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The Legal and Social Context of Urban Movement, Housing, and Coping Mechanisms through Inheritance Practices amongst Women from Phokeng, Gugulethu, and Fingo Village

  • Authors: Hellemann, Phemelo C
  • Date: 2025
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/484263 , vital:78890 , https://doi.org/10.1080/02582473.2024.2420216
  • Description: South Africa’s urban restrictions in the twentieth century under colonial and apartheid administrations disenfranchised African women by limiting their mobility and access to housing. Oppressive land policies, pass laws, and patriarchal customary practices assigned low status to African women. The article uses an African feminist lens to analyse how colonial, racial, and traditional structures determined African women’s legal status in acquiring housing in urban areas. It then examines the strategies that women of Phokeng, Gugulethu, and Fingo Village used to access housing despite these restrictions. The Phokeng case examines how women navigated the dual identity of urban and rural living. The Gugulethu case shows how multigenerational living and matrilineal inheritance strategies around leasehold property empowered women to embrace female headship in the home from 1948. The Fingo Village case demonstrates the unconventional customary practices by which women could become custodians of family freehold property. These case studies demonstrate how inheritance became a mode of power and agency for African women. This African feminist comparative account adds to the literature on African women’s urban land narratives.
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  • Date Issued: 2025

The taxed informal economy: Fiscal burdens and inequality in Accras

  • Authors: Anyidoho, Nana A , Gallien, Max , Rogan, Michael , Van den Boogaard, Vanessa
  • Date: 2025
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478095 , vital:78154 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106879
  • Description: The common assumption that informal economies are untaxed has underpinned arguments that they represent an ‘untapped goldmine’ for government coffers. However, there has been limited empirical engagement with this assumption. While some studies have highlighted that many informal businesses pay both formal and informal taxes, there has been little systematic accounting of these payments. Using a novel dataset of 2,700 informal enterprises in the Accra metropolitan area in Ghana, this article presents the first geographically representative account of the nature, distribution and impact of taxation in an urban informal sector. We find that the majority of informal sector operators in this context pay a range of taxes and fees, which together amount to a significant burden, especially for low earners. Two key findings emerge in relation to the structure of these taxes. First, the incidence and burden of tax payments is highly uneven and strongly correlated with visibility to the state, suggesting that taxation is driven more by patterns of state enforcement than the choices of informal operators. Second, taxes and fees are highly regressive, with lower-earning operators paying significantly more in relation to their earnings. These findings have important implications for both our conception of informal businesses and efforts to tax informal businesses in low- and middle-income countries.
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  • Date Issued: 2025

The taxed informal economy: Fiscal burdens and inequality in Accras

  • Authors: Anyidoho, Nana A , Gallien, Max , Rogan, Michael , Van den Boogaard, Vanessa
  • Date: 2025
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478084 , vital:78153 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106879
  • Description: The common assumption that informal economies are untaxed has underpinned arguments that they represent an ‘untapped goldmine’ for government coffers. However, there has been limited empirical engagement with this assumption. While some studies have highlighted that many informal businesses pay both formal and informal taxes, there has been little systematic accounting of these payments. Using a novel dataset of 2,700 informal enterprises in the Accra metropolitan area in Ghana, this article presents the first geographically representative account of the nature, distribution and impact of taxation in an urban informal sector. We find that the majority of informal sector operators in this context pay a range of taxes and fees, which together amount to a significant burden, especially for low earners. Two key findings emerge in relation to the structure of these taxes. First, the incidence and burden of tax payments is highly uneven and strongly correlated with visibility to the state, suggesting that taxation is driven more by patterns of state enforcement than the choices of informal operators. Second, taxes and fees are highly regressive, with lower-earning operators paying significantly more in relation to their earnings. These findings have important implications for both our conception of informal businesses and efforts to tax informal businesses in low- and middle-income countries.
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  • Date Issued: 2025

The use of gabions as an eco-engineering approach to enhance estuarine fish habitats in urbanised waterways

  • Authors: Seath, Jessica L , Firth, L B , Froneman, P William , Claassens, Louw
  • Date: 2025
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479396 , vital:78297 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.10743
  • Description: Anthropogenic activities are often concentrated around coastal ecosystems. Harbours and marinas comprising artificial structures with steeper orientations and reduced topographic complexities than natural ecosystems contribute to habitat alteration and biodiversity loss. Ecological engineering aims to mitigate these impacts by integrating ecological principles into coastal development to enhance habitat potential and improve biodiversity. This study investigated the potential of gabions (rock-filled wire mesh baskets) to enhance fish abundance and biodiversity by comparing these structures to conventional seawalls in an urbanised marina in Knysna, South Africa. Remote underwater video systems were used to determine fish diversity, abundance and composition over a 12-month period from August 2020 to August 2021. Overall, a significantly greater abundance and diversity of fish were associated with gabions compared to seawalls. Importantly, the gabions supported an endangered species, the Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis), and two near threatened species recorded only on the gabions. This study highlights the efficacy of using structurally complex gabions as a viable ecoengineering alternative to less complex seawalls to enhance fish habitat.
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  • Date Issued: 2025

