A critical assessment of the institutionalisation of Performance Management Systems in Local Government: a special focus on political office bearers and senior managers in O.R Tambo District Municipality
- Authors: Ndabeni, Mziwonke
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Performance Management System
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11696 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015109 , Performance Management System
- Description: Service delivery is at the centre of South Africa’s developmental local government. Thus with such a high calling to development, local municipalities play an important role in enhancing development in their areas of jurisdiction. In the area under this study, the Local Government Department has initiated Performance Management as a response to the service delivery hardships and as a bottom up approach to socio economic development of their communities. In the view of Performance Management being used as a tool for enhancing Service delivery, the study therefore sought to discover the role that the Performance Management System is playing in the Local Municipality Development of O.R District. It also sought to find out the extent of support that has been afforded by government and other stakeholders within the context of the cooperative governance. To establish this, the researcher employed the quantitative approach guided by a primary research design. The review of primary data allowed for a close assessment of the Performance Management System in detail. Available data on PMS gave an easier task of assessing the impact of PMS in the district and the constraints they have faced so far. The findings from the study revealed that PMS in the district show a great potential for better performance if performance management systems were to be understood by all staff members of the municipality. It has been also observed that they lack information on performance management, proper finance management, and diversification and value addition for their service delivery so as to increase their competitiveness. It is imperative therefore to recommend further training on good Performance management skills and sourcing for employees and understanding new PMS. This form of support will go a long way in ensuring the sustainability of Performance Management System in the O.R. District Municipality. Keywords: Performance Management System, Political office bearers and Senior Manager O.R District.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Ndabeni, Mziwonke
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Performance Management System
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11696 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015109 , Performance Management System
- Description: Service delivery is at the centre of South Africa’s developmental local government. Thus with such a high calling to development, local municipalities play an important role in enhancing development in their areas of jurisdiction. In the area under this study, the Local Government Department has initiated Performance Management as a response to the service delivery hardships and as a bottom up approach to socio economic development of their communities. In the view of Performance Management being used as a tool for enhancing Service delivery, the study therefore sought to discover the role that the Performance Management System is playing in the Local Municipality Development of O.R District. It also sought to find out the extent of support that has been afforded by government and other stakeholders within the context of the cooperative governance. To establish this, the researcher employed the quantitative approach guided by a primary research design. The review of primary data allowed for a close assessment of the Performance Management System in detail. Available data on PMS gave an easier task of assessing the impact of PMS in the district and the constraints they have faced so far. The findings from the study revealed that PMS in the district show a great potential for better performance if performance management systems were to be understood by all staff members of the municipality. It has been also observed that they lack information on performance management, proper finance management, and diversification and value addition for their service delivery so as to increase their competitiveness. It is imperative therefore to recommend further training on good Performance management skills and sourcing for employees and understanding new PMS. This form of support will go a long way in ensuring the sustainability of Performance Management System in the O.R. District Municipality. Keywords: Performance Management System, Political office bearers and Senior Manager O.R District.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Antibiogram profiling of Escherichia coli pathotypes isolated from Kat River and Fort Beaufort abstraction water
- Authors: Nontongana, Nolonwabo
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Escherichia coli infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11289 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019820 , Escherichia coli infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a widespread species that includes a broad variety of strains, ranging from highly pathogenic strains causing worldwide outbreaks of severe disease to virulent isolates which are part of the normal intestinal flora or which are well characterized and safe laboratory strains. The pathogenicity of a given E. coli strain is mainly determined by specific virulence factors which include adhesins, invasins, toxins and capsule. