A comparative evolutionary approach to gum-feeding in Galago Moholi and Microcebus Griseorufus
- Authors: Andrews, Curswan Allan
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Zoology)
- Identifier: vital:11795 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019831
- Description: Gums are soluble plant exudates rich in complex carbohydrates. In primates, the consumption of gum (gummivory) has been described as a primitive, fall-back diet exhibited when other food sources become scarce, particularly during dry periods. In apparent support for this interpretation, gummivory is often observed in nocturnal strepsirhines (tooth-combed primates) believed to have retained many primitive features. The complex carbohydrates in gums, however, are also known to be difficult to digest, and require particular alimentary adaptations. The hypothesis of a primitive diet predicts that gummivorous strepsirhines should use homologous digestive strategies, while the presence of different digestive adaptations in different lineages would suggest convergent evolution. I compared the digestive adaptations to gummivory in two small strepsirhine taxa, African lesser bushbabies (Galago moholi) and Malagasy reddish-grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus griseorufus). Both taxa digest gum primarily by fermentation, and have enlarged caeca for this process, but only G. moholi has an ansa coli in which digestion can be continued. In captive feeding experiments, the faeces of wild-caught G. moholi and M. griseorufus showed no significant difference in their digestive efficiency of gum compared with a control food (banana), and the banana and gum samples showed no significant difference in nutrient concentration and overall composition. To gain a broader understanding of the origins of gummivory in strepsirhines, I used a phylogenetic method to reconstruct their dietary evolution. My results indicate that gummivory evolved convergently in several primate lineages, apparently in response to environmental hypervariability. I conducted biochemical analyses of the secondary compounds found in gums that are regularly consumed, and preliminary results show that Commiphora spp. have a number of compounds, while Acacia spp. show no such traces. The absence of secondary compounds from M. griseorufus faeces suggests that the animals have physiological means for either converting them into digestible products or detoxifying and excreting them in their urine. Finally, I compared the distribution patterns of G. moholi and M. griseorufus with climatic parameters; both study taxa inhabit regions in which the dry season is characterised by little to no rainfall, a drought that may persist for months. Similar climatic regions are occupied by other gum-feeders, including the marsupial gliders (Petauridae) of Australia.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Andrews, Curswan Allan
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Zoology)
- Identifier: vital:11795 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019831
- Description: Gums are soluble plant exudates rich in complex carbohydrates. In primates, the consumption of gum (gummivory) has been described as a primitive, fall-back diet exhibited when other food sources become scarce, particularly during dry periods. In apparent support for this interpretation, gummivory is often observed in nocturnal strepsirhines (tooth-combed primates) believed to have retained many primitive features. The complex carbohydrates in gums, however, are also known to be difficult to digest, and require particular alimentary adaptations. The hypothesis of a primitive diet predicts that gummivorous strepsirhines should use homologous digestive strategies, while the presence of different digestive adaptations in different lineages would suggest convergent evolution. I compared the digestive adaptations to gummivory in two small strepsirhine taxa, African lesser bushbabies (Galago moholi) and Malagasy reddish-grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus griseorufus). Both taxa digest gum primarily by fermentation, and have enlarged caeca for this process, but only G. moholi has an ansa coli in which digestion can be continued. In captive feeding experiments, the faeces of wild-caught G. moholi and M. griseorufus showed no significant difference in their digestive efficiency of gum compared with a control food (banana), and the banana and gum samples showed no significant difference in nutrient concentration and overall composition. To gain a broader understanding of the origins of gummivory in strepsirhines, I used a phylogenetic method to reconstruct their dietary evolution. My results indicate that gummivory evolved convergently in several primate lineages, apparently in response to environmental hypervariability. I conducted biochemical analyses of the secondary compounds found in gums that are regularly consumed, and preliminary results show that Commiphora spp. have a number of compounds, while Acacia spp. show no such traces. The absence of secondary compounds from M. griseorufus faeces suggests that the animals have physiological means for either converting them into digestible products or detoxifying and excreting them in their urine. Finally, I compared the distribution patterns of G. moholi and M. griseorufus with climatic parameters; both study taxa inhabit regions in which the dry season is characterised by little to no rainfall, a drought that may persist for months. Similar climatic regions are occupied by other gum-feeders, including the marsupial gliders (Petauridae) of Australia.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
A critical analysis of the isiXhosa translation of Chinua Achebe’s ‘things fall apart’ with specific reference to the translation of cultural phenomena
- Authors: Mbatyoti, Pheliwe Yvonne
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA (African Languages)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/701 , vital:26489
- Description: Chapter one deals with the aims, objectives, methodology and the structured organisation of the study. Chapter two discusses theories of translation and literature review to supply the necessary theoretical basis of the current study. Chapter three deals with the translation of linguistic concepts using strategies that were applied by Bongela (1993) in the translation of linguistic concepts. Idioms, proverbs, figurative language, symbolism and imagery will be analyzed in this chapter. The extent to which these concepts were translated literally, or were adapted into more familiar IsiXhosa forms, will be analysed. Chapter four critically analyses Igbo cultural practices and norms as found in “Things fall apart”. These will be compared with the amaXhosa cultural practices and analysed using the strategies of translation. The extent, to which these practices have been adapted in order to make them more accessible to the Xhosa reader, will form the main focus of the analysis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Mbatyoti, Pheliwe Yvonne
