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Job characteristics and organisational citizenship behaviour among employees in a previously disadvantaged South African university

  • Authors: Yawethe, Thozama
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Organizational behavior
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Industrial Psychology)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18952 , vital:43002
  • Description: This study examined job characteristics and organisational citizenship behaviour among employees in a previously disadvantaged South African University. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 149 randomly selected participants. A 5-point Likert scale job characteristics survey by Hackman and Oldham (1975) was used to measure job characteristics while, a 5-point Likert scale by Lee and Allen (2002) on organisational citizenship behaviour was used to measure employee’s organisational citizenship behaviour. Different statistical techniques such as Spearman rho correlation technique and Regression analysis were used to analyse data. The results showed that task significance, skills variety, autonomy and feedback are significantly positively related to organisational citizenship behaviour. There was a non-significant negative relationship between task identity and organisational citizenship behaviour. A combination of two or more job characteristics dimensions were found to report a higher proportion of variance in organisational citizenship behaviour than any one job characteristic separately. The study, thus, recommends that managers must design employees’ jobs or tasks that are more meaningful to stimulate the display of organisational citizenship behaviour. Initiatives that stimulate the use of a variety of skills, promotes feedback, promote task significance and autonomy were suggested as solutions to stimulate the display of OCB. The prevalence of such dimensions on one’s job increase motivation and satisfaction therefore contributing positively towards organisational citizenship behaviour.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

The impact of mergers and acquisitions on employee well-being in the beverage industry: The CCBSA coastal region case

  • Authors: Belle, Isabel
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Employees health promotion -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Beverage industry -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49751 , vital:41796
  • Description: Globalisation, technological advancement and currency regulations are key motivators for companies to invest in foreign countries. As new entrants enter the market companies are faced with the threat of market share loss due to increased competition. The increase in the global competitive landscape has a direct impact on the rise of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A). The growth potential of companies that experienced mergers has resulted in the boom of M&A over the past three decades. In most cases M&A have resulted in job losses and in some demotions. It is no surprise that these transactions result in an anxious and stressed workforce. The merger of the three soft drink bottlers in South Africa namely: CCF, Shanduka and ABI has brought about changes that have left some employees feeling anxious about the future. The combining of different cultures from the different entities can have a negative effect on employees as they would need to adapt to a different culture of the new formed entity. M&A were first introduced in the United States during the eighteenth century and moved into Europe in the nineteenth century. A large body of research has been concentrated in the United States and European markets to understand phenomena relating to such activities in developed countries. M&A activities have also transcended into developing countries. Over the past few years M&A transactions have become a critical gateway for investment in Africa for both local and universal market players. The aim of the study is to understand the employees’ state of mind in the workplace after the merger. The results of the study show that employee morale prior to the merger was higher when compared to post the merger, which implies that employee morale has declined post the merger. The results indicate that after the merger there was a significant decrease in trust, motivation, employee well-being and job satisfaction.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Upwelling on the Southeast Madagascan shelf: frequency, extent, and driving mechanisms

  • Authors: Collins, Matthew
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Upwelling (Oceanography) -- Madagascar , Oceanography -- Research -- Madagascar Marine biology -- Indian Ocean
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49060 , vital:41597
  • Description: The southeast coast of Madagascar, namely the region surrounding the town of Fort Dauphin, is an area that regularly experiences upwelling events. Two unique high frequency data sets, UTR data, and wind data retrieved from a nearby airport, are the primary data sets used to investigate the nature of the upwelling, i.e. the area that experiences upwelling, how often it occurs, and its mechanisms. To complement the in-situ data, several different satellite data sources are used alongside the in-situ data to study this relatively remote region, i.e. SST, chlorophyll-a concentration, current, and wind data. The results refine upon previous literature on the topic. The upwelling covers an area of 1o latitude by 1.3o longitude, and occurs on average 14 times per annum. The mechanism driving the upwelling can be attributed to both wind and current, with wind the more dominant driver along the south coast, and current more dominant along the east coast. Separate to the main objective of the thesis is the importance of in-situ data when analysing small scale events such as upwelling events. While the in-situ wind data were found to be unreliable due to its location within a valley, the UTR data were of vital importance in identifying and studying the finer details of the upwelling events. The satellite SST data, by comparison, were lacking in their ability to investigate the upwelling events. The satellite derived wind data, however, did prove useful when analysing the wind as a driver of the upwelling.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

