A proposed framework for the development of urban agriculture in South African cities
- Authors: Brown, Nicola Jayne
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Urban agriculture -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa , Food security -- Climatic factors -- South Africa , Resilience (Ecology)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174413 , vital:42475
- Description: While climate change and rapid urbanisation are impacting our cities and existing infrastructure, population growth and resource scarcity are placing unprecedented pressure on our food systems. In light of such challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals, resilient solutions are being sought to move both urban development and food production towards a more sustainable future. In this context, Urban Agriculture (UA) has been identified as a possible mechanism to complement rural food production with many associated social, economic and environmental benefits for urban communities. Some of these benefits include increased food system resilience, better urban environmental management, circular and productive reuse of urban wastes, employment opportunities, reduced food miles and the promotion of social inclusivity. Through a sustainable food system lens and underpinned by Resilience Theory, this research study sets out to investigate and explore the considerations for UA development. The research study reviews UA literature to identify and analyse the common challenges which act as barriers to implementation, as well as the current or potential opportunities which could be leveraged to drive UA development. The insights gained from literature on UA and UA development frameworks; and the data gathered from qualitative interviews with experts working in UA-related fields in South Africa (SA), were used to build a conceptual framework for UA development in SA. The conceptual framework developed is intended to be used as a guide for local municipalities, urban planners, urban farmers, urban communities and UA support organisations in their approach to developing UA initiatives. The findings from this research study reveal that UA development in SA involves numerous actors at both provincial and municipal levels; and within private institutions, businesses, universities, farmer organisations and society. The findings also reveal that UA currently occurs at many levels in SA, with each level drawing a particular range of participants due to the various social, economic and/or environmental features of the initiative. Along with challenges associated with land access, the lack of UA-related knowledge, the threat of theft, vandalism and soil contamination (to name a few); a lack of understanding of how agriculture can fit into urban spaces was found to be a major obstacle. The findings suggest that this lack of understanding has led to an under-realisation of the full potential of UA in South African towns and cities; and an inability to incentivise and optimise the development of UA. Considering the findings derived from the investigation, the study proposes five major considerations for UA development in SA, all of which are unpacked in the conceptual framework. The study concludes by making recommendations for UA decision-makers and UA organisations to consider for future developments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Brown, Nicola Jayne
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Urban agriculture -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa , Food security -- Climatic factors -- South Africa , Resilience (Ecology)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174413 , vital:42475
- Description: While climate change and rapid urbanisation are impacting our cities and existing infrastructure, population growth and resource scarcity are placing unprecedented pressure on our food systems. In light of such challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals, resilient solutions are being sought to move both urban development and food production towards a more sustainable future. In this context, Urban Agriculture (UA) has been identified as a possible mechanism to complement rural food production with many associated social, economic and environmental benefits for urban communities. Some of these benefits include increased food system resilience, better urban environmental management, circular and productive reuse of urban wastes, employment opportunities, reduced food miles and the promotion of social inclusivity. Through a sustainable food system lens and underpinned by Resilience Theory, this research study sets out to investigate and explore the considerations for UA development. The research study reviews UA literature to identify and analyse the common challenges which act as barriers to implementation, as well as the current or potential opportunities which could be leveraged to drive UA development. The insights gained from literature on UA and UA development frameworks; and the data gathered from qualitative interviews with experts working in UA-related fields in South Africa (SA), were used to build a conceptual framework for UA development in SA. The conceptual framework developed is intended to be used as a guide for local municipalities, urban planners, urban farmers, urban communities and UA support organisations in their approach to developing UA initiatives. The findings from this research study reveal that UA development in SA involves numerous actors at both provincial and municipal levels; and within private institutions, businesses, universities, farmer organisations and society. The findings also reveal that UA currently occurs at many levels in SA, with each level drawing a particular range of participants due to the various social, economic and/or environmental features of the initiative. Along with challenges associated with land access, the lack of UA-related knowledge, the threat of theft, vandalism and soil contamination (to name a few); a lack of understanding of how agriculture can fit into urban spaces was found to be a major obstacle. The findings suggest that this lack of understanding has led to an under-realisation of the full potential of UA in South African towns and cities; and an inability to incentivise and optimise the development of UA. Considering the findings derived from the investigation, the study proposes five major considerations for UA development in SA, all of which are unpacked in the conceptual framework. The study concludes by making recommendations for UA decision-makers and UA organisations to consider for future developments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Accelerated implementations of the RIME for DDE calibration and source modelling
