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Shoppers Drug Mart or poachers Drug Mart?

  • Authors: Attaran, Amir , Walker, Roderick B
  • Date: 2008
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: vital:6346 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006018
  • Description: [From the text]: Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Quebec) is a familiar Canadian institution. Its 1000 stores dot the landscape; no pharmacy chain is larger. In many Canadian communities, the corporation's well-staffed local franchises give patients quality care. However, in South Africa, the same corporation is potentially contributing to a public health disaster. In 2005, 2006 and twice in 2007, it has dispatched recruiters to that country, with the mission of plucking pharmacists from a continent that has far too few for its needs. Shoppers Drug Mart promises 6-figure salaries and help to establish a brilliant career in Canada. The carrot, and the helping hand holding it, are huge.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Should active recruitment of health workers from sub-Saharan Africa be viewed as a crime?

  • Authors: Mills, E J , Schabas, W A , Volmink, J , Walker, Roderick B , Ford, N , Katabira, E , Anema, A , Joffres, M , Cahn, P , Montaner, J
  • Date: 2008
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: vital:6392 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006314
  • Description: (Conclusion) When the international community permits for-profit companies to actively entice overworked and often underpaid workers away from the most vulnerable populations, it is contributing to the deterioration of essential health-care delivery. Improvement of the health of the world’s poor is a challenge that the international community is failing to adequately address. Current international treaties and commitments are severely compromised if we are unwilling to adhere to their principles and prevent obvious harms to poor people. Clear, enforced regulation is needed to prevent recruitment companies from enticing health workers away from their local work, and developed countries should adequately compensate less-developed countries for the human resources they have lost and continue to lose.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Sing a swansong for the SABC as we know it : keep public broadcasting, redistribute the broadcaster

  • Authors: Berger, Guy
  • Date: 2008
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159326 , vital:40288 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC140098
  • Description: Behind the dragged-out confrontations around the SABC are a politics of paralysis. That's not necessarily a bad thing if the alternative is the broadcaster being a tool of a single particular force. But it's also not exactly first prize for South Africans. Power is divided across so many centres that no single force has been able to easily prevail on SABC during the year.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Social and ecological trade offs in combating land degradation: The case of invasion by a woody shrub (Euryops floribundus) at Macubeni, South Africa

  • Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Gambiza, James
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181235 , vital:43711 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.849"
  • Description: Woody plant invasions, either of alien or indigenous species, are deemed to result in loss of ecosystem goods and services in many areas throughout the world, resulting in significant degradation and economic costs. Invasion of Euryops floribundus, a species indigenous to South Africa, is perceived to have reduced the grazing available for domestic livestock. Consequently, a programme of manual eradication has been implemented to improve the grazing resource and provide jobs for poverty alleviation. However, there is potential for a conflict of interest as our study shows that almost all households rely on Euryops for fuel and at times fencing material, whereas only a minority of households own livestock. Moreover, comparison of invaded and non-invaded sites indicated that the invaded sites harbour greater plant species richness and higher grass culm density per unit area of grass cover, as well as higher forb and litter cover. While invaded sites had lower grass cover, overall plant cover was no different between invaded and non-invaded sites. Multivariate analysis indicated no obvious differentiation in community composition between invaded and non-invaded areas, suggesting stronger drivers of community composition other than Euryops invasion presumed to be facilitated by the effects of high livestock densities. Overall, our study suggests that the clearing operation may well benefit from a better understanding of the social needs, perceptions of degradation by the various stakeholders and ecological dynamics of the area, especially local reliance on the resources, and the dynamics of the invasion, particularly its extent, rate of spread and susceptibility for re-invasion in the cleared areas.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Social Services and Benefits

  • Authors: Kruuse, Helen
  • Date: 2008
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54211 , vital:26405 , https://store.lexisnexis.co.za/products/family-law-service-skuZASKUPG642
  • Description: Family Law Service is a subscription based product including both the printed loose-leaf and LexisMobile publications. Updates for 12 months (print and mobile) are included in the price. Family Law Service covers aspects of law pertaining to the family, including domestic violence, the Law of Islam, same- sex life partnerships, the effects of the Children's Act, 2008 and anti-trafficking law in South Africa. Family Law Service is maintained in three volumes with commentary and legislation, and with two service issues published a year.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Socio-economic impact of the participatory and conventionally implemented irrigation and livestock development projects: a case of Beitbridge and Mberengwa Districts of Zimbabwe

