittemore and Knafl’s framework. Synthesis of the literature was conducted and analysed in terms of the themes that emerged that were relevant to juvenile sex offending and desistance. Phase 2 employed a qualitative phenomenological approach to understand the lived experiences of repeat juvenile sex offenders regarding secondary desistance in a Zimbabwean juvenile prison. The data collection process involved in-depth semi-structured interviews with 11 male repeat juvenile sex offenders between the ages of 17 and 21 years. The interviews were conducted in the Shona language. The data collected from the semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded, and analysed by the researcher vii utilising the Colaizzi method. Phase 2 revealed a lack of parental guidance, minimisation, poor social skills, poor academic achievement, alcohol, and drug misuse as perceived factors influencing sex reoffending among juvenile sex offenders. The fear of prison, hopelessness, and challenges in adapting to the new reality in prison contributed to pains of imprisonment. Predictably, the study findings further revealed a lack of an appropriate psychological rehabilitation programme targeted at intervention among juvenile sex offenders. Phase 3 of the research study involved the development of a conceptual framework from the synthesis of findings from the integrative literature review, fieldwork and six concepts of the survey list of the Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach theory. The conceptual framework was used as a basis for the development of a psychoeducational programme. Phase 4 of the research study involved the development of a Zimbabwe Adolescent Sex Offender Psychoeducational Programme as informed by the conceptual framework developed in Phase 3 for clinical assessment and intervention among juvenile sex offenders in prison. The formulated programme would be used to intervene among juvenile sex offenders in a Zimbabwean juvenile prison to assist them to have psychological, mental well-being and to enhance secondary desistance. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04
Re-industrialisation of the Nelson Mandela Metropole regional economy
- Authors: Sipuka, Msingathi
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Economic growth , Economic development -- Nelson Mandela
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58190 , vital:58675
- Description: The main assumption underlying this study is that structural change brings about growth and in turn translates to poverty reduction through the expansion of labour absorbing economic sectors and employment in higher productivity non-primary sectors. Since labour productivity in non-primary sectors is higher, the large-scale migration of labour out of primary activity should raise labour incomes and result in poverty reducing growth. Economic growth driven by structural change in income and employment should therefore aid and promote poverty reduction. Notwithstanding the important role of the national sphere of government in setting the industrial policy framework in the country, this research places emphasis on the role and contribution of regional economies in translating active industrial policy into implementation and development results. In South Africa the rise in poverty can be partially attributed to an economy that is not growing at the required rates needed to, among others, create the necessary employment opportunities at scale. The ability to adequately respond to these national development challenges depends on key economic regions in the country unlocking growth in several economic sectors, in particular the manufacturing sector which is described as labour-intensive and with a high multiplier effect on the economy. To this end, the capacity of regional governments working with regional stakeholders to plan, coordinate, implement and provide oversight over integrated regional industrialisation strategies and implementation plans becomes pivotal. Equally, the Nelson Mandela Metropole, which is the geographic area of focus for this study, has identified and prioritised the growth of the manufacturing sector as one of its economic priorities, reflecting its ambition of driving a programme of re-industrialisation and positioning the region as one of the country’s industrial centres. The main proposition of this study is that the Nelson Mandela Metropole, like other regional economies in the country, is not able to drive the programme of re-industrialisation. The reason for this inability is that it does not have a coherent framework of levers that are at the disposal of regional governments and regional stakeholders to design and implement a programme of re-industrialisation within the ii context of a globalised economy but that takes into consideration national peculiarities of the manufacturing sector. The fact that the regions do not have an integrated regional implementation plan for reviving the manufacturing sector creates an eco-system where there is limited coordination of the actions of different role players, in turn limiting collaboration within the region. The research has identified a gap in the literature between the two areas that impact on this study, namely, industrial development and regional economic development. The study navigates the literature across these two areas to emerge with a synthesised framework of strategic enablers for industrialisation at a regional level. These strategic enablers can be used by regional governments to develop an integrated regional framework to drive the industrialisation programme at this level. With specific reference to the Nelson Mandela Metropole, the study used a mixed methods research approach to assess regional actors’ views on the strategic enablers identified through the literature. A survey was employed to extract data from manufacturing enterprises in the region on the perceived constraints to the growth of the manufacturing sector. The quantitative data were complemented by qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews with key regional informants. The results of the study reveal some of the general weaknesses that confront the region as it pursues regional industrialisation. Importantly, the study uses the identified regional strategic enablers to develop a framework that can be used by regional actors to design an implementation plan. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04
Enhancement of domestic solar photovoltaic unit productivity through the use of a cost effective tracking system
- Authors: Cawood, John Henry
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Photovoltaic power systems , Tracking (Engineering)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59215 , vital:60313
- Description: The majority of new and existing small photovoltaic (PV) installations in South Africa are fixed-panel systems, largely due to the cost of photovoltaic panel components having reduced steadily in recent years where an increased requirement is met with a larger number of panels, whilst tracking system costs remain prohibitively expensive. Fixed installations realise only a part of their energy potential as they are truly effective for only short periods of the day. The aim of this study is to investigate and build on the current technology of PV tracking systems with the aim of specifying a simple control and actuation system which performs the tracking function. The eventual purpose of this thesis is to reliably produce more energy from solar photovoltaic installations than similar installations using fixed panels. This would be achieved by the use of an effective and affordable tracking system which yields acceptable accuracy and reliability and opens the potential for the system to be further developed for other purposes. These alternative uses could be the control of sunlight into green buildings, control of dampers for building ventilation and cooling and Trombe wall air control. This study has investigated the potential of several passive and active methods to actuate a sun tracking system. A useful closed loop system, which uses low pressure hydraulics, was developed and tested. The prototype is detailed in the drawings, Appendix D. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04