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A study of the art object as performative
- Authors: Minkley, Emma Smith
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Arts -- Miscellanea Art objects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12042 , vital:27022
- Description: My research project explores conventions in art-making and viewing via the notion of the performative art object. The performative (derived from J.L. Austin and Judith Butler’s formulations of the word) is here used predominantly as a term to denote a generative, experiential and iterative process (in this case outlined by art theorist Barbara Bolt) in which intuitive or playful actions of both artist and spectator dictate the route of research. The project, following an A/r/tographical cycle of theoriapraxis-poesis (or theory/research - doing/learning - art/making) as defined by Rita Irwin, thus investigates the relations inherent between artists, spectators or viewers, and objects, and how these may change according to the spaces they are conceived in; from art gallery to urban “non-art” environments. It deals with the inclusion of process or performativity within, or in relation to the art object and how this take on the traditionally static object may have the capacity to change how artworks are envisaged, and more significantly, how they are received, in terms of the effects they (in combination with the viewer) have on the world around them. Blurred in the context of performativity, the art object may become a means of documenting process and in a sense may act as a ‘prop’ for artistic research. This enquiry has involved the study of process and play, as related to creative practice, via a series of object-based events or interventions (including gallery exhibitions and other “non-art” events initiated by the artist outside of conventional art-related space) which have been documented and included in the theoretical research as a means of providing a first-hand narrative of theoretical ideas put into practice. Here Diana Taylor’s understanding of interrelated modes of storing and enacting knowledge as posed in the notion of the archive and repertoire has been utilised as a means of collecting and collating performative and ephemeral research. These events/interventions have further served as a means of gauging viewer interaction and participation, thus actively involving the viewer in the creative act. Jacques Rancière’s notion of the emancipated spectator is here utilised to activate the role of the viewer. In this regard, Martin Heidegger’s concept of handiness or handling serves as a means of “emancipating” spectators by encouraging tactile viewership. It is my intent to open up or reveal new modes of thinking or doing within the viewer when he or she enters a state of performative play within these events. Here the status of the art object is challenged and in this way has the potential to subvert or confront problematic repetitions, both in the identity of the viewer and the space occupied in each event.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Minkley, Emma Smith
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Arts -- Miscellanea Art objects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12042 , vital:27022
- Description: My research project explores conventions in art-making and viewing via the notion of the performative art object. The performative (derived from J.L. Austin and Judith Butler’s formulations of the word) is here used predominantly as a term to denote a generative, experiential and iterative process (in this case outlined by art theorist Barbara Bolt) in which intuitive or playful actions of both artist and spectator dictate the route of research. The project, following an A/r/tographical cycle of theoriapraxis-poesis (or theory/research - doing/learning - art/making) as defined by Rita Irwin, thus investigates the relations inherent between artists, spectators or viewers, and objects, and how these may change according to the spaces they are conceived in; from art gallery to urban “non-art” environments. It deals with the inclusion of process or performativity within, or in relation to the art object and how this take on the traditionally static object may have the capacity to change how artworks are envisaged, and more significantly, how they are received, in terms of the effects they (in combination with the viewer) have on the world around them. Blurred in the context of performativity, the art object may become a means of documenting process and in a sense may act as a ‘prop’ for artistic research. This enquiry has involved the study of process and play, as related to creative practice, via a series of object-based events or interventions (including gallery exhibitions and other “non-art” events initiated by the artist outside of conventional art-related space) which have been documented and included in the theoretical research as a means of providing a first-hand narrative of theoretical ideas put into practice. Here Diana Taylor’s understanding of interrelated modes of storing and enacting knowledge as posed in the notion of the archive and repertoire has been utilised as a means of collecting and collating performative and ephemeral research. These events/interventions have further served as a means of gauging viewer interaction and participation, thus actively involving the viewer in the creative act. Jacques Rancière’s notion of the emancipated spectator is here utilised to activate the role of the viewer. In this regard, Martin Heidegger’s concept of handiness or handling serves as a means of “emancipating” spectators by encouraging tactile viewership. It is my intent to open up or reveal new modes of thinking or doing within the viewer when he or she enters a state of performative play within these events. Here the status of the art object is challenged and in this way has the potential to subvert or confront problematic repetitions, both in the identity of the viewer and the space occupied in each event.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Crime travel: a survey of representations of transnational crime in South African crime fiction
- Authors: Naidu, Samantha
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:26347 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/53900 , http://jcpcsonline.com/ , https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9456-8657
- Description: The literatures, the histories, the politics, and the arts whose focus, locales, or subjects involve Britain and other European countries and their former colonies, the now decolonized, independent nations in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, and also Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Naidu, Samantha
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:26347 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/53900 , http://jcpcsonline.com/ , https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9456-8657
- Description: The literatures, the histories, the politics, and the arts whose focus, locales, or subjects involve Britain and other European countries and their former colonies, the now decolonized, independent nations in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, and also Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
Assessment of the flocculating efficiency of bioflocculant produced by bacillus sp. Aemreg4 isolated from Tyhume river, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Ntsangani, Nozipho
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Flocculants
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Biochemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11357 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021324
- Description: Bioflocculants are flocculating substances produced by microorganisms during growth and have recently received considerable attention from researchers; due to their biodegradability, non-toxicity and lack of secondary pollution from degradation intermediates. This study evaluated the efficiency of bioflocculant produced by Bacillus sp. AEMREG4 isolated from Tyhume River. The bacterial identification was through 16S rDNA sequencing; nucleotide sequences were deposited in GenBank as Bacillus sp. AEMREG4 with an Accession number KP406729. The optimum culture conditions for bioflocculant production were an inoculum size of 4% (v/v) and starch as well as yeast extract as sole carbon and nitrogen sources respectively. The addition of CaCl2 enhanced the flocculating activity, at a wide range of pH 4-10 and the highest flocculating activity was reached at an initial pH 8 (80%). A bioflocculant yield of 0.78 g was recovered from 1 L of culture broth. The optimum flocculating activity of 78% was reached at the lowest bioflocculant dosage of 0.1 mg/ml and the presence of divalent cations (Ca2+, Mn2+ and Mg2+) as well as a trivalent cation (Al3+) enhanced flocculating activity. The purified bioflocculant retained more than 70% flocculating activity when subjected to heating at 100 °C for 1 h and maximum flocculating activity of 83% was achieved at both acidic and basic pH values of 3 and 10 respectively. Chemical analysis showed that the bioflocculant is predominantly polysaccharide. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum revealed the presence of carboxyl, hydroxyl and methoxyl groups as the functional moieties and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging of the purified bioflocculant showed its morphological structure as rod-shaped which contributes to its high flocculating efficiency. The high flocculation activity displayed by this bioflocculant indicates its potential suitability for industrial application.Keywords: Bioflocculant, Bacillus sp. AEMREG4, flocculating activity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ntsangani, Nozipho
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Flocculants
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Biochemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11357 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021324
- Description: Bioflocculants are flocculating substances produced by microorganisms during growth and have recently received considerable attention from researchers; due to their biodegradability, non-toxicity and lack of secondary pollution from degradation intermediates. This study evaluated the efficiency of bioflocculant produced by Bacillus sp. AEMREG4 isolated from Tyhume River. The bacterial identification was through 16S rDNA sequencing; nucleotide sequences were deposited in GenBank as Bacillus sp. AEMREG4 with an Accession number KP406729. The optimum culture conditions for bioflocculant production were an inoculum size of 4% (v/v) and starch as well as yeast extract as sole carbon and nitrogen sources respectively. The addition of CaCl2 enhanced the flocculating activity, at a wide range of pH 4-10 and the highest flocculating activity was reached at an initial pH 8 (80%). A bioflocculant yield of 0.78 g was recovered from 1 L of culture broth. The optimum flocculating activity of 78% was reached at the lowest bioflocculant dosage of 0.1 mg/ml and the presence of divalent cations (Ca2+, Mn2+ and Mg2+) as well as a trivalent cation (Al3+) enhanced flocculating activity. The purified bioflocculant retained more than 70% flocculating activity when subjected to heating at 100 °C for 1 h and maximum flocculating activity of 83% was achieved at both acidic and basic pH values of 3 and 10 respectively. Chemical analysis showed that the bioflocculant is predominantly polysaccharide. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum revealed the presence of carboxyl, hydroxyl and methoxyl groups as the functional moieties and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging of the purified bioflocculant showed its morphological structure as rod-shaped which contributes to its high flocculating efficiency. The high flocculation activity displayed by this bioflocculant indicates its potential suitability for industrial application.Keywords: Bioflocculant, Bacillus sp. AEMREG4, flocculating activity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The effect of interest rates on investment spending: an empirical analysis of South Africa