Towards a relational understanding of youth lifestyles and wellbeing in climate resilient urban development insights from a seven-city study of young people

  • Authors: Prendergast, Kate , Hayward, Bronwyn , Aoyagi, Midori , Burningham, Kate , Hasan, M Mehedi , Jackson, Tim , Jha, Vimlendu , Loukianov, Anastasia , Mattar, Helio , Schudel, Ingrid J , Yoshida, Aya
  • Date: 2025
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/482593 , vital:78669 , https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2025.2454985
  • Description: Supporting youth wellbeing in low carbon ways is a crucial challenge in cities. Seventy percent of youth will live in urban areas by 2050 and urban sites account for 67–72% of the global share of carbon emissions. Young people’s consumption behaviour including energy use is increasingly identified as a key driver of urban emissions. This paper expands beyond dominant individualised approaches to examining urban youth wellbeing and consumption to interrogate the relational contexts in which young people live, their wellbeing aspirations, and the conditions that enable or lock-in lifestyle emissions. Applying a relational lens and thematic analysis to focus group data collected from 332 youth aged 12–24 years in seven cities of the global South and North, the paper examines experiences shaping youth wellbeing in the context of urban consumption activities. Findings emphasised the complexities of “linked lives”, foregrounding family, peer and community relationships as critical in shaping youth wellbeing and consumption.
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  • Date Issued: 2025

Transformative learning in geography education: international perspectives and practices

  • Authors: Wilmot, P Dianne , Bednarz, Sarah H , Fatima, Munazza , De la Vega, Alfonso G , Grob, Regula , Mäsgen, Johanna , Wilson, Sophie
  • Date: 2025
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/483010 , vital:78711 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10382046.2025.2473104
  • Description: This paper critically reflects on how transformative learning (TL) is described both conceptually and as a process in the literature in different fields and national contexts. We articulate a definition of TL and justify why geography education is an ideal vehicle for enabling it. This is followed by a series of case studies explaining how TL can be and is being implemented in the curriculum topic of climate change in different countries. The findings of the analysis of the case studies are used to make propositions for further development and enactment of TL in geography education. The insights provided by this paper may help to move the field forward by opening new avenues of research and providing opportunities for cultivating a stronger geography education voice in global discourses about the types of learning required in a time of socio-ecological crisis and rapid societal change. Furthermore, it may provide practical ideas for improving learning and enhancing teaching practices which curriculum developers, learning resource producers, and practitioners may find useful.
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  • Date Issued: 2025

Using Topic Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge to Study Indigenous Knowledge Integration in Grade 11 Physical Science Lessons: Teachers’ Perspectives

  • Authors: Mdleleni, Sinethemba , Ngcoza, Kenneth M
  • Date: 2025
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/484360 , vital:78899 , https://doi.org/10.1080/18117295.2024.2444791
  • Description: Many learners seem to struggle to grasp the concepts of forces and Newton’s law of motion, possibly owing to decontextualised teaching pedagogies used in science classrooms. This study investigates Grade 11 Physical Sciences teachers’ perspectives in South Africa on integrating Indigenous Knowledge (IK) to improve learners’ understanding of science, particularly in relation to forces and Newton’s laws of motion. It adopts a qualitative case study approach, grounded in interpretive and Indigenous research paradigms, and framed by the Ubuntu perspective, which emphasises community and collective well-being. Purposive sampling was used to select three voluntary participants, and data were generated through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was based on Mavhunga and Rollnick’s Topic Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge framework, focusing on learners’ prior knowledge, curricular saliency, difficulties in understanding, and teaching strategies. Key themes included learners’ prior knowledge, content prioritisation, challenges in integrating IK and conceptual teaching strategies.
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  • Date Issued: 2025

Honorary Citation for the Conferment of Doctor of Laws honoris causa - Tandabantu Tennyson August

