The design of a special needs school: for children affected by trauma associated with HIV and AIDS in Schauderville, Gqeberha
- Authors: Felton, Mae Sarah
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: School buildings -- Design and construction , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Children with disabilities -- Education -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58838 , vital:60171
- Description: HIV and AIDS has been a long-standing and growing pandemic worldwide, but particularly in the context of South Africa. As a result, a pattern of trauma noticeably follows individuals, families and communities, and especially impacts on learners and their experience within the education system. Conventional school environments and buildings often become unaccommodating, harsh and overly-stimulating for learners with traumatic backgrounds and stress. Special needs schools address different disorders and conditions separately, and accommodate a variety of unique demands through teaching interventions and, more importantly, through architecture. This treatise aimed to break away from institutional and conventional architecture by applying theories on child development and architecture, the psychology of space, sensory architecture and trauma-informed design. This treatise positioned itself in empathy and wellness, with concern for the psychological experience of environments for learners, demonstrated through special needs schools, which addressed trauma associated with HIV and AIDS. Hence, this building type was explored to deinstitutionalise educational environments, to identify and address these learners’s specific needs. In realising an architectural intervention with reactive and therapeutic intent, the type of trauma and the relative experiences which triggered it needed to be understood and used to inform and shape comprehensive buildings and environments. This treatise, and the conclusions drawn from it, intended to guide and inform a principle typology and model for future projects of the same nature. As the first of its type, the special needs school location was in Gqeberha and in close proximity to Livingstone Hospital, where the HIV and AIDS cases were the highest. It was situated within the residential zone and schooling district of Schauderville, on the existing site of Adolph Schauder Primary School. The opportunities and challenges in and around this site, along with design principles based on the adopted theories informed an architectural intervention which challenged conventional schooling and design applications in favour of a more empathetic and considerate relationship between learners and architecture. , Thesis (MArch) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The design of an automotive academy for Mercedes Benz in Gately, East London
- Authors: Dustan,Cameron
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Automobile factories -- South Africa -- East London -- Designs and plans , Automobiles -- Design and construction
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58860 , vital:60221
- Description: The purpose of this project is to investigate the automotive industry in East London, specifically Mercedes-Benz, in order to propose extensions of the skills development academy and exhibition spaces as an integral part of a larger campus of education. The Mercedes-Benz factory precinct in East London is one of the four largest in the world and is the biggest in Africa, creating grounds for extension. In East London, there is plenty of unemployment and many are seeking jobs in the industrial areas which are mainly automotive. Due to most of the industry being owned by Mercedes-Benz, it is crucial to engage in high levels of education and to provide opportunities for growth within the industry and expansion of skills. Students at the academy will learn different skills in the automotive manufacturing trade and will be guaranteed jobs after their studies are completed. The skills academy will form part of an educational precinct which will establish a narrative for the timeline of Mercedes-Benz. The project will hopefully provide more job opportunities and skills training for the locals of East London as well as to contribute to the economy of the automotive industry. Much like cars, industry works as a machine; there are bits and pieces that need to puzzle together in order to create a working and living machine. The automotive skills academies are exactly that for the industry, a piece of the puzzle which ensures the working of the industry as a whole, now and in the future. Without these skills academies, the automotive industry would subsequently lose its fundamental skills and knowledge base. The core concern for this treatise is the expansion of the industry by creating extensions of the Mercedes-Benz skills academy and creating a space which is educational while being a user-friendly building focused on the wellness of workers and rates of productivity to ensure maximized output and the further growth of the industry. The project is based in East London and will hold a pivotal role in the automotive industry. The treatise looks to break away from the hard industrial aspects of the industry and pull away from the static architecture of Mercedes-Benz and the surrounding buildings, to create a vibrant and experiential building with the overarching emphasis on occupational wellness and innovation in the design. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The design of an infectious disease centre of excellence for the study of infectious diseases at Livingstone Hospital, Gqeberha
- Authors: L’ange, Christopher Jonathan
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Hospital buildings –South Africa – Port Elizabeth –design and plans , Hospitals buildings –Disinfection –Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58683 , vital:59985