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and antibiogram profiles of E. coli pathotypes previously isolated from Kat River and Fort Beaufort abstraction water. A total of 171 E. coli isolates showed at least one pathogenic determinant among the isolated 278 E. coli. The other 107 isolates were negative for the tested virulence genes. All 278 presumptive isolates tested positive for the UidA gene, and were therefore classified as non-categorized pathogenic E. coli. The 171 pathogenic isolates had at least one characteristic gene of pathogenic E. coli and were identified and classified as enteropathogenic E. coli (6%), enterotoxigenicE. coli (131), uropathogenic E. coli (6), neonatal meningitis E. coli (14), diffusely adherent E. coli (1) and enterohaemrrhagic E. coli (1). Interestingly, no virulence genes were detected for the enteroinvasive E. coli and the enteroaggregative E. coli. The antibiotic resistance profiles for all isolates that were identified as E. coli showed 100% resistance to penicillin G, 98% resistance to ampicillin, 38% resistance to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole and 8% resistance to streptomycin. Multiple antibacterial resistance (MAR) was also observed, where 44% of the isolates were resistant to three antibiotics and 8% resistant to four antibiotics. The results of this study showed the Kat River and Fort Beaufort abstraction water are reservoirs of pathogenic strains of E. coli which harbour antibiotic resistance determinants that can cause serious health risks to the people in the surrounding communities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Nontongana, Nolonwabo
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Escherichia coli infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11289 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019820 , Escherichia coli infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a widespread species that includes a broad variety of strains, ranging from highly pathogenic strains causing worldwide outbreaks of severe disease to virulent isolates which are part of the normal intestinal flora or which are well characterized and safe laboratory strains. The pathogenicity of a given E. coli strain is mainly determined by specific virulence factors which include adhesins, invasins, toxins and capsule. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and antibiogram profiles of E. coli pathotypes previously isolated from Kat River and Fort Beaufort abstraction water. A total of 171 E. coli isolates showed at least one pathogenic determinant among the isolated 278 E. coli. The other 107 isolates were negative for the tested virulence genes. All 278 presumptive isolates tested positive for the UidA gene, and were therefore classified as non-categorized pathogenic E. coli. The 171 pathogenic isolates had at least one characteristic gene of pathogenic E. coli and were identified and classified as enteropathogenic E. coli (6%), enterotoxigenicE. coli (131), uropathogenic E. coli (6), neonatal meningitis E. coli (14), diffusely adherent E. coli (1) and enterohaemrrhagic E. coli (1). Interestingly, no virulence genes were detected for the enteroinvasive E. coli and the enteroaggregative E. coli. The antibiotic resistance profiles for all isolates that were identified as E. coli showed 100% resistance to penicillin G, 98% resistance to ampicillin, 38% resistance to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole and 8% resistance to streptomycin. Multiple antibacterial resistance (MAR) was also observed, where 44% of the isolates were resistant to three antibiotics and 8% resistant to four antibiotics. The results of this study showed the Kat River and Fort Beaufort abstraction water are reservoirs of pathogenic strains of E. coli which harbour antibiotic resistance determinants that can cause serious health risks to the people in the surrounding communities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Suicide ideation among police members in the Eastern Cape
- De Bruin, Carmelitia Elmarie
- Authors: De Bruin, Carmelitia Elmarie
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Police -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Suicide , Suicide -- Psychological aspects , Police -- South Africa -- Job stress
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (C Psy)
- Identifier: vital:11852 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/146 , Police -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Suicide , Suicide -- Psychological aspects , Police -- South Africa -- Job stress
- Description: Suicide, the endpoint of the continuum that begins with suicide ideation, is known to be an important precursor of attempted suicides. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of suicide ideation of police members and to determine the differences between suicide ideation of various demographic variables, in particular, the gender, rank and race groups of police members. The convenience sample (N = 111) was drawn from police stations in the Nelson Mandela Metropole in the Eastern Cape Province. The Adult Suicide Ideation Questionnaire (ASIQ) and a Biographical Questionnaire were administered. The results indicated that 1.4 % of the sample showed significant levels of suicidal ideation scoring a high score above 31 (i.e., above the 97th percentile by ASIQ). The T-test, One-way (ANOVA) and the Pearson Chi-Square analysis showed no significant differences between suicide ideation and the demographic variables based on the police station, age, gender, race, rank, years of service, years of current position, educational qualifications, marital status, presence of medical conditions, number of alcoholic drinks consumed per week, smoking behaviour and exercise behaviour. However, participants with previous suicide attempts had significant high scores on ASIQ.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: De Bruin, Carmelitia Elmarie
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Police -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Suicide , Suicide -- Psychological aspects , Police -- South Africa -- Job stress