  • Authors: Ndou, Portia
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Irrigation -- Zimbabwe , Water resources development -- Zimbabwe , Range management -- Zimbabwe , Livestock projects -- Zimbabwe
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
  • Identifier: vital:11191 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/82 , Irrigation -- Zimbabwe , Water resources development -- Zimbabwe , Range management -- Zimbabwe , Livestock projects -- Zimbabwe
  • Description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of participatory and conventional approaches to livestock and irrigation project implementation in Zimbabwe’s Beitbridge and Mberengwa districts. The conventional livestock projects performed better than the participatory. Despite the breed for the participatory livestock projects being unsuitable for the environment, the farmers failed to utilize the drugs and surplus funding set aside for replacement of dead cattle. Farmer training was found to be of paramount importance in the establishment of the livestock projects in spite of the participatory approach used for the implementation of the projects. Also the technical backup and support for the livestock project beneficiaries is important to ensure early rectification of problems that may affect the smooth running of the projects as well as an opportunity to introduce new technical advice to boost production. Livestock projects take long period of time to establish, i.e. for the financial turn over to be realized. It takes long time for farmers in these projects to make investments from the proceeds of the livestock projects. For this reason, there is need for the number of beneficiaries for each pass-on livestock project to take into account the number of beasts at project establishment and also the number per each beneficiary group. However, the projects should still be encouraged as they will take full operation at a later stage and be of benefit to the rural disadvantaged who cannot access other means to own cattle, which in turn play a pivotal role in crop production (through draft power, manure provision) and cash earnings that indirectly ensures food security. Regardless of approach used, livestock projects should be strongly supported because the districts under study are prone to poor crop production and hence the cattle can be a source of income and food. Participatory irrigation projects performed better than the conventionally implemented, despite their small hectarages. This proved that farmer participation can greatly improve the efficiency of development work and eliminate many of the problems regarding proprietorship and enhance development activities at community level. Conventional irrigation projects were plagued by problems of mismanagement and theft as was reflected by poor performance and malfunction of the conventional Chingechuru and Chimwe-Chegato irrigation schemes. Fencing theft atChingechuru irrigation scheme had brought it to a stand still. However, the larger incomes associated with the conventionally implemented irrigation projects were the result of the larger areas under cropping for these projects. Production levels in participatory irrigation schemes were good. Adoption of most technical innovations in livestock projects was found to be associated with the conventional approach. Asset procurement was a function of the farmer’s accessibility to non-project income, like formal employment, and procurement of specific assets applied more to project type than the approach to project implementation. This study found that the approach used in implementation had a greater influence on the performance of irrigation projects than livestock projects.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Solar cycle effects on GNSS-derived ionospheric total electron content observed over Southern Africa