- Description: The COVID-19 virus showed the world how under-prepared it was to cope with a pandemic. It also raised an awareness in the world that a highly communicable disease can begin anywhere, and without proper monitoring and reporting can spread to become a global pandemic. The South African Health Department has been under significant stress and on the brink of collapse during the successive waves of the pandemic due to the lack of healthcare workers, medical doctors, infectious disease specialists and epidemiologists as well inadequate medical and clinical infrastructure. The infectious disease specialty in South Africa is also in crisis, prompting the Infectious Disease Society of South Africa to plead with the Health Department and universities to fund projects that support learning and research into infectious diseases, virology, and epidemiology. This project proposes the design of an Infectious Disease Centre of Excellence for the Study of Infectious Diseases at Livingstone Hospital, Gqeberha which focuses on the research, teaching and learning, and healing of infectious diseases in a ho listic building design incorporating biosafety research laboratories, an infectious disease ward and a centre of excellence. The methodology used was to research existing precedent studies that are focused on the research, teaching and learning, and healing of infectious diseases as well as researching a theoretical framework based on holism and systemic architec ture. This theoretical framework, coupled with a careful analysis of the relation ship of each highly specialised space with the other space components leads to the design of an Infectious Disease Centre of Excellence for the Study of Infectious Diseases which responds to the urgent need expressed above as well as providing a design which promotes the well-being of all users. The facility also enhances the Livingstone Hospital precinct. Key Words: Infectious Diseases, Laboratory, Ward, Centre of Excellence, Bio-Safe ty, Holism, Systemic. , Thesis (MArch) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The effect of technological innovation on employment: the case of manufacturing sector in South Africa
- Authors: Matjiwa, Keaobaka Onicca
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Manufacturing industries -- Technological innovations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54058 , vital:46209
- Description: The role of technological innovation in the growth of an economy and the production of goods and services motivated this research. Technology is expected to boost production and relieve workers of the stress of doing repetitive tasks. It can also have a long-term impact on economic activity by increasing manufacturing efficiency and lowering production costs, which can be translated into lower prices for the goods and services demanded. The main objective of the study is to examine the relationship between technological innovation and employment, using a case study of the manufacturing sector in South Africa, making use of the Tobit regression model estimation technique. Annual secondary time series data spanning the period of 1970 to 2019 was employed. Earlier studies conducted in South Africa measured the relationship between employment in the manufacturing sector and technological innovation using different methodologies, including estimating procedures, model specifications and time frames. In this study the Tobit model estimation technique is utilised. The Tobit model results showed that there is a negative and significant relationship between variables used as proxies for technological innovation and employment in the manufacturing sector. That means an increase in technological innovation by 1 point will decrease employment in the manufacturing sector in South Africa by 0.52 points. Furthermore, the results reveals that there is relationship among control variables under the study. Based on the findings, the study therefore recommends that the government and policy makers formulate and adjust economic development policies that will produce the needed economic growth to secure employment in the midst of technological advancements in the manufacturing sector, through SETAs, TVETs and other Higher education institutions by interacting with the industry to develop curriculum and offer qualifications that enhance skills complementary to technological use, such as robotics, servicing of technology, software engineering, big data analytics and so forth. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The effectiveness of the Land Redistribution programme on women’s quality of life: A case of Buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape: a case of buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Qayiso, Okuhle
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Land reform -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Women's rights -- South Africa -- Buffalo City
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54277 , vital:46392
- Description: The land question is a highly contentious issue in post-apartheid South Africa. Land is considered as a valuable resource for sustaining the livelihoods of people yet it remains one of the most sought after and contested resource in Africa owing to her colonial past. Black South Africans were also immensely subjected to land dispossession during the colonization by the Dutch and later the British and forced land removals during the apartheid era. Although this historical context from a lens of “race" is important to note here given how it shaped the South African geography of land ownership, there is nonetheless another dimension; that of gender. The main assertion driving this study is that due to a number of contextual factors (such as women's cultural status, economic inequality and poverty), land ownership between women and men is highly unequal whereby the former owns less and is mostly marginalized from land rights. This study thus looks at the extent to which land redistribution improves the quality of life for women in Buffalo City. The land redistribution program is part of the land reform policy which is a post-apartheid design and implemented for the purpose of redressing historical land dispossession and create redistributive land equality and tenure. This study employed a qualitative approach to ‘explore’ the experiences of women who are the beneficiaries of the land redistribution program as well as the perspectives of key informants who are the officials of the Rural Development and Reform Department. The thesis used an exploratory research design which was suitable for the understanding and unpacking of women's experiences with the land redistribution program. A major finding of this study is that the women who benefited from the land redistribution program have successfully progressed from small scale subsistence farming to large scale commercial farming, significantly improving their livelihoods. Nonetheless, the lack of financial capital is a critical challenge as the land redistribution program gives access to farms that need maintenance and renewal with financial grants that are barely enough for starting up. This study therefore argues that access to land should be accompanied by access to financial resources and capacity building to empower beneficiaries to use the land and other resources effectively and efficiently. It is recommended herein that the department should give beneficiaries full ownership of the land allocated to them as opposed to the thirty- year leasehold. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The evaluation of the Joint Action Project (JAP) waste intervention in Gqeberha township