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (C Psy)
- Identifier: vital:11852 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/146 , Police -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Suicide , Suicide -- Psychological aspects , Police -- South Africa -- Job stress
- Description: Suicide, the endpoint of the continuum that begins with suicide ideation, is known to be an important precursor of attempted suicides. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of suicide ideation of police members and to determine the differences between suicide ideation of various demographic variables, in particular, the gender, rank and race groups of police members. The convenience sample (N = 111) was drawn from police stations in the Nelson Mandela Metropole in the Eastern Cape Province. The Adult Suicide Ideation Questionnaire (ASIQ) and a Biographical Questionnaire were administered. The results indicated that 1.4 % of the sample showed significant levels of suicidal ideation scoring a high score above 31 (i.e., above the 97th percentile by ASIQ). The T-test, One-way (ANOVA) and the Pearson Chi-Square analysis showed no significant differences between suicide ideation and the demographic variables based on the police station, age, gender, race, rank, years of service, years of current position, educational qualifications, marital status, presence of medical conditions, number of alcoholic drinks consumed per week, smoking behaviour and exercise behaviour. However, participants with previous suicide attempts had significant high scores on ASIQ.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Tolerance in intergroup relations: cognitive representations reducing ingroup projection
- Authors: O'Sullivan, Clodagh M
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Group identity , Social groups , Intergroup relations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Psych)
- Identifier: vital:11604 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/140 , Group identity , Social groups , Intergroup relations
- Description: This study assessed the personal, career and learning skills needs of 196 psychology students (M= 56, F= 103). The preferred means of counselling assistance, preferred experience of counselling and preferred counselling provider were also assessed. The most highly endorsed needs were time management skills (83.5 pecent, n=162), learning test-taking strategies (82 percent, n=159), job search strategies (73.6 percent, n=142), increasing self-confidence (70.3 percent, n=135), increasing motivation (72.4 percent, n=134), controlling anxiety and nervousness (68.7 percent, n=134), public speaking anxiety (68 percent, n=134), understanding career interests and abilities (67.5 percent, n=131), fear of failure (68.1 percent, n=130), and improving study skills (66.5 percent, n=129). Significant sex differences were found for the following, finding a greater purpose in life, controlling weight, job search strategies, concerns about career choice, understanding career interests and abilities in the selection of major subjects and improving study skills. Males highly endorsed the need for finding a greater purpose in life, job search strategies, and concern about career choice, understanding career interest and abilities, selection of major subjects and to improve study skills, whereas females endorsed the need for controlling weight. Respondents indicated individual counselling as being their preferred means of counselling assistance, but lectures were the most prevalent means of assistance previously received by respondents. Most respondents (78.1 percent) found the assistance they had received to be helpful.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: O'Sullivan, Clodagh M
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Group identity , Social groups , Intergroup relations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Psych)
- Identifier: vital:11604 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/140 , Group identity , Social groups , Intergroup relations
- Description: This study assessed the personal, career and learning skills needs of 196 psychology students (M= 56, F= 103). The preferred means of counselling assistance, preferred experience of counselling and preferred counselling provider were also assessed. The most highly endorsed needs were time management skills (83.5 pecent, n=162), learning test-taking strategies (82 percent, n=159), job search strategies (73.6 percent, n=142), increasing self-confidence (70.3 percent, n=135), increasing motivation (72.4 percent, n=134), controlling anxiety and nervousness (68.7 percent, n=134), public speaking anxiety (68 percent, n=134), understanding career interests and abilities (67.5 percent, n=131), fear of failure (68.1 percent, n=130), and improving study skills (66.5 percent, n=129). Significant sex differences were found for the following, finding a greater purpose in life, controlling weight, job search strategies, concerns about career choice, understanding career interests and abilities in the selection of major subjects and improving study skills. Males highly endorsed the need for finding a greater purpose in life, job search strategies, and concern about career choice, understanding career interest and abilities, selection of major subjects and to improve study skills, whereas females endorsed the need for controlling weight. Respondents indicated individual counselling as being their preferred means of counselling assistance, but lectures were the most prevalent means of assistance previously received by respondents. Most respondents (78.1 percent) found the assistance they had received to be helpful.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
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