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA (African Languages)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/701 , vital:26489
- Description: Chapter one deals with the aims, objectives, methodology and the structured organisation of the study. Chapter two discusses theories of translation and literature review to supply the necessary theoretical basis of the current study. Chapter three deals with the translation of linguistic concepts using strategies that were applied by Bongela (1993) in the translation of linguistic concepts. Idioms, proverbs, figurative language, symbolism and imagery will be analyzed in this chapter. The extent to which these concepts were translated literally, or were adapted into more familiar IsiXhosa forms, will be analysed. Chapter four critically analyses Igbo cultural practices and norms as found in “Things fall apart”. These will be compared with the amaXhosa cultural practices and analysed using the strategies of translation. The extent, to which these practices have been adapted in order to make them more accessible to the Xhosa reader, will form the main focus of the analysis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Assessment of the impact of the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme on the lives and livelihoods of beneficiaries (2001-2011): the case of the Eastern Cape Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Mhlekude, Ntombizabantu
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11691 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1014676
- Description: This study is centred on the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme (MURP) and how it has been implemented in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) since inception. The inquiry covers the ten years (20012011) during which the Urban Renewal Programme (URP) was piloted in South Africa. This research evaluates the impact of the MURP on the lives and the livelihoods of beneficiaries (Mdantsane residents). Their perceptions and experiences are thus fundamental to determine the extent to which their lives have been affected through the implementation of the MURP. The areas explored through this research are social, economic, physical and community wellbeing of the Mdantsane residents. The study reviews the opinions and views of the various stakeholders and beneficiaries affected by the MURP and based on these, draws some conclusions and provides recommendations on what could possibly be done by the gBCMM in its implementation of the MURP.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mhlekude, Ntombizabantu
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11691 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1014676
- Description: This study is centred on the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme (MURP) and how it has been implemented in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) since inception. The inquiry covers the ten years (20012011) during which the Urban Renewal Programme (URP) was piloted in South Africa. This research evaluates the impact of the MURP on the lives and the livelihoods of beneficiaries (Mdantsane residents). Their perceptions and experiences are thus fundamental to determine the extent to which their lives have been affected through the implementation of the MURP. The areas explored through this research are social, economic, physical and community wellbeing of the Mdantsane residents. The study reviews the opinions and views of the various stakeholders and beneficiaries affected by the MURP and based on these, draws some conclusions and provides recommendations on what could possibly be done by the gBCMM in its implementation of the MURP.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Experiences of HIV and AIDS patients and families regarding palliative care in an urban care centre in Buffalo City
- Authors: Bunt, Helen
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Palliative care -- HIV/AIDS , Patients and families experiences
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11904 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006814 , Palliative care -- HIV/AIDS , Patients and families experiences
- Description: The South African Constitution (South Africa, 1996) states that access to healthcare services is a basic human right. The Patients’ Rights Charter (HPCSA, 2008: 6) stipulates that the provision for “special needs in the case of persons living with HIV or AIDS” and palliative care be “affordable and effective”. The need for palliative care in South Africa today continues to increase. Khan and Sayed 2011[2]) found that five years after commencement of anti-retrovirals, twenty five percent of their patients had passed away. This study was performed in the Eastern Cape which is one of the poorest provinces with the second highest HIV prevalence rate. Since 2008, Sophumelela Centre Incorporated has offered palliative care for HIV and AIDS patients in Buffalo City. Some of these patients and their families were interviewed about their experiences in this care centre. The South African Constitution (South Africa, 1996) states that access to healthcare services is a basic human right. The Patients’ Rights Charter (HPCSA, 2008: 6) stipulates that the provision for “special needs in the case of persons living with HIV or AIDS” and palliative care be “affordable and effective”. The need for palliative care in South Africa today continues to increase. Khan and Sayed (2011[2]) found that five years after commencement of anti-retrovirals, twenty five percent of their patients had passed away. This study was performed in the Eastern Cape which is one of the poorest provinces with the second highest HIV prevalence rate. Since 2008, Sophumelela Centre Incorporated has offered palliative care for HIV and AIDS patients in Buffalo City. Some of these patients and their families were interviewed about their experiences in this care centre.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Bunt, Helen
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Palliative care -- HIV/AIDS , Patients and families experiences
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11904 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006814 , Palliative care -- HIV/AIDS , Patients and families experiences