A Model for Intrusion Detection in IoT using Machine Learning

  • Authors: Nkala, Junior Ruddy
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Internet of things
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science )
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17180 , vital:40863
  • Description: The Internet of Things is an open and comprehensive global network of intelligent objects that have the capacity to auto-organize, share information, data and resources. There are currently over a billion devices connected to the Internet, and this number increases by the day. While these devices make our life easier, safer and healthier, they are expanding the number of attack targets vulnerable to cyber-attacks from potential hackers and malicious software. Therefore, protecting these devices from adversaries and unauthorized access and modification is very important. The purpose of this study is to develop a secure lightweight intrusion and anomaly detection model for IoT to help detect threats in the environment. We propose the use of data mining and machine learning algorithms as a classification technique for detecting abnormal or malicious traffic transmitted between devices due to potential attacks such as DoS, Man-In-Middle and Flooding attacks at the application level. This study makes use of two robust machine learning algorithms, namely the C4.5 Decision Trees and K-means clustering to develop an anomaly detection model. MATLAB Math Simulator was used for implementation. The study conducts a series of experiments in detecting abnormal data and normal data in a dataset that contains gas concentration readings from a number of sensors deployed in an Italian city over a year. Thereafter we examined the classification performance in terms of accuracy of our proposed anomaly detection model. Results drawn from the experiments conducted indicate that the size of the training sample improves classification ability of the proposed model. Our findings noted that the choice of discretization algorithm does matter in the quest for optimal classification performance. The proposed model proved accurate in detecting anomalies in IoT, and classifying between normal and abnormal data. The proposed model has a classification accuracy of 96.51% which proved to be higher compared to other algorithms such as the Naïve Bayes. The model proved to be lightweight and efficient in-terms of being faster at training and testing as compared to Artificial Neural Networks. The conclusions drawn from this research are a perspective from a novice machine learning researcher with valuable recommendations that ensure optimal classification of normal and abnormal IoT data.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An investigation of Raymond Mhlaba municipality indigent policy on water service delivery: a case study of free basic water policy (FBWP) in selected areas of Golf Course and Bhofolo.

  • Authors: Ncube, Mary Silibaziso
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Community development
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Development Studies)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16974 , vital:40799
  • Description: The study was looking at the Free Basic Water policy (FBWP) in the Eastern Cape which was introduced in July 2001 in South Africa. FBWP was introduced to all provinces, however people living in rural areas, poor areas and villages are still suffering from lack of clean and safe drinking water. People lack adequate supplies of water and this creates conditions under which the diseases thrive. The researcher used mixed research methodology which comprises of qualitative (interview) and quantitative (questionnaire) approaches. The reason for the use of mixed methodology was to get adequate information both from the municipality (the provider of water) and the residents (the receivers of the services provided by the municipality) in order to assess how the unreliable water provision affect residents and the challenges being faced by the municipality in providing water. The findings of the study are that both people under Golf course and Bhofolo have little knowledge about FBW and most of the residents are unable to pay their water bills. Residents in the two research areas suffer from medical problems due to unreliable water provision. The study is therefore, of view that South Africa needs to prioritise improvement of access to water in rural areas, poor areas and villages. There is a need to educate people about FBW and on how to save water.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The state and local government joint account system and performance of local government councils in Nigeria: a case study of Awgu local council of Enugu state (1999-2016)

  • Authors: Okafor, Chukwuemeka
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Local finance --Nigeria Local government-- Nigeria Intergovernmental fiscal relations|
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M.Admin
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13917 , vital:39727
  • Description: The State and Local Government Joint Account system was introduced in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the basic aim of pooling all the financial allocations due to the various local government councils from the Federation Account for onward distribution by the states to the local councils. This is to ensure that the state governments effectively control and monitor expenditure by the executives of the local government councils and also to ensure that the funds are properly allocated to various areas of need. This provision is contained in Section 162 (5) of the Constitution which states that “the amount standing to the credit of local government councils in the Federation Account shall also be allocated to the states for the benefit of their local government councils on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly”. Section 162 (7) also states that “each state shall pay to local government councils in its area of jurisdiction such proportion of its total revenue on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly”. However, this arrangement has not worked well as state governments continue to manipulate the joint account through illegal deductions, misappropriations, deliberate delays in disbursement and in failure to remit their 10% of internally generated revenue as stipulated in the Constitution. This study examines the State and Local Government Joint Account system in relation to the fiscal autonomy of local government councils and the impact of the joint account system on public service delivery at Awgu Local Government Council. The study used the qualitative methodology design with focus on case-study approach. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data was collected through interviews from stakeholders in the joint account system and secondary data collected from relevant textual sources. The study findings show that this relationship affects the fiscal autonomy of local councils and result in cases of illegal deductions, withholding of funds, refusal to remit statutory 10% of total revenue of states to local councils. In Awgu Local Government from 1999-2016, more than N3billion was withheld and this amounts to a deficit of about 22.5%. This has negatively affected the volume of service delivery to the various communities. Based on these findings, the study recommends for a constitutional review to strengthen the local government system to effectively function as the third tier of government in line with the “Guidelines for1976 Local Government Reforms”. The study also recommends the abolishing of the joint account system and granting local councils full fiscal autonomy. This is the desideratum for enhanced service delivery at Awgu Local Government and other local council areas of Enugu State.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessing process safety action in selected South African oil companies