- Authors: Dakin, Nicholas John
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1131 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021174
- Description: This thesis investigates the nature and strength of the relationship between short-, medium-, and long-term real interest rates and capital investment spending at both the aggregate and disaggregate levels in South Africa in order to determine whether changes in the real interest rate affect the level of capital investment in the economy. This thesis used quarterly data for the period 1987 to 2013. VAR modelling, variance decompositions, impulse response functions and Granger causality tests are used to explore the nature and strength of the relationship between interest rates and investment spending. It is found that interest rates explain very little of the variation in investment spending and seem to have little impact on investment (of any type). Furthermore, short-, medium- and long-term interest rates have different effects on the level of investment spending. A rise in short-term interest rates appears to decrease the level of investment spending in the long-run, whereas a rise in long-term interest rates results in an increase in investment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Dakin, Nicholas John
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1131 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021174
- Description: This thesis investigates the nature and strength of the relationship between short-, medium-, and long-term real interest rates and capital investment spending at both the aggregate and disaggregate levels in South Africa in order to determine whether changes in the real interest rate affect the level of capital investment in the economy. This thesis used quarterly data for the period 1987 to 2013. VAR modelling, variance decompositions, impulse response functions and Granger causality tests are used to explore the nature and strength of the relationship between interest rates and investment spending. It is found that interest rates explain very little of the variation in investment spending and seem to have little impact on investment (of any type). Furthermore, short-, medium- and long-term interest rates have different effects on the level of investment spending. A rise in short-term interest rates appears to decrease the level of investment spending in the long-run, whereas a rise in long-term interest rates results in an increase in investment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Property development: a lead-time management framework
- Authors: Stander, Ruan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Planned communities -- South Africa Land subdivision -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12703 , vital:27110
- Description: Property development is a complex activity, with a series of stages involving many players with differing objectives, all operating within the building cycle context and its interaction with business and credit cycles. Before developers commit to acquiring land and sign a building contract, they first evaluate the market to establish a project’s viability, and secure finance and planning consents. (Cadman and Topping, 1995: 27). The residential property developer must have a fair knowledge of the changes in the economy and be able to interpret data collected. This knowledge is critical in order to make good business decisions and for future project planning. Understanding the economic variables and the impact these have on households, provides knowledge to the consumer to assist with financial planning and future investment options (Vogel, 2012: 14). Currently, everyone is aware of the huge negative impact of the global economic crisis, especially concerning international investment companies in western countries. Many businesses have ceased operations and some investment banks have experienced large scale bankruptcy due to the economic crisis and resulting recession. The Chinese economy suffered losses in the crisis as well (Yiping, 2011: 6). Even though the export industry experienced a huge negative impact in the economic crisis, the Chinese government announced that GDP growth remained at 8.7% in 2009. The highest contributor towards the Chinese GDP growth was the real estate industry (Yiping, 2011: 6). Presently in China, the real estate industry is a new economic growth point and the main industry in its Gross Domestic Product. Currently, the real estate market in China is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges (Yiping, 2011: 6). From the above-mentioned statement by Yiping (2011: 6), it is evident that property development plays a major role in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of global economies worldwide as well as in South Africa and that change in the supply and demand value of property impacts the performance of the property market. In times of property booms, the property market escalates and there is an under supply of property. This makes it a seller’s market, which stimulates the economy, as was the case during the period of 2004 to 2008. When the property bust hit in 2009, the world experienced an inevitable downturn in economic markets. This was known as the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and was due to various factors such as: increased interest rates; increase of stricter mortgage bond approvals; recession and other possible financial regulatory factors. A downturn in property prices became evident and property development was negatively impacted (Reed, Sims and Cadman, 2015). This impact on the property sector caused a relative over supply of property, making it a limited buyer’s market and forced real estate agents, property developers and owners to decrease the price of property thus negatively affecting the GDP of the economy. This research was conducted by means of a review of the related literature as well as an empirical study. The empirical study was conducted with the use of a quantitative statistical approach. In this study, research questionnaires as a data collection tool were distributed to members of the sample population. The primary objective of the study was to develop a framework for the successful delivery of residential developments in South Africa, especially in the context of time. A descriptive survey was conducted among professional property development practitioners, real estate agencies, conveyancers and project managers in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Stander, Ruan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Planned communities -- South Africa Land subdivision -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12703 , vital:27110
- Description: Property development is a complex activity, with a series of stages involving many players with differing objectives, all operating within the building cycle context and its interaction with business and credit cycles. Before developers commit to acquiring land and sign a building contract, they first evaluate the market to establish a project’s viability, and secure finance and planning consents. (Cadman and Topping, 1995: 27). The residential property developer must have a fair knowledge of the changes in the economy and be able to interpret data collected. This knowledge is critical in order to make good business decisions and for future project planning. Understanding the economic variables and the impact these have on households, provides knowledge to the consumer to assist with financial planning and future investment options (Vogel, 2012: 14). Currently, everyone is aware of the huge negative impact of the global economic crisis, especially concerning international investment companies in western countries. Many businesses have ceased operations and some investment banks have experienced large scale bankruptcy due to the economic crisis and resulting recession. The Chinese economy suffered losses in the crisis as well (Yiping, 2011: 6). Even though the export industry experienced a huge negative impact in the economic crisis, the Chinese government announced that GDP growth remained at 8.7% in 2009. The highest contributor towards the Chinese GDP growth was the real estate industry (Yiping, 2011: 6). Presently in China, the real estate industry is a new economic growth point and the main industry in its Gross Domestic Product. Currently, the real estate market in China is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges (Yiping, 2011: 6). From the above-mentioned statement by Yiping (2011: 6), it is evident that property development plays a major role in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of global economies worldwide as well as in South Africa and that change in the supply and demand value of property impacts the performance of the property market. In times of property booms, the property market escalates and there is an under supply of property. This makes it a seller’s market, which stimulates the economy, as was the case during the period of 2004 to 2008. When the property bust hit in 2009, the world experienced an inevitable downturn in economic markets. This was known as the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and was due to various factors such as: increased interest rates; increase of stricter mortgage bond approvals; recession and other possible financial regulatory factors. A downturn in property prices became evident and property development was negatively impacted (Reed, Sims and Cadman, 2015). This impact on the property sector caused a relative over supply of property, making it a limited buyer’s market and forced real estate agents, property developers and owners to decrease the price of property thus negatively affecting the GDP of the economy. This research was conducted by means of a review of the related literature as well as an empirical study. The empirical study was conducted with the use of a quantitative statistical approach. In this study, research questionnaires as a data collection tool were distributed to members of the sample population. The primary objective of the study was to develop a framework for the successful delivery of residential developments in South Africa, especially in the context of time. A descriptive survey was conducted among professional property development practitioners, real estate agencies, conveyancers and project managers in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An analysis of how students construct knowledge in a course with a hierarchical knowledge structure