  • Authors: Rhodes University , Martin, Tom
  • Date: 2024-14-05
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Speeches , Transcripts, speech , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/432591 , vital:72885
  • Description: Rhodes University Honorary Doctorate Citation (5 April 2024) Tandabantu Tennyson August: 1980s. South Africa. In the Bantustans of the time, like the Transkei, the youth have little reason for hope. They have much reason for despair. Their choices seem limited to the politics of struggle or to crime, an attempt to gain some kind of advantage from the meagre and unacceptable options on offer. In those bleak times, what was needed was visionaries. People who could see beyond the current circumstances to a different future and imagine how best to prepare for it. Not as idealists, but as pragmatists. What would happen once circumstances change, once the struggle had succeeded? Would we be ready for it? What qualities would the youth need to have in order to both benefit from and participate in a new dispensation? One such visionary was Tandabantu Tennyson August, and it is my distinct pleasure to have the opportunity to tell you more about him. Born in 1948, Mr. August matriculated from Healdtown High School, before pursuing higher education at the University of Transkei, where obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in English and Geography. This was followed by Comparative Curriculum Studies at the University of South Africa, alongside obtaining teaching certificates from Lovedale and Cicira teacher training colleges, with majors in Physical Science, Mathematics, Science, and Mathematics. This solid educational foundation laid the groundwork for his impactful career in education. He taught at Wongalethu High, St Johns College and was deputy principal at Norwood, before taking up his first principalship, at Thanga High School in 1980. From 1984 to 1990 he was principal of Ndamase High School. During his tenure there, the matric pass rate never fell below 90%. From 1991 to 1995 he was principal Isivivane High School during which time the school was promoted from a primary to a high school. Following his distinguished service at schools, he worked at the Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education, first as a deputy chief education specialist (1996 – 2006) and then as chief education specialist (2006-2010). During that time, he played a pivotal role in establishing (in conjunction with Rhodes University) and being the provincial coordinator the Advanced Certificate in Education in English, followed by ACEs in mathematical literacy and life orientation. In 2016 he received a provincial teaching award for excellence. In 2017 he was awarded the Kade Asmal award for excellence in teaching. To this day, he remains an Executive member of the eastern cape Education advisory council. Quite a career. But there’s something I haven’t mentioned. He was also an accomplished rugby player of international standing. While at Lovedale College, he was selected to represent Border and then the South African African Rugby Board, playing England in Gqeberha in 1972, in a team that would later be known as the black springboks. He eventually received his green and gold springbok blazer as just recognition of his achievement. He incorporated his love of sport into his vision for the youth under his care, as part of his overriding mission of educating the whole person. He got everyone involved in sport, if not as a player, then as a supporter. Especially during his time as principal of Ndamase High School, I am led to believe, it was extremely intimidating for opposing teams to play them. Not only at Ndamase home games, but especially at their away games. There would be one bus for the team players, and six buses for the supporters. From 1986 – 1990: he was president of the Transkei schools` sports union (TSSU). But there’s yet another thing I haven’t mentioned. In 1981, just as his career as an educational leader was really taking off, he was involved in a terrible motor vehicle accident. It left him permanently disabled and, for much of his life, a wheelchair user. Rather than stopping him, it simply added another string to his bow, now as an advocate for the disabled. From 2012 – 2022: Chairperson Eastern Cape South African National Association For Special Education (SANASE): this organization cater for the education and wellbeing of learners with disabilities and special needs. In 2023, he was the national deputy president of the same organisation. From 2013 – to date: he is a Board Member on the National Council of & for persons with disabilities (NCPD). I had the pleasure of an extensive conversation with one of Mr August’s former pupils at Ndamase High, Professor Deyi Mbelani, the current director of Rhodes University’s Institute for the Study of Englishes in Africa. He told me many stories about Mr August’s leadership, that I only wish I had time to share with you now. I put it to Professor Mbelani that, having read about Mr August, the word that stood out for me was “dedication.” He agreed that “dedication” was the word, but that I must not leave out another: “vision”. It is Mr August’s status as a visionary that best defines him, he said. Going back over the above, I think he is right. Mr Chancellor I have the honour to request you to confer the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa on the Mr Tandabantu Tennyson August. *The above citation draws heavily on documents submitted as part of the honorary doctorate nomination process and others compiled by the Division of Communications and Advancement. - Tom Martin.
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  • Date Issued: 2024-14-05

A critical analysis of representations of disability on South African public university websites

  • Authors: Ndayi, Viwe
  • Date: 2024-12
  • Subjects: People with disabilities in mass media , Web sites , Public universities and colleges -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/70368 , vital:78343
  • Description: Since the end of apartheid in South Africa in 1994, the dominant discourses in South African higher education have pertained to redressing historical injustices and imbalances. Digital media are among the tools that have been used to communicate, promote and advance transformation in higher education. However, when compared to race and gender, there have been minimal attempts to problematise the representation of disabilities on higher education media platforms. This potentially leaves a substantial number of students, prospective students, their parents and support systems, on the outside of institutional processes that seemingly aim to create a sense of unity and belonging. The process potentially renders persons with disabilities as either invisible or represented in ways that are often uncritically imposed from dominant discourses about disability. This study aimed to determine how disabilities are represented on South African public university websites. The analysis of the representational dynamics in these virtual spaces during the National Disability Rights Awareness Months in 2019 and 2020, sought to contribute to the expansion of the discourses about disability in the South African higher education sector. Although data were collected from all 26 of the public universities in South Africa, only 13 included disability-related content during the awareness months. Therefore, the findings reflect website representations from these 13 public universities. The representations of the provisions of reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities was found to be a dominant frame that the universities used to represent disabilities on their websites. Photographs, illustrations and textual content, worked together to construct a representation pattern about disability as that which requires reasonable accommodations, and that must be researched, designed and provided for by (other) members of the university community. This study draws attention to the under-theorisation of disability in higher education and the need for critical engagement with institutional media representations of disabilities in higher education. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Language, Media and Communication, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-12