  • Authors: Mashiloane, Mosebetsi Stanley
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Industrial safety -- South Africa -- Management , Manufacturing processes -- South Africa -- Safety measures Petroleum industry and trade -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22596 , vital:30017
  • Description: The study was triggered by the number of process safety incidents that are taking place in South African oil companies. The impact of these process safety incidents has resulted in multiple fatalities, revenue loss, fires and explosions in the past. The problem is so immense that the process safety actions, coming from the process safety studies to prevent and mitigate these incidents have been ignored, not attended to, not implemented or not understood by the oil industries for the past 15-20 years. Hence the process safety incidents are still happening and the oil industry has not learnt from previous incidents.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Contributing factors to academic success of children in foster care in Mount Fletcher, Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Dladlama, Phumeza Buyiswa Lungelwa
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Foster children--Education
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , Social Work
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15111 , vital:40184
  • Description: The researcher explored the contributing factors which lead to academic success of children in foster care in Mount Fletcher, Eastern Cape. Children in foster care are highly to drop out of school compared to their peers, and there are children in foster care who are academic successful despite the obstacle of foster care placement. The research study focused on the positive outcomes of children in foster care placements and the support structures that contributed to their academic success. Family support, school support, community support, religious support, professional support systems, resilience and protective factors were measured as the most prominent contributing factors that lead to academic success of children in foster care. The importance of a strong educational background for children in foster care cannot be overstated as the experiences of success that a child has in school can positively affect their psychological functioning well into adulthood. It was revealed that, although there are challenges, environmental disadvantages and stress that can lead to behavioural and psychological problems amongst children in foster care, there are children who overcome the difficulties to become well-adjusted adults. The study made use of Person Centred Approach as theoretical framework. The Person Centred Approach was relevant to the study as it uses the basic core conditions and propositions for positive therapeutic change and that it enables the participants’ establishment of congruence with organismic experiences. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The sample was made up of 12 persons who exited foster care system and matriculated. The findings of the study revealed that, among the above listed contributing factors, family support, school support, community support and religious support were the most significant factors which contributed to the academic success of the participants. No significant relationship was found between the participants’ academic success and professional support. The study further revealed that a large number of children in foster care were cared for by their relatives, especially maternal grandparents. Due to the mentioned findings, it was recommended that the child placed in foster care placement from the age of 12 years, must be involved in the placement as there could be relatives whom the child is attached to. The social services professionals should play their role in supporting the children in foster care placements through proper monitoring of foster care placement and not to monitor the placement only during extension of foster care placement. Each government department has a role in moulding the child’s life and rendering support services.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

A review of generalized linear models for count data with emphasis on current geospatial procedures

  • Authors: Michell, Justin Walter
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Spatial analysis (Statistics) , Bayesian statistical decision theory , Geospatial data , Malaria -- Botswana -- Statistics , Malaria -- Botswana -- Research -- Statistical methods
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:5582 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019989
  • Description: Analytical problems caused by over-fitting, confounding and non-independence in the data is a major challenge for variable selection. As more variables are tested against a certain data set, there is a greater risk that some will explain the data merely by chance, but will fail to explain new data. The main aim of this study is to employ a systematic and practicable variable selection process for the spatial analysis and mapping of historical malaria risk in Botswana using data collected from the MARA (Mapping Malaria Risk in Africa) project and environmental and climatic datasets from various sources. Details of how a spatial database is compiled for a statistical analysis to proceed is provided. The automation of the entire process is also explored. The final bayesian spatial model derived from the non-spatial variable selection procedure using Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation was fitted to the data. Winter temperature had the greatest effect of malaria prevalence in Botswana. Summer rainfall, maximum temperature of the warmest month, annual range of temperature, altitude and distance to closest water source were also significantly associated with malaria prevalence in the final spatial model after accounting for spatial correlation. Using this spatial model malaria prevalence at unobserved locations was predicted, producing a smooth risk map covering Botswana. The automation of both compiling the spatial database and the variable selection procedure proved challenging and could only be achieved in parts of the process. The non-spatial selection procedure proved practical and was able to identify stable explanatory variables and provide an objective means for selecting one variable over another, however ultimately it was not entirely successful due to the fact that a unique set of spatial variables could not be selected.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

