A study of the South African national anthem as a tool for division or unification
- Authors: Gallant, Bernette Denolia
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Cultural fusion -- South Africa Multiculturalism -- South Africa , Politics and culture -- South Africa National songs -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15138 , vital:28143
- Description: South Africa is a nation that was born from a struggle that can be said to have turned racial divisions and discrimination into a diversity of heritages. Thus, contemporary South Africa has become a country recreated in such a way that its people are able to embrace diversity freely. This research study aimed to provide insights into South Africa’s diversity in culture and linguistics that were moulded into a single song, the South African National Anthem. The research study aimed to determine the selected sample’s (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Staff and Students) responses to the representation of the South African National Anthem based on two specific performances. The research study aimed to determine how the two online videos affected the perceptions of NMMU Staff and Students of the South African National Anthem and South Africa as a brand. The research study aimed to determine how the two performances of the South African National Anthem under study were received by Staff and Students at NMMU. The study also aimed to highlight the similarities and differences in the sample’s responses, based on this reception. The selected YouTube videos under study are: SA anthem destroyed URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beg0-kMN3fM Ard Matthews ruins the SA national anthem URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu6IG0Wx19w. An electronic questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions was used to draw a conclusion regarding the selected sample’s perceptions of the South African National Anthem. Following the questionnaire results, a rhetoric analysis of the sample’s questionnaire responses was conducted. This text analysis and interpretation was conducted to gain insight into themes that were labelled based on the questionnaire responses, thus affecting perceptions of the sample and determining whether the South African National Anthem was perceived as a tool for division or unification.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The relationship between socio-demographic factors and psychometric screening performances of primary school children with barriers to learning
- Authors: Pretorius, Claudette
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Psychological tests for children , Behavioral assessment of children , Child development -- Testing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9044 , vital:26459
- Description: Inclusive education generally promotes a shift away from the use of psychometric assessment for the placement of learners in special education facilities. This study, however, examines the potential role of psychometric screening for inclusive education in South Africa. This was done by investigating the relationship between selected demographic factors of age, gender, parental levels of education, and caregiver employment status – and psychometric test performances in children identified as having barriers to learning. The participant sample consisted of 329 primary school children aged between 6 and 15 years from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area. Demographic data was collected by means of a questionnaire completed in collaboration with participants’ caregivers and their school authorities. Participants were psychometrically assessed by means of the Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) and the Bender Gestalt Test (BGT), which are commonly used screening measures in the South African context. Results indicated a relationship between test scores and the demographic variables of age and gender on both the Raven’s CPM and the BGT. Paternal level of education was found to impact positively on the BGT scores when the father had achieved a Grade 10 level of education or higher. No statistically significant relationship was found between any of the other socio-demographic factors and the performance scores on the Raven’s CPM and the BGT. It was concluded that the measures appear to be free of undue influence or bias arising from demographic factors. They were found to be useful psychological measures which should be included in screening processes when identifying children with barriers to learning.
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- Date Issued: 2015
The influence of soil properties on the growth and distribution of Portulacaria Afra in subtropical thicket, South Africa
- Authors: Becker, Carina Helene
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Portulacaria afra -- South Africa , Plant conservation -- South Africa , Shrubs -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10753 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013046
- Description: Subtropical Thicket is the dominant vegetation biome in the Eastern Cape, and extends through to parts of the Western Cape. It is dominated by Portulacaria afra (spekboom), a woody succulent plant recognised for its importance as an ecosystem engineer and its carbon sequestration potential. Due to excessive grazing from domestic stock, spekboom has been completely removed from some areas. The Subtropical Thicket Restoration Programme (STRP) initiated a large scale restoration programme of planting spekboom cuttings in these degraded areas. Their efforts have been met with varying levels of success and improvement of the programme relies on continuous monitoring and scientific evaluation. I investigated the influence of selected soil properties on spekboom growth, mortality and landscape distribution, at both restoration sites and natural intact areas, and through experiments. Site or location was the most important factor influencing spekboom success at restoration plots, whereby sites in the eastern end of spekboom distribution perform better. Moving westwards slope orientation emerged as an important factor, whereby north facing slopes are preferred by spekboom. Although high levels of soil salinity (NaCl) restricted spekboom growth and affected its health, it could tolerate the levels it was exposed too. Soil pH, above 7, and phosphorous concentration, above 70 mg.kg-1, were the only limiting factors to spekboom survival found in the restoration sites. This preference for acidic soils was mirrored in intact Thicket. However in general, soil is not a major factor influencing spekboom growth and distribution, and spekboom is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. Spekbooms constraint is most likely a function of climate, which varies greatly across the biome. This study answered some vital questions regarding the possible influence of soil in spekboom growth and distribution. It disapproved the theory that a catena effect may be responsible for the lack of spekboom growing in bottomland areas. The study also indicates and supports the versatility of spekboom as a plant for restoring degraded lands across a range of different geologies and soil types. To maximise spekboom survival rates, restoration efforts should be focussed towards the eastern end of its distribution and to avoid planting in soils with pH levels higher than 7.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The role of traditional leaders in enhancing service delivery in Mbhashe Local Municipality