A critical analysis of the music educator’s role in managing adolescent music performance anxiety

  • Authors: McLachlan, Elanie
  • Date: 2024-12
  • Subjects: Music -- Physiological aspects , Music -- Instruction and study -- Psychological aspects , Music -- Performance
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/70342 , vital:78341
  • Description: Music performance anxiety (MPA hereafter) has been widely reported in adolescent musicians (Braden, Osborne & Wilson, 2015; Dempsey & Comeau, 2019; Fehm & Schmidt, 2006; Kenny & Osborne, 2006; Osborne & Kenny, 2008; Papageorgi, 2021; 2022; Patston & Osborne, 2016; Rae & McCambridge, 2004; Thomas & Nettelbeck, 2014). Even though adolescent musicians experience MPA, research indicates that music educators do not necessarily discuss MPA with them (Fehm & Schmidt, 2006; Gill, Osborne & McPherson, 2022; MacAfee & Comeau, 2022; Ryan, Boucher & Ryan, 2021). Music educators have also indicated that they are rarely taught about MPA in tertiary courses (Moura & Serra, 2021; Norton, 2016). However, adolescents have expressed wanting more assistance managing MPA from their music educators (Fehm & Schmidt, 2006). Since adolescents expressed the need for assistance from music educators in managing MPA, my interest grew in researching the music educator’s role as depicted in literature, hence the motivation for this research study. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to critically analyse the role of music educators in managing MPA in adolescent musicians. The role of music educators in managing adolescents’ MPA was addressed through the following primary research question: How does literature reflect the role of the music educator in managing adolescent MPA? In addition, the following sub-question was developed: Which coping strategies and treatments are mentioned in literature to assist music educators in managing adolescent MPA? An integrative literature review was chosen as the study’s methodology to critique and synthesise literature on the topic. Critical analysis and synthesis were used to identify aspects of adolescent MPA, music educators and MPA management that have been omitted or partially addressed in past research to form a new perspective. The critical analysis yielded areas in which new knowledge is needed. These results highlight the need for school music curriculums to contain guidelines regarding MPA and that music educators should be equipped with relevant knowledge to manage MPA effectively in adolescents. A research agenda was created to address the identified shortcomings. The research agenda demonstrates that information about MPA could be included in the school music curriculum in South Africa. , Thesis (MMus) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Visual and Performing Arts, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-12

A framework for designing a gamified system that promotes knowledge of water sustainability

  • Authors: Kunjuzwa, Dumani Tau
  • Date: 2024-12
  • Subjects: Computer science , User interfaces (Computer systems) , Water-supply -- Management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69349 , vital:77216
  • Description: Water shortages are becoming increasingly common and raising awareness thereof has been proposed as a key strategy for empowering citizens with knowledge relevant to promoting water sustainability. This knowledge should incorporate indigenous knowledge, which is unique and confined to a particular culture. Indigenous knowledge has been recognised as the key to sustainable social and economic development. Knowledge incorporated within appropriate technologies can be a transformative solution to promote sustainable consumption of natural resources. This study aimed to develop a framework with strong theoretical connections that can be used as a guide for designing and developing technological solutions for promoting knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of water sustainability. Gamification, serious games, and community social networks were identified as appropriate technologies for implementing these solutions. Design Science Research (DSR) was an appropriate research methodology for this research. As the requirement of the DSR methodology, a framework was designed that considered relevant theories. The two theories (Self-Determination Theory and Social Capital Theory) were incorporated into the framework. The framework can guide other researchers in developing gamified systems that promote the KAPs of water sustainability. This framework was the theoretical artefact of the study. The research context was the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa where the data was collected from two municipalities namely, the Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City Metro, which have both experienced water shortages in recent years. Quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were used. Qualitative data was collected from brainstorming sessions and expert reviews that were conducted with various stakeholders that assisted with designing and evaluating the prototype designs of the gamified solution. For the design of the study’s artefacts, a participatory research approach was adopted. Participants were recruited to complete an online survey, which ran for three months. The findings revealed that citizens’ knowledge is closely correlated to the attitudes and practices of citizens regarding water sustainability. In addition, the findings showed that the knowledge of the citizens in the Eastern Cape Province was relatively low on water practices such as conservation and filtering methods. These results were considered in the design of the practical artefact and the instantiation findings. One limitation of this study was the limited number of indigenous participants in the survey. Other limitations were the lack of experts with indigenous knowledge and the lack of indigenous knowledge documentation. The promotion of water sustainability knowledge in communities would be more effective with the use of gamification and social community networks. In principle, the enhancement in water sustainability knowledge would promote the citizens’ good practices and attitudes (behavioural) related to water sustainability. Since 2015, a significant portion of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province has been suffering from a severe drought. This province is one of the regions of the country where weather patterns have changed dramatically, and as a result, most households were left vulnerable to the water shortage problem. While the broad topic of water sustainability is widely discussed in the literature, the role of appropriate technologies in promoting knowledge of water sustainability is still under-researched. This gap provided a significant potential for investigation by sustainability to design a technological and theoretical solution for promoting knowledge of water sustainability. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by delivering three DSR artefacts namely, a Framework for Designing a Gamified System that Promotes Knowledge of Water Sustainability; the design guidelines that supplement the framework, and a practical instantiation of the framework. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-12