- Description: The South African Constitution (South Africa, 1996) states that access to healthcare services is a basic human right. The Patients’ Rights Charter (HPCSA, 2008: 6) stipulates that the provision for “special needs in the case of persons living with HIV or AIDS” and palliative care be “affordable and effective”. The need for palliative care in South Africa today continues to increase. Khan and Sayed 2011[2]) found that five years after commencement of anti-retrovirals, twenty five percent of their patients had passed away. This study was performed in the Eastern Cape which is one of the poorest provinces with the second highest HIV prevalence rate. Since 2008, Sophumelela Centre Incorporated has offered palliative care for HIV and AIDS patients in Buffalo City. Some of these patients and their families were interviewed about their experiences in this care centre. The South African Constitution (South Africa, 1996) states that access to healthcare services is a basic human right. The Patients’ Rights Charter (HPCSA, 2008: 6) stipulates that the provision for “special needs in the case of persons living with HIV or AIDS” and palliative care be “affordable and effective”. The need for palliative care in South Africa today continues to increase. Khan and Sayed (2011[2]) found that five years after commencement of anti-retrovirals, twenty five percent of their patients had passed away. This study was performed in the Eastern Cape which is one of the poorest provinces with the second highest HIV prevalence rate. Since 2008, Sophumelela Centre Incorporated has offered palliative care for HIV and AIDS patients in Buffalo City. Some of these patients and their families were interviewed about their experiences in this care centre.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Time budgets, blood urea content, total protein and body condition scores as adaptive responses to seasonal dynamics by breeding Nguni cows and heifers reared on a sweetveld
- Authors: Mapfumo, Lizwell
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Nguni cattle -- South Africa , Cattle -- Feed utilization efficiency -- South Africa , Beef -- Quality -- South Africa , Slaughtering and slaughter-houses -- South Africa , Cattle -- Breeding -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11826 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015738 , Nguni cattle -- South Africa , Cattle -- Feed utilization efficiency -- South Africa , Beef -- Quality -- South Africa , Slaughtering and slaughter-houses -- South Africa , Cattle -- Breeding -- South Africa
- Description: The objective of this study was to determine time budgets, blood urea content, total protein and body condition score as adaptive responses to seasonal dynamics by breeding Nguni cows and heifers reared on a sweetveld. Twenty four clinically healthy Nguni cows and heifers were selected for the study. The animals were grouped according to their parities namely: Parity 1 (n=5), Parity 2 (n=5), Parity 3-6 (old cows) (n=9) and in-calf heifers (n=5). Two separate experiments were conducted and running concurrently. In the first experiment time budgets (time spent walking, grazing, lying down, drinking water and browsing) of the cows and heifers were monitored for two consecutive days once a month, while in the second experiment blood samples were collected from the coccygeal vein once a month during weighing. Body condition scores were also determined during weighing times. Heifers maintained significantly (p0.05) of both blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (7.5±0.39 mmol/l) and TP (80.7±1.19 g/l) in November. All the animals had the least BUN levels in January (1.93±0.18 mmol/l) while the highest total protein (TP) (82.1±1.08 g/l) was recorded in February. All the animals showed distinct (p0.05) in most behavioural attributes in the cool-wet season. Heifers spent significantly (p0.05) body condition scores, amount of time spent browsing and drinking water. On the other hand, heifers (14.7±1.50%) and first parity cows (13.9±1.50%) traded-off most (p<0,05) of their time walking during the cool-dry season. Similarly heifers spent more time browsing (6.4±0.62%) forage plants (p<0.05) than all the cows during the cool-wet season. Grazing (r = 0.17) and standing (r = -0.18) were correlated (p<0.05) with all the behavioural attributes measured in this environment. It was concluded that seasonal dynamics in trade-off behaviour through time budgeting, maintenance of BUN and TP were necessary for the Nguni cows and heifers to maintain their body condition scores within a narrow range throughout the four seasons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mapfumo, Lizwell
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Nguni cattle -- South Africa , Cattle -- Feed utilization efficiency -- South Africa , Beef -- Quality -- South Africa , Slaughtering and slaughter-houses -- South Africa , Cattle -- Breeding -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11826 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015738 , Nguni cattle -- South Africa , Cattle -- Feed utilization efficiency -- South Africa , Beef -- Quality -- South Africa , Slaughtering and slaughter-houses -- South Africa , Cattle -- Breeding -- South Africa
- Description: The objective of this study was to determine time budgets, blood urea content, total protein and body condition score as adaptive responses to seasonal dynamics by breeding Nguni cows and heifers reared on a sweetveld. Twenty four clinically healthy Nguni cows and heifers were selected for the study. The animals were grouped according to their parities namely: Parity 1 (n=5), Parity 2 (n=5), Parity 3-6 (old cows) (n=9) and in-calf heifers (n=5). Two separate experiments were conducted and running concurrently. In the first experiment time budgets (time spent walking, grazing, lying down, drinking water and browsing) of the cows and heifers were monitored for two consecutive days once a month, while in the second experiment blood samples were collected from the coccygeal vein once a month during weighing. Body condition scores were also determined during weighing times. Heifers maintained significantly (p0.05) of both blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (7.5±0.39 mmol/l) and TP (80.7±1.19 g/l) in November. All the animals had the least BUN levels in January (1.93±0.18 mmol/l) while the highest total protein (TP) (82.1±1.08 g/l) was recorded in February. All the animals showed distinct (p0.05) in most behavioural attributes in the cool-wet season. Heifers spent significantly (p0.05) body condition scores, amount of time spent browsing and drinking water. On the other hand, heifers (14.7±1.50%) and first parity cows (13.9±1.50%) traded-off most (p<0,05) of their time walking during the cool-dry season. Similarly heifers spent more time browsing (6.4±0.62%) forage plants (p<0.05) than all the cows during the cool-wet season. Grazing (r = 0.17) and standing (r = -0.18) were correlated (p<0.05) with all the behavioural attributes measured in this environment. It was concluded that seasonal dynamics in trade-off behaviour through time budgeting, maintenance of BUN and TP were necessary for the Nguni cows and heifers to maintain their body condition scores within a narrow range throughout the four seasons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Environmental politics: the case of the Xolobeni Mining Project in Mbizana, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Sibane, Nomsa Virginia
