Self-regulation and academic performance in early childhood :an East London study
- Authors: Martin, Glynnis Michelle
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Self-control in children Early childhood education Child rearing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10949 , vital:35969
- Description: Previous research studies have identified various factors as influential in whether one is successful in obtaining the education necessary for effective living within a given society. Early academic performance is consistently linked to later academic performance, which in turn, relates to physical, mental and even financial health outcomes in adulthood. The recognition that competence with the demands of learning and socialization can set up cycles of success or failure, lead to much research interest directed at the key role of self-regulation, as an executive function skill, in early academic performance. Despite this growing body of research, a comprehensive conceptual model for the predictive role and interaction between complex executive functions, socio-emotional competence, learning aptitudes and visuomotor skills, as predictors in early academic success, is still lacking. Knowledge of the integrated functioning of these predictors in the South African context is particularly scarce. This research was designed to address these knowledge gaps through an exploratory descriptive and causal-comparative study. Purposive, non-probability sampling was used to select a group of 183 Grade 1 learners from a low socio-economic area of East London in South Africa. Ages ranged from 6 to 8 years (M = 6.78, SD = 0.54), whilst 40% were female and 60% were male. Predictors of academic success were measured at the start of the first academic term, and a parent-report measure was used to measure socio-emotional competencies. Second term school report cards were used to measure mid-year academic achievement. Relationships between each predictor and their relationships to academic performance were explored through Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients. vii One-way Analysis of Variance with post-hoc Scheffé tests was used to explore differences between groups of Gender, Age, Home Language, Maternal Marital Status, Maternal Age and whether the grade was being Repeated or not. Two priori conceptual models of the relationships between the predictor variables and academic performance were estimated through Structural Equation Modeling. Results indicate various significant relationships between each predictor and specific aspects of academic performance. Visuomotor skills showed the strongest correlation to academic performance, followed by learning abilities and complex executive functions. Social-emotional competence was not practically significantly related to any of the factors and appeared to affect academic performance primarily through a significant relationship to complex executive functions. Interestingly, results indicate subtypes of visuomotor skills that are significantly correlated to the complex executive, as also highly correlated with academic performance. Precision tasks that were not related to complex executive function, was not significantly related to academic performance. Results furthermore identify the significant influence of caregiver factors on visuomotor skills and that of home language on learning abilities. Regression analysis results confirm a significant mediating effect of learning aptitudes in relation to the effects of complex executive function and visuomotor skills on academic performance. Model comparison supported this mediation-model as superior to a no-mediation model in predicting academic success in Grade 1. This study expands on the understanding of the role of the common executive function in relation to factors associated with crystallized intelligence, visuomotor skills and socio-emotional competencies in predicting early academic success. This study presents an innovative integrated mediation model of the relationships between the identified predictors in relation to academic success.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Martin, Glynnis Michelle
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Self-control in children Early childhood education Child rearing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10949 , vital:35969
- Description: Previous research studies have identified various factors as influential in whether one is successful in obtaining the education necessary for effective living within a given society. Early academic performance is consistently linked to later academic performance, which in turn, relates to physical, mental and even financial health outcomes in adulthood. The recognition that competence with the demands of learning and socialization can set up cycles of success or failure, lead to much research interest directed at the key role of self-regulation, as an executive function skill, in early academic performance. Despite this growing body of research, a comprehensive conceptual model for the predictive role and interaction between complex executive functions, socio-emotional competence, learning aptitudes and visuomotor skills, as predictors in early academic success, is still lacking. Knowledge of the integrated functioning of these predictors in the South African context is particularly scarce. This research was designed to address these knowledge gaps through an exploratory descriptive and causal-comparative study. Purposive, non-probability sampling was used to select a group of 183 Grade 1 learners from a low socio-economic area of East London in South Africa. Ages ranged from 6 to 8 years (M = 6.78, SD = 0.54), whilst 40% were female and 60% were male. Predictors of academic success were measured at the start of the first academic term, and a parent-report