- Authors: Van Staden, Joshua
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Radio astronomy , Radio inferometers , Radio inferometers -- Calibration , Radio astronomy -- Data processing , Radio inferometers -- Data processing , Radio inferometers -- Calibration -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/172422 , vital:42199
- Description: Second- and third-generation calibration methods filter out subtle effects in interferometer data, and therefore yield significantly higher dynamic ranges. The basis of these calibration techniques relies on building a model of the sky and corrupting it with models of the effects acting on the sources. The sensitivities of modern instruments call for more elaborate models to capture the level of detail that is required to achieve accurate calibration. This thesis implements two types of models to be used in for second- and third-generation calibration. The first model implemented is shapelets, which can be used to model radio source morphologies directly in uv space. The second model implemented is Zernike polynomials, which can be used to represent the primary beam of the antenna. We implement these models in the CODEX-AFRICANUS package and provide a set of unit tests for each model. Additionally, we compare our implementations against other methods of representing these objects and instrumental effects, namely NIFTY-GRIDDER against shapelets and a FITS-interpolation method against the Zernike polynomials. We find that to achieve sufficient accuracy, our implementation of the shapelet model has a higher runtime to that of the NIFTY-GRIDDER. However, the NIFTY-GRIDDER cannot simulate a component-based sky model while the shapelet model can. Additionally, the shapelet model is fully parametric, which allows for integration into a parameterised solver. We find that, while having a smaller memory footprint, our Zernike model has a greater computational complexity than that of the FITS-interpolated method. However, we find that the Zernike implementation has floating-point accuracy in its modelling, while the FITS-interpolated model loses some accuracy through the discretisation of the beam.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Van Staden, Joshua
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Radio astronomy , Radio inferometers , Radio inferometers -- Calibration , Radio astronomy -- Data processing , Radio inferometers -- Data processing , Radio inferometers -- Calibration -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/172422 , vital:42199
- Description: Second- and third-generation calibration methods filter out subtle effects in interferometer data, and therefore yield significantly higher dynamic ranges. The basis of these calibration techniques relies on building a model of the sky and corrupting it with models of the effects acting on the sources. The sensitivities of modern instruments call for more elaborate models to capture the level of detail that is required to achieve accurate calibration. This thesis implements two types of models to be used in for second- and third-generation calibration. The first model implemented is shapelets, which can be used to model radio source morphologies directly in uv space. The second model implemented is Zernike polynomials, which can be used to represent the primary beam of the antenna. We implement these models in the CODEX-AFRICANUS package and provide a set of unit tests for each model. Additionally, we compare our implementations against other methods of representing these objects and instrumental effects, namely NIFTY-GRIDDER against shapelets and a FITS-interpolation method against the Zernike polynomials. We find that to achieve sufficient accuracy, our implementation of the shapelet model has a higher runtime to that of the NIFTY-GRIDDER. However, the NIFTY-GRIDDER cannot simulate a component-based sky model while the shapelet model can. Additionally, the shapelet model is fully parametric, which allows for integration into a parameterised solver. We find that, while having a smaller memory footprint, our Zernike model has a greater computational complexity than that of the FITS-interpolated method. However, we find that the Zernike implementation has floating-point accuracy in its modelling, while the FITS-interpolated model loses some accuracy through the discretisation of the beam.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Negotiating spaces, constructing identities and consuming symbolic resources: examining the complex interplay between identity formation, context and media consumption amongst black South African students at Rhodes University
- Authors: Willetts, Luke
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mass media -- Psychological aspects -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Mass media -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Mass media -- Sociological aspects -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Mass media and culture -- South Africa , Mass media and race relations -- South Africa , Social movements -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Student movements -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Male college students -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Rhodes University -- Students -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/95207 , vital:31127
- Description: This thesis has looked at the complex interplay between media consumption and identity formation amongst a group of black South African male students within the context of a racially homogenous communal viewing area located on the Rhodes University campus during the #FMF protests in 2016. Using qualitative research methods the study concluded that the group context of communal viewing helped the students structure and make sense of their daily lives. They actively divorced themselves from the main student populace in an attempt to escape lived experiences of a repressive institutional culture expressed through the university’s monolingual language policies, aesthetics and course material. These students embodied the characteristics of a diasporic community characterised by displacement, dispersal and the continuous re-articulation of differences across contradictory social, cultural and economic contexts. They grappled with an alienating environment by creating a safe space for cultural reproduction aided by the communal consumption of local television programmes. Preferences for local content broadcast in African languages were shaped by a linguistic marginalisation experienced on the Rhodes campus. The politicisation of the context through #FMF in turn politicised the students’ subjectivities leading to a need to be informed of the movement’s progression through evening news broadcasts. Discussions around campus life were dominated by #FMF and the collective experiences of marginalisation in and from the university space. Communal viewing of local television shows allowed this group of students to transcend decades of essentialised African ethnic divisions bringing forward a group identity premised on a lived hegemony signified by blackness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Willetts, Luke