- Authors: Myers, Peta L
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66995 , vital:29014 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10291954.2016.1196528
- Description: publisher version , Passing the introductory accounting semester is often seen as a challenge for first year students. Being aware of both effective and ineffective ways of constructing knowledge in a discipline with a hierarchical knowledge structure will be of value to students and teachers alike in assisting in the development of effective styles of learning. This article, which is part of a larger body of research, analyses how students in an introductory financial accounting class at Rhodes University constructed knowledge. Previous research described the course as having a hierarchical knowledge structure. In this research, first year accounting students at Rhodes University were interviewed to gain an improved understanding of how they constructed knowledge in this course. This article describes how students who were successful in passing this semester course used similar, effective ways of constructing knowledge, while students who were not successful also employed similar but less effective ways of constructing knowledge. These different ways of constructing knowledge, both effective and ineffective, were analysed, using the Bernstein’s pedagogic device and Maton’s Legitimation Code Theory. This article provides those involved in teaching and learning in a discipline with a hierarchical knowledge structure, with a theoretical explanation of why some methods of constructing knowledge are more effective than others. Understanding and being explicit about more (and less) effective ways of constructing knowledge in a course with a hierarchical knowledge structure can guide those involved in teaching and learning to improve results.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Myers, Peta L
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66995 , vital:29014 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10291954.2016.1196528
- Description: publisher version , Passing the introductory accounting semester is often seen as a challenge for first year students. Being aware of both effective and ineffective ways of constructing knowledge in a discipline with a hierarchical knowledge structure will be of value to students and teachers alike in assisting in the development of effective styles of learning. This article, which is part of a larger body of research, analyses how students in an introductory financial accounting class at Rhodes University constructed knowledge. Previous research described the course as having a hierarchical knowledge structure. In this research, first year accounting students at Rhodes University were interviewed to gain an improved understanding of how they constructed knowledge in this course. This article describes how students who were successful in passing this semester course used similar, effective ways of constructing knowledge, while students who were not successful also employed similar but less effective ways of constructing knowledge. These different ways of constructing knowledge, both effective and ineffective, were analysed, using the Bernstein’s pedagogic device and Maton’s Legitimation Code Theory. This article provides those involved in teaching and learning in a discipline with a hierarchical knowledge structure, with a theoretical explanation of why some methods of constructing knowledge are more effective than others. Understanding and being explicit about more (and less) effective ways of constructing knowledge in a course with a hierarchical knowledge structure can guide those involved in teaching and learning to improve results.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
South African labour law and conflict resolution: towards a theoretical critique
- Authors: Jooste, Nico
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Labor disputes -- South Africa , Conflict management -- South Africa , Mediation -- South Africa , Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7417 , vital:21357
- Description: The intention of this treatise is to reflect on the concept, as well as on the theory, of conflict resolution and to investigate whether the mechanisms of true conflict resolution are afforded within the structures and instruments provided for by the South African Labour Relations Act (66 of 1995). The Act aims to give effect to one of its primary purpose of advancing labour peace by attempting to promote the effective resolution of labour disputes through a very sophisticated system of dispute resolution. What is of great significance is that The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has been experiencing an increasingly high rate of disputes referred to it since its inception in 1996. In my review I established that the dispute resolution system is a construction of rules and statutes which concentrates on rights, rather than on conflict management. However, rights only imperfectly reflect basic human needs, which continue to dominate human behaviour mechanisms that indeed facilitate processes and guidelines of resolving labour disputes, but fail to acknowledge and make provision for the resolution of a latent or manifest conflict. The instruments afforded by the Labour Relations Act (66 of 1995) fail to explore and entertain the needs most relevant and significant to the perception of social conflicts such as security, identity, personal development and recognition as suggested by conflict theorists and scholars. It also fails to acknowledge that parties to a dispute undergo psychological changes that could flow over to community changes and group dynamics as the parties become polarised and become more contentious as the conflict escalates. My review gave more substance to my original assumption that the current South African labour dispute resolution system does not harmonize itself with its own objective of promoting true labour peace.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Jooste, Nico
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Labor disputes -- South Africa , Conflict management -- South Africa , Mediation -- South Africa , Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7417 , vital:21357
- Description: The intention of this treatise is to reflect on the concept, as well as on the theory, of conflict resolution and to investigate whether the mechanisms of true conflict resolution are afforded within the structures and instruments provided for by the South African Labour Relations Act (66 of 1995). The Act aims to give effect to one of its primary purpose of advancing labour peace by attempting to promote the effective resolution of labour disputes through a very sophisticated system of dispute resolution. What is of great significance is that The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has been experiencing an increasingly high rate of disputes referred to it since its inception in 1996. In my review I established that the dispute resolution system is a construction of rules and statutes which concentrates on rights, rather than on conflict management. However, rights only imperfectly reflect basic human needs, which continue to dominate human behaviour mechanisms that indeed facilitate processes and guidelines of resolving labour disputes, but fail to acknowledge and make provision for the resolution of a latent or manifest conflict. The instruments afforded by the Labour Relations Act (66 of 1995) fail to explore and entertain the needs most relevant and significant to the perception of social conflicts such as security, identity, personal development and recognition as suggested by conflict theorists and scholars. It also fails to acknowledge that parties to a dispute undergo psychological changes that could flow over to community changes and group dynamics as the parties become polarised and become more contentious as the conflict escalates. My review gave more substance to my original assumption that the current South African labour dispute resolution system does not harmonize itself with its own objective of promoting true labour peace.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The legal protection of foreign direct investment in the new millennium :a critical assessment with a focus on South Africa and Zimbabwe
- Authors: Chidede, Talkmore
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Investments, Foreign -- Law and legislation Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7919 , vital:30814
- Description: The increasing investment gap and reduction in foreign aid has made several developing countries to turn to foreign investment as a mechanism to circumvent their financial constraints among other things. There is substantial empirical evidence that foreign direct investment enhances economic development, employment creation, national competitiveness and diffusion of technology from foreign firms to local firms and workers of the host states. As a result, this study firstly argues that foreign investment is much needed in South Africa and Zimbabwe to improve economic growth and development, create employment and increase their competitiveness in the global market. However, these benefits do not accrue automatically but the host states need to create an enabling environment to exploit such benefits. The legal protection of foreign investment has become a fundamental issue in both international and national law. Efforts have been and are still being made in law as well as in practice to implement national investment legal regimes which are in line with international norms or standards. This study undertakes a contemporary assessment of the legal protection of foreign investment in South Africa and Zimbabwe with a view of examining their compliance with international minimum norms, standards and/or best practices. More recently, both South Africa and Zimbabwe have crafted and implemented investment laws and related policies which are perceived to be somewhat hostile towards foreign investment. To achieve this, selected investment laws and related policies in both jurisdictions are critically analysed. This study puts forward an argument and recommendations for policy makers in both South Africa and Zimbabwe for strategic refinements of investment laws and related policies such that they become flexible, friendly and certain to foreign investors while at the same time advancing their respective national policies aimed at the economic empowerment of local citizens.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Chidede, Talkmore
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Investments, Foreign -- Law and legislation Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7919 , vital:30814