- Authors: Nqunqa, Likhona Nonopha
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Evaluation
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54266 , vital:46387
- Description: Successful development projects are not only grounded in proper planning and implementation but also in evaluation. Numerous development projects are implemented successfully but lack evaluation. This study evaluates the Joint Action Project (JAP) waste intervention that took place in Gqeberha Township in February 2020. The intervention was designed and implemented by a group of student volunteers from Nelson Mandela University (NMU), Port Elizabeth (PE) College and Wismar University. This was a collaborative project between Development Studies, Human Settlements Development, Electrical Engineering, Communication and Design as well as Architecture students who worked together to construct a workspace for a male informal waste picker residing in Gqeberha township. The study adopted a qualitative research approach and data was collected through interviews and field observation. Although the findings of this study revealed that there were some challenges encountered by the beneficiary and the JAP team during the project implementation, the benefits of the intervention exceeded these challenges. These benefits include the improvement of the beneficiary’s livelihood and waste picking business, improvement of health and improvement of the environment surrounding the intervention site , Thesis (MADS) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The impact of COVID-19 on depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress levels in doctors and nurses at a South African health facility
- Authors: Finger-Motsepe, Kelebogile
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease) , Mental health
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27920 , vital:70880
- Description: Introduction: The emergence of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (Covid-19) has wrought profound and enduring transformations in global health, economic dynamics, and social interactions. However, the comprehensive quantification of the psychological repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic remains elusive and is poised to compound the preexisting burden of mental health disorders within the general populace. Elevated transmission rates, rapid disease progression within vulnerable demographics, and the absence of definitive curative or preventive measures have collectively contributed to a heightened worldwide state of stress and anxiety. Extensive research has demonstrated that the apprehension and stress associated with Covid-19 are markedly pronounced among healthcare professionals, commonly referred to as front-line workers, in comparison to the general population. The Covid-19-related psychological distress is anticipated to act as a catalyst, exacerbating mental health conditions within high-risk groups. Aims and Objectives: This study endeavours to ascertain the prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among medical doctors and nurses employed at a regional hospital in South Africa. Methodology: A cross-sectional investigation was conducted to evaluate the presence of anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms among medical doctors and nurses working at a Regional Hospital situated in the Free State Province of South Africa. A purposive sample of 200 participants, comprising all willing doctors and nurses employed at the study site, was enrolled in the study. Findings: The participants exhibited an average age of 42 years and an average tenure of approximately 72 months at the hospital. The majority of participants were of African descent, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:2.3. Female healthcare workers reported significantly higher instances of PTSD than their male counterparts. In the aggregate, 71.4percent of doctors reported symptoms indicative of depression, 73.2percent reported anxiety-related symptoms, and 19.6percent reported PTSD-related symptoms. Among nurses, 72percent displayed clinically significant symptoms of depression, 81percent exhibited anxiety-related symptoms, and 27.7percent manifested symptoms suggestive of PTSD. A moderately robust positive correlation was discerned between PTSD and Anxiety (p = .000; r = .466) as well as PTSD and Depression (p = .000; r = .315). Additionally, a strong positive correlation was identified between Anxiety and Depression (p = .000; r = .631). A statistically significant disparity (p = .030) in anxiety levels was observed among workers in different risk-prone areas. Nurses reported substantially higher levels of anxiety (p = .039; M = 10.63, sd = 4.03) compared to doctors (M = 9.01, sd = 3.80) and administrators (M = 10.50, sd = 4.32). Moreover, both nurses (M = 27.06, sd = 13.61) and administrators (M = 33.33, sd = 14.44) exhibited significantly higher instances of PTSD (p = .003) than doctors (M = 19.96, sd = 15.03). Conclusions: The healthcare workers under scrutiny reported elevated levels of anxiety and depression attributable to the Covid-19 pandemic, although the prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptoms was comparatively lower within the hospital setting. Furthermore, this study illuminates that depressive, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms were more prevalent among nurses than doctors. Additionally, healthcare professionals operating in high-risk Covid-19 environments, such as the Covid-19 ward, demonstrated heightened levels of anxiety when juxtaposed with their counterparts stationed in low-risk Covid-19 areas within the healthcare facility. , Thesis (MPH) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The Impact of in-store promotions on consumer buying behaviour
