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Nutrient removal and biofuel potential of MaB-floc biomass from an integrated algal pond system treating domestic sewage

  • Authors: Sibelo, Linda
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Biomass energy , Waste products as fuel , Algal biofuels , Sewage -- Purification -- Nutrient removal
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144955 , vital:38395
  • Description: Integrated algal pond systems (IAPS) are a passive water treatment technology derived from the Oswald designed advanced integrated wastewater pond systems (AIWPS®) and effect wastewater treatment based on biological activity of microorganisms within the system, solar energy and gravity. The technology consists of an advanced facultative pond (AFP), a series of interconnected high rate algal oxidation ponds (HRAOP) and algal settling ponds. The symbiotic relationship between microalgae and bacteria facilitated by paddlewheel mixing of HRAOP results in the formation of biomass aggregates known as MaB-flocs. MaB-floc formation enhances nutrient abstraction, gravitational sedimentation and separation from water hence forming two product streams; recyclable water and biomass, both with valorisation potential. This work aimed to determine the suitability of MaB-floc biomass generated in the HRAOP of an IAPS treating domestic sewage as feedstock for biofuel production based on the content of carbohydrate and lipid. Nutrient removal efficiency, biomass productivity and bulk lipid and carbohydrate concentration were monitored for two consecutive three-month periods in the winter and summer seasons of 2018/19. Maximum removal efficiencies of nitrogen and phosphorus were determined as 71% and 75% respectively, demonstrating the efficiency of IAPS as a wastewater treatment technology. MaB-floc biomass productivity in winter and summer was 9.4 g/m2/d and 16.5 g/m2/d respectively indicating the heavy influence of seasonal temperature, possibly day length, and solar irradiation on biomass productivity in the HRAOP. Summer productivity was lower than the maximum theoretical productivity of 25 g/m2/d possibly due to photoinhibition of photosynthesis as well as grazing pressures caused by the proliferation of rotifers mainly of the Brachionus genus. MaB-floc biomass consistently contained higher amounts of carbohydrate than lipid despite the changes in species dominance from Scenedesmus sp. and Desmodesmus sp. in winter to Pediastrum sp. in summer. Variations in MaB-floc biomass carbohydrate content were linked to changes in nitrogen concentration, mainly in the form of nitrates. Lower nitrogen concentration significantly increased the carbohydrate content of MaB-floc biomass from 17.5 ± 0.15% to 33.5 ± 0.3 % recorded in summer. In winter, biomass carbohydrate increased from 18.3 ± 1.2% to 35.8 ± 0.3%.To induce accumulation of carbohydrates through nitrogen starvation, isolated microalgal species native to the HRAOPs of the IAPS at Institute for Environmental Biotechnology Rhodes University(EBRU) were used. The outcome from the laboratory studies showed that carbon partitioning within isolated strains could be altered from carbohydrate to lipid which is more energy-rich. Hence, exploring the biodiesel production option using HRAOP MaB-floc biomass, which had a lipid content ranging between 12.1 ± 0.64 % and 13.9 ± 0.5 %, would require a preconditioning step in the form of nitrogen starvation to enhance its lipid content. Overall, the outcome of outdoor monitoring studies on biomass biochemical composition indicated that HRAOPs operating under natural environmental conditions preferentially generated a biomass rich in carbohydrate. Therefore, anaerobic digestion may be a more viable option for HRAOP MaB-floc biomass because of the high carbohydrate levels ranging between 24.9 ± 0.6 % and 25.6 ± 1.3 % of the dry MaB-floc biomass weight. Despite the low biomass C/N ratio (7.1 to 7.8), the MaB-floc biomass can be anaerobically co-digested with a higher C/N ratio (24) substrate such as in-pond digester sludge, to improve methane yields calculated to be between 0.31 m3 CH4/ kg MaB-floc biomass and 0.33 m3 CH4/ kg MaB-floc biomass. Anaerobic digestion of biomass also produces CO2 which can be recovered and added to HRAOPs to enhance MaB-floc biomass productivity while lowering greenhouse gas emissions from a wastewater treatment plant. The digestate from the anaerobic process, which is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus can be used as a biofertiliser. Thus, a potential MaB-floc biomass biorefinery consisting of biogas and bio-fertiliser pathways can be established using IAPS treating sewage as the platform technology. IAPS is a system designed to operate in a way that is passive and without substantial environmental impact but technological innovations and a reduction in the size of the system are required to make the technology more acceptable.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Observations of diffuse radio emission in the Abell 773 galaxy cluster