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Environmental protection -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Environmental policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mining law -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Minerals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Conflict management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil (Environmental Studies)
- Identifier: vital:11880 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007574 , Environmental protection -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Environmental policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mining law -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Minerals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Conflict management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This research explored the nature of conflict that arose in Xolobeni, a small area in the Mbizana Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, and the environmental politics emanating from the arguments that supported development rather than environmental protection. The proposed mining project was known as the Xolobeni mining development project within the Amadiba Tribal Authority, an area dominated by Pondos or (Mpondos). The Xolobeni area is located between the Mzamba and Mtentu Rivers, covering some 2 867 hectares, and extends for 20km along the coast of the Mbizana Local Municipality, in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality. In 2005, the Minister of the National Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), now known as the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources, announced that an Australian company, Transworld Energy and Minerals (TEM) will establish a mining development project in Xolobeni to mine red sand dunes which are contained within five blocks, each named after the river at its southern boundary. These blocks were Mtentu, Sikombe, Kwanyana, Mnyameni and Mphalane. According to the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (Act 28 of 2002), the Department of Minerals and Energy is the sole custodian of the mining licence and therefore the only Department that issues mining licences. The research investigated the nature of conflict that erupted in Xolobeni after this announcement, resulting in the formation of two groups namely, the Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC) which represented the communities who were against the mining project in the area and the Xolobeni Local Community (Xolco) which was a Black Economic Empowerment company that represented the communities that supported the mining project and was to receive 26 percent of the proceeds from the mining company. The purpose of the Amadiba Crisis Committee was to channel complaints and grievances of local residents emanating from the mining development project and other development to all relevant authorities so that the Constitutional rights of residents can be respected. The research also investigated the role of each stakeholder in the proposed mining project, namely, local communities in the area, environmentalists, councillors, the National Department of Minerals and Energy, the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs (DEDEA), the traditional authority and the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Economic Development and Environmental Affairs. Central to this research was the level of consultation during the proposed mining project. Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies were used to collect data in Xolobeni. Interviews were conducted with the two opposing groups and other various stakeholders including the chieftaincy, environmentalists, councillors and officials in the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs (DEDEA). The researcher used questionnaires in order to get the views of the targeted participants. Eighty questionnaires were distributed among the targeted participants but only forty five were returned. Some of the participants were reluctant to participate in this study because the mining project had not taken place. Secondary data from the Departments of Environment of Affairs nationally and provincially revealed that the Department of Minerals and Energy through its Minister, Bulelwa Sonjica, awarded the mining licence despite recommendations of both Departments not to do so. The Minister of the new Department of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, withdrew the licence and gave three months to Transworld Energy and Minerals to address the outstanding issues raised in the environmental impact assessment (EIA). The data collected revealed that the proposed mining project affected all communities in the Amadiba Tribal Administrative area. The research also illustrated how the Xolobeni community organised themselves and protested against development that intended to force them to relocate from their ancestral land without proper consultation. Issues of sustainable development and environmental protection also formed part of the discussions in this research. While the mining project had stalled, it emerged that the majority of respondents in the area did not want the mining project to proceed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Sibane, Nomsa Virginia
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Environmental protection -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Environmental policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mining law -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Minerals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Conflict management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil (Environmental Studies)