- Description: The increasing investment gap and reduction in foreign aid has made several developing countries to turn to foreign investment as a mechanism to circumvent their financial constraints among other things. There is substantial empirical evidence that foreign direct investment enhances economic development, employment creation, national competitiveness and diffusion of technology from foreign firms to local firms and workers of the host states. As a result, this study firstly argues that foreign investment is much needed in South Africa and Zimbabwe to improve economic growth and development, create employment and increase their competitiveness in the global market. However, these benefits do not accrue automatically but the host states need to create an enabling environment to exploit such benefits. The legal protection of foreign investment has become a fundamental issue in both international and national law. Efforts have been and are still being made in law as well as in practice to implement national investment legal regimes which are in line with international norms or standards. This study undertakes a contemporary assessment of the legal protection of foreign investment in South Africa and Zimbabwe with a view of examining their compliance with international minimum norms, standards and/or best practices. More recently, both South Africa and Zimbabwe have crafted and implemented investment laws and related policies which are perceived to be somewhat hostile towards foreign investment. To achieve this, selected investment laws and related policies in both jurisdictions are critically analysed. This study puts forward an argument and recommendations for policy makers in both South Africa and Zimbabwe for strategic refinements of investment laws and related policies such that they become flexible, friendly and certain to foreign investors while at the same time advancing their respective national policies aimed at the economic empowerment of local citizens.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Structural bioinformatics studies and tool development related to drug discovery
- Authors: Hatherley, Rowan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Structural bioinformatics , Drug development , Natural products -- Databases , Natural products -- Biotechnology , Sequence alignment (Bioinformatics) , Malaria -- Chemotherapy , Heat shock proteins , Plasmodium falciparum
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4164 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020021
- Description: This thesis is divided into two distinct sections which can be combined under the broad umbrella of structural bioinformatics studies related to drug discovery. The first section involves the establishment of an online South African natural products database. Natural products (NPs) are chemical entities synthesised in nature and are unrivalled in their structural complexity, chemical diversity, and biological specificity, which has long made them crucial to the drug discovery process. South Africa is rich in both plant and marine biodiversity and a great deal of research has gone into isolating compounds from organisms found in this country. However, there is no official database containing this information, making it difficult to access for research purposes. This information was extracted manually from literature to create a database of South African natural products. In order to make the information accessible to the general research community, a website, named “SANCDB”, was built to enable compounds to be quickly and easily searched for and downloaded in a number of different chemical formats. The content of the database was assessed and compared to other established natural product databases. Currently, SANCDB is the only database of natural products in Africa with an online interface. The second section of the thesis was aimed at performing structural characterisation of proteins with the potential to be targeted for antimalarial drug therapy. This looked specifically at 1) The interactions between an exported heat shock protein (Hsp) from Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum), PfHsp70-x and various host and exported parasite J proteins, as well as 2) The interface between PfHsp90 and the heat shock organising protein (PfHop). The PfHsp70-x:J protein study provided additional insight into how these two proteins potentially interact. Analysis of the PfHsp90:PfHop also provided a structural insight into the interaction interface between these two proteins and identified residues that could be targeted due to their contribution to the stability of the Hsp90:Hop binding complex and differences between parasite and human proteins. These studies inspired the development of a homology modelling tool, which can be used to assist researchers with homology modelling, while providing them with step-by-step control over the entire process. This thesis presents the establishment of a South African NP database and the development of a homology modelling tool, inspired by protein structural studies. When combined, these two applications have the potential to contribute greatly towards in silico drug discovery research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Hatherley, Rowan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Structural bioinformatics , Drug development , Natural products -- Databases , Natural products -- Biotechnology , Sequence alignment (Bioinformatics) , Malaria -- Chemotherapy , Heat shock proteins , Plasmodium falciparum
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4164 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020021
- Description: This thesis is divided into two distinct sections which can be combined under the broad umbrella of structural bioinformatics studies related to drug discovery. The first section involves the establishment of an online South African natural products database. Natural products (NPs) are chemical entities synthesised in nature and are unrivalled in their structural complexity, chemical diversity, and biological specificity, which has long made them crucial to the drug discovery process. South Africa is rich in both plant and marine biodiversity and a great deal of research has gone into isolating compounds from organisms found in this country. However, there is no official database containing this information, making it difficult to access for research purposes. This information was extracted manually from literature to create a database of South African natural products. In order to make the information accessible to the general research community, a website, named “SANCDB”, was built to enable compounds to be quickly and easily searched for and downloaded in a number of different chemical formats. The content of the database was assessed and compared to other established natural product databases. Currently, SANCDB is the only database of natural products in Africa with an online interface. The second section of the thesis was aimed at performing structural characterisation of proteins with the potential to be targeted for antimalarial drug therapy. This looked specifically at 1) The interactions between an exported heat shock protein (Hsp) from Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum), PfHsp70-x and various host and exported parasite J proteins, as well as 2) The interface between PfHsp90 and the heat shock organising protein (PfHop). The PfHsp70-x:J protein study provided additional insight into how these two proteins potentially interact. Analysis of the PfHsp90:PfHop also provided a structural insight into the interaction interface between these two proteins and identified residues that could be targeted due to their contribution to the stability of the Hsp90:Hop binding complex and differences between parasite and human proteins. These studies inspired the development of a homology modelling tool, which can be used to assist researchers with homology modelling, while providing them with step-by-step control over the entire process. This thesis presents the establishment of a South African NP database and the development of a homology modelling tool, inspired by protein structural studies. When combined, these two applications have the potential to contribute greatly towards in silico drug discovery research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
A comparative study of syllables and morphemes as literacy processing units in word recognition: IsiXhosa and SeTswana
- Authors: Probert, Tracy Nicole
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3266 , vital:20415
- Description: Word recognition is a core foundation of reading (Invenizzi and Hayes 2010) and involves interactions of language skills, metalinguistic skills and orthography. The extent of the interaction with one another in reading has yet to be fully explored, especially in the Southern-Bantu languages. This comparative study of isiXhosa and Setswana explores this three-way interaction between language skills (effect of Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT)), metalinguistic skills (Phonological and Morphological Awareness) and orthography (conjunctivism vs. disjunctivism). This thesis is novel in three respects, (a) a set of linguistic-informed reading measures were developed in isiXhosa and Setswana for the first-time, (b) to my knowledge, the comparisons made and study of Morphological Awareness in the Southern-Bantu languages have never been done, and (c) the use of d-prime as a way of testing for grain size in reading is an innovative approach. Grade 3 and Grade 4 learners were tested on four independent linguistic tasks: an open-ended decomposition task, a Phonological Awareness task, a Morphological Awareness task and an independent reading measure. These tasks were administered to determine the grain size unit (Ziegler and Goswami 2005, Ziegler et al. 2001) which learners use in word recognition, with the grain sizes of syllables and morphemes being studied. Results showed that syllables were the dominant grain size in both isiXhosa and Setswana, with morphemes as secondary grains in isiXhosa. Grain size differed slightly between the two orthographies. These results are reflected in the scores on the metalinguistic tasks. LoLT was not shown to have a significant impact on word recognition in first-language reading. The Psycholinguistic Grain Size Theory (PGST) was found to be the most applicable model of word recognition to the Southern- Bantu languages, as opposed to the Dual-Route Cascade Model and Orthographic Depth Hypothesis. This thesis concludes with suggested adaptations to this theory in order to allow for morpheme grain size to be included. This study has implications for teaching practice and curriculum design, and contributes to a broader understanding of literacy in the foundation phase in the Southern-Bantu languages.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Probert, Tracy Nicole
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3266 , vital:20415