  • Authors: Sichone, Gift L
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Galaxies -- Clusters -- Observations , Radio astronomy -- Observations , Astrophysics -- South Africa , Westerbork Radio Telescope , A773 galaxy cluster , Astronomy -- Observations , Radio sources (Astronomy
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144945 , vital:38394
  • Description: In this thesis, we present 18 and 21 cm observations of the A773 galaxy cluster observed with the Westerbork radio telescope. The final 18 and 21 cm images achieve a noise level of 0.018 mJy beam‾ 1 and 0.025 mJy beam-1 respectively. After subtracting the compact sources, the low resolution images show evidence of a radio halo at 18 cm, whereas its presence is more uncertain in the low resolution 21 cm images due the presence of residual sidelobes from bright sources. In the joint analysis of both frequencies, the radio halo has a 5.37 arcmin2 area with a 6.76 mJy flux density. Further observations and analysis are, however, required to fully characterize its properties.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Perceptions of the sugar-sweetened beverage tax in South Africa: a comparative study

  • Authors: Jankeeparsad, Thanesha Reddy
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Soft drinks -- Taxation -- South Africa , Carbonated drinks -- Taxation -- South Africa , Soft drinks -- Health aspects , College students -- South Africa -- Attitudes
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142324 , vital:38070
  • Description: This exploratory, comparative study aimed to investigate perceptions of the participants in the study in South Africa regarding the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. The study further aimed to compare these perceptions with perceptions identified in selected foreign jurisdictions that have levied the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. A voluntary, paper-based, anonymous survey questionnaire that included both closed- and open-ended questions was selected as the primary method of data collection. This questionnaire was administered to post-graduate Bachelor of Commerce Accounting and Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting students, aged twenty-one years and older, studying at three residential universities in South Africa, during the 2018 academic year. An extensive analysis of literature available on sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, both locally and internationally, was conducted. The two main constructs (construct 1: perception of the sugar-sweetened beverage tax and the price of sugar-sweetened beverages and construct 2: the social impact of the sugarsweetened beverage tax) were then analysed using descriptive statistics. This study found that there is a significant association between gender and perception that the sugary beverage levy will be beneficial to health, with female perceptions of the benefit of the sugary beverage levy being greater than that of males. Respondents appear to have a positive perception of the sugary beverages levy, understand the sugary beverage levy, as well as the health benefits that will be derived from the levy. Respondents supported the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages if the revenue generated was used to improve the health care system and if the price of healthy foods decreased. Female respondents were found to drink fewer sugarsweetened beverages than male respondents, but females reported higher sugar-sweetened beverage consumption during stressful periods. The current study can possibly provide policy makers with more information regarding acceptance of the sugar-sweetened beverage tax and shape guidelines for future amendments of the tax imposed.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Performance of an integrated algal pond for treatment of domestic sewage: a process audit

  • Authors: Dube, Anele
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Water -- Purification , Sewage -- Purification -- Anaerobic treatment , Algae -- Biotechnology , Waste disposal -- South Africa , Integrated algae pond systems (IAPS)
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167043 , vital:41432
  • Description: Integrated algae pond systems (IAPS) are energy efficient, robust, passive systems that use the principles of fermentation, photosynthesis and microbial metabolism to remediate wastewater, producing a good quality effluent with reuse potential. In addition to the treatment of wastewater, IAPS have the ability to generate two additional product streams viz. biogas and biomass. The latter adds to the attractiveness of the system. However, the implementation of this technology, like many passive systems, has remained limited at a commercial scale, and the inclination is still towards grey technologies. The aim of this research was to investigate the capabilities and potential of a demonstration-scale IAPS and use results obtained to establish a process audit framework. The aspects considered for the audit included performance efficiency, effluent water quality, biomass composition, quantity and productivity within the ponds, and cost analysis of operation and maintenance over a 9-year period. Plant performance was closely monitored during the course of the study and this led to a review of previously adopted plant management strategies. Troubleshooting exercises were also carried out when plant performance declined. Results showed that IAPS efficiently reduced standard water parameters with the exception of pH, dissolved oxygen, and nitrate whose values increased from raw influent to final effluent. The following water quality parameters were established for the final effluent: total suspended solids 55 ± 7.1 mg. L-1 (n = 28); chemical oxygen demand 94.1 ± 10.6 mg. L-1 (n = 28) (after removal of algae); pH 9.9 ± 0.01 (n = 26); ammonium nitrogen 1.7 ± 0.3 mg. L-1 (n = 25); nitrate 3.3 ± 0.6 mg. L-1 (n = 25); ortho-phosphate 1.6 ± 0.2 mg. L-1 (n = 25); electrical conductivity 98.7 ± 2.0 mS m-1 (n = 26) and faecal coliforms (per 100 mL) 1482.6 ± 636.0 (n = 24). The final effluent measured consistently high chemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids, however close analysis showed that total suspended solids could be controlled by increasing the frequency of removal of settled biomass within the settling ponds. Biomass produced contained microalgae, bacteria, metazoa, and protozoa. The biomass productivity achieved was as high as 130.6 kg ha-1 d-1; however, about 33% was lost to the final effluent due to inadequate settling. Results obtained during the course of this study and outcomes of earlier work on IAPS are taken as the baseline to determine parameters needed for the development of the process audit framework. Techniques utilised to derive the blue print process audit protocol for IAPS included a turtle diagram, a flow diagram and a checklist. Attention to plant management proved vital in determining overall performance. Cost, including operating and maintenance, of treating water using the demonstration scale system on a per person equivalent per year basis was determined as ZAR 123.87 (where, ZAR to USD = 0.07).
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Photo-physicochemical characterization and in vitro Photodynamic Therapy Activity of Phthalocyanine-Graphene Quantum Dots Conjugates