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mass media -- Psychological aspects -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Mass media -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Mass media -- Sociological aspects -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Mass media and culture -- South Africa , Mass media and race relations -- South Africa , Social movements -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Student movements -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Male college students -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Rhodes University -- Students -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/95207 , vital:31127
- Description: This thesis has looked at the complex interplay between media consumption and identity formation amongst a group of black South African male students within the context of a racially homogenous communal viewing area located on the Rhodes University campus during the #FMF protests in 2016. Using qualitative research methods the study concluded that the group context of communal viewing helped the students structure and make sense of their daily lives. They actively divorced themselves from the main student populace in an attempt to escape lived experiences of a repressive institutional culture expressed through the university’s monolingual language policies, aesthetics and course material. These students embodied the characteristics of a diasporic community characterised by displacement, dispersal and the continuous re-articulation of differences across contradictory social, cultural and economic contexts. They grappled with an alienating environment by creating a safe space for cultural reproduction aided by the communal consumption of local television programmes. Preferences for local content broadcast in African languages were shaped by a linguistic marginalisation experienced on the Rhodes campus. The politicisation of the context through #FMF in turn politicised the students’ subjectivities leading to a need to be informed of the movement’s progression through evening news broadcasts. Discussions around campus life were dominated by #FMF and the collective experiences of marginalisation in and from the university space. Communal viewing of local television shows allowed this group of students to transcend decades of essentialised African ethnic divisions bringing forward a group identity premised on a lived hegemony signified by blackness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The experiences of health service providers working with children with physical disabilities and their caregivers in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mathaba, Yollandah
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Children with disabilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Caregivers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies , Caregivers -- Psychology , Children with disabilities -- Care
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76299 , vital:30545
- Description: The prevalence of childhood disability in South Africa is significant. In an attempt to meet the constitutional rights of children with disabilities, there are a variety of services available for children with disabilities. These services are aimed at rehabilitating children with disabilities and integrating them in society. Amongst such services are health services. Due to the nature of some childhood disabilities, it is recommended that they should be seen by a multidisciplinary team. While the field of childhood disability has been researched extensively. Limited research has been conducted on the experiences of health service providers working with children with disabilities and their caregivers. The current study explored the experiences of health service providers working with children with disabilities and their caregivers in the Eastern Cape. To achieve this aim, the study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Five participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling methods. Semi-structured interviews were used to allow participants to freely share their experiences of working with children with disabilities and their caregivers. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed for analysis purpose. The analysis process generated five master themes namely: Positive experiences of their work; negative experiences of their work; perception of their role as changing over time; managing challenges in their work; and experiences of a service learning programme as complementary to their work. The findings of the study highlighted both the positive experiences and the negative experiences of their work. On the one hand, the participants reported positive affect and that they found their work meaningful. They also reported a sense of feeling supported by fellow colleagues and enjoying their work at the clinics. On the other hand, the participants reported negative affect in relation to their wok difficulties such as feelings of frustration, feelings of being unappreciated by management and finding the work distressing. The participants reported that professional and emotional growth in conjunction with perspective taking contributed to developing better coping mechanisms. A service learning programme offered in the community was experienced as a good contribution to the work done at the clinics and distinguished as addressing the emotional needs of the caregivers which cannot be addressed at the clinics. The findings of the study supports and expands the literature on the experiences of health service providers working with children with disabilities in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mathaba, Yollandah