- Description: Word recognition is a core foundation of reading (Invenizzi and Hayes 2010) and involves interactions of language skills, metalinguistic skills and orthography. The extent of the interaction with one another in reading has yet to be fully explored, especially in the Southern-Bantu languages. This comparative study of isiXhosa and Setswana explores this three-way interaction between language skills (effect of Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT)), metalinguistic skills (Phonological and Morphological Awareness) and orthography (conjunctivism vs. disjunctivism). This thesis is novel in three respects, (a) a set of linguistic-informed reading measures were developed in isiXhosa and Setswana for the first-time, (b) to my knowledge, the comparisons made and study of Morphological Awareness in the Southern-Bantu languages have never been done, and (c) the use of d-prime as a way of testing for grain size in reading is an innovative approach. Grade 3 and Grade 4 learners were tested on four independent linguistic tasks: an open-ended decomposition task, a Phonological Awareness task, a Morphological Awareness task and an independent reading measure. These tasks were administered to determine the grain size unit (Ziegler and Goswami 2005, Ziegler et al. 2001) which learners use in word recognition, with the grain sizes of syllables and morphemes being studied. Results showed that syllables were the dominant grain size in both isiXhosa and Setswana, with morphemes as secondary grains in isiXhosa. Grain size differed slightly between the two orthographies. These results are reflected in the scores on the metalinguistic tasks. LoLT was not shown to have a significant impact on word recognition in first-language reading. The Psycholinguistic Grain Size Theory (PGST) was found to be the most applicable model of word recognition to the Southern- Bantu languages, as opposed to the Dual-Route Cascade Model and Orthographic Depth Hypothesis. This thesis concludes with suggested adaptations to this theory in order to allow for morpheme grain size to be included. This study has implications for teaching practice and curriculum design, and contributes to a broader understanding of literacy in the foundation phase in the Southern-Bantu languages.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Alcoholism and being under the influence of alcohol
- Authors: Maliti, Zandisile
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Alcoholism and employment , Misconduct in office , Alcoholism -- Diagnosis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8416 , vital:26354
- Description: Being under the influence of alcohol at work or during working hours is dealt with as misconduct. On the other hand, in a case where an employee suffers from alcoholism, such a case is treated as incapacity due to ill health. The possibility of overlap between the two has contributed to a misconception. Alcoholism cases, are at times, incorrectly treated as misconduct. The same applies to cases of being under the influence of alcohol where such cases would be treated as incapacity instead of being treated as misconduct. The distinction between alcoholism and being under the influence of alcohol was made clear in Transnet Freight Rail v Transnet Bargaining Council C644/2009 [2011] ZALCJHB (4 March 2011) where the Labour Court held that employers have an obligation of assisting employees who suffer from alcoholism with counselling and rehabilitation. Such an obligation does not arise when an employee, who is not an alcoholic, comes to work under the influence of alcohol. Whilst the nature of work is taken into consideration in determining whether an employee is under the influence of alcohol or not, the major cause of disharmony in the determination is a common defence of having consumed alcohol during a night before and whether the physical observations combined with positive breathalyser test results or on their own are indicative, on the balance of probabilities, that an employee is under the influence of alcohol or not. There is no need for an employee to injure himself or herself or other employees before a determination is made that he or she is under the influence of alcohol. Physical observations combined with breathalyzer test results, can be indicative of an employee that is being under the influence of alcohol. The nature of work should be an aggravating or mitigating factor rather than a determining factor of guilt.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Maliti, Zandisile
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Alcoholism and employment , Misconduct in office , Alcoholism -- Diagnosis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8416 , vital:26354
- Description: Being under the influence of alcohol at work or during working hours is dealt with as misconduct. On the other hand, in a case where an employee suffers from alcoholism, such a case is treated as incapacity due to ill health. The possibility of overlap between the two has contributed to a misconception. Alcoholism cases, are at times, incorrectly treated as misconduct. The same applies to cases of being under the influence of alcohol where such cases would be treated as incapacity instead of being treated as misconduct. The distinction between alcoholism and being under the influence of alcohol was made clear in Transnet Freight Rail v Transnet Bargaining Council C644/2009 [2011] ZALCJHB (4 March 2011) where the Labour Court held that employers have an obligation of assisting employees who suffer from alcoholism with counselling and rehabilitation. Such an obligation does not arise when an employee, who is not an alcoholic, comes to work under the influence of alcohol. Whilst the nature of work is taken into consideration in determining whether an employee is under the influence of alcohol or not, the major cause of disharmony in the determination is a common defence of having consumed alcohol during a night before and whether the physical observations combined with positive breathalyser test results or on their own are indicative, on the balance of probabilities, that an employee is under the influence of alcohol or not. There is no need for an employee to injure himself or herself or other employees before a determination is made that he or she is under the influence of alcohol. Physical observations combined with breathalyzer test results, can be indicative of an employee that is being under the influence of alcohol. The nature of work should be an aggravating or mitigating factor rather than a determining factor of guilt.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An assessment of the effect of political and administrative leadership in ensuring sustainable service delivery in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Eastern Cape
- Authors: Muteyi,Thembisile
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Political leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Politicians -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2990 , vital:28229
- Description: This study attempts to assess the level to which effective political and management leadership for contributes to sustainable services. Looking at the past performance of the municipality one can see that around the years of 2003 and 2004, the municipality achieved a financially unqualified report from the Auditor General with just two points raised. However, from that point on the municipality has been on a steady decline. The most decline was from the period 2006 - 2011. The decline in the performance of the municipality has been so rapid in the five year period mentioned above so much that the 2010/2011 Auditor General Report on the municipality ran up to eighty issues over fourteen pages. Noteworthy is the fact that the decline in service delivery and financial management confirmed by the performance decline marked by the Auditor General coincided with several changes at the senior political and management levels. For example under the period of decline, the Municipality operated without a permanent Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for a period of more than four years. Also, during the period of decline the municipality had six municipal managers all in acting capacities and about four executive mayors in the same period. Regarding the issue of leadership in the municipality, the Auditor General made the following observation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Muteyi,Thembisile
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Political leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Politicians -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2990 , vital:28229
- Description: This study attempts to assess the level to which effective political and management leadership for contributes to sustainable services. Looking at the past performance of the municipality one can see that around the years of 2003 and 2004, the municipality achieved a financially unqualified report from the Auditor General with just two points raised. However, from that point on the municipality has been on a steady decline. The most decline was from the period 2006 - 2011. The decline in the performance of the municipality has been so rapid in the five year period mentioned above so much that the 2010/2011 Auditor General Report on the municipality ran up to eighty issues over fourteen pages. Noteworthy is the fact that the decline in service delivery and financial management confirmed by the performance decline marked by the Auditor General coincided with several changes at the senior political and management levels. For example under the period of decline, the Municipality operated without a permanent Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for a period of more than four years. Also, during the period of decline the municipality had six municipal managers all in acting capacities and about four executive mayors in the same period. Regarding the issue of leadership in the municipality, the Auditor General made the following observation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
A review of generalized linear models for count data with emphasis on current geospatial procedures
- Authors: Michell, Justin Walter
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Spatial analysis (Statistics) , Bayesian statistical decision theory , Geospatial data , Malaria -- Botswana -- Statistics , Malaria -- Botswana -- Research -- Statistical methods
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:5582 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019989
- Description: Analytical problems caused by over-fitting, confounding and non-independence in the data is a major challenge for variable selection. As more variables are tested against a certain data set, there is a greater risk that some will explain the data merely by chance, but will fail to explain new data. The main aim of this study is to employ a systematic and practicable variable selection process for the spatial analysis and mapping of historical malaria risk in Botswana using data collected from the MARA (Mapping Malaria Risk in Africa) project and environmental and climatic datasets from various sources. Details of how a spatial database is compiled for a statistical analysis to proceed is provided. The automation of the entire process is also explored. The final bayesian spatial model derived from the non-spatial variable selection procedure using Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation was fitted to the data. Winter temperature had the greatest effect of malaria prevalence in Botswana. Summer rainfall, maximum temperature of the warmest month, annual range of temperature, altitude and distance to closest water source were also significantly associated with malaria prevalence in the final spatial model after accounting for spatial correlation. Using this spatial model malaria prevalence at unobserved locations was predicted, producing a smooth risk map covering Botswana. The automation of both compiling the spatial database and the variable selection procedure proved challenging and could only be achieved in parts of the process. The non-spatial selection procedure proved practical and was able to identify stable explanatory variables and provide an objective means for selecting one variable over another, however ultimately it was not entirely successful due to the fact that a unique set of spatial variables could not be selected.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Michell, Justin Walter