  • Authors: Nene, Lindokuhle Cindy
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Photochemotherapy , Cancer -- Chemotherapy , Quantum dots , Graphene , Nanomedicine
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140463 , vital:37891
  • Description: This thesis reports on the preparation of several differently substituted Zn(II) phthalocyanine (Pc) complexes and their respective graphene quantum dots (GQDs) conjugates. In addition, Pc complexes substituted with biologically active molecules used in cancer therapeutics, namely: benzothiazole and morpholine, were also prepared and conjugated to GQDs. The photo-physicochemical properties were determined for both the complexes and their respective conjugates including the fluorescence/ triplet quantum yields and lifetimes as well as the singlet oxygen generating abilities. Upon conjugation to GQDs, the fluorescence of the Pc complexes decreased (insignificant decrease in some cases), with an increase in the triplet quantum yields. However, the singlet quantum yields of the Pcs in the conjugates did not show an increase with the increase in the triplet quantum yields. This is suspected to be due to the screening effect. The cytotoxicity of the complexes in vitro decreased upon conjugation, as a result of reduced actual number of Pc units provided in the conjugate for therapy. An increase in the efficacy upon quaternization was observed, and a relatively better performance was also observed for the cationic complex in combination with the biotin- functionalized GQDs, 7-GQDs-Biotin. Moreover, the cellular uptake of 7-GQDs-Biotin over 24 h was relatively high compared to complexes alone and other Pcs-GQDs conjugates.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Photocatalysis of 4-chloro and 4-nonylphenols using novel symmetric phthalocyanines and asymmetric porphyrin supported on polyacrylonitrite nanofibres

  • Authors: Jones, Benjamin Martin
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Nanoparticles , Phthalocyanines , Electrospinning , Porphyrins , Nanofibers , Photocatalysis , Photocatalysis -- Environmental aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164770 , vital:41163
  • Description: This work explores the synthesis and characterisation of novel symmetrical phthalocyanines and novel asymmetric porphyrins that have been embedded or linked respectively,and electrospun into fibres for application in the photocatalysis of environmental pollutants. The phthalocyanines contain pyrrole moieties without hetero atom linkers to maintain a rigid structure. The porphyrin contains a carboxy moiety utilized to construct an amide bond between the complex and the polymer prior to the spinning process. The new compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (HNMR)Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), MALDI-TOF and UV-vis spectroscopy. The general trends of fluorescence, triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields are described as well as their appropriate lifetimes. The photocatalytic activity of phthalocyanine embedded fibres were compared against those that had been dyed. Unfortunately, during the degradation process, the dyed fibres leeched compound and the studies could not be continued. It was seen that the porphyrin fibres linked to the polymer showed the most efficient photocatalytic activity against 4-cholorphenol and 4-nonylphenol due to irradiation at lower wavelengths consequently having higher frequencies and transferring more energy.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Poor whites and the post-apartheid labour market: a study of perceptions and experiences of work among residents in a homeless shelter in Johannesburg

  • Authors: Wollnik, Nadjeschda
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Poor whites -- South Africa , Poor whites -- South Africa -- Atitudes , Shelters for the homeless -- South Africa , Unemployed -- South Africa -- Attitudes , Unemployed -- South Africa , South Africa -- Social conditions -- 1994- , South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1991-
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSocSci
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148540 , vital:38748
  • Description: Despite historical precedents, poverty among white people in South Africa remains an anomaly and a paradox. Likewise, the perceptions of work and employment among poor (under- and unemployed) whites in contemporary South Africa have received scant attention in the scholarly literature. Using the conceptual frameworks of critical whiteness studies and segmented labour market theory – as a way of combining subjective and objective considerations – this research seeks to describe and explain the perceptions and experiences of the labour market among poor whites living in a homeless shelter in Johannesburg. Eight respondents were chosen for extended, in-depth interviews in an effort to develop a fine-grained understanding of the pre-existing circumstances that affected their access to information and thus shaped their choices in the labour market, as well as to ascertain what they believed to be the barriers that they face in the labour market. The findings varied, with most of the interviewees seeing ‘being white’ as the reason for their poverty and unemployment, while others exhibited some awareness of the role of their lack of skills and qualifications in their capacity to compete in higher segments of the labour market. The findings were also varied in the sense that not all interviewees experienced poverty in the same manner, with some having been part of the middle class prior to becoming poor, while others having been poor their entire lives. It was also found that class or socio-economic status seemed to have a greater impact than race on the labour market prospects of the interviewees. It is argued that the perceptions of these poor whites, which are informed by their lack of information about the workings of the labour market, rather than their lack of qualifications or their race, most affected their prospects in the labour market. The mechanisms they rely on when seeking employment reveal a poor knowledge of the local labour market and the ways in which they think their skillsets match up to the types of jobs they desire. The lack of understanding of the South African labour market and the policies that are in place to redress the legacies of apartheid are among the factors influencing the lack of success these poor whites are experiencing in their search for work.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Prediction of mass spectra for natural products using an ab initio approach