- Authors: Van Niekerk, Ruan
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Consumer behavior , Sales promotion
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54377 , vital:46486
- Description: The purpose of this treatise is to identify the impact of in-store promotions on consumer buying behavior. Through utilizing real-world data, the study used a qualitative analysis by gathering input from people who are activity involved with in-store promotions. In-store promotions have been suspected to directly impact consumer buying behavior; however, there is no real proof of this. Furthermore, the theory suggests that in-store promotions should impact consumer buying behavior, but there could be a difference between what theory states against what is actually happening. Therefore, this study will be taking opinions and views from those working with in-store promotions and put it to the test against the theory. The aim is to determine whether in-store promotions is a viable source of marketing and if it can ultimately affect the consumers buying behavior. The treatise will also help the reader to understand the theory behind consumer behavior and what it entails. Interviews were conducted with store managers across South Africa to get more accurate data. By interviewing store managers from various regions, geographical skewness of data was prevented from occurring. This study further assists marketing professionals to have a more accurate understanding of what to expect when conducting in-store promotions. Marketing professionals will also be able to better predict the outcome such activities on the final purchasing decision of consumers. , Thesis (MAB) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The impact of institutional cultures on student’s wellbeing among postgraduate students: the case of Nelson Mandela University in South Africa
- Authors: Lebelo, Mpho Tiny
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55402 , vital:51990
- Description: Increasingly, students across the world in various tertiary institutions are faced with many challenges ranging from financial difficulties, accommodation, academic exclusion and many other challenges. Subsequently, the students’ academic performance suffers due to these challenges. This thesis therefore aims to focus on the perspectives of the post-graduate students at the Nelson Mandela University regarding the notion of wellbeing. This thesis attempts to uses a sociological indigenous perspective of wellbeing of “impilo” in describing well-being. Therefore, the thesis uses wellness as a conceptual framework to understand the challenges faced by postgraduate students at Nelson Mandela University. The thesis was conducted in Port Elizabeth, at Nelson Mandela University campus of Summerstrand focusing on post-graduate students in faculty of humanities. A qualitative research design and qualitative digital ethnographic research methodology was chosen as suitable for answering the research question. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis included identifying consistent themes around notions of well-being and experiences of changing university culture in the responses. The thesis main findings reveal the impact of how the changing university institutional culture impacts post-graduate student’s wellbeing.The research found that students are affected by institutional cultures and this is narrated through their experience of university life and their reflections on #MustFall movements. The participants have detailed how the cultures in the university have a greater impact on the well-being on student because the university is more than just a place of learning but their home. The participants also detailed new colloquial ways of describing well-being using the term “inerves” and “umgowo” are general ways of describing their well-being. The dissertation has contributed to the limited body of knowledge in the context of post-graduate students experience and conception of well-being in the South African higher education. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The impact of institutional cultures on student’s wellbeing among postgraduate students: the case of Nelson Mandela University in South Africa
- Authors: Lebelo, Mpho
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54450 , vital:46549
- Description: Increasingly, students across the world in various tertiary institutions are faced with many challenges ranging from financial difficulties, accommodation, academic exclusion and many other challenges. Subsequently, the students’ academic performance suffers due to these challenges. This thesis therefore aims to focus on the perspectives of the post-graduate students at the Nelson Mandela University regarding the notion of wellbeing. This thesis attempts to uses a sociological indigenous perspective of wellbeing of “impilo” in describing well-being. Therefore, the thesis uses wellness as a conceptual framework to understand the challenges faced by postgraduate students at Nelson Mandela University. The thesis was conducted in Port Elizabeth, at Nelson Mandela University campus of Summerstrand focusing on post-graduate students in faculty of humanities. A qualitative research design and qualitative digital ethnographic research methodology was chosen as suitable for answering the research question. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis included identifying consistent themes around notions of well-being and experiences of changing university culture in the responses. The thesis main findings reveal the impact of how the changing university institutional culture impacts post-graduate student’s wellbeing. The research found that students are affected by institutional cultures and this is narrated through their experience of university life and their reflections on #MustFall movements. The participants have detailed how the cultures in the university have a greater impact on the well-being on student because the university is more than just a place of learning but their home. The participants also detailed new colloquial ways of describing well-being using the term “inerves” and “umgowo” are general ways of describing their well-being. The dissertation has contributed to the limited body of knowledge in the context of post-graduate students experience and conception of well-being in the South African higher education. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The impact of Labour-business relations in South Africa: factors that affect Labour business relations in the manufacturing industry