A historical study of Motherwell with specific reference to the development of segregated housing in the city of Port Elizabeth from 1980 onwards

  • Authors: Yola, Siyabonga
  • Date: 2024-12
  • Subjects: Low-income housing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Elizabeth , Public housing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Elizabeth , Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- History
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/70434 , vital:78352
  • Description: This study focuses on the development of Motherwell Township from 1983 to 1986. Motherwell conveniently and justifiably serves as a good case study of the apartheid government’s response to black housing shortage and squatting in Port Elizabeth. Designed to accommodate victims of the 1977 floods that displaced ‘squatter residents’ of Soweto and Veeplaas. Yet, there is an apparent lack of documentation of the history of Motherwell as a specific place embedded with design profoundly influenced by apartheid urban planning. Despite the significance of this black township founded in 1983, there is a lack of historical detail around challenges experienced by developers and the role of individuals involved in the development of Motherwell. For example, we lack knowledge on how the white propertied class of the surrounding suburbs of Bluewater Bay, Swartkops and Redhouse, poignantly and quite distinctly, came to the fore in resisting the development of the new black township in their neighbourhood. They used environmental discourse to oppose the development of Motherwell. Apart from the environmental impact on the Swartkops estuary, the ratepayers associated the development of Motherwell with squalor, diseases and crime. In addition, there is a lack of a substantial account of how white landowners opposed the expropriation of land where Motherwell was established. This thesis also highlights the fact that the lack of housing started long before the old black locations, such as Strangers, and other locations that were removed from the city in the turn of the nineteenth century. It demonstrates that urban housing crisis was later intensified by the gap created by the local government in the 1970s. During this decade the city council did not show any interest in providing proper housing for urban blacks. With the lack of new township during this period and the deprivation of blacks from buying a freehold land in the city, black housing shortage became a serious crisis. As a result, black residents, particularly those who did not qualify for urban housing rented backyard rooms in townships, such as New Brighton, Zwide and other local townships. Some migrants opted for informal settlements that mushroomed on the periphery of the local township, such as Zwide. Living or rather squatting in areas such as Soweto and Veeplaas was not acceptable. These areas lacked every conventional element, such as paved roads, electricity, and private toilets. Besides, they constantly suffered floods and fire disasters. In order to solve squatting problem, the local authorities developed Motherwell. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-12

A model to facilitate nursing research supervisors in assisting postgraduate nursing students in Gauteng Province with timeous completion of studies