  • Authors: Novokoza, Yolanda
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Molecular dynamics , Molecular dynamics -- Computer simulation , Mass spectroscopy , Electron impact ionization
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167166 , vital:41443
  • Description: Mass spectrometry (MS) is a technique that measures the fragmentation of molecules, dependent on the molecule’s chemical composition and structure, by first introducing a charge on the molecules. The instrument records the mass to charge ratio, but the energy from the ionization process causes the molecule to fragment. The resultant mass spectrum is highly indicative of not only the molecule analyzed, but also its chemical composition. MS is used in research and industry for both routine and research purposes. One such way to ionize molecules for MS is by bombarding the molecule with electrons which is the basis of electron impact mass spectrometry (EIMS). Although EIMS is widely used, prediction of electron impact mass spectra from first principles is a challenging problem due to a need to accurately determine the probability of different fragmentation pathways of a molecule. Ab initio molecular dynamics based methods are able to explore in an automatic fashion the energetically available fragmentation paths thus give reaction mechanisms in an unbiased way. The mass spectra of five molecules have been explored in work-flows leading to the prediction of mass spectra. These molecules include three natural products alpha-hispanolol, PFB oxime derivative and boronolide (for which experimental mass spectra were not available) and two compounds from the NIST database (for which experimental mass spectra were available). For each of these systems many random conformations were generated using the RDKit library. To all conformations random velocities were applied to each atom. Ab initio molecular dynamics was performed on each conformer, using these initial random velocities using CP2K software, at DFTB+ level at a variety of highly raised temperatures (to accelerate the formation of fragments) Fragmentation was monitored by iterating through all bonds, and identifying bond breakages during dynamics. Graph theoretical packages were used then to track distinct fragments generated. For each of these fragments, charges were determined from Mulliken analysis for all atoms on the fragment from the QM calculations and sum of atomic spin densities per fragment was also plotted. The fragment with the greatest charge (corresponding to the formation of a cation fragment) was taken for plotting on the mass spectrum. Finally, from the mass of the fragment and its elemental composition, the isotopic distribution for the fragment was determined, and this distribution was included by addition in to the mass spectrum. For all trajectories, the sum of all isotopic distributions determined the final mass spectrum.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Re-adjustment of masculinities and sexualities amongst first year male students at Rhodes University in the wake of the residence Consent Talk’s programme

  • Authors: Ntisana, Thulani
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Communication in higher education - South Africa -- Makhanda , Rape in universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Masculinity -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Male college students -- Social life and customs -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Male college students -- Sexual behavior -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Male college students -- Conduct of life -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Men -- Identity , Male domination (Social structure) , Patriarchy -- South Africa , Women -- Violence against -- South Africa , Social problems -- South Africa , Consent Talks , #RUreferencelist
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148956 , vital:38790
  • Description: This study seeks to understand how Rhodes University first-year male students adjusted and re-adjusted their masculinities and sexualities in light of the Consent Talk programme offered by the university, the aim of which is to liberate masculinities and femininities from patriarchal and dominant discourses. In the past 26 years, South Africa has seen an increase in academic research establishing causal links between boys, men, masculinities and a number of social ills such as the HIV/AIDs epidemic, violence against women, substance abuse, homophobia, gender-based violence and a lower pass rate amongst boys. This in turn inspired an increase in interventions seeking to involve boys and men in order to identify and address their role in combating gender based violence. These various forms of social deviances that have been linked to masculinity have indicated that young men's masculinity is in crisis and as a result needs great attention in order to address the social issues linked to them. Institutions of higher learning have proven to be microcosms of the larger society. Universities have become highly sexualised spaces; coercive sexual practices in heterosexual relationships are a norm, young women don't feel safe and have lost confidence in universities addressing their concerns. With the emergence of the #RUreferencelist in 2016, the spotlight fell on Rhodes University; young women challenged the rape culture and sexual assaults on campus. In 2016, staff members who are well-informed and educated on issues of gender, sexuality and rape initiated discussions with students in their residences; these discussions were later to be called the Consent Talks. This research makes use of Pierre Bourdieu’s critical theory in understanding how young men negotiate their masculinity within the field of higher education, at Rhodes University. Bourdieu’s three main concepts, field, habitus and capital are used to describe how young men negotiate their masculinity and how the field of gender intersects with the field of higher education. A qualitative paradigm has been employed. The study has collected data through the use of in-depth interviews to get a richer insight into the participants’ perspectives. There were 15 interviews conducted in total for this study, 14 were with first year male students, and one with a senior official of the University. The data was analysed through a qualitative thematic analysis. The findings of the research reveal that some of the participants were exposed to patriarchal and dominant forms of masculinity when growing up. However, most of the participants revealed they were also exposed to alternative masculinities. These were either taught or learnt at home, from family members, circumcision school, church or peers in society. Both the dominant and alternative masculinities were revealed in the discourses of what it means to be a man and in how the young men performed their masculinities. Furthermore, one of the major themes that emerged was that most of the young men in the study were raised by single mothers with mothers playing a significant role in encouraging healthy masculinities. The findings went on to reveal that families (mothers, fathers, older siblings and culture) play a role in socialising and shaping healthy masculinities. The acceptance or rejection of either dominant or alternative masculinities was influenced by an exposure to an environment that either encouraged or shunned either dominant or alternative masculinities. The findings further unveils that different societies are strongly identified with their own definitions of what it means to be a man and are not open to other definitions of masculinity. Moreover, most of the participants accepted the content of what was taught in the Consent Talks; however sought healthy participation, interaction and inclusion of female students. Lastly, the study has also revealed that knowledge of the consequences of breaking (the law) university’s policy does affect some change of behaviour in potential perpetrators.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Red and other short stories