- Authors: Madlingozi, Azola
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Industrial relations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54014 , vital:46178
- Description: Industries play a significant role in a country’s economic growth stability and development. In analysing an industry, one could liken it to a big oil machine that requires all its parts to work in unison to achieve a single goal. In most cases, the biggest issue that causes conflicts or for the industry not to run smoothly is the relationship between labour and business. Some of these conflicts could be caused by the historic background of a country, lack of trust between both parties, the income difference between management and labour, and last, the lack of proper communication between both parties. This study aims to assess the role of the Labour Relation Act (LRA) of the South African manufacturing industry to educate and improve the future business sphere on how to engage labour in decision-making strategies and investigate relevant management strategies that could be employed to affect the labour-business relation positively in South Africa (SA). The importance of this study is crucial to the SA economy since SA is still a developing country. Good labour-business relations imply good industry productions, which, therefore, will promote investor confidence in SA for sustainable growth in the SA economy. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The impact of transformed landscapes on the resource selection and occupancy of specialized browsing species in a lowland fynbos and renosterveld ecosystem
- Authors: Swanepoel, Hermanus Izak Johannes
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54132 , vital:46308
- Description: Human activities have dramatically transformed the natural environment over the last century. In most cases these activities have resulted in the destruction and fragmentation of habitats. However, in some areas the transformation of landscapes through agriculture have created novel habitats which could benefit some species. The effect of these transformed landscapes on the resource selection and occupancy of antelope species in different vegetation types such as fynbos and renosterveld are still understudied. In order to investigate this,we conducted a study in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, South Africa. We studied theoccupancy and habitat useof five specialist browsing species (Tragelaphus scriptus sylvaticus(bushbuck), Rhaphicerus melanotis(cape grysbok), Sylvicapra grimmia(common duiker), Palea Capreolus(grey rhebok) and Rhaphicerus campestris(steenbok)) within a transformed landscape. We collected speciesdetection/ non-detectionand presence/ absence data using camera traps and road strip counts.Usinga single season, single species occupancy framework as a surrogate for habitat usewedeterminedhow transformed landscapes affected their occupancy. Using aniche factor analysis and resource selection functions wedetermine how transformed landscapes affected the resource selectionof these species. Our results from the resource selection analysis indicated that steenbok, grey rhebok, andcommon duiker included crops such as wheat and planted pastures in their resource selection while also including natural vegetation. Cape grysbok and bushbuck selected predominantly for natural vegetation areas such as critical biodiversity areas and ecological support areas while also including some crops in their resource selection. Our results from the occupancy analysis indicatedthat steenbok, grey rhebok and common duiker had a higher occupancy in the transformed landscape than in the natural landscape. Bushbuck and Cape grysbok showed little to no difference in their occupancy between land use types. The insight provided by our results will allow practitioners to maximise the potentialof these mosaic landscape in the Overberg for mammal conservation.The study also provides a baseline from which further research and monitoring programs can be developed to further understand the dynamics of this landscape. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The importance of public officials’ knowledge and understanding of the constitutional principles of public administration
- Authors: Zameko, Zamuxolo
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54596 , vital:46732
- Description: Public officials in South Africa have been accused of lacking accountability, transparency, corruption, inefficiencies, unethical practices and a general unmotivated approach to service delivery. Section 195 of the 1996 constitution emphasises the need for public officials to be efficient, effective and not to be partial in their execution of duty. On that basis the research sought to investigate whether the public officials can improve on their performance if they are exposed to and are knowledgeable of the constitution. The study utilized a qualitative research method and a document analysis in which documents which served as sources of information were selected based on their relevance to the subject area of Public Administration. The documents selected were legal instruments used to enforce the operations of public officials including the Constitution of South Africa (1996), Batho Pele, White Paper on the Transformation of the Public Service, 1995; Promotion of Access to Information (Act no 2 of 2000 and Promotion of Equality & Prevention of Unfair Discrimination (Ac no 4 of 2000) Findings of the research indicate that key skills of the public officials like effective communication, change management, conflict resolution, decision-making, negotiation and accountability can be enhanced if they are knowledgeable of their constitutional mandate. The Public Service board should among others emphasize on constitutional principles training of all its employees upon recruitment such that they are aware of the public expectations. Continuous on the job training should also be offered to public officials so that their operations are always adjusted to the prevailing environmental and technological conditions. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The influence of COVID-19 on online shopping behaviour in South Africa