  • Authors: Moeketsi, Daniel Mojalefa
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Ionosphere -- Africa, Southern Electrons Ionospheric electron density -- Africa, Southern Ionosondes -- Africa, Southern Electromagnetic waves
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:5489 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005275
  • Description: The South African Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) network of dual frequency receivers provide an opportunity to investigate solar cycle effects on ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) over the South Africa region by taking advantage of the dispersive nature of the ionospheric medium. For this task, the global University of New Brunswick Ionospheric Modelling Technique (UNB-IMT) was adopted, modified and applied to compute TEC using data from the southern African GNSS Network. TEC values were compared with CODE International GNSS services TEC predictions and Ionosonde-derived TEC (ITEC) measurements to test and validate the UNB-IMT results over South Africa. It was found that the variation trends of GTEC and ITEC over all stations are in good agreement and show pronounced seasonal variations with high TEC values around equinoxes for a year near solar maximum and less pronounced around solar minimum. Signature TEC depletions and enhanced spikes were prevalently evident around equinoxes, particularly for a year near solar maximum. These observations were investigated and further discussed with an analysis of the midday Disturbance Storm Time (DST) index of geomagnetic activity. The residual GTEC – ITEC corresponding to plasmaspheric electron content and equivalent ionospheric foF2 and total slab thickness parameters were computed and comprehensively discussed. The results verified the use of UNB-IMT as one of the tools for ionospheric research over South Africa. The UNB-IMT algorithm was applied to investigate TEC variability during different epochs of solar cycle 23. The results were investigated and further discussed by analyzing the GOES 8 and 10 satellites X-ray flux (0.1 – 0.8 nm) and SOHO Solar Extreme Ultraviolet Monitor higher resolution data. Comparison of UNB-IMT TEC derived from collocated HRAO and HARB GNSS receivers was undertaken for the solar X17 and X9 flare events, which occurred on day 301, 2003 and day 339, 2006. It was found that there exist considerable TEC differences between the two collocated receivers with some evidence of solar cycle dependence. Furthermore, the daytime UNB TEC compared with the International Reference Ionosphere 2001 predicted TEC found both models to show a good agreement. The UNB-IMT TEC was further applied to investigate the capabilities of geodetic Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) derived TEC using the Vienna TEC Model for space weather monitoring over HartRAO during the CONT02 and CONT05 campaigns conducted during the years 2002 (near solar maximum) and 005 (near solar minimum). The results verified the use of geodetic VLBI as one of the possible instruments for monitoring space weather impacts on the ionosphere over South Africa.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Something rotten in this age of hope, The HamletMachine: directed by Wesley Deintje. Rhodes University Theatre. 28 September 2007: theatre reviews

  • Authors: Wright, Laurence
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/455808 , vital:75458 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC48108
  • Description: Heiner Müller's most famous play (Die Hamletmaschine, 1977) has evolved into something of a familiar war-horse for student theatre. The United States in particular has taken to the work; indeed, it was meant in part for them : "Heil Coca-cola!" says the script. For today's South African ears this has become, very aptly, "Hail the Rainbow Nation!" What young director can resist it? Only eight pages in extent, the sparse yet densely referential text offers unfettered scope for interpretation and contextualization.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

South Africa and Malaysia: identity and history in South-South relations

South African police service deploys its first peacekeepers to Darfur, Sudan : a descriptive study on the deployment preparations and the role of the South African police peacekeepers in African union mission in Sudan (AMIS)

  • Authors: Mokhine, Ntime Samson
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Peacekeeping forces , Conflict management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
  • Identifier: vital:8214 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1027 , Peacekeeping forces , Conflict management
  • Description: The focus of this research will be on the question as to whether the South African Police Service adequately prepares its police officials for the functions they will be performing in Sudan: Darfur. This broad question leads to further questions that include the following: What are the peacekeeping recruitment and selection criteria for the South African Police Service members who need to be deployed in Sudan: Darfur? Is the South African Police Service peacekeeping training curriculum adequate enough to prepare its members for their deployment in Sudan: Darfur?  Does the South African Police Service have any measures to evaluate the role played by its members in Sudan: Dafur? What measures have been introduced to utilise the new skills brought by members that have been deployed? Are there any properly posted members with mission experience, who are capable of presenting and further developing peacekeeping training in the South African Police Service? Does the South African Police Service senior management have knowledge of generic peacekeeping concepts?.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