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Children with disabilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Caregivers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies , Caregivers -- Psychology , Children with disabilities -- Care
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76299 , vital:30545
- Description: The prevalence of childhood disability in South Africa is significant. In an attempt to meet the constitutional rights of children with disabilities, there are a variety of services available for children with disabilities. These services are aimed at rehabilitating children with disabilities and integrating them in society. Amongst such services are health services. Due to the nature of some childhood disabilities, it is recommended that they should be seen by a multidisciplinary team. While the field of childhood disability has been researched extensively. Limited research has been conducted on the experiences of health service providers working with children with disabilities and their caregivers. The current study explored the experiences of health service providers working with children with disabilities and their caregivers in the Eastern Cape. To achieve this aim, the study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Five participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling methods. Semi-structured interviews were used to allow participants to freely share their experiences of working with children with disabilities and their caregivers. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed for analysis purpose. The analysis process generated five master themes namely: Positive experiences of their work; negative experiences of their work; perception of their role as changing over time; managing challenges in their work; and experiences of a service learning programme as complementary to their work. The findings of the study highlighted both the positive experiences and the negative experiences of their work. On the one hand, the participants reported positive affect and that they found their work meaningful. They also reported a sense of feeling supported by fellow colleagues and enjoying their work at the clinics. On the other hand, the participants reported negative affect in relation to their wok difficulties such as feelings of frustration, feelings of being unappreciated by management and finding the work distressing. The participants reported that professional and emotional growth in conjunction with perspective taking contributed to developing better coping mechanisms. A service learning programme offered in the community was experienced as a good contribution to the work done at the clinics and distinguished as addressing the emotional needs of the caregivers which cannot be addressed at the clinics. The findings of the study supports and expands the literature on the experiences of health service providers working with children with disabilities in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Developing and testing the congruency of selected biological indicators and an existing tool designed to assess wetland health in agricultural settings in the KZN Midlands
- Authors: Kubheka, Patrick Skhumbuzo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Wetland conservation -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Wetland management -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Wetland ecology -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Ecosystem services -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Environmental monitoring -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Water quality biological assessment -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/58310 , vital:27211
- Description: Despite the fact that wetlands have been understood to be important for a wide range of ecosystem services, wetlands continue to be degraded globally. There has been a growing need to develop biomonitoring tools that reflect the present ecological state of wetlands, but very few attempts have been made in South Africa to achieve this, and those that have attempted this have generally achieved limited success. This study was conducted to develop and test the congruency of four selected biological indicators (dragonflies, frogs, macroinveterbrates and plants) in relation to the assessment of present ecological state using an existing method in South Africa, "WET-Health". WET-Health assessments rely primarily on transformations to a wetland that result from human impacts in both the catchment and the wetland itself. Using the tool, a health score is obtained that is consistent with the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) current "present ecological state” as applied to river health assessment. The study was conducted in agricultural settings of the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal based on 13 wetlands. The selected wetlands were scored using WET - Health and grouped in four different ecological condition classes (A, B, C and D). Physical characteristics (wetland area, mean depth), biological characteristics (species cover/abundance, presence and species richness), and chemical characteristics (ammonia, pH, sulphate, nitrogen and phosphate) were also recorded in the selected wetlands. Nineteen different species of dragonfly were recorded in this study. The study demonstrated that dragonflies are a promising bioindicator of wetland present ecological state as the dragonfly index was found to be closely correlated with WET- Health scores. Open water bodies within the selected wetlands were the focus of dragonfly sampling, as male dragonflies are territorial and they will patrol or be found around this habitat. Emergent vegetation dominated by sedges formed the focus of macroinvertebrate sampling in this study because greater numbers of macroinvertebrate families were found in this biotope in comparison to open water areas with no emergent vegetation. A total of 47 macroinvertebrate families were recorded in this study, but SASS5 scores based on macroinvetebrates showed no correlation with WET-Health scores. A total of 10 different frog species were recorded in this study. All the species were common frog species found in most parts of the country. Frog species richness and occurrence showed no correlation with WET- Health scores. A total of twenty samples of two meter radius were measured per wetland and sampled for plant species and estimation of cover-abundance of each species per sample. Over 50 different plant species were recorded in this study, and both species accumulation and species richness showed a degree