  • Authors: Mbombi, Masenyani Oupa
  • Date: 2024-12
  • Subjects: College dropouts -- Gauteng -- South Africa , Nursing -- Study and teaching -- Gauteng -- South Africa , Nursing -- Research
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69727 , vital:78014
  • Description: Many academically orientated persons aspire towards having postgraduate qualifications for various reasons. The reasons range from career development to expanding their knowledge in fields related to their current areas of professional specialisation. Some people however do not fulfil that personal need due to academic exclusion from their studies in the university related to taking too long to finish their studies while others just drop out. The current study aimed to develop a model that would assist in facilitating the supervision of postgraduate nursing students to complete their studies in the required and allocated time at nursing education institutions in Gauteng. The objectives of the study were to: explore and describe the perceptions of postgraduate research nursingstudents regarding their preparedness for a joint research journey; explore and describe the perceptions of research supervisors regarding theirpreparedness for a joint research journey; develop a conceptual framework that would underpin the development of amodel to facilitate the preparedness of postgraduate research nursing students(PGRNSs) and supervisors for the research journey at NEIs in Gauteng; and develop and describe a model to facilitate the preparedness of postgraduateresearch nursing students (PGRNSs) and inexperienced research supervisorsfor a joint research journey at NEIs at Gauteng. A theory-generative research design based on a qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual research approach was adopted in this study. Purposive sampling was used to select 16 postgraduate nursing students (8 master’s and 8 doctoral) and 12 research supervisors from universities in Gauteng, South Africa. Data collection was conducted through voice-recorded unstructured interviews, which were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Tesch’s open coding method of data analysis. To ensure the trustworthiness of the study, the researcher used various strategies based on the criteria recommended in Guba’s model of trustworthiness. The criteria were credibility, transferability, confirmability and dependability. Ethical principles, such as respect for a person’s beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice were ensured during the data collection stage. Four broad themes (see Chapter 3) emerged from the data analysis. The themes were: Theme: perceptions regarding postgraduate supervision provided or received Theme: perceptions regarding preparedness for the research journey Theme: support systems influencing preparedness for the research journey Theme: Hope for change in the research progress and concerns to be considered Concept identification and analysis assisted the researcher in putting concepts in a relationship for the development of the model as guided by the six survey elements of Dickoff and James. Although the model was not tested, the researcher and the selected nursing experts were confident that the model is significant to nursing and other disciplines. The model was described and successfully evaluated by a panel of six nursing experts who acknowledged the clarity, generality, accessibility, simplicity, and significant contribution to the nursing environment. The guidelines and recommendations to implement the model in the nursing environment were developed to enhance the application of the model. The model aims to provide a theoretical and structural frame of reference to the head of the department and research supervisors in nursing for the facilitation of the preparedness of the postgraduate students and inexperienced supervisors for a joint research journey to ensure the timeous completion of postgraduate studies. The outcomes of the model include easing the struggle of students during their research studies for acceptable progress within the nursing environment of nursing education institutions. inexperienced research supervisors who experienced challenges to achieving optimum supervision in the nursing environment will also benefit if they apply the developed model. To enhance the applicability of the model, the researcher recommends that the model be tested in postgraduate studies for future benefits before implementation. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Care & Medicinal Sciences, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-12

A multistep synthesis of zidovudine in continuous flow systems

  • Authors: Kwakhanya, Mkwakwi
  • Date: 2024-12
  • Subjects: HIV -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Diagnosis , Antiretroviral agents -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69393 , vital:77251
  • Description: Universal access to antiretroviral drugs is still a challenge in developing nations. This promoted an investigation into an efficient process towards the synthesis of zidovudine (AZT), a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) that is used to treat HIV/AIDS. It was the first antiretroviral drug approved by the FDA and it is still widely used today. AZT works by blocking the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which is used by HIV to copy its genetic material. This prevents HIV from replicating and spreading throughout the body. AZT is usually taken in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. AZT was originally used as a single-drug therapy, but it is no longer recommended for this purpose as HIV can become resistant to AZT if it is used alone. Consequently, AZT is most commonly used as part of a combination therapy; this means that it is taken with other antiretroviral drugs. This helps to prevent HIV from becoming resistant to AZT. AZT can be used to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV; it is usually given to HIV-positive women during pregnancy and childbirth. AZT can also be used to treat post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP); this is a course of antiretroviral drugs that is taken after a possible exposure to HIV. The application of continuous flow microreactors to reaction chemistries, such as this, could provide a potentially practical solution that could be used to meet the rising needs for antiretroviral drugs in Africa and to give new opportunities for efficient local drug manufacture. Consequently, the focus of this research was to develop safe and efficient processes towards AZT by taking advantage of micro reactor technology. Furthermore, since there is no literature on continuous flow synthesis of this drug, this research extensively unearthed interesting continuous flow processes towards zidovudine. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-12

A relevant intervention on nutrition transition among Isixhosa speaking people in Nelson Mandela Bay