  • Authors: Harrison, Francis J
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141583 , vital:37987
  • Description: Part A: Thesis (Creative Work);Part B: Portfolio. Final submission for the degree of Master of Arts in Creative Writing (MACW).
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Relevant knowledge: content analysis of research conducted by South African psychology masters students (2008-2012

  • Authors: Whitehead, Tracey
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Psychology -- Research -- South Africa , Psychology -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa , Psychology students -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167683 , vital:41503
  • Description: In South Africa, Psychology has had a chequered past mainly due to its role in the justification of apartheid policies. Due to apartheid's socio-economic injustices, confidence in the applicability of psychological knowledge to South Africa's social problems was insufficient. Psychologists attempted to raise consciousness of the social relevance of psychology by contributing relevant knowledge and being reactive to social inequalities and related psychosocial issues affecting South Africa. This study aimed to conduct a content analysis of trends in research produced by Psychology Masters' students in the fields of Clinical, Counselling and Research psychology over a period of 5 years (2008-2012). The corpus of data was then compared with the key issues raised in the United Nations Development Programme's South Africa human development report (2003), along with a focus on articles published by Macleod (2004) and Macleod and Howell (2013). It emerged that Empirical Qualitative studies, based on post-modern frameworks, as well as HIV/AIDS, Knowledge Production, Assessment and Measurement and Programme development and evaluation, dominated psychological research. Participants were mainly urban, middle class adults living in the 3 wealthiest provinces. University students were the most popular participant group. While it is encouraging that students were attempting to engage with psychosocial issues, the limited number of key social issues addressed, the under-representation of certain sectors of the South African population, as well as the impact of socioeconomic status on well-being requires greater attention at Masters' level to ensure Psychology's psychosocial relevance.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Reliving it through pen

  • Authors: Chidi, Tsosheletso
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: South African fiction (English) , Northern Sotho poetry
  • Language: English , Northern Sotho
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163566 , vital:41049
  • Description: This document consists of two parts: PART A: English Half Thesis (Creative Work) PART B: Dual Language Portfolio (Sepedi and English). This thesis focuses on witnessing the trauma of rape, inability to move on, denial and attempt to forget, it draws attention also to emotional abuse in a place called home, death and place. My work is influenced by Carolyn Fourche’s anthology, Against Forgetting: Poetry of Witness, Adam Bradley and Andrew Dubois’s The Anthology of the Rap, as well as Lesego Rampolokeng poem “Welcome to New Consciousness”.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Resisting the ‘Native Informant’ trope in examples of African Diaspora art and literature