of correlation with WET-Health scores. All the wetlands in class A had generally higher species accumulation rate and species richness compared to the other wetland classes. In addition to testing the congruency of four selected biological indicators with WET- Health, water quality was measured in all the wetlands. Wetlands in class A were associated with improved water quality as the water passes through the wetland. However, wetlands in class C and D did not show consistently improved water quality between the apex and the toe of these wetlands. In some cases the water quality deteriorated as it passed through wetlands in these two classes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Kubheka, Patrick Skhumbuzo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Wetland conservation -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Wetland management -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Wetland ecology -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Ecosystem services -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Environmental monitoring -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Water quality biological assessment -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/58310 , vital:27211
- Description: Despite the fact that wetlands have been understood to be important for a wide range of ecosystem services, wetlands continue to be degraded globally. There has been a growing need to develop biomonitoring tools that reflect the present ecological state of wetlands, but very few attempts have been made in South Africa to achieve this, and those that have attempted this have generally achieved limited success. This study was conducted to develop and test the congruency of four selected biological indicators (dragonflies, frogs, macroinveterbrates and plants) in relation to the assessment of present ecological state using an existing method in South Africa, "WET-Health". WET-Health assessments rely primarily on transformations to a wetland that result from human impacts in both the catchment and the wetland itself. Using the tool, a health score is obtained that is consistent with the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) current "present ecological state” as applied to river health assessment. The study was conducted in agricultural settings of the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal based on 13 wetlands. The selected wetlands were scored using WET - Health and grouped in four different ecological condition classes (A, B, C and D). Physical characteristics (wetland area, mean depth), biological characteristics (species cover/abundance, presence and species richness), and chemical characteristics (ammonia, pH, sulphate, nitrogen and phosphate) were also recorded in the selected wetlands. Nineteen different species of dragonfly were recorded in this study. The study demonstrated that dragonflies are a promising bioindicator of wetland present ecological state as the dragonfly index was found to be closely correlated with WET- Health scores. Open water bodies within the selected wetlands were the focus of dragonfly sampling, as male dragonflies are territorial and they will patrol or be found around this habitat. Emergent vegetation dominated by sedges formed the focus of macroinvertebrate sampling in this study because greater numbers of macroinvertebrate families were found in this biotope in comparison to open water areas with no emergent vegetation. A total of 47 macroinvertebrate families were recorded in this study, but SASS5 scores based on macroinvetebrates showed no correlation with WET-Health scores. A total of 10 different frog species were recorded in this study. All the species were common frog species found in most parts of the country. Frog species richness and occurrence showed no correlation with WET- Health scores. A total of twenty samples of two meter radius were measured per wetland and sampled for plant species and estimation of cover-abundance of each species per sample. Over 50 different plant species were recorded in this study, and both species accumulation and species richness showed a degree of correlation with WET-Health scores. All the wetlands in class A had generally higher species accumulation rate and species richness compared to the other wetland classes. In addition to testing the congruency of four selected biological indicators with WET- Health, water quality was measured in all the wetlands. Wetlands in class A were associated with improved water quality as the water passes through the wetland. However, wetlands in class C and D did not show consistently improved water quality between the apex and the toe of these wetlands. In some cases the water quality deteriorated as it passed through wetlands in these two classes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Investigating Grade 3 learners’ changing mathematical proficiency in a maths club programme focused on number sense progression
- Authors: Hebe, Gasenakeletso Ennie
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Mathematical ability -- Testing , Education, Elementary -- South Africa , Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Activity programs , Mathematics -- Remedial teaching , South African Numeracy Chair Project (SANCP)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62200 , vital:28137
- Description: Recent international reports, for example TIMSS (2011 & 2015), point to serious challenges in South African learner performance in Mathematics and Science. Of greatest concern is that research findings (e.g. Graven, Venkat, Westaway and Tshesane 2013) suggest that many South African learners show signs of mathematical knowledge gaps in the lower grades. Hence, there is a need to address challenges of this nature very early in Foundation Phase. This study was undertaken with a view to contribute towards addressing mathematical challenges encountered by learners in Foundation Phase. This empirical enquiry was undertaken under the auspices of the South African Numeracy Chair Project (SANCP) at Rhodes University whose mission is to develop sustainable ways of improving quality teaching and learning of Mathematics in South Africa. A relatively new SANCP programme called Pushing for Progression (PfP) run as part of the after-school Maths Clubs to develop the number sense and four Operations in learners was used to achieve the research aims of this study. Research participants were drawn from the Maths Clubs established by the researcher in a small rural town of Ottosdal in the North West Province of South