- Identifier: vital:11880 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007574 , Environmental protection -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Environmental policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mining law -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Minerals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Conflict management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This research explored the nature of conflict that arose in Xolobeni, a small area in the Mbizana Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, and the environmental politics emanating from the arguments that supported development rather than environmental protection. The proposed mining project was known as the Xolobeni mining development project within the Amadiba Tribal Authority, an area dominated by Pondos or (Mpondos). The Xolobeni area is located between the Mzamba and Mtentu Rivers, covering some 2 867 hectares, and extends for 20km along the coast of the Mbizana Local Municipality, in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality. In 2005, the Minister of the National Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), now known as the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources, announced that an Australian company, Transworld Energy and Minerals (TEM) will establish a mining development project in Xolobeni to mine red sand dunes which are contained within five blocks, each named after the river at its southern boundary. These blocks were Mtentu, Sikombe, Kwanyana, Mnyameni and Mphalane. According to the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (Act 28 of 2002), the Department of Minerals and Energy is the sole custodian of the mining licence and therefore the only Department that issues mining licences. The research investigated the nature of conflict that erupted in Xolobeni after this announcement, resulting in the formation of two groups namely, the Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC) which represented the communities who were against the mining project in the area and the Xolobeni Local Community (Xolco) which was a Black Economic Empowerment company that represented the communities that supported the mining project and was to receive 26 percent of the proceeds from the mining company. The purpose of the Amadiba Crisis Committee was to channel complaints and grievances of local residents emanating from the mining development project and other development to all relevant authorities so that the Constitutional rights of residents can be respected. The research also investigated the role of each stakeholder in the proposed mining project, namely, local communities in the area, environmentalists, councillors, the National Department of Minerals and Energy, the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs (DEDEA), the traditional authority and the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Economic Development and Environmental Affairs. Central to this research was the level of consultation during the proposed mining project. Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies were used to collect data in Xolobeni. Interviews were conducted with the two opposing groups and other various stakeholders including the chieftaincy, environmentalists, councillors and officials in the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs (DEDEA). The researcher used questionnaires in order to get the views of the targeted participants. Eighty questionnaires were distributed among the targeted participants but only forty five were returned. Some of the participants were reluctant to participate in this study because the mining project had not taken place. Secondary data from the Departments of Environment of Affairs nationally and provincially revealed that the Department of Minerals and Energy through its Minister, Bulelwa Sonjica, awarded the mining licence despite recommendations of both Departments not to do so. The Minister of the new Department of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, withdrew the licence and gave three months to Transworld Energy and Minerals to address the outstanding issues raised in the environmental impact assessment (EIA). The data collected revealed that the proposed mining project affected all communities in the Amadiba Tribal Administrative area. The research also illustrated how the Xolobeni community organised themselves and protested against development that intended to force them to relocate from their ancestral land without proper consultation. Issues of sustainable development and environmental protection also formed part of the discussions in this research. While the mining project had stalled, it emerged that the majority of respondents in the area did not want the mining project to proceed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Perceived organisational support (POS), Job engagement (JE) and their effect on organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) among nurses at the Victoria Hospital, Alice, Nkonkobe Municipality
- Authors: Dumisani, Mathumbu
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Perceived Organization Support , Job Engagement , Organizational Citizenship Behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: vital:11552 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007032 , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Perceived Organization Support , Job Engagement , Organizational Citizenship Behavior
- Description: Wendel (1994, p. 91) defined perceived organizational support (POS) as “organization support in terms of all things that relate to assistance and relationships amongst working peers and colleagues, which involve the feeling of need between superiors and subordinates . Rothbard (2001, p. 656) in defining job engagement (JE) listed two components which he thought were critical for its effectiveness on organizational functioning: (i) attention and (ii) absorption, with the former referring to “cognitive ability and the amount of time one spends thinking about the role”, while the latter “means being engrossed in a role and means the intensity of one’s focus on a role”. Organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) was first introduced by Organ in the 1980s and he defined the concept of organizational citizenship behavior “as discretionary behaviors by individuals (employees) that do not form part of formal requirements of a job, but are necessary and promote effective functioning of the organization (Organ, 1988)”. The objective of study was to explore the relationship between perceived organizational support and job engagement and their effect organizational citizenship behavior. Other relationships that were tested were first, the direct relationship between POS JE. Secondly, the combined effect of POS and JE on OCB. The study was conducted amongst nurses at Victoria hospital, in Alice within the Nkonkobe district municipality. The results showed a significant relationship between JE and OCB, whilst the relationship between POS and OCB was not accepted. The results for the other two hypotheses that were tested; (i) relationship between POS and JE, (ii) combined effect of POS and JE on OCB also showed that they were not accepted. The consistency scores for these variables were of international level (n=106). The Pearson correlation coefficients were used for hypothesis testing.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Dumisani, Mathumbu