- Authors: Shati, Joseph
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Teleshopping -- South Africa , Consumer behavior --South Africa , COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- -- South Africa -- Influence
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54330 , vital:46429
- Description: The traditional brick-and-mortar stores have had to endure competition in the recent past from the arrival of various shopping channels, particularly the online shopping. Despite the competition enhanced by a proliferation of technology, brick-and-mortar is still the preferred shopping channel. This is largely due to the shopping behaviour, which is generally stable and slow to change unless it is distorted by a catastrophic event. The advent of the corona virus pandemic has seen nations imposing restrictions on gatherings and encouraging moving to online platforms for both social and business interactions as a way to curb transmission of the deadly virus. This major life event has the potential to distort traditional shopping behaviour. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate whether the pandemic has had an influence on online shopping in South Africa. The research aims to examine the different shopping channels and factors that lure customers to those channels paying particular attention to online shopping during the pandemic. Communication, technology, product variety, payment method, delivery, shopping behaviour, COVID-19 and demographics were identified during a literature review as independent factors that influence online shopping. A positivism paradigm, which informed the selection of a quantitative method, was adopted for this research in order to achieve the study’s research objectives. An online questionnaire was designed to collect data and was distributed by the university’s first-year MBA students. The collected data were analysed with the assistance of the university’s statistician. The ethics approval for the study was obtained from the Nelson Mandela University’s Ethics Committee, reference number H21-BES-BS-003. The study draws from the Technology Acceptance Model, Theory of Planned Behaviour and Diffusion of Innovation theories to gain a better understanding on the acceptance of technologies’ influence on online shopping. The study identified that the biographic variables, namely age, income, education, gender and employment status have an influence on online shopping. The relationship between the different independent factors and online shopping was tested using the Exploratory Factor Analysis, Pearson correlations and Chi2 Tests. The factors Payment method, Shopping behaviour, Current impact of COVID-19, Acceptance of technologies and Product variety were found to have a significant influence on online shopping.Based on the research findings, the study formulated recommendations for online businesses in South Africa. The research findings will allow businesses to promptly implement strategies that meet the consumers’ needs and gain competitive advantage. Based on the findings, businesses are urged to improve security on payment methods, leverage technology to offer improved customer experience and primarily market to the 18-39 years employed cohort. These recommendations will assist businesses to retain these online shopping customers post the pandemic. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The relationship between digitisation, customer service and customer loyalty in the South African banking industry
- Authors: Reddy, Denzil
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Banks and banking -- Information technology -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- Digitization -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54319 , vital:46426
- Description: Digitisation has forced modernisation across many industries over the last decade; it has created a world of trade without boundaries, seamless integration with technology, improving business and quality of life in general. The banking industry in South Africa has been impacted by the rapid emergence of financial technology (Fintech) companies who are challenging the status quo of traditional banking. Their fundamental difference from traditional banks is their ability to create a solution for problems in the market at rapid speed; they use digitisation as their core foundation when developing products to satisfy consumer needs. They are introducing banking capabilities faster and more efficiently than traditional banks, creating a new breed of client needs. Customers want a more robust, seamless, and quicker client experience from traditional banks, which are being offered via Fintechs. The objectives of this study were to identify what impact does digitisation have on customer service and customer loyalty in the South African banking environment, it aimed to establish what role digitisation embodies in a face to face customer service environment, whilst exploring if there is a need for physical banker engagement to reduce attrition and build loyalty. To achieve the objectives, data was collected via electronic surveys, which was distributed to 250 participants in which 103 completed surveys was received. Participants were South African adults who owned a bank account. Quantitative methodology was used given the population size of South African banked individuals. The overall conclusion is that digitisation directly affects customer service and customer loyalty, decisions are made factoring in digitisation when considering a bank as a service provider. Whilst it has a direct influence, and affects the overall decision-making process by consumers, good customer service, irrespective of the delivery channel, is still critical and fundamentally the key driver when opting to use a bank. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The role of community led support groups in facilitating relapse prevention to young adults with a substance use disorder