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Spatial analysis (Statistics) , Bayesian statistical decision theory , Geospatial data , Malaria -- Botswana -- Statistics , Malaria -- Botswana -- Research -- Statistical methods
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:5582 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019989
- Description: Analytical problems caused by over-fitting, confounding and non-independence in the data is a major challenge for variable selection. As more variables are tested against a certain data set, there is a greater risk that some will explain the data merely by chance, but will fail to explain new data. The main aim of this study is to employ a systematic and practicable variable selection process for the spatial analysis and mapping of historical malaria risk in Botswana using data collected from the MARA (Mapping Malaria Risk in Africa) project and environmental and climatic datasets from various sources. Details of how a spatial database is compiled for a statistical analysis to proceed is provided. The automation of the entire process is also explored. The final bayesian spatial model derived from the non-spatial variable selection procedure using Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation was fitted to the data. Winter temperature had the greatest effect of malaria prevalence in Botswana. Summer rainfall, maximum temperature of the warmest month, annual range of temperature, altitude and distance to closest water source were also significantly associated with malaria prevalence in the final spatial model after accounting for spatial correlation. Using this spatial model malaria prevalence at unobserved locations was predicted, producing a smooth risk map covering Botswana. The automation of both compiling the spatial database and the variable selection procedure proved challenging and could only be achieved in parts of the process. The non-spatial selection procedure proved practical and was able to identify stable explanatory variables and provide an objective means for selecting one variable over another, however ultimately it was not entirely successful due to the fact that a unique set of spatial variables could not be selected.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Effects of the invasive shrub, Lantana camara, on soil properties in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Ruwanza, Sheunesu, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Ruwanza, Sheunesu , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180459 , vital:43391 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1111/wbm.12094"
- Description: Lantana camara L. is an invasive alien shrub of worldwide significance due to its impacts on biodiversity. It can alter the soil properties of invaded ecosystems and, as a result, affect management outcomes. However, knowledge on the impacts of L. camara on soil properties is scanty, especially in South Africa, despite the pervasive presence of the plant in the country. In this comparative study, the soils underneath L. camara were assessed in order to determine if they had different properties (soil physico-chemical properties, penetration resistance, infiltration, hydraulic conductivity and water repellency) in comparison to the soils in adjacent natural sites in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Soil samples were collected from the top soil beneath the canopy of both L. camara-invaded and adjacent natural sites in five different locations over three summer months. The soils that were collected from underneath L. camara had a significantly higher total C, total P, gravimetric soil moisture (in November and December) and were repellent, compared to the soils in the adjacent natural sites. Soil penetration resistance was significantly higher in the natural sites than in the L. camara-invaded sites. The soil hydraulic conductivity, soil infiltration rate, soil pH, exchangeable cations and total N showed no significant difference between the invaded and the natural sites. It appears that the soils underneath L. camara have a high total C and total P, soil moisture and are repellent, thus influencing nutrient cycling, potentially making the soil properties underneath it ideal for its own growth. This could contribute to the success of L. camara as an invasive species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ruwanza, Sheunesu , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180459 , vital:43391 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1111/wbm.12094"
- Description: Lantana camara L. is an invasive alien shrub of worldwide significance due to its impacts on biodiversity. It can alter the soil properties of invaded ecosystems and, as a result, affect management outcomes. However, knowledge on the impacts of L. camara on soil properties is scanty, especially in South Africa, despite the pervasive presence of the plant in the country. In this comparative study, the soils underneath L. camara were assessed in order to determine if they had different properties (soil physico-chemical properties, penetration resistance, infiltration, hydraulic conductivity and water repellency) in comparison to the soils in adjacent natural sites in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Soil samples were collected from the top soil beneath the canopy of both L. camara-invaded and adjacent natural sites in five different locations over three summer months. The soils that were collected from underneath L. camara had a significantly higher total C, total P, gravimetric soil moisture (in November and December) and were repellent, compared to the soils in the adjacent natural sites. Soil penetration resistance was significantly higher in the natural sites than in the L. camara-invaded sites. The soil hydraulic conductivity, soil infiltration rate, soil pH, exchangeable cations and total N showed no significant difference between the invaded and the natural sites. It appears that the soils underneath L. camara have a high total C and total P, soil moisture and are repellent, thus influencing nutrient cycling, potentially making the soil properties underneath it ideal for its own growth. This could contribute to the success of L. camara as an invasive species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An exploratory study on lifestyle and its contribution to personal victimization among students at University of Fort Hare in Alice Campus
- Authors: Vaphi, Yanga Yandisa
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Bullying Criminal behaviour
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sci
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2436 , vital:27840
- Description: This study is based on student lifestyle and its contribution to personal victimization at University of Fort Hare in Alice campus. Social Science researchers such as Fisher, Sloan, Cullen, and Lu (1998) claim that there are many incidents of criminal victimization occurring on and off university campuses. The main purpose of this study is to find out whether there is any correlation between student lifestyle and personal victimization. There are many theories, concepts and available information regarding the issue of personal victimization among students, however, this notion is thriving, especially in higher institutions. The study examined the research objectives through lenses of theories such as lifestyle exposure theory, routine activities theory, rational choice theory which serve to elaborate more about the research topic. In this study data was collected using interviews and self-administered questionnaires for triangulation purposes. Some of the findings in this study were that there is vast majority of students who suffer from personal victimization on and off-campus due to students’ different lifestyles and lack of legal responsibility by the institution. First year females were found to be the majority of students who suffer from personal victimization due to their vulnerability in their residences. Based on these findings, recommendations such as tightening security measures around campus, educating students regarding victimization, and collaboration of the university with police officials were made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Vaphi, Yanga Yandisa
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Bullying Criminal behaviour
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sci
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2436 , vital:27840
- Description: This study is based on student lifestyle and its contribution to personal victimization at University of Fort Hare in Alice campus. Social Science researchers such as Fisher, Sloan, Cullen, and Lu (1998) claim that there are many incidents of criminal victimization occurring on and off university campuses. The main purpose of this study is to find out whether there is any correlation between student lifestyle and personal victimization. There are many theories, concepts and available information regarding the issue of personal victimization among students, however, this notion is thriving, especially in higher institutions. The study examined the research objectives through lenses of theories such as lifestyle exposure theory, routine activities theory, rational choice theory which serve to elaborate more about the research topic. In this study data was collected using interviews and self-administered questionnaires for triangulation purposes. Some of the findings in this study were that there is vast majority of students who suffer from personal victimization on and off-campus due to students’ different lifestyles and lack of legal responsibility by the institution. First year females were found to be the majority of students who suffer from personal victimization due to their vulnerability in their residences. Based on these findings, recommendations such as tightening security measures around campus, educating students regarding victimization, and collaboration of the university with police officials were made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Synthesis and structural studies of NiS and PdS nanoparticles/nanocomposites from dithiocarbamates single source precursors
- Authors: Nqombolo, Azile
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11359 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021326