South African public private partnership (PPP) projects

  • Authors: Nyagwachi, Josiah Nyangaresi
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Public-private sector cooperation -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:9696 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/716 , Public-private sector cooperation -- South Africa
  • Description: The purpose of this thesis is to disseminate research work done towards a higher degree and report on the findings of the research that was conducted relative to South African Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects. The research investigated perceptions of PPP actors on the performance of operational PPP projects. The aim of the research was to fulfil the requirements for the award of the degree of philosophiae doctor in construction management; contribute to the PPP body of knowledge; contribute further understanding of the performance of PPP projects in South Africa; and develop a systemic model for a sustainable PPP system within the country and beyond. All the aforementioned have been achieved, despite the research limitations as indicated in Chapter 1. A case study approach was adopted to examine various performance aspects of operational South African PPP projects. The research was a multi-case study design. Each individual case study consisted of a ‘whole’ study, in which facts were gathered from the selected PPP projects and conclusions drawn on those facts. A web-based questionnaire was used to capture the experiences and perceptions of various actors involved directly, or indirectly in selected PPP projects. The sample stratum consisted of all operational PPP projects registered in accordance with Treasury Regulations as of December 2005 and other projects that reached financial closure before the Public Finance Management Act of 1999 became effective. PPPs involve highly complex procurement processes, are relatively new in South Africa and to date have attracted limited investigation to refine our understanding of the operational performance of PPP projects. This is notable, as significant financial and other resources are involved, and the perception exists that service delivery in most parts of the country is poor. Key empirical evidence from the research indicates that South Africa has developed a robust policy and regulatory framework for PPPs; has an inadequate level of PPP awareness and training; and lacks the project management capacity to facilitate deal flow. It is suggested that further research be conducted on a yearly basis, preferably every six months, so that trends can be established concerning various aspects of other operational PPPs. Further, it is recommended that the PPP Unit commission sector-specific studies that will conduct further research, to compare research across PPP and non-PPP contracts. The choice to conduct a multi-case study required extensive resources and time beyond the means available to the researcher. Further, the sensitive nature of PPP projects made it difficult to obtain required data at the first attempt. However, the researcher made several follow up calls and reminders before eventually obtaining the required data from the respondents. A systemic PPP model has been developed for PPP implementation and management. This model was tested for appropriateness by conducting a further survey on PPP participants attending an international conference on 'Financing of Infrastructure Development in Africa through Public Private Partnerships’ staged in August 2007, in the St. George Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa. The findings from this research make an invaluable and original contribution to the PPP body of knowledge, provide insight for further research in this important field, refine the understanding of operational PPP projects, and provide direction for policy and decision makers in the public and private sectors, within South Africa and beyond.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Spam Construction Trends

  • Authors: Irwin, Barry V W , Friedman, Blake
  • Date: 2008
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428762 , vital:72534 , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Barry-Ir-win/publication/220803159_Spam_Construction_Trends/links/53fc76bd0cf2dca8ffff22fb/Spam-Construction-Trends.pdf
  • Description: This paper replicates and extends Observed Trends in Spam Construction Tech-niques: A Case Study of Spam Evolution. A corpus of 169,274 spam email was col-lected over a period of five years. Each spam email was tested for construction techniques using SpamAssassin’s spamicity tests. The results of these tests were col-lected in a database. Formal definitions of Pu and Webb’s co-existence, extinction and complex trends were developed and applied to the results within the database. A comparison of the Spam Evolution Study and this paper’s results took place to de-termine the relevance of the trends. A geolocation analysis was conducted on the corpus, as an extension, to determine the major geographic sources of the corpus.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Spatial and temporal variations in metals in the sediment and water of selected Eastern Cape Estuaries, South Africa