- Authors: Teko,Luvuyo
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Substance abuse--Relapse--Prevention , Substance abuse--Treatment--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55766 , vital:53457
- Description: Substance use disorder (SUD) is a cause of great concern globally and in South Africa. Epidemiological studies in South Africa indicate that the age of onset of substance use is rapidly decreasing with time from the age of 17 to as young as 10 years of age. Research confirms that early identification and treatment of harmful substance use reduce the chances of developing a substance use disorder. This study focused on young adults whose harmful use of substances escalated into a substance use disorder. Aftercare is an integral component in addressing risk factors to facilitate ongoing recovery. This study focused on community-led support groups as an aftercare strategy for SUD recovery. The aim of this qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual study was to develop an in-depth understanding of how community-led support groups can facilitate relapse prevention in the aftercare of young adults with substance use disorders. Non-probability purposive and snowball sampling were employed to recruit members from community-led support groups between 18 and 35 years of age who had been in recovery for a substance use disorder for six months and longer. A total of nine participants were sampled from three different community led support groups in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. Data was collected through individual, online, semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed by means of thematic analysis. The findings showed that community led support groups are viable vehicles for recovery in the aftercare. What was unique was the employment of strategies of needs identification and active responses that improved the recovery potential of young adults. What was further noted was how Community-led support groups can tailor their assistance to the unique needs of their members who take ownership of the group instead of relying on professional interventions. In conclusion, the community-led support groups in this study served as a viable strategy for the ongoing recovery in the aftercare of the participants in this study. Data verification strategies were employed to ensure the trustworthiness and rigour of the study. There was strict adherence to all ethical considerations. , Thesis (MA)Social Work -- Faculty of Health Sciences, Social Development Professionals, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The social capital of informal economy operators in the Walmer township
- Authors: Frimpong, Kusi Amoah
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Infrastructure (Economics) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53910 , vital:46033
- Description: In recent years, South Africa has witnessed a significant increase in the unemployment rate. As a result, many people found themselves in the informal sector, which has become their livelihood option. Townships, which have been historically disconnected from the socio-economic grid, have high unemployment, and the informal sector is barely recognized and supported by the government. Despite this, the informal sector thrives and continues to support many households and communities. It also contributes to the country’s GDP. Thus, this study set out to develop a better understanding on the issues around social capital and informal operators, using Walmer Township as a case study. Literature related to the study on informal sector and social capital was reviewed to gain insight into the views of other writers on the topic under study. A Qualitative research design was adopted in this study. The study used both primary and secondary methods for data collection, - that is interviews and documents analysis respectively. Data was analysed through inductive thematic analysis. The findings of the study showed that social capital is a contributing factor to the growth of an informal economy. The findings revealed that bonding and bridging social capital has a significant effect on the growth of informal businesses. The study equally found out that the informal sector faces other challenges, outside social capital, such as crime and security issues, and inadequate trading spaces. The study recommends that, -the government should consider improving the security needs of the Township to boost the informal sector. The local government needs to organize programs to educate informal business owners on the importance of social capital. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The synthesis of anastrazole intermediates using continuous flow systems
- Authors: Tanyi, Sam Tambi
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54116 , vital:46304
- Description: In this study, the continuous flow synthesis of anastrozole intermediates were investigated using mesitylene as starting material. Anastrozole is an important drug used for the treatment of breast cancer. In the first step, mesitylene was brominated using N-bromosuccinimide to obtain 3,5-bis(bromomethyl)toluene. Selectivity became an issue due to the formation of two by-products; namely 1,3,5-tris(bromomethyl) benzene (the tribrominated by-product) and 1-(bromomethyl)-3,5-dimethylbenzene (the monobrominated by-product). Since the reaction parameters can be more precisely controlled in flow chemistry systems, we were able to optimize the formation the desired product 3,5-bis(bromomethyl)toluene. The reaction was initially optimized ina 15μLChemtrix glass micro reactor resulting in 100%conversion with 95%selectivity towards the desired product 3,5-bis(bromomethyl)toluenein 15 seconds, with a throughput of 0.006 g/h. The reaction was then scaled up in a 1.7 mLLTF reactor, equally yielding 100%conversion with 95%selectivityin 4minutes, with a throughput of2.01g/h. The bromination of mesitylene was also attempted in a homemade photochemical reactor consisting of a 3.02 polytetrafluoroethylene coil reactor and BLE-6T365 UV lamp. In this photochemical reactor, although 100%conversionwas again