measure was used to measure socio-emotional competencies. Second term school report cards were used to measure mid-year academic achievement. Relationships between each predictor and their relationships to academic performance were explored through Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients. vii One-way Analysis of Variance with post-hoc Scheffé tests was used to explore differences between groups of Gender, Age, Home Language, Maternal Marital Status, Maternal Age and whether the grade was being Repeated or not. Two priori conceptual models of the relationships between the predictor variables and academic performance were estimated through Structural Equation Modeling. Results indicate various significant relationships between each predictor and specific aspects of academic performance. Visuomotor skills showed the strongest correlation to academic performance, followed by learning abilities and complex executive functions. Social-emotional competence was not practically significantly related to any of the factors and appeared to affect academic performance primarily through a significant relationship to complex executive functions. Interestingly, results indicate subtypes of visuomotor skills that are significantly correlated to the complex executive, as also highly correlated with academic performance. Precision tasks that were not related to complex executive function, was not significantly related to academic performance. Results furthermore identify the significant influence of caregiver factors on visuomotor skills and that of home language on learning abilities. Regression analysis results confirm a significant mediating effect of learning aptitudes in relation to the effects of complex executive function and visuomotor skills on academic performance. Model comparison supported this mediation-model as superior to a no-mediation model in predicting academic success in Grade 1. This study expands on the understanding of the role of the common executive function in relation to factors associated with crystallized intelligence, visuomotor skills and socio-emotional competencies in predicting early academic success. This study presents an innovative integrated mediation model of the relationships between the identified predictors in relation to academic success.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Sepedi oral poetry with reference to kiba traditional dance of South Africa
- Authors: Maahlamela, Tebogo David
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Northern Sotho poetry , Northern Sotho poetry -- History and criticism , Folk songs, Northern Sotho , Sound poetry -- South Africa , Archival materials -- Conservation and restoration , Spiritualism in literature , Cultural appropriation , Folk poetry, Northern Sotho , Kiba traditional dance , Kiba poetry
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63209 , vital:28381
- Description: Previous studies show that contrary to other African languages of fewer speakers, written poetry in Sepedi/Sesotho sa Leboa’s transition from oral to written did not only lag behind, its development was also slow, with less intense treatment. However, this scarcity is not of the actual oral material, but rather its documented version. Vast untreated material at various repositories such as the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) library and the International Library of African Music (ILAM) are facing a risk of being lost due to limited resources and resourcefulness to digitalise them. Investigation of written poetry from 1906 to 2006 attests to the fact that in its written form, Sepedi/Sesotho sa Leboa poetry is still underdeveloped, dominated by “microwaved” collections aiming at nothing beyond meeting school prescription criteria. Calls have been made from the dominant South African poetry narrative that there are no innovative studies in the field of African languages, especially Sepedi/Sesotho sa Leboa. Musicological studies show that contemporary jazz artists have adopted and adapted kiba poetry into jazz music, which resulted into classics of all times. Intensive studies were conducted on such poetic kiba-influenced jazz, but the primary source remains a grey area. The analysis of selected kiba poems shows that kiba poetry is the richest poetic form in the Sepedi/Sesotho sa Leboa with its creative and artistic merit exceeds all other genres. The study further reveals that kiba poetry is the heart of Bapedi/Basotho ba Leboa spirituality, a heart without which some faith institutions will remain incomplete. Furthermore, kiba poetry embodies, among others, poetic genres rarely explored in the South African poetry milieu such as “sound poetry” and poetry of special metrical schemes, of dramatic and devotional essence. Scholarly attention is, therefore, recommended on this repertoire to explore the field beyond this preliminary study, so as to save as many kiba poems as possible, which will enrich the dwindling written poetry milieu. Literary excellence of the treated poems attests to the fact that the artistic wealth of kiba poetry is worthy of attention, and it has potential to transform not only the face of poetry in Sepedi/Sesotho sa Leboa, but of the entire South African poetry landscape.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Maahlamela, Tebogo David
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Northern Sotho poetry , Northern Sotho poetry -- History and criticism , Folk songs, Northern Sotho , Sound poetry -- South Africa , Archival materials -- Conservation and restoration , Spiritualism in literature , Cultural appropriation , Folk poetry, Northern Sotho , Kiba traditional dance , Kiba poetry
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63209 , vital:28381