- Authors: Bokwe, Abel Zingisa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Tribal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Chiefdoms -- Africa, Southern , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8262 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013104
- Description: This study investigates the role of traditional leaders in enhancing service delivery in Mbhashe Local Municipality. The aim is to examine the involvement of traditional leaders in the provision of services to traditional communities. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to review literature on traditional leadership to advance an argument that by utilising the existing channels of communication such as traditional councils, government programmes could be more efficiently advertised. A secondary objective was to examine the relationship between traditional leaders and democratically elected councillors in the delivery of services. The problem in Mbhashe Local Municipality is that traditional leaders and the democratically elected leaders do not work together for service delivery. In order to address this problem, face-to-face interviews were conducted with the identified sample and conclusions drawn from their responses. The research revealed that if properly utilised and capacitated traditional leaders can indeed play a pivotal role in the enhancement of service delivery in Mbhashe Local Municipal area and in South Africa as whole.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The location decision of PE College after a merger
- Authors: Ferreira, Renee
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Industrial location -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , School sites -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Universities and colleges -- Mergers -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:10863 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/256 , Industrial location -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , School sites -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Universities and colleges -- Mergers -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: The Port Elizabeth College (PE College) was founded in January 2002 as a result of the merger between the three technical colleges in Port Elizabeth, namely, Russell Road, Bethelsdorp and Iqhayiya. Similar courses are offered in duplicated facilities, contrary to the sentiment of the legislation requiring the reduction of the number of technical colleges from 152 to 50. A further problem experienced by the management of PE College is that the Russell Road campus is so full that it is necessary to turn prospective students away, while the other campuses are under-utilised. The focus of this study is the evaluation of the location and coverage offered by the six PE College sites of delivery. The study examined the physical facilities of the PE College and investigated the requirements of staff and students, regarding their campuses of choice. The objectives were achieved through site visits to the six campuses, as well as a quantitative, structured, self-administered survey of all staff and students of the PE College in October 2003. The questions used in the survey were selected only after a literature review of location theory, which highlighted the factors to be considered in location decisions. Completed questionnaires were received from 1 256 student and 120 staff respondents. The empirical study showed that 13,2% of students and 9,2% of staff wished to study or work at a different campus. Sixty-eight percent of students who wanted to change campuses preferred to be based at the Russell Road campus, which is already full. As a result, this study has led to the recommendation that the PE College should use a product-based location strategy, where each campus specialises in a different field of study. Although this location strategy will not necessarily offer the greatest accessibility to students and staff, it will result in the least amount of duplication, and, therefore, reduced costs.
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- Date Issued: 2004
Identification and analysis of the factors that influence the development of female entrepreneurs in the informal sector
- Authors: Sokabo, Nobenguni B
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Women-owned business enterprises -- South Africa , Small business -- South Africa , Businesswomen -- South Africa , Women in development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:10907 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/98 , Women-owned business enterprises -- South Africa , Small business -- South Africa , Businesswomen -- South Africa , Women in development -- South Africa
- Description: There is a remarkable increase in the participation of females in business activities due to their involvement in the informal sector. These activities appear to be insignificant and not measurable because they are outside the regulatory framework, but they also absorb multitudes of the unemployable. Notwithstanding the challenges of low levels of education, lack of skills and finance as well as the need to balance reproductive and productive roles, females are under pressure to generate income through trading in small scale businesses that can hardly grow beyond subsistence level. With the meagre earnings from their activities, they ensure the survival of their families. If female entrepreneurs are developed and brought into the economic main stream, they will bring with them their unique survivalist techniques that will contribute towards economic development and growth in the country. This report examines the constraints that affect the development of female entrepreneurs in the informal sector.
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- Date Issued: 2002