  • Authors: Nuen, Tinika
  • Date: 2020
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/131657 , vital:36708
  • Description: This thesis draws attention to the existence of the ‘native informant’ trope in the African Diaspora. It argues that a strong emphasis towards studying diasporic groups in relation to their African origin revives, consequently, the colonial politics that underpin the continent as an unknown mythical place. In response to this issue, I introduce multidisciplinary case studies that highlight various artists and authors who resist and challenge the diasporic individual as the ‘native informant’. Their works reinterpret and redefine the relationship between African communities, their connection to the continent and their experiences of living abroad. Analysing the exhibitions Looking Both Ways, Africa Remix and Flow, I investigate their visual art discourses that interpret diasporic artists and their works as cultural embodiments of their African background. As a result, the three art shows marginalise other potential readings to view diasporic experiences. This thesis introduces three resistant themes that reconceive the diasporic person’s relationship to the African Diaspora based on language, spatial interaction and self-identification opposed to a geographic tie. The first theme (language) references Victor Ekpuk’s drawings and Isidore Okpewho’s novel Call Me By My Rightful Name to suggest a language based diasporic experience. The second theme (spatial interaction) looks at Emeka Ogboh’s sound installations and Teju Cole’s novel Open City. Both works examine a diasporic individual’s conflicted engagement with her place of origin. The third theme (self-identification) considers the individual-community relationship in Wura-Natasha Ogunji’s performance art and Chika Unigwe’s novel On Black Sisters’ Street. Each of these visual-literary pairs focus on various components that shape the African diasporic lifestyle. My research re-interprets the continent’s significance in the diaspora from a geographic construct to a socio-spiritual connection to a community. Firstly, it outlines the persistent issue of a colonial residue in Africa’s definition as a physical-cultural space, and secondly, it offers three alternative discourses to read diasporic identities outside a geographic framework. I argue that belonging is a social individual-collective effort rather than an anchor to a tangible environment.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Rethinking corporate social responsibility in the mining industry: focusing on recipients’ perspectives

  • Authors: Hlatshwayo, Thina M
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Case studies , Mining industries -- Social aspects-- South Africa , Sustainable developmenet -- Social aspects -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141711 , vital:37998
  • Description: Views on the importance of companies engaging in CSR initiatives have been debated widely and critics of the concept continue to argue both locally and globally. The objective of the study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the recipients’ perspectives on their involvement in CSR projects implemented in their community by a chosen mining company and the successes and challenges of the project. A qualitative research approach was used for the study. Using nonprobability purpose sampling, a total of 15 participants from Lusikisiki were selected for the study. The data obtained was analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The results of the study were discussed based on the three research questions of the study which focused on recipients’ perspectives on their involvement in the projects and their perceptions on the successes and challenges of the projects. The study found that the chosen mining company made a significant contribution towards developing the community. Furthermore, the study found that recipients’ involvement in the projects enabled them to realize their assets in one of the projects as a result of the shift in approach by the organisation as the project progressed (Needs Based Approach to ABCD Approach). In addition, the study found that the successes of the projects changed the recipients’ perceptions of themselves and enabled them to actively engage in transforming their lives. However, the projects did face many challenges and recipients posited that more still needs to be done by organisations to develop communities and ensure that projects remain sustainable long after their partnership has dissolved.
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  • Date Issued: 2020

Rhodes University students’ experiences of living as students on National'Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding

Satire in J.J. R. Jolobe's literary works : a critique in relation to contemporary South Africa

  • Authors: Benayo, Xolela
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Jolobe, James J. R. , Xhosa literature -- History and criticism , Xhosa poetry -- History and criticism , Humor in literature , Xhosa literature -- Humor , Xhosa language
  • Language: English , Xhosa
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/161762 , vital:40667
  • Description: J.J.R. Jolobe is regarded as one of the individuals who made a valuable contribution to the development of isiXhosa literature through his works, notably in his poetry (Ilitha, Umyezo; Jolobe 1936). His poetry ranges from abstract subjects to more philosophical matters. This study is aimed at decoding the manner in which he employs satire to conscientise African people of the then horrible situation that they were facing. With that said, poetry will not be the only work that this thesis analyses in the process of evaluating Jolobe’s satire; his essays will also be examined (Amavo; Jolobe 1940). Based on the writings of various authors specialising in the subject, satire has been deemed to be a style of literary writing, one which involves invective satire. For the researcher, that statement will be rebutted, as it will be argued that the mode of satire need not be wholly invective. Jolobe’s light-hearted satire not only showcases the amusing side of his writings, but also indicates the seriousness with which they were intended. Themes covered in Jolobe’s satire have inspired the researcher to evaluate these literary texts in relation to modern contexts, especially when it comes to the relationship between the lines of the author’s experience and the public. With that said, the social role of satire is something that one cannot deny. One could therefore say that there is an urgent need for African satirists to face the existing social and economic reality as authentically as possible. The voice of a satirist should also echo the voice of their society as a whole. Satirical study in post-colonial Africa, in South Africa in particular, is useful due to the idea that the works of the likes of Jolobe may diminish in significance due to neo-colonialism. In fact, this is the point which is considered in this study of Jolobe’s satire. This study also examines stages afforded to the development of satire in Africa, especially in the post-colonial era. The purpose is to identify the effects of satire that are related to socio-political as well as religious factors. These factors are often seen as those that play a vital role is one’s personal morals, and those that are meant to shape the whole community. Jolobe addresses imperialism and the class struggle, which speaks to the society’s loyalties regarding the mobilization toward realizing the dream of being independent. This speaks to the works analysed, revealing protests against oppression and exploitation by imperialists; such works show how inhumane people could be against those who they deem to be beneath their standards. Researchers like Mahlasela (1973), Sirayi (1985), Kwetana (2000) and Khumalo (2015) are amongst those who have made it a point to study Jolobe to ensure that these works are kept alive, along with their significance. Other prospective researchers can follow suite in researching the great Jolobe. In ensuring that the aims of this study come to light, the researcher will be using socialist realism as a way of seeing that the works of Jolobe are realistic in nature. With that said, there will be an exploration of allegoric satire. Satiric allegory will be evaluated with regard to the view that it represents a unique slant on satire, whereby it deems satire to be more than just a supportive method of literary criticism. This allows the researcher to hold the view that satire should not be a restrictive framework when dealing with African literature. Satire as a modern form of criticism can be viewed as having an element of humanism, which would result in the satirist doing all he can to make sure that what is satirized is not isolated from the struggle of the community. It is for the above-mentioned reasons that we see a big challenge in the future development of satiric discourse in African literature.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2020