Africa. This Study is grounded on the Vygotskian perspective and uses the interpretivist qualitative research method for data collection and analysis. Sampling was done opportunistically by enlisting participants (12 teachers and 117 learners) on the basis of their availability and willingness to participate. Pre- and post-assessment of learners’ proficiency on the four Basic Operations was conducted at the beginning and at the end of the research project, respectively. This was done to determine the impact of the project on learner performance. Data analysis was done thematically and through the comparison of learner results of the pre- and post-assessment. The findings point to the effectiveness of the PfP Programme in learner performance. This can be deduced from improved scores between pre- and post-assessment and the observations made by participant-teachers on their respective club learners’ mathematical proficiencies. Accordingly, based on the findings, this study recommends, inter alia, that since the PfP programme is still in its early stages, similar research be conducted elsewhere. Additionally, the Department of Basic Education could consider exploring the PfP programme as one of several other strategies to help improve learner proficiency in Mathematics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Hebe, Gasenakeletso Ennie
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Mathematical ability -- Testing , Education, Elementary -- South Africa , Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Activity programs , Mathematics -- Remedial teaching , South African Numeracy Chair Project (SANCP)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62200 , vital:28137
- Description: Recent international reports, for example TIMSS (2011 & 2015), point to serious challenges in South African learner performance in Mathematics and Science. Of greatest concern is that research findings (e.g. Graven, Venkat, Westaway and Tshesane 2013) suggest that many South African learners show signs of mathematical knowledge gaps in the lower grades. Hence, there is a need to address challenges of this nature very early in Foundation Phase. This study was undertaken with a view to contribute towards addressing mathematical challenges encountered by learners in Foundation Phase. This empirical enquiry was undertaken under the auspices of the South African Numeracy Chair Project (SANCP) at Rhodes University whose mission is to develop sustainable ways of improving quality teaching and learning of Mathematics in South Africa. A relatively new SANCP programme called Pushing for Progression (PfP) run as part of the after-school Maths Clubs to develop the number sense and four Operations in learners was used to achieve the research aims of this study. Research participants were drawn from the Maths Clubs established by the researcher in a small rural town of Ottosdal in the North West Province of South Africa. This Study is grounded on the Vygotskian perspective and uses the interpretivist qualitative research method for data collection and analysis. Sampling was done opportunistically by enlisting participants (12 teachers and 117 learners) on the basis of their availability and willingness to participate. Pre- and post-assessment of learners’ proficiency on the four Basic Operations was conducted at the beginning and at the end of the research project, respectively. This was done to determine the impact of the project on learner performance. Data analysis was done thematically and through the comparison of learner results of the pre- and post-assessment. The findings point to the effectiveness of the PfP Programme in learner performance. This can be deduced from improved scores between pre- and post-assessment and the observations made by participant-teachers on their respective club learners’ mathematical proficiencies. Accordingly, based on the findings, this study recommends, inter alia, that since the PfP programme is still in its early stages, similar research be conducted elsewhere. Additionally, the Department of Basic Education could consider exploring the PfP programme as one of several other strategies to help improve learner proficiency in Mathematics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Assessing the organisational maturity level of Rhodes Music Radio with the introduction of social media
- Authors: Gavaza, Mudiwa Artwell
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Rhodes Music Radio , Rhodes Music Radio -- Marketing , Rhodes Music Radio -- Management , Community radio -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Social media -- Marketing -- South Africa -- Makhanda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6269 , vital:21076
- Description: This research seeks to evaluate the organisational maturity of Rhodes Music Radio as it relates to its use of social media. The research takes place within the context of Rhodes Music Radio (RMR) which is a community radio station operating in Grahamstown, South Africa. The station serves the Grahamstown community as a whole, with core listenership coming from the Rhodes University population. RMR has its base on the Rhodes University campus. The contribution of this study is the development of a Social Media Maturity Model which was used to assess the organisational maturity of Rhodes Music Radio with respect to its use of social media. As with other media organisations around the world, social media has become a major factor within the normal operations and functions of RMR. There is much research that has been done about the use of social media as a tool for marketing and branding in business. This tends to be the typical focus of research efforts. Though RMR makes use of social media as a marketing tool, media organisations have gone beyond this one dimensional approach in using social media. Social networking online has become a source of news and trends for organisations within the media space. For an organisation like RMR, social media is used in some way by departments such as Communication, Marketing and Branding, Production, Programming, Music, Technical; together with the presenters and producers who are hosting shows on a daily basis. Bearing the above in mind, this study aims to assess the level of maturity that RMR has as an organisation with use of social media. The goal is to find out how integrated and what systems the station has as a whole to make effective use of social media across the various departments which then helps to make a judgement on the station as a whole. This research has its literature base