- Description: Previous studies show that contrary to other African languages of fewer speakers, written poetry in Sepedi/Sesotho sa Leboa’s transition from oral to written did not only lag behind, its development was also slow, with less intense treatment. However, this scarcity is not of the actual oral material, but rather its documented version. Vast untreated material at various repositories such as the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) library and the International Library of African Music (ILAM) are facing a risk of being lost due to limited resources and resourcefulness to digitalise them. Investigation of written poetry from 1906 to 2006 attests to the fact that in its written form, Sepedi/Sesotho sa Leboa poetry is still underdeveloped, dominated by “microwaved” collections aiming at nothing beyond meeting school prescription criteria. Calls have been made from the dominant South African poetry narrative that there are no innovative studies in the field of African languages, especially Sepedi/Sesotho sa Leboa. Musicological studies show that contemporary jazz artists have adopted and adapted kiba poetry into jazz music, which resulted into classics of all times. Intensive studies were conducted on such poetic kiba-influenced jazz, but the primary source remains a grey area. The analysis of selected kiba poems shows that kiba poetry is the richest poetic form in the Sepedi/Sesotho sa Leboa with its creative and artistic merit exceeds all other genres. The study further reveals that kiba poetry is the heart of Bapedi/Basotho ba Leboa spirituality, a heart without which some faith institutions will remain incomplete. Furthermore, kiba poetry embodies, among others, poetic genres rarely explored in the South African poetry milieu such as “sound poetry” and poetry of special metrical schemes, of dramatic and devotional essence. Scholarly attention is, therefore, recommended on this repertoire to explore the field beyond this preliminary study, so as to save as many kiba poems as possible, which will enrich the dwindling written poetry milieu. Literary excellence of the treated poems attests to the fact that the artistic wealth of kiba poetry is worthy of attention, and it has potential to transform not only the face of poetry in Sepedi/Sesotho sa Leboa, but of the entire South African poetry landscape.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Servant leadership: antecedent to Quality of Worklife of customer service frontline employees
- Authors: Bedser, Mark Bernard
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Call center agents Servant leadership Customer Service -- Quality control Employee morale Job satisfaction Quality of work life
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62144 , vital:28132
- Description: Contact Centre agents operate in closely monitored and highly controlled environments and their work consists of solving service requests or assisting customers with information on products or services. Consequently their work involves a great deal of emotional labour and stress. It is not surprising then, that the working environment of the Contact Centre is reported to have a negative impact on the levels of Quality of Worklife of Contact Centre agents, and that in the Contact Centre context, it is likely that low levels of Quality of Worklife exist. It is argued that it is important for organisations to be particularly aware of the Quality of Worklife perceptions of their employees should they want to address Quality of Worklife levels and benefit from the positive consequences of higher levels of the construct. Numerous variables are reported to play either an antecedent, moderating, mediating, or consequential role in relation to the Quality of Worklife construct. A systems model of Quality of Worklife is developed, which illustrates the inter-relationships of these variables and how they affect and are affected by the Quality of Worklife construct. It is argued that leadership is an important antecedent to Quality of Worklife, and this is the antecedent of interest in this study. It is proposed that it is not just any leadership that will contribute to an improved Quality of Worklife, particularly within a challenging context such as the Contact Centre environment. Rather, it is suggested that certain qualities of leaders will have a greater influence on Quality of Worklife. For example, leaders who focus on relationships and are caring - characteristics associated with servant leaders - are deemed more suitable for the Contact Centre context. The research also proposes that there are close associations between Servant Leadership and Trust, which in turn has the potential to affect Quality of Worklife positively. It is argued, therefore, that Trust mediates the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife in the customer service frontline context. While there is a broad base of literature available on servant leadership that focuses on the senior or executive level of leadership, Van Dierendonck and Nuijten (2011) have argued that it is also relevant at the middle level of management and have validated an eight dimensional measure of servant leadership that is suitable for this management level. The Van Laar, Edwards and Easton (2007) Quality of Worklife model is also argued to be an appropriate model and measure of the Quality of Worklife construct, due to the robustness of the instrument design and the appropriateness of its underlying theory to the context of this research. Research has shown that leadership can have a significant relationship with Quality of Worklife. Moreover, a review of the literature on servant leadership reveals that trust, satisfaction, general well-being, and commitment to their jobs increases when employees are exposed to leadership behaviours associated with servant leadership. There is however, no evidence in the literature of any investigation of