A situational survey of Siyazondla homestead food production proogramme and food security, poverty alleviation in selected communities of Nkonkobe Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Phezisa, Bulelani
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2392 , vital:27795
  • Description: People living in rural areas are continually losing their value, dignity, ubuntu and rural nature of livelihood. Agriculture in these areas characterises the nature of rural livelihood. Traditionally, people living in rural areas were highly dependent on their production from gardens for food, income (barter exchange), and other social activities. Nowadays, that motive and interest is no longer operating at its full potential, so to revive that history and nature, household (homestead) production, certain programmes were introduced to greatly improved the standard of living of the poor, and it has proved to have an impact as it has generated income, and created food stability and employment through the project. Home gardens are there and can be used as the method and the strategy toward improvement and development of the people around the world, more especial to developing countries. Certain programmes that are initiated for acting against the challenges faced by rural people have failed to materialise and operate on their fully potential. The Siyazondla homestead food production programme is the one of the programmes practiced by the government of South Africa to act against such challenges, affecting especially poor people. This study was aimed at assessing the role of Siyazondla homestead food production programme in food security and poverty alleviation in selected communities of Nkonkobe local municipality of the Eastern Cape. It took the form of a case study in Msobomvu, Ngcothoyi and Binfield locations. The Nkonkobe local municipality is demarcated into five major areas: Middledrift, Alice, Seymour, Fort Beaufort and Balfour. The study sample was collected from beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the Siyazondla programme. The sample size was 90 respondents, from which in one area, a 15 beneficiaries and anticipated non- beneficiaries were targeted. The target sample from each village was collected from 15 beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. Many farmers from the study area benefited from the programme, though a limited number was targeted. Therefore, a probability sampling was applied and employed, where there were more than required number of beneficiaries of the programme and anticipated beneficiaries of the programme. The study was effectively and efficiently carried out and achieved with the use of personal interviewing of the recipients by use of questionnaires. The study was analysed by a computerised programme of analyses called SPSS v.2.1 and excel. The objectives of the study based on food security, poverty alleviation and reduction, and also improving nutritious status. The finding of the research clearly indicates the outcome of the programme on livelihood basis of the beneficiaries. Some of the objectives of the programme were achieved, such as food security and nutritious levels, whilst other objectives had shortcomings. The finding of the study also shows that programme, though had original benefits but also there are the anticipated and probable benefits of the programme Siyazondla, such as income, skill of farming, improving social status, and there are some possibilities when the programme is properly implemented. Though the majority of people are concentrated in rural areas, the programme on its own had shortcoming to meet needs of the whole population, as food insecurity, unemployment and poverty are taking its course. The programme on its own had shortcoming such as lack of adequate resource and as results, very few people benefited from the programme. Another shortcoming of the programme is the effectiveness of agricultural extension personnel to certain aspect such as marketing of farmers produce and proper monitoring and evaluation of the programme. Therefore, in the long run programmes of this nature are promising, there will be some development and improvement toward growth and better standards of livelihood. It is through this study that had to assess the structure, procedure, strategies implemented of the programme and impact of the programme to both beneficiaries and anticipated beneficiaries of the programme.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

An investigation on the effect of Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia Kurdjumov) population growth and feeding damage on selected barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars under ambient and elevated CO2