- Description: The main aim of this research is to synthesize Ni(II) and Pd(II) dithiocarbamate complexes and use them as single source precursors for the synthesis of NiS and PdS nanoparticles and metal sulphides potato starch nanocomposites. Four dithiocarbamate ligands were synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis and spectroscopic techniques. The ligands were used to prepared homoleptic Ni(II) and Pd(II) complexes of the dithiocarbamate ligands. The metal complexes were characterized with elemental analysis, UV-Vis, FTIR and 1H-NMR spectroscopic techniques. Conductivity measurements indicate that all the complexes are non-electrolytes in solution and results from the electronic spectra studies confirmed the proposed 4-coordinate square planar geometry around the metal ions. The nickel complexes showed d-d transitions around 477 nm while in the palladium complexes, no d-d transitions were observed but the compounds showed strong metal to ligand charge transfer transitions. From the FTIR spectra studies, it can be confirmed that the complexes were successfully synthesised because all peaks of interest were observed at expected regions from the literature. The νC-N was observed around 1469-1495 cm-1, νC=S around 1101-1188 cm-1 and νC-S around 738-1060 cm-1 for both Ni(II) and Pd(II) complexes. νNi-S was observed around 375-543 cm-1 and νPd-S around 529-545 cm-1. The FTIR also confirmed that the dithiocarbamate ligands act as bidentate chelating ligands through the sulfur atoms. The complexes were used as single source precursors and thermolysed in hexadecylamine (HDA) at 220 °C to prepare four HDA-capped nickel sulfide nanoparticles and four palladium sulfide nanoparticles. The as-prepared nanoparticles were studied with optical absorption spectra, photoluminescence, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The optical studies results showed that NiS have large band gaps that are greater than that of the bulk, therefore they are found to be blue shifted relative to the bulk, which shows that they have small particle size and thus confirming their quantum confinement effect. PL spectra reveal that the emission peaks are red shifted compared to the absorption band edges of the nanoparticles. The XRD patterns confirmed the formation of cubic and rhombohedral phase for NiS nanoparticles and cubic phase for PdS nanoparticles. SEM images of both NiS and PdS show uniform surface morphology at low and high magnification with different shapes. EDS analyses confirmed the presence of Ni, S, and Pd in each of the spectrum indicating that the nanoparticles were successfully synthesized. TEM images showed that the synthesised nanoparticles have uniform and narrow size distribution with no agglomeration. The sizes of the NiS nanoparticles were found to be in the range of 12-38 nm for NiS1, 8-11 nm for NiS2, 9-16 nm for NiS3 and 4-9 nm for NiS4. The TEM images for the as-prepared PdS nanoparticles showed that the average crystallite sizes are 6.94-9.62 nm for PdS1, 8-11 nm for PdS2, 9-16 nm for PdS3 and 4-9 nm for PdS4 respectively. The nanoparticles were used to prepare potato starch nanocomposites and SEM images indicate that the surface morphology of starch polymer nanocomposites compose of potato starch and few particles in between the pores of the matrix, this is due to the small ratio of nanoparticles used.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Nqombolo, Azile
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11359 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021326
- Description: The main aim of this research is to synthesize Ni(II) and Pd(II) dithiocarbamate complexes and use them as single source precursors for the synthesis of NiS and PdS nanoparticles and metal sulphides potato starch nanocomposites. Four dithiocarbamate ligands were synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis and spectroscopic techniques. The ligands were used to prepared homoleptic Ni(II) and Pd(II) complexes of the dithiocarbamate ligands. The metal complexes were characterized with elemental analysis, UV-Vis, FTIR and 1H-NMR spectroscopic techniques. Conductivity measurements indicate that all the complexes are non-electrolytes in solution and results from the electronic spectra studies confirmed the proposed 4-coordinate square planar geometry around the metal ions. The nickel complexes showed d-d transitions around 477 nm while in the palladium complexes, no d-d transitions were observed but the compounds showed strong metal to ligand charge transfer transitions. From the FTIR spectra studies, it can be confirmed that the complexes were successfully synthesised because all peaks of interest were observed at expected regions from the literature. The νC-N was observed around 1469-1495 cm-1, νC=S around 1101-1188 cm-1 and νC-S around 738-1060 cm-1 for both Ni(II) and Pd(II) complexes. νNi-S was observed around 375-543 cm-1 and νPd-S around 529-545 cm-1. The FTIR also confirmed that the dithiocarbamate ligands act as bidentate chelating ligands through the sulfur atoms. The complexes were used as single source precursors and thermolysed in hexadecylamine (HDA) at 220 °C to prepare four HDA-capped nickel sulfide nanoparticles and four palladium sulfide nanoparticles. The as-prepared nanoparticles were studied with optical absorption spectra, photoluminescence, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The optical studies results showed that NiS have large band gaps that are greater than that of the bulk, therefore they are found to be blue shifted relative to the bulk, which shows that they have small particle size and thus confirming their quantum confinement effect. PL spectra reveal that the emission peaks are red shifted compared to the absorption band edges of the nanoparticles. The XRD patterns confirmed the formation of cubic and rhombohedral phase for NiS nanoparticles and cubic phase for PdS nanoparticles. SEM images of both NiS and PdS show uniform surface morphology at low and high magnification with different shapes. EDS analyses confirmed the presence of Ni, S, and Pd in each of the spectrum indicating that the nanoparticles were successfully synthesized. TEM images showed that the synthesised nanoparticles have uniform and narrow size distribution with no agglomeration. The sizes of the NiS nanoparticles were found to be in the range of 12-38 nm for NiS1, 8-11 nm for NiS2, 9-16 nm for NiS3 and 4-9 nm for NiS4. The TEM images for the as-prepared PdS nanoparticles showed that the average crystallite sizes are 6.94-9.62 nm for PdS1, 8-11 nm for PdS2, 9-16 nm for PdS3 and 4-9 nm for PdS4 respectively. The nanoparticles were used to prepare potato starch nanocomposites and SEM images indicate that the surface morphology of starch polymer nanocomposites compose of potato starch and few particles in between the pores of the matrix, this is due to the small ratio of nanoparticles used.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Optimizing aspects that facilitate skill acquisition in private dialysis units
- Authors: Fourie, Claire
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Nephrology , Kidneys -- Diseases -- Nursing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6106 , vital:21040
- Description: Nephrology nursing requires a specific set of clinical skills and knowledge. When a professional nurse with no previous dialysis experience enters the field of nephrology nursing he or she has no nephrology related paradigms from past experiences to use as a point of reference. As a result of the rapid growth of the private dialysis company experienced over the past 10 years, many management and support service positions became available. Internal promotions resulted in the movement of experienced professional nurses from the clinical field into management and support services positions, resulting in a sudden loss of skilled individuals from the clinical field. To mitigate this effect, a training intervention was started. The newly appointed managers were all required to work in the clinical field for sixteen hours per month to expose the less experienced professional nurses to the more experienced professional nurses in order to assist them with skill acquisition thus enabling the advanced beginner and competent nurse to become a proficient nurse and/or an expert in the field of nephrology nursing. Experiential learning is not a spontaneous process but depends on many factors that could either hinder or facilitate skill acquisition. This study aimed to explore and describe the aspects that facilitate or hinder skill acquisition during the training intervention that was implemented in private chronic haemodialysis units and to write guidelines to optimize skill acquisition during the training intervention. The study followed a quantitative, descriptive, exploratory, contextual, survey design. Data was collected using a tool based on the theory of nursing accompaniment by Kotze, Kolbs theory on experiential nursing, a framework of strategies that facilitate skill acquisition by King and a generalized tool, the Learning Transfer Skills Inventory (LTSI) that was developed by Holton and Bates to measure learning transfer and factors that contribute and hinder training interventions. Data was analysed with the support of a statistician. The findings were reported and discussed in relation to the current literature. Measures were put in place to ensure validity and reliability, and ethical principles were adhered to throughout the study. Guidelines to optimize skill acquisition were developed. The limitations of the study were the sample size and the response rate. There was a paucity in existing research regarding skill acquisition in Nephrology nursing and limited statistical variance amongst the aspects that facilitate or hinder skill acquisition. It is recommended that the guidelines be implemented to measure the impact they have in the organization.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Fourie, Claire
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Nephrology , Kidneys -- Diseases -- Nursing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6106 , vital:21040