the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife, or of research investigating the partial mediating effects of Trust between these two constructs. Research was conducted to test this relationship. A survey questionnaire was administered amongst a sample of 555 Contact Centre agents, who were employed in eight different organisations. Confirmatory factor analysis procedures were conducted in STATA (V15.0), to test and validate the factor structure of Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife models. The research also produced a Servant Leadership, Trust and Quality of Worklife structural equation model that supported the hypotheses of the relationships between the constructs. Mediation analysis confirmed Trust’s role as a mediator between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife. The structural equation model confirmed that synergies between Servant Leadership, Trust and Quality of Worklife exist, and that Trust partially mediates the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife. It is therefore argued that an increase in Servant Leadership behaviour by the manager or supervisor of frontline staff has a positive association with increases of Trust, as well as positive associations with Quality of Worklife experienced by employees in the frontline context. Moreover, it is also posited that the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife is partially mediated by Trust of the supervisor. The implications of these results are discussed, and recommendations made for management practice and further research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Bedser, Mark Bernard
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Call center agents Servant leadership Customer Service -- Quality control Employee morale Job satisfaction Quality of work life
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62144 , vital:28132
- Description: Contact Centre agents operate in closely monitored and highly controlled environments and their work consists of solving service requests or assisting customers with information on products or services. Consequently their work involves a great deal of emotional labour and stress. It is not surprising then, that the working environment of the Contact Centre is reported to have a negative impact on the levels of Quality of Worklife of Contact Centre agents, and that in the Contact Centre context, it is likely that low levels of Quality of Worklife exist. It is argued that it is important for organisations to be particularly aware of the Quality of Worklife perceptions of their employees should they want to address Quality of Worklife levels and benefit from the positive consequences of higher levels of the construct. Numerous variables are reported to play either an antecedent, moderating, mediating, or consequential role in relation to the Quality of Worklife construct. A systems model of Quality of Worklife is developed, which illustrates the inter-relationships of these variables and how they affect and are affected by the Quality of Worklife construct. It is argued that leadership is an important antecedent to Quality of Worklife, and this is the antecedent of interest in this study. It is proposed that it is not just any leadership that will contribute to an improved Quality of Worklife, particularly within a challenging context such as the Contact Centre environment. Rather, it is suggested that certain qualities of leaders will have a greater influence on Quality of Worklife. For example, leaders who focus on relationships and are caring - characteristics associated with servant leaders - are deemed more suitable for the Contact Centre context. The research also proposes that there are close associations between Servant Leadership and Trust, which in turn has the potential to affect Quality of Worklife positively. It is argued, therefore, that Trust mediates the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife in the customer service frontline context. While there is a broad base of literature available on servant leadership that focuses on the senior or executive level of leadership, Van Dierendonck and Nuijten (2011) have argued that it is also relevant at the middle level of management and have validated an eight dimensional measure of servant leadership that is suitable for this management level. The Van Laar, Edwards and Easton (2007) Quality of Worklife model is also argued to be an appropriate model and measure of the Quality of Worklife construct, due to the robustness of the instrument design and the appropriateness of its underlying theory to the context of this research. Research has shown that leadership can have a significant relationship with Quality of Worklife. Moreover, a review of the literature on servant leadership reveals that trust, satisfaction, general well-being, and commitment to their jobs increases when employees are exposed to leadership behaviours associated with servant leadership. There is however, no evidence in the literature of any investigation of the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife, or of research investigating the partial mediating effects of Trust between these two constructs. Research was conducted to test this relationship. A survey questionnaire was administered amongst a sample of 555 Contact Centre agents, who were employed in eight different organisations. Confirmatory factor analysis procedures were conducted in STATA (V15.0), to test and validate the factor structure of Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife models. The research also produced a Servant Leadership, Trust and Quality of Worklife structural equation model that supported the hypotheses of the relationships between the constructs. Mediation analysis confirmed Trust’s role as a mediator between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife. The