  • Authors: Sacranie, Sattar Farouk
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Russian wheat aphid -- Research -- South Africa Barley -- Disease and pest resistance -- South Africa Callose Aphids
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/50311 , vital:25975
  • Description: The Russian wheat aphid (RWA) (Diuraphis noxia Kurdjumov) is a major pest of cultivated small grains. It is particularly devastating because of is high reproductive rate which results in the growth of large populations which become damaging to its host plants. Development of resistant barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars is complicated as resistance is polygenic. As a result, the industry remains at risk now that the RWA has spread throughout South Africa. It has, as recently as, 2013, been identified in the SW Cape, which was previously geographically isolated. This is South Africa‟s principle barley growing region. Now a potentially huge problem exists. Therefore, it is imperative that an alternative to pesticide use is found. Testing potential innate resistance in barley cultivars is thus, critical. In this thesis, I present data on four barely cultivars where I have examined their resistance/ lack of resistance to three known RWA biotypes, RWASA1, RWASA2 and RWASA3. The barley varieties used were two economically important South African malt barley cultivars (S5 and SSG 564) along with two potentially RWA resistant Afghan accessions (CIho 4125 and CIho 4159). The RWA biotype population growth rates on each of the plants were determined over a 14 day period. The aim was to establish baseline data of the effects of RWA population growth on the host plants under ambient CO2 (380 – 400 ppm) conditions. The extent of RWA feeding damage was investigated at the cell level by examining saliva deposition and cell disruption using Transmission Electron Microscopy; at the tissue/vascular level using fluorescence microscopy, to determine the extent of callose formation; at a whole leaf level by recording percent chlorosis and leaf roll; and finally, at a whole plant level by measuring biomass loss.The experiments were repeated under elevated CO2 (450 ppm) to model any changes in RWA/plant interaction with respect to future climate change. The effects of an elevated CO2 environment and RWA feeding on host plant foliar N and C:N ratio were compared to ambient CO2 conditions, to provide a clearer picture of the potential nutrient drain that a feeding RWA colony exacts on its host. Of the varieties tested, the CIho accessions performed better than the two SA barley cultivars as the CIho accessions appeared to express a mild antibiosis resistance response as RWA populations, particularly those of RWASA1, were smaller than those observed on either S5 or SSG 564. In addition, less damage was evident in the two CIho accessions due to RWA feeding. II RWASA2 was the most virulent of the three RWA biotypes tested, followed by RWASA3 while RWASA1 was the least virulent. Under elevated CO2 conditions, RWA feeding damage was exacerbated but the trend of biotype virulence remained the same. Higher aphid population sizes were recorded under elevated CO2, meant that even the more resistant CIho accessions were overcome by the increased demand made by the larger aphid colonies on the host plants. The % foliar N data showed that under elevated CO2 aphid-free control plants had increased N levels in their leaves. Increased “food” supply (as shown by the increased N levels) therefore allowed significantly larger aphid populations to develop on the plants exposed to elevated CO2, due to improved nutrient status of the phloem sap taken up by RWA. The knock-on effect of a higher aphid population was increased cell disruption as a result of extensive probing, extensive formations of wound callose, with the result that phloem damage impeded nutrient flow through the vascular tissues which contributed to chlorosis and (eventually plant) death. The major conclusion from this study is that even a mild CO2 elevation resulted in an increase aphid population which may pose a severe and very real threat to a barley crop. Therefore, without effort to identify and deploy resistant barley cultivars, it could well be possible that future barley cultivation in South Africa may no longer be viable.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Assessment of rangeland condition and evaluation of farmers' perception in Njwaxa and Mbizana communal rangelands of the Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • Authors: Ngcofe, Odwa Armstrong
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Land tenure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13259 , vital:39627
  • Description: This study was conducted to determine of rangeland condition in terms of botanical composition, soil nutrient composition, and also to evaluate farmers’ perception on rangeland condition and degradation in two communal villages Njwaxa and Mbizana in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa in 2014. A Structured questionnaire consisting of close and open-ended questions was used to investigate farmers’ perceptions on range condition, land degradation, and their causes. Fifty households with livestock were randomly selected in two communal areas of Middledrift (i.e. Njwaxa and Mbizana). Respondents of 21 years and above were selected. For assessment of range condition three homogeneous vegetation units (HVU) were demarcated in all study sites, namely slope; valley and toplands were demarcated and sub-divided into four 100m x 50m replicates. In each replicate, four 100m transects were laid parallel to each other 25m apart 1m2 quadrant was systematically located four times along each transect for herbaceous vegetation and soil sampling. The step point method was employed to determine herbaceous species composition and basal cover. A 400m2 belt transect was used to determine woody vegetation composition, density and tree equivalents in each HVU. The germination method was employed for soil seed bank composition and plant density. The soil micro and macro nutrients (N, P, K OC, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu and Mn) and pH were also analyzed The majority of the respondents were between the ages of 51-60 years. Most of the farmers had more cattle (38percent) than goats (32percent) and sheep (30percent). Livestock numbers were perceived to have declined over the previous 20 years by the majority of respondents (96percent). The respondents indicated that their rangelands were mainly used for browsing (1.37), fire wood (2.01), building and fencing (2.63) and medical purposes (3.66). All the respondents indicated that their rangelands were highly degraded. Sheet erosion (50percent) was perceived to be the major type of soil erosion indicator mentioned by the farmers, followed by gully erosion (29percent) and rill erosion (21percent). The rangeland was dominated by Increaser II (pioneer) (63.2 percent) grass species followed by Decreaser (mesophytes) species (26.3percent). Digitaria eriantha in the valley (53.5 percent) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than both in the top (10.5percent) and sloppy areas (33.5percent) at Njwaxa communal rangeland, the abundance of D. eriantha was significantly higher (p<0.05) than top and valley in Mbizana communal rangeland. The results showed that soil seed banks were dominated by perennials, followed by annuals and biennial species being least abundant. The dominant forb Jamebrittenia c.f. albanesis was significantly higher (p<0.05) in both slopes (6.65percent) and toplands (7.34percent) than in the valley (3.15). The second most dominant species Puesdognaphalium undulata was significantly higher (p<0.05) in topland areas (6percent) than in valley bottom (3.8percent) and sloppy areas (4.3percent). The results of soil nutrients revealed no significant differences (p>0.05) in the concentration of OC, Ca, and Mg between the communities and seasons. Phosphorus (P) was significantly higher (p<0.05) in winter (concentrations) in most of the sites, except the top sites of Mbizana where summer concentration of P was significantly higher than winter. Potassium (K) was significantly higher (p<0.05) in summer than in winter in most of the HVUs, except the topland areas of Njwaxa and Mbizana sloppy areas where there were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the concentration of K. Soil pH did not display any significant differences (p>0.05) between communities and sites. The mean soil pH recorded in this study was 5.4 implying the soils of Njwaxa and Mbizana communities were acidic. It is evident that communal farmers are well aware of their rangeland condition, changes occurring in their rangelands, their causes and are capable of suggesting some solutions in controlling the declining condition of the rangelands. This study has shown the importance of engaging farmers’ inputs in range assessment since those are people bearing the consequences of rangeland degradation.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Bio-prospecting a Soil Metagenomic Library for Carbohydrate Active Esterases