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Perceived Organization Support , Job Engagement , Organizational Citizenship Behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: vital:11552 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007032 , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Perceived Organization Support , Job Engagement , Organizational Citizenship Behavior
- Description: Wendel (1994, p. 91) defined perceived organizational support (POS) as “organization support in terms of all things that relate to assistance and relationships amongst working peers and colleagues, which involve the feeling of need between superiors and subordinates . Rothbard (2001, p. 656) in defining job engagement (JE) listed two components which he thought were critical for its effectiveness on organizational functioning: (i) attention and (ii) absorption, with the former referring to “cognitive ability and the amount of time one spends thinking about the role”, while the latter “means being engrossed in a role and means the intensity of one’s focus on a role”. Organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) was first introduced by Organ in the 1980s and he defined the concept of organizational citizenship behavior “as discretionary behaviors by individuals (employees) that do not form part of formal requirements of a job, but are necessary and promote effective functioning of the organization (Organ, 1988)”. The objective of study was to explore the relationship between perceived organizational support and job engagement and their effect organizational citizenship behavior. Other relationships that were tested were first, the direct relationship between POS JE. Secondly, the combined effect of POS and JE on OCB. The study was conducted amongst nurses at Victoria hospital, in Alice within the Nkonkobe district municipality. The results showed a significant relationship between JE and OCB, whilst the relationship between POS and OCB was not accepted. The results for the other two hypotheses that were tested; (i) relationship between POS and JE, (ii) combined effect of POS and JE on OCB also showed that they were not accepted. The consistency scores for these variables were of international level (n=106). The Pearson correlation coefficients were used for hypothesis testing.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Cultural and linguistic localization of the virtual shop owner interfaces of e commerce platforms for rural development
- Authors: Dyakalashe, Siyabulela
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: User interfaces (Computer systems) , Electronic commerce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Computer architecture -- Design and construction
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11379 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/276 , User interfaces (Computer systems) , Electronic commerce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Computer architecture -- Design and construction
- Description: The introduction of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for rural development in rural marginalized societies is vastly growing. However, the success of developing and deploying ICT related services is still in question as influential factors such as adaptability, scalability, sustainability, and usability have great effect on the rate of growth of ICTs in rural environments. The problem is that these ICT services should be maintained and sustained by the targeted communities. The main cause for rural marginalization is the fact that some communities situated in rural settings are educationally challenged and computer illiterate or semiliterate in comparison with urban communities. An ICT for development (ICT4D) intervention in the form of an e-Commerce platform that targets the social and economic growth of rural marginalized communities has been developed and field tested at Dwesa, a rural community located on the Wild Coast of the former homeland of Transkei in the Eastern Cape Province. The e-Commerce platform is known as “buy at Dwesa” and can be visited at this URL, http://www.dwesa.com. The aim of the e-Commerce platform is to motivate small entrepreneurs in rural areas to market their products and themselves to the global market as they lack the skills and resources for marketing their art and crafts. Virtual stores are created for a small group of entrepreneurs who will maintain and sustain the stores on their own. These entrepreneurs are often elderly women with limited education and little to no computer literacy - meaning that sustaining the stores may prove difficult for them. In this research we discuss the re-design and re-development of the virtual shop-owner interfaces of the e-Commerce platform to make them more culturally and linguistically localized. The virtual shops allow shop-owners to upload their artifacts to advertise and sell on the customer’s end of the e-Commerce platform. For multilingual and multicultural communities, adoption of the software interfaces to the user’s cultural and linguistic needs and modes of expression is important as failure to do so may reduce the level of benefits of e-Commerce initiatives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Dyakalashe, Siyabulela
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: User interfaces (Computer systems) , Electronic commerce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Computer architecture -- Design and construction
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11379 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/276 , User interfaces (Computer systems) , Electronic commerce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Computer architecture -- Design and construction