structural equation model confirmed that synergies between Servant Leadership, Trust and Quality of Worklife exist, and that Trust partially mediates the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife. It is therefore argued that an increase in Servant Leadership behaviour by the manager or supervisor of frontline staff has a positive association with increases of Trust, as well as positive associations with Quality of Worklife experienced by employees in the frontline context. Moreover, it is also posited that the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife is partially mediated by Trust of the supervisor. The implications of these results are discussed, and recommendations made for management practice and further research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Skilled Migrants and Remittances in a Development Context: A Social Value Analysis of Skills and Home Remittances among Zimbabweans living in East London, South Africa
- Authors: Mafuso, Leo Tsakata
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Migration Emigrant remittances Migrant labor
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD(Sociology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8840 , vital:33672
- Description: Against the backdrop of a growing orthodoxy that places the issue of home remittances by a country’s emigrant citizens at the centre of national and international development, this study presents a social value analysis of skills and home remittances in the Zimbabwean context. The study unveils the narratives of skilled Zimbabwean citizens living and working in East London, South Africa, with specific regard to the extent to which the revenues gained by the Zimbabwean economy through home remittances offset the skills lost by the same economy through the emigration of its skilled citizens. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, with data drawn from a survey of 158 skilled Zimbabweans, three key informant interviews (with officers of immigration stakeholder organisations) and one focus group discussion. The study found that an overwhelming majority of survey respondents regularly remitted money home, and believed that such remittances helped them to fulfil filial and other familial obligations, besides being vital to the Zimbabwean economy as a whole. They emphasised, however, that the total value of home remittances, though substantial in monetary terms, was miniscule when compared to the skills the country had lost as a result of migration. Respondents expressed the view that home remittances could not substitute for the skills lost by a country and that the proper utilisation of, and compensation for, their skills at home would develop their country faster. The study thus cuts through the dominant discourse on the developmental significance of home remittances and provides insights into the importance of skilled professionals in the Zimbabwean context, and the developmental consequences of seeing them simply as “remitters” of foreign exchange. By privileging the perspectives of skilled migrants, the study highlights how skilled professionals see themselves and their role within the migration-development debate. This therefore was a study of the migration-remittance-development nexus as though the migrant mattered.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Mafuso, Leo Tsakata
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Migration Emigrant remittances Migrant labor
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD(Sociology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8840 , vital:33672
- Description: Against the backdrop of a growing orthodoxy that places the issue of home remittances by a country’s emigrant citizens at the centre of national and international development, this study presents a social value analysis of skills and home remittances in the Zimbabwean context. The study unveils the narratives of skilled Zimbabwean citizens living and working in East London, South Africa, with specific regard to the extent to which the revenues gained by the Zimbabwean economy through home remittances offset the skills lost by the same economy through the emigration of its skilled citizens. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, with data drawn from a survey of 158 skilled Zimbabweans, three key informant interviews (with officers of immigration stakeholder organisations) and one focus group discussion. The study found that an overwhelming majority of survey respondents regularly remitted money home, and believed that such remittances helped them to fulfil filial and other familial obligations, besides being vital to the Zimbabwean economy as a whole. They emphasised, however, that the total value of home remittances, though substantial in monetary terms, was miniscule when compared to the skills the country had lost as a result of migration. Respondents expressed the view that home remittances could not substitute for the skills lost by a country and that the proper utilisation of, and compensation for, their skills at home would develop their country faster. The study thus cuts through the dominant discourse on the developmental significance of home remittances and provides insights into the importance of skilled professionals in the Zimbabwean context, and the developmental consequences of seeing them simply as “remitters” of foreign exchange. By privileging the perspectives of skilled migrants, the study highlights how skilled professionals see themselves and their role within the migration-development debate. This therefore was a study of the migration-remittance-development nexus as though the migrant mattered.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Social learning for public participation in environmental governance: the case of Knysna Municipality