  • Authors: Shezi, Ntombifuthi
  • Date: 2016
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:4172 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021266
  • Description: Lignocellulosic biomass is a promising renewable resource on earth. Plant biomass contains fermentable sugars and other moieties that can be converted to biofuels or other chemicals. Enzymatic hydrolysis of these biopolymers is significant in the liberation of sugars for fermentation into desired products. Owing to its complex structure, synergistic action of enzymes is required for its degradation. Enzymes that are involved in biomass degradation include cellulases, hemicellulases and the accessory enzymes acetyl xylan esterases and ferulic acid esterases. Ferulic acid esterases (FAEs, EC 3.1.1.73), represent a subclass of carboxylester hydrolases (EC 3.1.1.-) that catalyse the release of hydroxycinnamic acids (such as ferulic acid, p-coumaric, ferulic, sinapic and caffeic acid) that are generally found esterified to polysaccharides, such as arabinoxylans. Hydroxycinnamic acids have widespread potential applications due to their antimicrobial, photoprotectant and antioxidant properties, as well as their use as flavour precursors. Therefore, this interesting group of FAEs has a potentially wide variety of applications in agriculture, food and pharmaceutical industries. In the search for novel biocatalysts, metagenomics is considered as an alternative approach to conventional microbe screening, therefore, searching for novel biocatalysts from a soil metagenome that harbours a unique diversity of biocatalyst is significant. The aim of this study was to extract DNA from soil associated with cattle manure and construct a soil metagenomic library using a fosmid based plasmid vector and subsequently functionally screen for ferulic acid esterases using ethyl ferulate as a model substrate. A total of 59 recombinant fosmids conferring ferulic acid esterase phenotypes were identified (Hit rate 1:3122) and the two fosmids that consistently showed high FAE activities were selected for further study. Following nucleotide sequencing and translational analysis, two fae encoding open reading frames (FAE9 and FAE27) of approximately 274 and 322 aa, respectively, were identified. The amino acid sequence of the two ORFs contained a classical conserved esterase/lipase G-x-S-x-G sequence motif. The two genes (fae9 and fae27) were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and the purified enzymes exhibited respective temperature optima of 50 °C and 40 °C, and respective pH optima of 6.0 and 7.0. Further biochemical characterisation showed that FAE9 and FAE27 have high substrate specificity, following the fact that EFA is the preferred substrate for FAE9 (kcat/Km value of 128 s−1.mM-1) and also the preferred substrate for FAE27 (kcat/Km value of 137 s−1.mM-1). This work proves that soil is a valuable environmental source for novel esterase screening through functional based metagenomic approach. Therefore, this method may be used to screen for other valuable enzymes from environmental sources using inexpensive natural sources to encourage the screening of specific enzymes. Biochemistry of the two isolated enzymes makes these enzymes to be useful in industrial applications due to broad substrate activity that could replace the specialised enzymes to complete plant biomass degradation.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

The caramel Venus and other stories

  • Authors: Terblanche, Tania
  • Date: 2016
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:6006 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/1021214
  • Description: My collection of stories illustrates the absurdity, the beauty and the pain of being human by depicting experience through fabulation. The intensity of existence comes to light in strange worlds that operate by rules of our inner mechanics, distorted so that only the colours and the shape of our hearts swim underneath. My fiction embodies these realities using the flatness of the fairy tale form while incorporating the humorous, the bizarre and the surreal. Some of the stories build dystopian worlds using the manifestation of the unfamiliar as a mirror of our psyche in an overpopulated and consumer-driven society. Others create contained worlds where the fantastical is fostered only by the narrator being drawn into an inner life. All the stories take us through inner landscapes with the humans, animals and objects around us that can pulse with so much meaning and then none at all.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

The role of South Africa as a hegemonic' power in the maintenance of peace and stability in the SADC region

  • Authors: Sibanda, Nkosiyaphi
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Southern African Development Community Peace-building -- South Africa Conflict management -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6491 , vital:29824
  • Description: This study investigates South Africa’s role as a hegemonic power in maintaining peace and stability in the SADC region. Using qualitative and secondary data supplemented with primary data, the study examines not only South Africa’s hegemonic role in the SADC region but also the challenges and critiques of South Africa’s hegemonic role in the region. The study implores the hegemonic stability theory and explores the features that qualify South Africa to be a regional hegemonic power. These include South Africa’s economic power, military power and strategic location. This study reveals that South Africa’s role in maintaining peace and stability in the region is informed by its foreign policy and its pursuit of national interest and protection of its borders. The study also found out that the motive behind South Africa being active in peacekeeping missions is that it avoids being surrounded by failed states which might have spillover effects into its territorial boundaries. The study notes that there are numerous shortcomings which taint South Africa’s hegemonic status. They include violent protests, xenophobia, racism, crime and corruption. The study recommends that South Africa needs to be proactive in solving the challenges within its domestic terrain as these shortcomings taint its hegemonic status.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