  • Authors: Fordjour Afriyie, Vera
  • Date: 2024-12
  • Subjects: Nutrition -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Nutrition -- Social aspects , Xhosa (African people) -- Nutrition
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69760 , vital:78026
  • Description: The nutrition transition, characterised by a shift from traditional, nutrient-dense diets to Westernised, energy-dense, and nutrient-poor diets, has significant health implications globally. In South Africa (SA), particularly among the isiXhosa-speaking population in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB), this transition has led to the dual burden of undernutrition and overnutrition, increasing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity and diabetes. Despite the prevalence of this nutrition phenomenon, limited research has explored the perceptions of nutrition transition among South African communities, although there is literature about the transition itself. Most studies on the research subject were undertaken in Asian and European countries and America. Generally, studies regarding the nutrition transition emphasise the importance of early public health interventions to prevent the transition from reaching critical levels. This research study aimed to answer the question: How do isiXhosa-speaking people in NMB perceive nutritional transition, and what are their knowledge and practices concerning traditional foods? This study’s primary aim was to identify and evaluate the NMB isiXhosa-speaking population’s perceptions regarding nutrition transition and their knowledge and practices concerning traditional foods. Subsequently, the study aimed to develop and test an educational intervention to promote traditional African diets and mitigate the adverse effects of nutrition transition. The researcher employed a multi-method approach, encompassing quantitative and qualitative methods and an exploratory, descriptive, and contextual approach to enhance the research design. Ethical principles guided the study, including autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice. The study comprised two phases. Participants were selected through a stratified, clustered sampling technique. In the first phase, data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), a 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire, and a knowledge and practices The participants were isiXhosa-speaking NMB residents older than 18 years of age. The second phase utilised the first-phase findings to develop an intervention programme. The intervention was implemented, and its efficacy was evaluated through post-intervention surveys, sensory evaluation, and a three-month telephonic follow-up. The findings indicated a significant decline in traditional food knowledge (TFK) and practices among the participants, with a marked shift towards Westernised diets. The primary factors driving this transition were urbanisation, economic constraints, and a lack of awareness about the nutritional benefits of traditional foods. The intervention programme, which included educational workshops and a sensory evaluation using indigenous crops, resulted in improved knowledge and practices regarding indigenous crops among the participants. Post-intervention data showed increased dietary diversity and a greater inclusion of traditional foods in daily diets. The study concluded that nutrition transition poses a significant challenge to the health and well-being of isiXhosa-speaking individuals in NMB. However, targeted interventions that promote traditional African diets can effectively address this issue. The study recommends that policymakers and public health practitioners incorporate culturally relevant and community-driven strategies to promote traditional food consumption. Future research should focus on the long-term impacts of such interventions and explore scalable models for broader implementation. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-12

A strategy towards an it governance-focused implementation of Egovernment initiatives in the Eastern Cape provincial government

  • Authors: Magade, Siyabonga
  • Date: 2024-12
  • Subjects: Internet in public administration , Government communication systems , Public administration -- Data processing
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/68725 , vital:77085
  • Description: ICT plays a very important role in transforming organisations as well as governments around the world through eGovernment. A good implementation of eGovernment promises to transform and enhance the provision of services to citizens. The benefits of eGovernment will enable the transparency of government and engender the trust of its citizens therein. Citizens will have access to online government services that will minimise the long queues that citizens need to endure to access government services. eGovernment implementation requires ICT technologies, however, dependency on the implementation of ICT technologies to drive eGovernment initiatives will not alone succeed in transforming the delivery of services in government. Therefore, the implementation of ICT technologies in government must be focused on good IT governance principles. Such principles enable the executive council and management to direct and control the application both now and in the future of use of ICT in government. Therefore, this study develops a strategy artefact that is focused on good IT governance principles to assist in the execution of eGovernment programs in the Eastern Cape Provincial Government. , Thesis (MPhil) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, School of Information Technology, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-12

Achievement in mathematics through self-directed learning facilitation: an impact evaluation of an offline technological approach

  • Authors: Zinn, Paméla Olive
  • Date: 2024-12
  • Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa , Mathematical ability , Academic achievement -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/68385 , vital:76992
  • Description: International assessments indicate that mathematics education in South Africa is still in a crisis of significant proportions. This is reflected in the low pass rate of Grade 12 mathematics learners in South Africa in general, and in the Eastern Cape Province in particular. In response, the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Center (GMMDC) of the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in the Eastern Cape developed an intervention strategy. A Techno-Blended support Model for teaching and learning mathematics (TBM), used as an intervention strategy, provides learners with potential from disadvantaged communities and under-resourced schools with 21st-century education technology. The defining features of the strategy which distinguishes it from others are that it is technology-enhanced, providing the learner access to mathematics teaching and learning without the need for Internet connectivity, that is, offline, incorporating blended learning into the approach. This ex-post study, using secondary analysis, evaluates the impact of the defining features of the strategy on learners' self-directed learning skills acquisition or enhancement for mathematics learning. Firstly, statistical analysis of secondary qualitative and quantitative data in a mixed methods approach, with primary qualitative data integrated into the secondary qualitative data employing quantification, is undertaken. The quantified data is then compared with the quantitative data (methodologic triangulation technique). Secondly, the theory-based Contribution Analysis is undertaken to increase the validity and credibility of the findings of the statistical analysis, providing an additional layer of triangulation. The study revealed that providing 21st-century digital education technology for use offline, within a blended learning environment, leads to a significant improvement in learner mathematics knowledge; conceptual understanding; positive self-perceptions; and finally, to the required intrinsic motivation to learn. Analysed data, obtained from the original study, indicates a positive correlation between learners who participated in the intervention strategy and enrolment in STEM-related courses at tertiary institutes. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Education, School of Postgraduate education, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-12

Amagqirha (Xhosa diviners) and the treatment of mental illness: exploring indigenous healing practices and the potential for integrating indigenous knowledge into psychology training