- Authors: Currie, Bianca
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Environmental policy -- South Africa -- Knysna -- Social aspects , Environmental management -- South Africa -- Knysna
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/29852 , vital:30785
- Description: Democratic environmental governance in complex systems requires an adaptive management approach involving a diversity of stakeholders in collaborative learning and decision-making. The decisions are value-laden, and local municipalities are struggling to reconcile the diversity of values, and balance varied and diverse social and ecological needs, for sustainability. Social learning has emerged as a promising approach but the challenge lies in effective implementation, practice and assessment of social learning. This thesis explored public participation practices in environmental governance in the Knysna Municipality and went on to develop a social learning procedural model for public participation, as well as assessment criteria for monitoring social learning processes. The model and criteria provide a foundation and the tools needed to operationalise social learning for adaptive management in environmental governance in complex systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Currie, Bianca
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Environmental policy -- South Africa -- Knysna -- Social aspects , Environmental management -- South Africa -- Knysna
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/29852 , vital:30785
- Description: Democratic environmental governance in complex systems requires an adaptive management approach involving a diversity of stakeholders in collaborative learning and decision-making. The decisions are value-laden, and local municipalities are struggling to reconcile the diversity of values, and balance varied and diverse social and ecological needs, for sustainability. Social learning has emerged as a promising approach but the challenge lies in effective implementation, practice and assessment of social learning. This thesis explored public participation practices in environmental governance in the Knysna Municipality and went on to develop a social learning procedural model for public participation, as well as assessment criteria for monitoring social learning processes. The model and criteria provide a foundation and the tools needed to operationalise social learning for adaptive management in environmental governance in complex systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Social work management tasks : the experiences of frontline social workers in the nonprofit organisation sector in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Perumal, Nevashnee
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Social service Non-governmental organizations -- Eastern Cape -- Social services
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Social Work
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9756 , vital:34912
- Description: In South Africa, social workers learn how to operationalise the management functions of planning, organising, leading and controlling “on the job” by modelling and following existing managers and/or senior social workers. This points to the use of predictive knowledge, where management decisions are made based on patterns from past experiences, educated guesses and observations, which are limited to individual, personal experiences. For the frontline social worker responding to the dynamic demands of developmental social work, with limited work experience and no formal management training and support, there are several consequences for the Nonprofit Organisation sector and the frontline social worker executing these management tasks. Therefore, this study aimed to gain an understanding of the range of management tasks that frontline social workers undertake in the Nonprofit Organisation sector in operationalising the management functions of planning, organising, leading and controlling. This study employed a descriptive case study design, within the qualitative approach, and was exploratory in nature. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with nineteen frontline social workers from three established Nonprofit Organisations in Port Elizabeth. Qualitative thematic analysis was employed as a data analysis strategy. One focus group was conducted with five middle managers from the same three NPOs. Both phases of data collection were guided by interview themes, which were aligned to the objectives of the study. The major findings indicated that management tasks ranged from workload management, relationship management, information management, human resource management to self-management, and that all these tasks led to frontline social workers developing innovative management strategies as a consequence of undertaking management tasks. Predictive knowledge was magnified as a positive tool as compared to prescriptive knowledge. In light of these findings, it is recommended that organisational support and adjustments are made by the boards of management and directors of the relevant Nonprofit Organisations by specifically providing support to frontline social workers so as to enhance their execution of management tasks. Hence, this study proposes a framework with strategies to support frontline social workers as well as practice guidelines for Nonprofit Organisations’ boards of management and frontline social workers in undertaking their daily management tasks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Perumal, Nevashnee
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Social service Non-governmental organizations -- Eastern Cape -- Social services
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Social Work
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9756 , vital:34912