An investigation into how grade 9 girls participate during practical work in Physical Science lessons : a case study

  • Authors: Munyanyo, Johanna
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Physical sciences -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Teenage girls -- Education , Sex differences in education -- Namibia , Sex discrimination in education -- Namibia , Physical sciences -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Sex differences
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:2042 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017353
  • Description: This research report documented in this thesis focused mainly on the participation of grade 9 girls during practical work in the topic of ‘Electricity’ in Physical Science lessons at Mwatya (pseudonym) Junior Secondary School in Ohangwena region of Namibia. The study was triggered by the lack of participation of girls during practical work. Underpinned by an interpretive paradigm, the study took the form of a qualitative case study and my unit of analysis was girls’ participation during practical work on electricity in particular. The perceptions and experiences of girls about practical work in Physical Science were investigated using the administered questionnaires. The participation of girls during practical work was further explored using interviews (semi-structured and focus group interviews) and observations of selected girls. A thematic approach to data analysis was adopted. The qualitative data from the audio and video transcripts were analysed according to the categories developed and themes that emerged from the analysis process. The categories developed for presenting the data are: teaching methods preferred by girls; importance and roles of practical activities; things that girls enjoy during practical activities; problems experienced by girls during practical activities; preference for doing practical work in groups or as an individual task; if practical work given in groups should the sex of learners be considered or not; activities preferred by girls when they are in single sex and in mixed sex groups; factors that enable girls to participate; and factors that prevent girls from participating. The study found that girls’ perceptions about practical work affect their participation during practical work in the topic of Electricity. It also revealed different factors that contribute to either good or poor participation of girls, namely, factors such as mixed-sex group-work, limited science prior experience (knowledge), unequal treatment from teachers during lessons and home environment were identified as contributing to poor participation. Girls however suggested some factors that they think could enable them to participate freely and actively during practical work. In view of these findings, this study recommends that teacher training institutions should train teachers to plan practical work in a gender sensitive manner. Schools should be provided with enough materials as sharing materials can contribute to poor participation of girls during practical work especially when they are in mixed groups with boys. There is a need for science teachers to assess the learning taking place during practical work and, finally, textbook suppliers should be monitored in a way that enables the supply of gender sensitive printed materials.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Exploring the effects of domestic violence in the psychosocial development of children : the case of Mlungisi Township in Queenstown

  • Authors: Ntsumpa, SL
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Family violence Abused children--South Africa Children and violence
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , Social Work
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17338 , vital:40957
  • Description: The main aim of the study was to explore the effects of domestic violence in the psychosocial development of children at Mlungisi Township, Chris Hani District in Queenstown – Eastern Cape Province. The specific objectives of the study were: to investigate the effect domestic violence has on the psychosocial development of children; to assess the behavior of the children subjected to domestic violence; and to examine challenges that children are facing due to domestic violence; and to examine the support provided by professionals (Social works, community worker, educator, South African Police and Justice System) to children who are victims of domestic violence. The study adopted a qualitative research paradigm and non-probability sampling methodology in the form of purposive sampling technique. The study‟s sample size comprised of 20 participants, 7 male children between the ages of 9 and 16, and 8 female children between the ages of 9 and 16 on in-depth one-on-one interviews. Five children withdrew from the study because they became emotional and were reluctant to participate. The study also comprised of 5 participants in a focus group which composed of various professionals from government departments such as: Department of Social Development, Department of Education, South African Police Services, Lukhanji Municipality and Justice Official who are directly working with children. The research instrument used was an interview guide with open ended questions. The study findings include the following: effects of domestic violence on the psychosocial development of children; challenges faced by children due to domestic violence; behaviors of children subjected to domestic violence; support services; efficiency and effectiveness of services rendered to the children; and improvement of services rendered to the victims by government officials. The study recommendations were: more studies on domestic violence specifically on children as victims should be done; policy regarding domestic violence needs to be reviewed and in order to accommodate children; there should be policies that focus solemnly to children who happen to be victims of domestic violence not domestic violence in general; and government departments and other relevant stakeholder should be strengthened or even develop new intervention strategies to ensure effectiveness in curbing domestic violence.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Identification of novel SNPSTRs by 454 sequencing in Nguni and Sotho-Tswana populations