in the knowledge area of change management and operational excellence. Organisational maturity exists within the broad knowledge area of change management. It provides the theoretical basis upon which to gauge the maturity of RMR in relation to its social media use. Operational excellence provides a basis upon which to judge the quality of RMR’s product which speaks to how well integrated and effective the station is with its use of social media. The method of research was an evaluation that used 2 types of data, making use of both document analysis and interviews as sources of information. This information is then analysed using the Social Media Maturity Model developed specifically for this research from similar organisational maturity models used in other industries such as general management and supply chain management. This model assesses the maturity of the station by first assessing the maturity of the various departments that make up the operations of RMR and then comes up with an aggregate maturity level for the whole organisation. The conclusion of this study is that Rhodes Music Radio is quite mature in terms of its social media use but not yet fully networked. According to the model, the station is described as having a “Community” or “Linked” social media use. On the model, this is Stage 3 out of 5 in terms of maturity. Recommendations given to RMR to further increase this maturity level are for staff members more involved in the social media of the station by following the various RMR accounts and engaging with listeners and other staff members on these platforms. RMR staff need to be trained on the importance of social media and how to use it. The station needs to find a way to convert its social media following into listeners of its broadcast programming. Finally, the station needs to finalise and endorse its Social Media Policy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Gavaza, Mudiwa Artwell
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Rhodes Music Radio , Rhodes Music Radio -- Marketing , Rhodes Music Radio -- Management , Community radio -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Social media -- Marketing -- South Africa -- Makhanda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6269 , vital:21076
- Description: This research seeks to evaluate the organisational maturity of Rhodes Music Radio as it relates to its use of social media. The research takes place within the context of Rhodes Music Radio (RMR) which is a community radio station operating in Grahamstown, South Africa. The station serves the Grahamstown community as a whole, with core listenership coming from the Rhodes University population. RMR has its base on the Rhodes University campus. The contribution of this study is the development of a Social Media Maturity Model which was used to assess the organisational maturity of Rhodes Music Radio with respect to its use of social media. As with other media organisations around the world, social media has become a major factor within the normal operations and functions of RMR. There is much research that has been done about the use of social media as a tool for marketing and branding in business. This tends to be the typical focus of research efforts. Though RMR makes use of social media as a marketing tool, media organisations have gone beyond this one dimensional approach in using social media. Social networking online has become a source of news and trends for organisations within the media space. For an organisation like RMR, social media is used in some way by departments such as Communication, Marketing and Branding, Production, Programming, Music, Technical; together with the presenters and producers who are hosting shows on a daily basis. Bearing the above in mind, this study aims to assess the level of maturity that RMR has as an organisation with use of social media. The goal is to find out how integrated and what systems the station has as a whole to make effective use of social media across the various departments which then helps to make a judgement on the station as a whole. This research has its literature base in the knowledge area of change management and operational excellence. Organisational maturity exists within the broad knowledge area of change management. It provides the theoretical basis upon which to gauge the maturity of RMR in relation to its social media use. Operational excellence provides a basis upon which to judge the quality of RMR’s product which speaks to how well integrated and effective the station is with its use of social media. The method of research was an evaluation that used 2 types of data, making use of both document analysis and interviews as sources of information. This information is then analysed using the Social Media Maturity Model developed specifically for this research from similar organisational maturity models used in other industries such as general management and supply chain management. This model assesses the maturity of the station by first assessing the maturity of the various departments that make up the operations of RMR and then comes up with an aggregate maturity level for the whole organisation. The conclusion of this study is that Rhodes Music Radio is quite mature in terms of its social media use but not yet fully networked. According to the model, the station is described as having a “Community” or “Linked” social media use. On the model, this is Stage 3 out of 5 in terms of maturity. Recommendations given to RMR to further increase this maturity level are for staff members more involved in the social media of the station by following the various RMR accounts and engaging with listeners and other staff members on these platforms. RMR staff need to be trained on the importance of social media and how to use it. The station needs to find a way to convert its social media following into listeners of its broadcast programming. Finally, the station needs to finalise and endorse its Social Media Policy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Drivers of sustainability disclosure in Liberty Holdings
- Authors: Chembeya, Edina Matamba
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Liberty Holdings Limited (Firm) , Insurance companies -- South Africa -- Management , Risk management -- South Africa -- Case studies , Stakeholder management -- South Africa -- Case studies , Corporate culture -- South Africa -- Case studies , Product management -- South Africa -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5579 , vital:20943