  • Authors: Klaas, Fihliwe
  • Date: 2024-12
  • Subjects: Mental illness -- Treatment , Psychology -- Africa , Healers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69860 , vital:78042
  • Description: This study focuses on Amagqirha kwa Xhosa (diviners) who are traditional healers within the Xhosa community. Despite their impact and footprint in the communities, there is limited knowledge regarding their role in managing mental health illnesses, particularly the kind of techniques they employ. In light of this, the study is aimed at exploring the types of techniques and interventions utilized by Amagqirha kwa Xhosa in treating psychological problems and assessing how the knowledge can be incorporated into the training of psychologists. The study employed a qualitative approach with semi-structured one-on-one interviews, using purposive and snowballing sampling strategies. Eight traditional healers from the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, Eastern Cape, participated in the study, and thematic data analysis was utilised to analyse the data. Two primary themes were revealed in Amagqirha’s experiences with treating mental illness, and the first set core themes are 1. Ukuxilonga (Diagnosing) and 2. Izinto ngokwa ses’Xhoseni ezenza ingulo ye ngqondo (Xhosa Realities and Causes of Mental Illnesses). The second set of core themes revealed Amagqirha’s treatment methods and interventions, and these are 1.Indlela Zokunyanga Zesintu (Tradition Methods of Healing) and 2.Impawu zoxilongo olunemiphumela zobuGqirha (Treatment efficacy in traditional healing). The findings highlight the importance of recognizing diverse knowledge systems in Mental Health care, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive approaches that respect and take into account cultural context and spirituality of the community/patients. Additionally, the study provides guidelines for mental health practitioners when dealing with clients who align with paradigms other than the Western biomedical paradigm or worldview, highlighting the importance of integrating varying paradigms in approaching mental health practice. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-12

Ammendments to the labour law relations act 66 of 1995 to addressing violent and intractable strikes

  • Authors: Gavu, Siphelele
  • Date: 2024-12
  • Subjects: Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Strikes and lockouts -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Labor disputes -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/68692 , vital:77082
  • Description: The main research question for this treatise is to determine whether the South African legal framework provides effective regulations in curbing violent and intractable strikes. To answer the research question, the research explored the evolution of the right to strike in South Africa, analysing its socio-economic impact and the transition from a repressive regime to a democratic one. The study assessed international, regional, and national legal frameworks, focusing on the right to strike and its regulation. Amendments to the LRA, including introducing rules for picketing, mandatory secret ballots for strikes, and advisory arbitration for dysfunctional strikes, were evaluated. The findings indicate that while these amendments represent a significant step in addressing the issues of violent strikes in an employment context, their effectiveness is limited. Persistent challenges include the frequent disregard by trade unions and their members for legal measures. This reflects the deeper socio- economic and political issues. The study suggests that the effectiveness of these legislative changes is hindered by ongoing social and economic inequalities, highlighting the need for broader socio-political solutions beyond legislative amendments. This comprehensive analysis explains the complexities surrounding strike actions in South Africa and the balance between upholding labour rights and maintaining workplace discipline and order. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, School of Mercantile Law, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-12

An analysis of employee morale and leadership styles at Benteler automotive Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: De Vos, Desmond
  • Date: 2024-12
  • Subjects: Employee morale , Employee motivation , Leadership -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69553 , vital:77712
  • Description: Benteler Automotive in the Eastern Cape has experienced challenges over the past five years due to a high rate of staff turnover at the leadership and management levels. As a result, the morale of the employees in the organisation was affected, resulting in decreased levels of job satisfaction, and productivity, high rates of absenteeism, and staff turnover. Hence, this study was conducted to assess employee morale and leadership styles and examine the impact of motivation, leadership styles, and human resource strategies on staff morale, with the intention of proposing managerial interventions to enhance employee morale within the organisation. The study was conducted within a positivist paradigm, and a quantitative research approach was used to investigate the phenomenon. Data were collected from a sample of 300 employees using a closed-ended questionnaire survey, and a response rate of 93% was achieved. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 21 was used for analysing and reporting on data in line with the research objectives of the study. The analysed data were reported under descriptive and inferential statistical headings, where frequency of the Likert scale responses, measures of central tendencies, Pearson’s correlations, regression analysis, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were reported. The results of the study indicates that motivation, leadership styles and human resource strategies have a significantly positive influence on employee morale. On the other hand, the results also indicate, in general, that respondents were indifferent to most of the statements pertaining to leadership styles and human resource strategies. The study recommends that management consider implementing fundamental theoretical human resource strategies to enhance employee morale. These strategies include fostering human relations, providing continuous training opportunities to enhance employee knowledge, promoting new skills development, boosting self-confidence, and addressing concerns about job stability. The results of the study have provided practical and conceptual managerial and academic benefits within the field of management and leadership. A future study on the evaluation of the impact of leadership styles and cultural elements on employee morale is an essential element to consider, as it was not covered in this study. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-12
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