Seasonal trends of rainfall intensity, ground cover and sediment dynamics in the Little Pot River and Gqukunqa River catchments, South Africa

  • Authors: Herd-Hoare, Sean
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Land degradation -- Control -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Vegetation mapping -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rain and rainfall -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Gqukunqa River catchment (South Africa) , Little Pot River catchment (South Africa) , Tsitsa River catchment (South Africa)
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146288 , vital:38512
  • Description: Natural rangelands provide a variety of ecosystem services including livestock production which occurs on land under freehold land tenure and on land under communal tenure. There is an ongoing debate around the extent to which land degradation is occurring on these rangelands under different land management and land tenure systems and what the main degradation drivers are. Over-grazing, rainfall and soil type are key drivers of rangeland dynamics and the resultant sediment yield in the river systems, however, over-grazing is an outcome of land management while rainfall and soil type are natural drivers. This study explores the relationship between rainfall and daily sediment flux as well as the seasonal trends of vegetation cover and the study is part of a greater research effort called the Tsitsa Project which is based in the Tsitsa River catchment (near Maclear, Eastern Cape, South Africa). The Tsitsa Project aims at developing and managing both land and water in a sustainable way by improving the land, water and lives of people living in the Tsitsa River catchment. The restoration efforts of the Tstisa Project will aid in extending the lifespan of both the proposed dams on the Tsitsa River. The Tsitsa River catchment is characterised by grasslands, steep topography, highly erodible soils with many large gullies present and a very high sediment yield in the Tsitsa River which allowed for the exploration of some of the system drivers of sediment yield in this catchment. The study involved two sub-catchments of the Upper Tsitsa River catchment of different land management strategies: one dominated by commercial livestock farms (Little Pot River catchment) and one dominated by communal rangelands (Gqukunqa River catchment). The aim of this study was to determine the seasonal trends of rainfall intensity, ground cover and sediment dynamics in the Little Pot River and Gqukunqa River catchments. The purpose of the findings was to improve management strategies in degraded areas and catchments. In order to achieve this aim a variety of field and desktop methods were used. Field methods involved measuring variables including: vegetation biomass, vegetation cover, soil surface hardness, biocrust cover and slope angle for a range of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values from the Sentinel-2A sensor. The study assessed the system response of the field variables in both catchments over one rainfall season (2018-2019). Desktop methods included various NDVI analyses as well as analyses of trends and relationships between vegetation dynamics, rainfall and sediment. The relationship between erosive rainfall events, daily rainfall, antecedent rainfall and daily sediment flux was explored over the time period of January 2016 to January 2019 and October 2015 to January 2019 for the Little Pot River catchment and the Gqukunqa River catchment respectively. NDVI was explored as a proxy for vegetation cover to extrapolate across the catchments and monitoring period. NDVI was found to have a weak positive relationship with vegetation cover and biomass (R2 values ranged from 0,04 to 0,525). Mean monthly catchment NDVI values, biomass and vegetation cover increased throughout the wet season of 2018-2019 in both catchments. Mean monthly NDVI values increased from 0,26 to 0,55 in the Little Pot River catchment and from 0,29 to 0,53 in the Gqukunqa River catchment over the course of the 2018-2019 wet season. NDVI, biomass and vegetation cover was found to be higher on south-facing slopes than north-facing slopes in both catchments for the majority of the wet season. The Gqukunqa River has significantly higher daily sediment fluxes than the Little Pot River despite similar NDVI and rainfall intensities which is owed to the dispersive soils in the Gqukunqa River catchment. Soil surface hardness results were inconclusive due to rainfall before or during every field trip which changed the properties of the soil. The largest erosive rainfall, daily rainfall and daily sediment events occurred from January to March each wet season in both catchments. Rainfall intensity and sediment fluxes were found to have a weak relationship, however, there was a stronger relationship found between antecedent rainfall and sediment flux. The larger daily sediment fluxes in each catchment often did not result from an erosive rainfall event on the same day but rather from multiple days of rainfall which can result in saturated soils and runoff leading to surface and sub-surface erosion. The possibility of sub-surface erosion via chemical processes contributing to the larger sediment events was also explored to explain the stronger relationship between antecedent rainfall and daily sediment flux.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2020