  • Authors: Orr, Kyla Kathleen
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Marine sediments -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Metals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Metals -- Environmental aspects , Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine sediments -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water quality -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water pollution -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Environmental toxicology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:5769 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005457 , Marine sediments -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Metals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Metals -- Environmental aspects , Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine sediments -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water quality -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water pollution -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Environmental toxicology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: The spatio-temporal patterns in concentrations of selected metals within the sediment (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni and Zn) and water (Cd and Pb) of three permanently open estuaries (Kariega, Kowie, Great Fish) and six temporary open-closed estuaries (Mpekweni, East Kleinemonde, West Kleinemonde, Riet, Kasouga, Boknes) were investigated. The concentrations of metals were influenced by size composition and total organic content of the sediments. Enrichment factors (EFs), using Fe as a reference element, and baseline linear regression models for metals vs. Fe were calculated to assess the extent of metal enrichment in the sediments. The mean concentrations of metals in the sediments(mg·kg⁻¹) showed ranges of 0.28 – 2.31 for Cd, 1.26 – 6.24 Co, 0.69 – 6.93 for Cu, 2119 – 14912 for Fe, 2.29 –14.01 for Ni, 4.81 – 22.20 for Pb and 5.77 – 21.75 for Zn. Mean normalized enrichment factors ranged between 0.75 – 6.19 for Cd, 0.53 – 2.71 for Co, 0.22 – 0.84 for Cu, 0.30 – 1.87 for Ni, 0.99 – 3.17 for Pb and 0.14 – 0.98 for Zn. All nine estuaries had average enrichment factors of greater than 1 for Cd. In general there was no enrichment of Cu and Zn in the sediments of any of the estuaries included in this study (EFs < 1). The Kariega, East Kleinemonde, West Kleinemonde, Riet and Great Fish Estuaries showed some degree of enrichment for Co (1 < EF < 4), Ni (1 < EF < 2) and Pb (1 < EF < 4), while the Mpekweni, Kasouga, Boknes and Kowie Estuaries were unenriched with these metals (EF < 1). Enrichment factors for Cd, Co and Pb typically followed the development gradient along the estuaries, suggesting anthropogenic enrichment. The concentrations of Cd and Pb in the water of the nine estuaries were also determined. The average concentrations of Cd and Pb in the water (μg·ℓ⁻¹) ranged between 0.05 – 3.32 and 0.75 – 34.13 respectively. On average the concentrations of Cd and Pb in the water of all the estuaries were below the South African recommended water quality guidelines for coastal marine waters. Variations in metal concentrations associated with changes in hydrology (wet vs. dry season) were determined in the water and sediment of the Kariega, East Kleinemonde and Riet Estuaries. Cobalt, Pb and Ni enrichment in the Kariega Estuary sediment was significantly higher during the dry season, and the mean concentrations of Pb and Cd in the water column were 19-fold and 66-fold higher in the dry season. The elevated concentration of metals during the dry season could be related to accumulation of diffuse pollution from human activities within the catchment area. Conversely, inflow of fresh water into the estuary had the net effect of reducing the concentration and enrichment of these metals within the Kariega Estuary due to scouring and outflow of estuarine water and sediment into the marine environment. The temporal variations in metal concentrations and enrichment factors were less pronounced in the temporary open-closed estuaries than the permanently open Kariega Estuary. The observed trend can probably be related to the low anthropogenic impact within the catchment areas of these systems, and the relatively smaller size of the catchments. Significant spatial variations existed in metal enrichment in the sediment of both the East Kleinemonde and Riet estuaries, with the highest degrees of enrichment occurring in the sediments from the marine environment and lower reaches.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Spontaneous charge transfer between zinc tetramethyl-tetra-2, 3-pyridinoporphyrazine and CdTe and ZnS quantum dots

  • Authors: Moeno, Sharon , Idowu, Mopelola , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/265997 , vital:53908 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ica.2008.02.048"
  • Description: Zinc tetramethyl-tetra-2,3-pyridinoporphyrazine (ZnTmtppa(-2)) gets reduced to the ZnTmtppa(-3) species on interaction with CdTe QDs capped with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) or thioglycolic acid (TGA) and ZnS QDs capped with 2-ME. The interaction occurs without photolysis. The fluorescence of the QDs is quenched by ZnTmtppa resulting in large quenching constants. Binding of ZnTmtppa to QDs occurs with two molecules of the former binding to the latter.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Springlove (for Tazz)

  • Authors: Leff, Carol W
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , poem
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462897 , vital:76345 , ISBN 0028-4459 , https://journals.co.za/doi/epdf/10.10520/EJC47802
  • Description: New Coin is one of South Africa's most established and influential poetry journals. It publishes poetry, and poetry-related reviews, commentary and interviews. New Coin places a particular emphasis on evolving forms and experimental use of the English language in poetry in the South African context. In this sense it has traced the most exciting trends and currents in contemporary poetry in South Africa for a decade of more. The journal is published twice a year in June and December by the Institute for the Study of English in Africa (ISEA), Rhodes University.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Stakeholders' perceptions of the shift to democratic leadership in a secondary school in the Eastern Cape : a case study

State sovereignty and alternative community in southern Africa: exploring the Zion Christian Church as the building block for deeper notions of regional community