- Description: The introduction of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for rural development in rural marginalized societies is vastly growing. However, the success of developing and deploying ICT related services is still in question as influential factors such as adaptability, scalability, sustainability, and usability have great effect on the rate of growth of ICTs in rural environments. The problem is that these ICT services should be maintained and sustained by the targeted communities. The main cause for rural marginalization is the fact that some communities situated in rural settings are educationally challenged and computer illiterate or semiliterate in comparison with urban communities. An ICT for development (ICT4D) intervention in the form of an e-Commerce platform that targets the social and economic growth of rural marginalized communities has been developed and field tested at Dwesa, a rural community located on the Wild Coast of the former homeland of Transkei in the Eastern Cape Province. The e-Commerce platform is known as “buy at Dwesa” and can be visited at this URL, http://www.dwesa.com. The aim of the e-Commerce platform is to motivate small entrepreneurs in rural areas to market their products and themselves to the global market as they lack the skills and resources for marketing their art and crafts. Virtual stores are created for a small group of entrepreneurs who will maintain and sustain the stores on their own. These entrepreneurs are often elderly women with limited education and little to no computer literacy - meaning that sustaining the stores may prove difficult for them. In this research we discuss the re-design and re-development of the virtual shop-owner interfaces of the e-Commerce platform to make them more culturally and linguistically localized. The virtual shops allow shop-owners to upload their artifacts to advertise and sell on the customer’s end of the e-Commerce platform. For multilingual and multicultural communities, adoption of the software interfaces to the user’s cultural and linguistic needs and modes of expression is important as failure to do so may reduce the level of benefits of e-Commerce initiatives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Evaluation of the effect of Pelargonium reniforme Curtis extract on alcohol induced liver damage in Nkonkobe Municipality Eastern Cape Province South Africa
- Authors: Adewusi, Emmanuel Adekanmi
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Plants -- Therapeutic use , Alcoholism -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hepatolenticular degeneration , Pelargoniums , Plant extracts , Plant bioassay , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Ethnobotany)
- Identifier: vital:11883 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/263 , Plants -- Therapeutic use , Alcoholism -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hepatolenticular degeneration , Pelargoniums , Plant extracts , Plant bioassay , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Alcohol abuse is a very common practice (just like in many other parts of the world) in Nkonkobe Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This is associated with liver disease. An ethnobotanical survey of plants used for the treatment of alcohol-induced liver damage in Nkonkobe Municipality was conducted. During the survey and also from information gathered in the literature, Pelargonium reniforme Curtis, was prominently mentioned, among other plants, as the species used generally for the treatment of alcohol-induced liver damage. This project was designed to evaluate the effects of the plant on alcohol-induced liver damage, including its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. It also involves safety evaluation studies to determine if the plant is safe for consumption. Studies using rats of the Wistar strain were carried out to determine the protective and curative effects of P. reniforme on alcohol-induced liver damage. Results obtained showed that the plant extract can protect the liver cells as well as enhance recovery from tissue damage. The plant also showed good antimicrobial and antioxidant activity and this further validates its use in the treatment of liver diseases. Safety evaluation studies of the extract were carried out by investigating the effects of the oral administration on some haematological and biochemical parameters in male Wistar rats. The results obtained from the study suggest that the plant extract is not toxic at the doses used and is therefore safe for medicinal uses. The results of the various bioassays carried out in this project have justified the traditional uses of P. reniforme for the treatment of alcohol-induced liver damage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Adewusi, Emmanuel Adekanmi
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Plants -- Therapeutic use , Alcoholism -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hepatolenticular degeneration , Pelargoniums , Plant extracts , Plant bioassay , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Ethnobotany)
- Identifier: vital:11883 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/263 , Plants -- Therapeutic use , Alcoholism -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hepatolenticular degeneration , Pelargoniums , Plant extracts , Plant bioassay , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Alcohol abuse is a very common practice (just like in many other parts of the world) in Nkonkobe Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This is associated with liver disease. An ethnobotanical survey of plants used for the treatment of alcohol-induced liver damage in Nkonkobe Municipality was conducted. During the survey and also from information gathered in the literature, Pelargonium reniforme Curtis, was prominently mentioned, among other plants, as the species used generally for the treatment of alcohol-induced liver damage. This project was designed to evaluate the effects of the plant on alcohol-induced liver damage, including its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. It also involves safety evaluation studies to determine if the plant is safe for consumption. Studies using rats of the Wistar strain were carried out to determine the protective and curative effects of P. reniforme on alcohol-induced liver damage. Results obtained showed that the plant extract can protect the liver cells as well as enhance recovery from tissue damage. The plant also showed good antimicrobial and antioxidant activity and this further validates its use in the treatment of liver diseases. Safety evaluation studies of the extract were carried out by investigating the effects of the oral administration on some haematological and biochemical parameters in male Wistar rats. The results obtained from the study suggest that the plant extract is not toxic at the doses used and is therefore safe for medicinal uses. The results of the various bioassays carried out in this project have justified the traditional uses of P. reniforme for the treatment of alcohol-induced liver damage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An investigation into the impact of performance management and development system on service delivery in the Eastern Cape: a case of the three Buffalo City hospitals