- Description: In South Africa, social workers learn how to operationalise the management functions of planning, organising, leading and controlling “on the job” by modelling and following existing managers and/or senior social workers. This points to the use of predictive knowledge, where management decisions are made based on patterns from past experiences, educated guesses and observations, which are limited to individual, personal experiences. For the frontline social worker responding to the dynamic demands of developmental social work, with limited work experience and no formal management training and support, there are several consequences for the Nonprofit Organisation sector and the frontline social worker executing these management tasks. Therefore, this study aimed to gain an understanding of the range of management tasks that frontline social workers undertake in the Nonprofit Organisation sector in operationalising the management functions of planning, organising, leading and controlling. This study employed a descriptive case study design, within the qualitative approach, and was exploratory in nature. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with nineteen frontline social workers from three established Nonprofit Organisations in Port Elizabeth. Qualitative thematic analysis was employed as a data analysis strategy. One focus group was conducted with five middle managers from the same three NPOs. Both phases of data collection were guided by interview themes, which were aligned to the objectives of the study. The major findings indicated that management tasks ranged from workload management, relationship management, information management, human resource management to self-management, and that all these tasks led to frontline social workers developing innovative management strategies as a consequence of undertaking management tasks. Predictive knowledge was magnified as a positive tool as compared to prescriptive knowledge. In light of these findings, it is recommended that organisational support and adjustments are made by the boards of management and directors of the relevant Nonprofit Organisations by specifically providing support to frontline social workers so as to enhance their execution of management tasks. Hence, this study proposes a framework with strategies to support frontline social workers as well as practice guidelines for Nonprofit Organisations’ boards of management and frontline social workers in undertaking their daily management tasks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
South Africa’s exports to Zimbabwe: a gravity model analysis
- Authors: Muronda, Francis
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Exports -- South Africa , Foreign trade promotion -- South Africa Foreign trade promotion -- Zimbabwe International finance South Africa -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22375 , vital:29964
- Description: This study sets out to explore South Africa’s exports to Zimbabwe as explained by the exchange rates, distance, the two countries’ GDPs and populations. The underlying international trade theories as well as relevant empirical literature are discussed in order to put the study into perspective. Panel data methodology was used to estimate respective gravity models per product category using the log linear specification of the Random effects model. The resultant regression parameters are elasticities. Distance being a proxy to transport costs and the exchange rates retard SA’s exports to Zimbabwe. The GDP of Zimbabwe is found to play a positive and significant role in determining SA’s export flows. The other variables had varying effects from one product category to another. The objectives of the research were threefold: firstly, to apply the gravity model to determine South Africa’s export potential to Zimbabwe; secondly, to determine the gap between the actual and potential flows of exports from South Africa to Zimbabwe and thirdly to apply the speed of convergence tests between the actual and the potential flows of SA’s exports to Zimbabwe. To estimate the gravity models for each product category the study used panel data on South Africa’s exports to SADC countries covering a period of eight years from 2009 when Zimbabwe dollarized to 2016. The parameters obtained were then simulated to provide the point estimates of potential export flows from South Africa to Zimbabwe for each product category. Simple point estimate comparisons between potential flows and the actual flows indicated that most of the product categories portrayed untapped potential; for example, 2017 point estimates showed unutilized potential in 14 product categories. The speed of convergence tests which provide a more efficient measure of expandable opportunities were then carried out between the actual and potential flows for each product category. The results of the speed of convergence tests indicated 10 product categories that presented unutilized potential for South Africa’s exports to Zimbabwe with product category C11 (Textiles and textile articles) at the top of the ranking. Thus the study established that there exists unutilized potential for SA’s exports in Zimbabwe in several product categories despite the prevailing economic hardships that the latter country is facing. Negotiating better bi-lateral trade arrangements specific to product categories; implementation of a one stop border control point and improved international marketing; product quality and disease control strategies are the policy recommendations that the study makes in order for untapped potential to be utilized to realize symbiotic benefits for the two nations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Muronda, Francis