  • Authors: Radebe, Zandisiwe
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Zionist Christian Church Southern African Development Community Community development -- Africa, Southern Regionalism -- Africa, Southern Sovereignty -- Africa, Southern Africa, Southern -- Economic integration
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:2824 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003034
  • Description: Regional community in southern Africa has been limited to the region’s states. As a result, deeper notions of community emanating from non-state actors, particularly transnational social movements, continue to be ignored. In an attempt to transcend state centrism, this thesis highlights alternative forms of regional community by exploring the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), one of southern Africa’s biggest and fastest growing cross-border movements. The ZCC is a potential agent for developing regional community from the bottom-up, driving a people-oriented regional integration approach in southern Africa. The ZCC, with its extensive following among the region’s poor, offers a compelling example of a grassroots and truly bottom-up approach to regional community. This thesis explores the possibility of the ZCC as a model of alternative community and identity centred on people’s daily experiences and grounded in a shared history and solidarity. It seeks to highlight the significance of transnational movements like the ZCC to policy makers in the region and it argues that grassroots communities are marching ahead of SADC member states and politicians in the area of integration. There exists a transnational cooperation amongst followers of the ZCC and other grassroots communities across the region and this cooperation transcends the traditional notion of state sovereignty, thereby highlighting deeper notions of what it means to be a community at regional level.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Staying in touch Zimbabwean media

  • Authors: Chatora, Arther
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/454880 , vital:75383 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC140100
  • Description: I have been studying in Grahamstown for five years and I now consider Grahamstown my second home. It has been fairly easy for me to settle here given the fact that Rhodes University is home to many Zimbabwe-an students and academic personnel. Diverse cultures merge in this town, giving it a cosmopolitan feel. Although seemingly far from Gra-hamstown, Zimbabwe gets a lot of representation from different media organisations.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Sterols and sterolins in Hypoxis hemerocallidea (African potato)

  • Authors: Nair, V D P , Kanfer, Isadore
  • Date: 2008
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Article
  • Identifier: vital:6417 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006535
  • Description: Commercially available health supplements and herbal remedies containing sterols and sterolins, either from African potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea) alone, or whether enriched with sterols and sterolins, are claimed to be efficacious in the treatment of a variety of ailments. Sterols and sterolins in African potato are purported to be the relevant constituents that are required for the therapeutic claims of such products. A patent describing the extraction of sterolins from African potato plant material has claimed that approximately 9 mg sterolins can be isolated from 100 g of an enriched aqueous African potato extract. Our analysis of African potato plant material and its sterol and sterolin content, when similarly prepared, shows that the measureable content of sterols and sterolins in African potato is far less than the amounts of these compounds that have been claimed to be necessary for therapeutic benefit. We conclude that therapeutic claims relating to sterol and sterolin content in African potato are unsubstantiated, in view of the extremely low content of such compounds that we have isolated from our plant material, and in products containing African potato, or extracts thereof.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Strategies for retaining talented staff and knowledge managers : a case study

  • Authors: Gatyeni, Litha
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Employee retention -- South Africa , Employee motivation -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:8710 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/958 , Employee retention -- South Africa , Employee motivation -- South Africa
  • Description: The South African government is currently targeting 6 per cent economic growth for the country (Mail & Guardian, 2006). The construction industry is one of the growing forces contributing to the current economic growth of South Africa. However, in the speech made by the president Thabo Mbeki, he highlighted the labour market as one of the key constraints to achieving higher and sustainable growth. It is believed that there is a skills shortage or a mismatch in the labour market (Mail & Guardian, 2006). The construction industry has seen a steady growth over the past number of years. When South Africa won the bid to host the 2010 world cup, this required more building work to be done, such as construction of stadia, hotels, etc. This has put further strain in the construction industry. As the work load increases, the companies in the industry require more resources, with the human resources being the most affected. This has seen a high rate of talented staff turnover in the industry as companies seek to increase their capacity to allow them cope with the current work load. The consulting engineering industry plays a critical role of the construction industry. The selected company is part of the electrical and mechanical consulting engineering industry which has also been affected by the high talented staff turnover. The main purpose for this research was to identify retention strategies that can be used by the selected company to reduce the turnover of their talented staff. The research also investigated methods to retain the knowledge within the company that was possibly lost due to a high talented staff turnover rate. The first step used to resolve the issues discussed above was to complete a full literature study. The literature study sought to reveal what characteristics were required in the company that ensured staff would be happy in that company and remain there for a long time. The literature study also covered what knowledge iv management methods can be used by the company to retain its valuable knowledge. Secondly, the views of current staff, ex-staff and management of the selected company on staff and knowledge management strategies were asked in an empirical study, which involved completing questionnaires and conducting structured interviews. Based on the findings of the literature study and the empirical study, the last step was to make recommendations on what strategies should be implemented to retain staff and knowledge for the selected company.
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  • Date Issued: 2008
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