Sexual attraction and mating compatibility between Thaumatotibia leucotreta populations and implications for semiochemical dependent technologies

  • Authors: Upfold, Jennifer Kate
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- South Africa , Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- Reproduction , Citrus -- Disease and pests -- Control -- South Africa , Insect sterilization -- South Africa , Pheromones , Pheromone traps
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148526 , vital:38747
  • Description: False codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick), is the most important pest for the cultivation of citrus in South Africa. False codling moth is indigenous to southern Africa and is a regulated pest of many international markets for phytosanitary concerns. Considerable research efforts have been invested in the past decades to develop semiochemcial technologies, such as monitoring with sex pheromones, attract-and-kill, mating disruption and the sterile insect technique. One of the potential obstacles identified with semiochemical control is the differences in the ratio of the compounds comprising the sex pheromone at different geographical locations, resulting in what is known as regional attraction. This has been identified in FCM populations from three different countries, however, regional attraction within South African FCM populations was unknown. Therefore, the study assessed the genetic integrity of five laboratory-reared FCM populations originating from geographically isolated populations in South Africa using the AFLP technique in order to assess regional attractiveness within the country. The results found isolated populations from Addo, Citrusdal, Marble Hall, Nelspruit and a fifth group found to be closely related to Addo and Citrusdal called the ‘Old’ colony. These five genetically isolated populations as well as a population from Xsit (Pty) Ltd, used for the sterile insect technique (SIT), were used in regional attractiveness trials. Males were significantly (P = <0.05) more attracted to females originating from the same population. No significant attraction could be determined from the sterile males, as the recapture rates in the trap were too low. Furthermore, regional attractiveness was assessed through choice/ no-choice mating compatibility trials. Significant sexual isolation (ISI) occurred between mating combinations Addo × Nelspruit (ISI = 0,13; t2 = 6.23; p = 0.02), Addo × Marble Hall (ISI = 0,11; t2 = 4.72; p = 0.04), Citrusdal × Nelspruit (ISI = 0,11; t2 = 4.95; p = 0.04), and Citrusdal × Marble Hall (ISI = 0,12; t2 = 4.31; p = 0.04). In these combinations, Addo and Citrusdal males were found to have outcompeted Nelspruit and Marble Hall males for more mating events. Significant sexual isolation was also recorded for Sterile × Marble Hall (ISI = 0.12; t2 = 4.98; p =0.01) and Sterile × Citrusdal (ISI = 0.13; t2 = 3.96; p = 0.01) populations. The male relative performance index was significant in both combinations, indicating that non-sterile laboratory males outcompeted the sterile males in these two combinations. When given no choice, evaluated as spermatophore transfer/ female/ 48h, all males (including sterile) were successful in transferring spermatophores to all FCM populations, with no significant differences. These results indicate that there may be incipient pre-isolation mechanisms affected by local natural selection, resulting in localised sexual attraction via differences in the sex pheromone ratios. These findings provide important information for semiochemical technologies and the implication of these results with regard to monitoring with sex pheromones, attract-and-kill, mating disruption and sterile insect technique are discussed.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2020

Shoutfighting and other fiction

Social media and brand image: a longitudinal study of Eastern Cape universities

  • Authors: Mnqeta, Lusanda
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Multivariate analysis -- Graphic methods , Branding (Marketing) -- South Africa , Chernoff faces , Social media -- South Africa , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Marketing , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Marketing -- Case studies
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143959 , vital:38298
  • Description: It is important for Higher Education Institutions to have marketing strategies that focus on understanding the customer needs in the 21st century. The rapid growth of the internet and the Web 2.0 have led individuals and organisations into applying social media as a branding and communication tool. Hence this study focused on comparing the influence of social media on four Eastern Cape universities in relation to social media metrics and visually demonstrated through the computer-generated human face, the Chernoff faces. Using diary and literature study, the study adopted a case study research design. The researcher sampled four universities using a purposeful sampling technique. Chernoff faces were used to enhance the ability of the reader to immediately understand significant occurrences based on social media metric indicators. To demonstrate multivariate data, the faces brought an original method of expressing complex data as opposed to traditional methods. The study found that Brand management and Resource-Based Theory (RBT) plays a pivotal role in social media marketing as this can lead to organisations having a competitive advantage. The study recommended that strategies to utilise social media as a resource should be put in place to lead to competitive advantage, as suggested by the Resource-based theory. The study concluded that various social media factors can influence the brand image of universities, positively (going to buy) and negatively (never going to buy). Both positive and negative purchase intent are found to be an influential indicator on the brand as they are affected by customer satisfaction.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2020
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