- Authors: Davashe, Cikizwa
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Performance -- Evaluation , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Administration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11414 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/307 , Performance -- Evaluation , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Administration
- Description: In the Eastern Cape Department of Health the performance management and development system progress reviews are performed in a summative manner. This happens when a supervisor leaves out all the other progress reviews and conducts a final progress assessment and monitoring at the end of the year. It is worse when the performance agreements are not even signed during the start of a financial year, neither does a newly qualified employee sign. As a result employees are not appraised because there are no progress reviews that are entered on the Persal system. Employees miss an opportunity to be sent for training at the same time they are rewarded late or not at all. It is obvious that the managers do not understand the aims and objectives of the PMDS policy. The research was an assessment of the effectiveness of the performance management and development system in inculcating professional behaviour in the nursing staff in the three Buffalo City hospitals, namely, East London Hospital Complex, Grey and Bisho hospital. The aspects of the policy investigated were the performance reviews, the competency framework and the performance incentive scheme. This research is qualitative in nature. Data was collected using unstructured interviews and open ended questions. The population of this study involved selected Performance Management Managers, Quality Assurance Manager, Area Managers, junior nurses and clerks working in the Buffalo City Hospitals. The respondents of the study were selected using the stratified random sampling technique. Descriptive methods were used to analyse data. Confidentiality was highly maintained and consent form even distributed from the start of the research. The three Buffalo City hospitals are practising a balanced scorecard as a performance measurement tool. It is in the form of workplans that are different for different levels of employees such as the performance workplans, standard framework workplan and individual workplans. ix The study discovered that there is poor compliance in performing the performance reviews. The attention is on the appraisal aspect more than the development aspect. Also, there is a delay in taking the employees for training as a result they end up not being trained. The employees are not rewarded according to their performance. The PMDS policy states that employees that get a score of three are entitled to get a one percent and those that are rated a four or a five qualify for a performance bonus. The study found that the PMDS policy is not implemented well. It is recommended that the performance management manager and the quality assurance manager need to apply a radical strategic transformation and change management to address the challenges.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Davashe, Cikizwa
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Performance -- Evaluation , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Administration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11414 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/307 , Performance -- Evaluation , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Administration
- Description: In the Eastern Cape Department of Health the performance management and development system progress reviews are performed in a summative manner. This happens when a supervisor leaves out all the other progress reviews and conducts a final progress assessment and monitoring at the end of the year. It is worse when the performance agreements are not even signed during the start of a financial year, neither does a newly qualified employee sign. As a result employees are not appraised because there are no progress reviews that are entered on the Persal system. Employees miss an opportunity to be sent for training at the same time they are rewarded late or not at all. It is obvious that the managers do not understand the aims and objectives of the PMDS policy. The research was an assessment of the effectiveness of the performance management and development system in inculcating professional behaviour in the nursing staff in the three Buffalo City hospitals, namely, East London Hospital Complex, Grey and Bisho hospital. The aspects of the policy investigated were the performance reviews, the competency framework and the performance incentive scheme. This research is qualitative in nature. Data was collected using unstructured interviews and open ended questions. The population of this study involved selected Performance Management Managers, Quality Assurance Manager, Area Managers, junior nurses and clerks working in the Buffalo City Hospitals. The respondents of the study were selected using the stratified random sampling technique. Descriptive methods were used to analyse data. Confidentiality was highly maintained and consent form even distributed from the start of the research. The three Buffalo City hospitals are practising a balanced scorecard as a performance measurement tool. It is in the form of workplans that are different for different levels of employees such as the performance workplans, standard framework workplan and individual workplans. ix The study discovered that there is poor compliance in performing the performance reviews. The attention is on the appraisal aspect more than the development aspect. Also, there is a delay in taking the employees for training as a result they end up not being trained. The employees are not rewarded according to their performance. The PMDS policy states that employees that get a score of three are entitled to get a one percent and those that are rated a four or a five qualify for a performance bonus. The study found that the PMDS policy is not implemented well. It is recommended that the performance management manager and the quality assurance manager need to apply a radical strategic transformation and change management to address the challenges.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
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