obtained only75%selectivity was achieved in 20minutes, with a throughput of 0.025g/h. This drop in selectivity was attributed to poorer mixing in the larger polytetrafluoroethylene coil reactor and possibly insufficient light penetration. The next step, involving the cyanation of 3,5-bis(bromomethyl)toluene to obtain 2,2'-(5-methyl-1,3-phenylene) diacetonitrilegave 100%conversion in 1 minute at 190 °C in a 1.7 mLLTFreactor, with a throughput of 5.2g/h. The subsequent methylation of 3,5-bis(cyanomethyl)toluene to obtain3,5-bis(1-cyano-1-methylethyl) toluene was investigated using a1mLpolytetrafluoroethylenecoil reactor, ultimatelyachieving99%conversionat40 °Cin 8minutes, with a throughput of 0.045g/h. Next, the bromination of3,5-bis(1-cyano-1-methylethyl)toluene using N-bromosuccinimideto yield 2,2'-(5-bromomethyl-1,3-phenylene)di(2-methyl propionitrile) gave 100%conversion at 120 °C in 4 minutes, with a throughput of 0.35g/h. Lastly, the multistep synthesis of 3,5-bis(cyanomethyl)toluene was done in two integrated 1.7 mLLTF reactors, using the predetermined optimum conditions to achieve 94%conversion towards 3,5-bis(cyanomethyl)toluene with a total r , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The technical efficiency of SACU Ports: a data envelopment analysis approach
- Authors: Bekebu, Siyanda
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Free ports and zones -- Africa, Southern , Harbors -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53813 , vital:45982
- Description: There ever growing international trade and increasing congestion of ports led to an increased focus attention on technical efficiency. Seaports are a central and necessary component in facilitating international trade. Yet, there is only limited comprehensive information available on the technical efficiency of African ports. The study investigated the technical efficiency of the SACU ports during the period 2014-2019 using DEA model. The DEA model is effective in resolving the measurement of port efficiency since the calculations are nonparametric and do not need definition or knowledge of a priori weights for the inputs or outputs, as is necessary for estimate of efficiency using production functions. To identify the roots of the technical inefficiency of the SACU ports, the study subdivided technical efficiency into pure technical and scale efficiency. The model used cargo handled, container throughput, ship calls as output variables. Whilst, quay cranes, number of tugboats, draft, quay length and number of quays were used as input variables. The study used the scores of DEA-BCC model as explanatory variables in Tobit model. The results showed that quay cranes and quay length are the cause of technical inefficiencies in the ports. , Thesis (MCom (Economics)) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
The use of ambient seismic noise to investigate internal changes in a tailings storage facility and to image the subsurface geology in the Cradock area of the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Kunjwa, Thulisile
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53642 , vital:45690
- Description: Passive seismic interferometry is a process by which ambient noise data recorded at different seismic stations can be cross-correlated to estimate Green's functions. In the past, both surface waves and body waves have successfully been extracted by cross-correlation of ambient noise data on both regional and global scales. Recent advancements in ambient seismic noise techniques have the potential to provide new methods for subsurface imaging and monitoring. The ambient noise data processing procedure divides into four principal phases: (1) single station data preparation, (2) cross-correlation and temporal stacking, (3) measurement of dispersion curves and (4) inversion of dispersion curves to obtain 1-D shear wave profiles and computation of 2-D shear wave velocity cross-section. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether ambient seismic noise can be used to image and detect internal changes within a mine tailings dam wall and to image the subsurface geology of part of the Eastern Cape Karoo near Cradock. In the first experiment, the investigation consisted of continuous ambient noise data recordings over a period of 3 days with 20 three-component short period geophones. The geophones were deployed over a survey wall of roughly 100 m in length at the Harmony Gold mine tailings dam in Welkom. In the second experiment, the investigation consisted of data recordings over a period of 35 days. The geophones were deployed in Cradock. The first phase of the data processing procedure included de-trending, de-meaning and band-pass filtering the data. This was done to ensure that any long period trends associated with instrument glitches are removed from the data. A spectrogram was then computed to view the spectrum of frequencies in the signal and to check if the filter that was designed was able to cut off the unwanted frequencies. The horizontal and vertical components of the ambient noise data were cross-correlated and picked between sensor pairs to create surface wave dispersion curves. Subsequently, the dispersion curves were inverted to estimate the shear wave velocity of the dam wall and subsurface as a function of depth. The computed cross sections of shear wave velocity indicated a low-velocity zone between 2 and 10 m below the surface on the dam wall, this suggested that the phreatic surface is much closer to surface in this area. In the second experiment, the interpolated shear wave velocity profiles indicated that there is a layer of low velocity zone between depths 250 to 300 m below the surface. The cross-correlations were also used to compute group velocity maps from periods 1.5 seconds to 30 seconds. The group velocity maps showed various high and low velocity anomalies. The high velocity zones observed on the eastern section of the map were interpreted as evidence of dolerite intrusions. The low velocity zones observed in the western and southern sections of the map interpreted as Karoo sediments that belong to the Adelaide Subgroup which is dominated by mudstones. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Department of Geosciences (Geology and Geography), 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12