  • Authors: Laurence, Jo-Anne Elizabeth
  • Date: 2015
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/55885 , vital:26752
  • Description: DNA profiling is currently performed by analysis of the electropherogram that results following the amplification of a panel of Short Tandem Repeat (STR) loci. A need has arisen, however, for the development of a typing method that generates results which are compatible and comparable with existing databases, but that have a higher discrimination power by supplying sequence data as well as repeat-number data. Recent studies that explore these alternative typing methodologies have revealed the existence of a number of STR variants. There is, however, little information about the exact nature and prevalence of these sub-alleles. There have also been limited population studies of the genetic profiles of sub-Saharan African populations, despite the fact that evidence suggests that there is greater genetic structure and genetic diversity in these populations. In this study, a processing protocol for the generation of 454 sequencing-ready amplicons of vWA, D2S441, D3S1358, D13S317, D21S11 and D7S820 loci was developed. This protocol was applied to buccal swabs collected from 144 individuals of the Nguni and Sotho-Tswana population groups. A total of 145 485 reads were obtained from the sequencing of these amplicons, of which 97 400 and 48 085 reads were obtained for the Nguni and Sotho-Tswana populations respectively. The proportional representation for each locus ranged from 8-20%, and the allele calls and observed frequencies of these alleles suggested a high degree of relatedness between population groups. The sequencing results, furthermore, enabled the identification of a number of previously undescribed STR variants and SNPSTRs; with allele 13´ for D13S317 representing a SNP that may be predictive of Nguni-ancestry. The results also demonstrated the usefulness of next generation sequencing for increasing the number of discernible alleles for STR profiling.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Taxing the Minerals Sector in South Africa: a comparative analysis of the proposed tax model for South Africa and the models adopted in selected African countries

  • Authors: Van den Berg, Jana
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Industrial minerals -- Taxation -- South Africa , Industrial minerals -- Taxation -- Developing countries , Industrial minerals -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Industrial minerals -- Law and legislation -- Developing countries
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:919 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017545
  • Description: The State Intervention in the Minerals Sector Report emerged as a resolution during the 3rd National General Council Resolution on Economic Transformation held in 2012, during which the Council stated that: “The ANC’s approach to economic transformation of the South African economy should always be holistic and comprehensive, covering all sectors of the economy. In this regard, the ANC should ensure greater state involvement and control of strategic sectors of the economy, such as mining, energy, the financial sector and others.” It was for this reason that the National General Council mandated the National Executive Committee to ensure that further work be done on ways in which the African National Congress can implement economic transformation in sectors such as the mining industry. It was suggested that methods including research, study tours and discussions be conducted to gather the required information. As a result of the research, The State Intervention in the Minerals Sector Report emerged. In The State Intervention in the Minerals Sector Report, the mineral sectors of developed as well as developing countries are compared with each other. The developing countries compared included Botswana, Zambia, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and these countries have also been selected for the purpose of comparison in the present research. The goal of this study is to analyse the recommendations made in The State Intervention in the Minerals Sector Report regarding State involvement in the minerals sector. To determine whether the economic situation in South Africa is comparable to the five other African countries, an analysis based on demographic indicators, the history of the minerals sector in the various countries, its contribution to the fiscal regime of that country, its economic contribution, as well as the extent of involvement from Government and the model implemented for its involvement, is conducted. According to a work paper published by the World Bank on the world development indicators for 2014, control over metal supply to the economy has been considered vital for political and economic reasons in most societies. It further states that most State-owned mining companies have over the years and, in particular, in developing countries, not been able to operate successfully, leading to privatisation. Poor performance is, however, not necessarily the reason for State ownership. Areas not addressed by this thesis include the Gold Mining industry in South Africa and the Diamond mining industry in Botswana.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

The rising popularity of Pidgin English radio stations in Nigeria: an audience study of Wazobia FM, Lagos

  • Authors: Durodola, Olufunke Treasure Anike
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Wazobia FM (Nigeria) , Radio audiences -- Nigeria -- Lagos , Pidgin English -- Nigeria -- Lagos , Radio stations -- Nigeria -- Lagos , Mass media and culture -- Nigeria -- Lagos , Language and languages -- Variation , Popular culture -- Nigeria , Postcolonialism -- Nigeria
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3550 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020886
  • Description: This research is located within media studies and draws on the Cultural Studies approach. It is an audience study, which uses the mixed methods of focus group discussions and an online survey to examine the importance of the use of Nigerian Pidgin as a broadcast language in investigating the rising popularity of Pidgin English radio in a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual Nigeria. The study focuses on Wazobia FM, a radio station in Lagos, and the first pidgin station in Nigeria. It seeks to determine whether the station’s audience engaged with the station’s programming based on its prioritisation of NigP and the linguistic identity it offers them. The study foregrounds the marginalised status of NigP within the politics of language in Nigeria. It traces the language’s evolution through popular and oppositional expressions in broadcasting and in music. It also seeks to establish the place of Pidgin English within the role that language plays in the formation of the Nigerian identity. This study thus adopts the ‘emic’ perspective, which underpins qualitative methodology, and views social life in terms of processes as opposed to static terms. The theoretical framework of this research revolves around culture, language and identity. Pertinent concepts in post-colonial studies, together with conceptual frameworks in Cultural Studies, such as popular culture, representation, hegemony and counter-culture have been used to make sense of the popularity of NigP radio stations.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2014
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