- Description: This research assesses the drivers of sustainability disclosure in Liberty Holdings. The relevance of reporting on sustainability is growing for both listed and non-listed companies in South Africa. However, many companies many companies still coming to terms with reporting process, although others are doing exceptionally well. Liberty Holdings is one of the insurance organisations that has continuously improved their sustainability reporting and disclosure of their sustainability issues, in a sector that previously perceived such concerns as low on their agenda, due to the perception that they had a low impact on the sector. The research findings reveal that the process of sustainability disclosure in Liberty Holdings is driven by several elements that are strategically linked and are aligned to the core strategy of the organisation. The findings also indicate that in order to understand and implement viable sustainability processes, the processes must be embedded in a well-informed sustainability strategy that is aligned with this core strategy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Chembeya, Edina Matamba
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Liberty Holdings Limited (Firm) , Insurance companies -- South Africa -- Management , Risk management -- South Africa -- Case studies , Stakeholder management -- South Africa -- Case studies , Corporate culture -- South Africa -- Case studies , Product management -- South Africa -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5579 , vital:20943
- Description: This research assesses the drivers of sustainability disclosure in Liberty Holdings. The relevance of reporting on sustainability is growing for both listed and non-listed companies in South Africa. However, many companies many companies still coming to terms with reporting process, although others are doing exceptionally well. Liberty Holdings is one of the insurance organisations that has continuously improved their sustainability reporting and disclosure of their sustainability issues, in a sector that previously perceived such concerns as low on their agenda, due to the perception that they had a low impact on the sector. The research findings reveal that the process of sustainability disclosure in Liberty Holdings is driven by several elements that are strategically linked and are aligned to the core strategy of the organisation. The findings also indicate that in order to understand and implement viable sustainability processes, the processes must be embedded in a well-informed sustainability strategy that is aligned with this core strategy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The law relating to retrenchment
- Authors: Van Staden, Leon
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Employees -- Dismissal of -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Downsizing of organizations -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:11055 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/304 , Employees -- Dismissal of -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Downsizing of organizations -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa
- Description: Retrenchment, as a form of dismissal, is regulated by section 189 and 189A of the Labour Relations Act 1995. In order for a retrenchment to be fair, it must comply with both the substantive and procedural requirements stipulated in the Act. After an employee has proved the dismissal, the onus rests on the employer to comply with these two requirements by providing proof thereof. One of the most important procedural requirements that must be complied with by the employer is that the employer cannot merely make a decision to retrench. This decision may only be made once the employer, when contemplating a retrenchment, followed the lengthy consultation process as required in section 189. Recent amendments to section 189 introduced a distinction between a small and big employer and further between a large-scale and small-scale dismissal. If the employee is of the opinion that the employer did not comply with either the procedural or substantive requirements or both, he/she may refer such a dispute for conciliation and thereafter for arbitration or adjudication, according to a dispute resolution process contained in the Act, during which process certain remedies are available to the dismissed employee. The Labour Relations Act 1995 also introduced important amendments which have the effect that employees are allowed to, in certain circumstances, to strike over collective retrenchment disputes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
- Authors: Van Staden, Leon
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Employees -- Dismissal of -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Downsizing of organizations -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:11055 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/304 , Employees -- Dismissal of -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Downsizing of organizations -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa
- Description: Retrenchment, as a form of dismissal, is regulated by section 189 and 189A of the Labour Relations Act 1995. In order for a retrenchment to be fair, it must comply with both the substantive and procedural requirements stipulated in the Act. After an employee has proved the dismissal, the onus rests on the employer to comply with these two requirements by providing proof thereof. One of the most important procedural requirements that must be complied with by the employer is that the employer cannot merely make a decision to retrench. This decision may only be made once the employer, when contemplating a retrenchment, followed the lengthy consultation process as required in section 189. Recent amendments to section 189 introduced a distinction between a small and big employer and further between a large-scale and small-scale dismissal. If the employee is of the opinion that the employer did not comply with either the procedural or substantive requirements or both, he/she may refer such a dispute for conciliation and thereafter for arbitration or adjudication, according to a dispute resolution process contained in the Act, during which process certain remedies are available to the dismissed employee. The Labour Relations Act 1995 also introduced important amendments which have the effect that employees are allowed to, in certain circumstances, to strike over collective retrenchment disputes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
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