- Description: Nephrology nursing requires a specific set of clinical skills and knowledge. When a professional nurse with no previous dialysis experience enters the field of nephrology nursing he or she has no nephrology related paradigms from past experiences to use as a point of reference. As a result of the rapid growth of the private dialysis company experienced over the past 10 years, many management and support service positions became available. Internal promotions resulted in the movement of experienced professional nurses from the clinical field into management and support services positions, resulting in a sudden loss of skilled individuals from the clinical field. To mitigate this effect, a training intervention was started. The newly appointed managers were all required to work in the clinical field for sixteen hours per month to expose the less experienced professional nurses to the more experienced professional nurses in order to assist them with skill acquisition thus enabling the advanced beginner and competent nurse to become a proficient nurse and/or an expert in the field of nephrology nursing. Experiential learning is not a spontaneous process but depends on many factors that could either hinder or facilitate skill acquisition. This study aimed to explore and describe the aspects that facilitate or hinder skill acquisition during the training intervention that was implemented in private chronic haemodialysis units and to write guidelines to optimize skill acquisition during the training intervention. The study followed a quantitative, descriptive, exploratory, contextual, survey design. Data was collected using a tool based on the theory of nursing accompaniment by Kotze, Kolbs theory on experiential nursing, a framework of strategies that facilitate skill acquisition by King and a generalized tool, the Learning Transfer Skills Inventory (LTSI) that was developed by Holton and Bates to measure learning transfer and factors that contribute and hinder training interventions. Data was analysed with the support of a statistician. The findings were reported and discussed in relation to the current literature. Measures were put in place to ensure validity and reliability, and ethical principles were adhered to throughout the study. Guidelines to optimize skill acquisition were developed. The limitations of the study were the sample size and the response rate. There was a paucity in existing research regarding skill acquisition in Nephrology nursing and limited statistical variance amongst the aspects that facilitate or hinder skill acquisition. It is recommended that the guidelines be implemented to measure the impact they have in the organization.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Karoo dolerite intrusions: shaping the landscapes of the Great Karoo
- Authors: Marsh, Julian S
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145111 , vital:38409 , ISBN 9781775845386 , https://books.google.co.za/books?id=YQ5bDwAAQBAJanddq=Karoo+dolerite+intrusions+JULIAN+MARSHandsource=gbs_navlinks_s
- Description: Karoo dolerite intrusions: shaping the landscapes of the Great Karoo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Marsh, Julian S
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145111 , vital:38409 , ISBN 9781775845386 , https://books.google.co.za/books?id=YQ5bDwAAQBAJanddq=Karoo+dolerite+intrusions+JULIAN+MARSHandsource=gbs_navlinks_s
- Description: Karoo dolerite intrusions: shaping the landscapes of the Great Karoo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Partnerships and parents–relationships in tutorial programmes
- Layton, Delia, McKenna, Sioux
- Authors: Layton, Delia , McKenna, Sioux
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66699 , vital:28983 , ISSN 1469-8366 , https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2015.1087471
- Description: The tutorial system is considered to be a useful pedagogical intervention to improve student retention, particularly in the context of a first-year student’s experience of entering university. For these novice students to achieve academic success, it is important that they are given access to the subject-specific knowledge and practices in their different disciplines, that is, that they acquire ‘epistemological access’. A recent study of the tutorial system in a South African university (Layton, D.M. [2013]. A social realist account of the tutorial system at the University of Johannesburg (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Rhodes University, Grahamstown), sought to discover to what extent tutorials were discursively constructed as being about the enablement of epistemological access. This paper focuses on two discourses that emerged from the study – the parent discourse and the partnership discourse. Both discourses were concerned with relationships between key stakeholders in the tutorial programme. Given that tutorials are considered to be spaces in which more intimate learning can take place than in the anonymous environment of the large lecture hall, an interrogation of the relationships fostered in tutorials is important. The parent discourse, in which students were positioned as ‘kids’ needing care, was supportive of new students but ran the risk of being patronising and reductionist. The partnerships discourse, in which tutors and academics were seen to be working together towards the common goal of student success, was seen to be enabling of epistemological access. But it required a commitment to teaching endeavours that was in tension with the institutional focus on research. Through a social realist analysis of the two discourses constructing relationships in the tutorial system, we conclude that these discourses have the power to both constrain and enable the extent to which the tutorial system can be a site of epistemological access.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Layton, Delia , McKenna, Sioux
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66699 , vital:28983 , ISSN 1469-8366 , https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2015.1087471
- Description: The tutorial system is considered to be a useful pedagogical intervention to improve student retention, particularly in the context of a first-year student’s experience of entering university. For these novice students to achieve academic success, it is important that they are given access to the subject-specific knowledge and practices in their different disciplines, that is, that they acquire ‘epistemological access’. A recent study of the tutorial system in a South African university (Layton, D.M. [2013]. A social realist account of the tutorial system at the University of Johannesburg (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Rhodes University, Grahamstown), sought to discover to what extent tutorials were discursively constructed as being about the enablement of epistemological access. This paper focuses on two discourses that emerged from the study – the parent discourse and the partnership discourse. Both discourses were concerned with relationships between key stakeholders in the tutorial programme. Given that tutorials are considered to be spaces in which more intimate learning can take place than in the anonymous environment of the large lecture hall, an interrogation of the relationships fostered in tutorials is important. The parent discourse, in which students were positioned as ‘kids’ needing care, was supportive of new students but ran the risk of being patronising and reductionist. The partnerships discourse, in which tutors and academics were seen to be working together towards the common goal of student success, was seen to be enabling of epistemological access. But it required a commitment to teaching endeavours that was in tension with the institutional focus on research. Through a social realist analysis of the two discourses constructing relationships in the tutorial system, we conclude that these discourses have the power to both constrain and enable the extent to which the tutorial system can be a site of epistemological access.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
Traditional and cultural practices and the rights of women : a study of widowhood practices among the Akans in Ghana
- Authors: Afari-Twumasi, Lucy
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Widows -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Ghana Widowhood -- Ghana Akan (African people) -- Social life and customs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2844 , vital:28106
- Description: The study investigates the human rights violations that underlie widowhood practices in Cape Coast and Komenda in the Central Region of Ghana. Review of the relevant literature on widowhood practices suggests that widowhood practices are a global cultural phenomenon, which is not confined to Sub-Sahara Africa. A survey of relevant studies on the phenomenon suggests that there are two competing perceptions on African widowhood practices: (1) a dominant negative perspective and (2) a minor positive perspective. The dominant negative perspective, which receives overwhelming research attention, focuses only on the negative characteristics of widowhood while the minor positive perspective which receives scanty research attention, rejects the criticisms levelled against widowhood practices as being externally influenced by Christianity and Western Feminism. Various stakeholders within the Akan community were given an opportunity to retell their own versions of widowhood practices. In order to achieve this purpose, the research extracted competing narratives from all the multiple sample subgroups of the proposed study: widows; widow family heads; chiefs; widowhood ritual practitioners; elderly female supervisors of widowhood practices; an official from the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ); an official from the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWAC); and an official from the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of Ghana. The study found out that despite legislative intervention and policy frameworks, the practice still persist among the Akan communities in Ghana. The reasons for the continued existence of such rituals are explained followed by recommendations for possible solutions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Afari-Twumasi, Lucy
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Widows -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Ghana Widowhood -- Ghana Akan (African people) -- Social life and customs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2844 , vital:28106
- Description: The study investigates the human rights violations that underlie widowhood practices in Cape Coast and Komenda in the Central Region of Ghana. Review of the relevant literature on widowhood practices suggests that widowhood practices are a global cultural phenomenon, which is not confined to Sub-Sahara Africa. A survey of relevant studies on the phenomenon suggests that there are two competing perceptions on African widowhood practices: (1) a dominant negative perspective and (2) a minor positive perspective. The dominant negative perspective, which receives overwhelming research attention, focuses only on the negative characteristics of widowhood while the minor positive perspective which receives scanty research attention, rejects the criticisms levelled against widowhood practices as being externally influenced by Christianity and Western Feminism. Various stakeholders within the Akan community were given an opportunity to retell their own versions of widowhood practices. In order to achieve this purpose, the research extracted competing narratives from all the multiple sample subgroups of the proposed study: widows; widow family heads; chiefs; widowhood ritual practitioners; elderly female supervisors of widowhood practices; an official from the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ); an official from the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWAC); and an official from the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of Ghana. The study found out that despite legislative intervention and policy frameworks, the practice still persist among the Akan communities in Ghana. The reasons for the continued existence of such rituals are explained followed by recommendations for possible solutions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016