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Exports -- South Africa , Foreign trade promotion -- South Africa Foreign trade promotion -- Zimbabwe International finance South Africa -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22375 , vital:29964
- Description: This study sets out to explore South Africa’s exports to Zimbabwe as explained by the exchange rates, distance, the two countries’ GDPs and populations. The underlying international trade theories as well as relevant empirical literature are discussed in order to put the study into perspective. Panel data methodology was used to estimate respective gravity models per product category using the log linear specification of the Random effects model. The resultant regression parameters are elasticities. Distance being a proxy to transport costs and the exchange rates retard SA’s exports to Zimbabwe. The GDP of Zimbabwe is found to play a positive and significant role in determining SA’s export flows. The other variables had varying effects from one product category to another. The objectives of the research were threefold: firstly, to apply the gravity model to determine South Africa’s export potential to Zimbabwe; secondly, to determine the gap between the actual and potential flows of exports from South Africa to Zimbabwe and thirdly to apply the speed of convergence tests between the actual and the potential flows of SA’s exports to Zimbabwe. To estimate the gravity models for each product category the study used panel data on South Africa’s exports to SADC countries covering a period of eight years from 2009 when Zimbabwe dollarized to 2016. The parameters obtained were then simulated to provide the point estimates of potential export flows from South Africa to Zimbabwe for each product category. Simple point estimate comparisons between potential flows and the actual flows indicated that most of the product categories portrayed untapped potential; for example, 2017 point estimates showed unutilized potential in 14 product categories. The speed of convergence tests which provide a more efficient measure of expandable opportunities were then carried out between the actual and potential flows for each product category. The results of the speed of convergence tests indicated 10 product categories that presented unutilized potential for South Africa’s exports to Zimbabwe with product category C11 (Textiles and textile articles) at the top of the ranking. Thus the study established that there exists unutilized potential for SA’s exports in Zimbabwe in several product categories despite the prevailing economic hardships that the latter country is facing. Negotiating better bi-lateral trade arrangements specific to product categories; implementation of a one stop border control point and improved international marketing; product quality and disease control strategies are the policy recommendations that the study makes in order for untapped potential to be utilized to realize symbiotic benefits for the two nations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Spatial and seasonal variations of water quality determinants and pollutants as fitness-for-use and compliance assessments of the Mzimvubu catchment water resources for the proposed Mzimvubu Water Project, South Africa
- Authors: Mutingwende, Nhamo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Water quality -- South Africa Water quality management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9308 , vital:34320
- Description: The Department of Water Affairs as of late reported plans to build two substantial stockpiling dams in the Mzimvubu Catchment. The Mzimvubu stream basin is probably one of most prominent and undeveloped basin in South Africa. This is notwithstanding high yearly rainfall, high ecological status, high tourism potential, and appropriateness for afforestation, dryland/rainfed and water system agribusiness. Hence, the Department of Water Affairs researched the capability of building a multipurpose dam in the Mzimvubu catchment to catalyse financial and social improvement. The proposed dam will be based on the Tsitsa River. Often, scientific studies related to dam construction concentrate more on discovering the most, in fact, accessible place to construct it, than on the long haul socio-natural issues that come in its preparation. The water quality of the Tsitsa River, its tributaries and the underground drinking water sources within the Mzimvubu catchment are most likely to change once the dam wall is completed. Surface water resources are susceptible to chemical, physical, microbiological contamination and the so-called emerging pollutants either, through human or natural activities. A comprehensive baseline study on the water quality of the Mzimvubu water resources regarding traces of emerging pollutants and water quality determinants (physical, chemical and microbial) pre-dam construction is therefore essential. The objective of the water quality section of this study was to perform an in-depth analysis of water quality in the study area to form a baseline for future studies on how the built dam may affect these. The approach was to assess the spatial and seasonal variations of the pollutants (pharmaceuticals and pesticides) and water quality determinants for all water sources most likely to be affected by the development of the dam. The fitness-for-use and compliance assessments were conducted to assess if the current water resources are fit-for-use for various categories of use and if they comply with various water quality standards and guidelines as determined by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is the overseer of South Africa's water assets, and its central goal is to keep up the fitness-for-use of water on a sustained basis. Water samples (500ml) were collected from sixteen (16) sample points, ranging from the proposed mouth of the dam to the N2 bridge point of the Tsitsa River. Points were selected where the Tsitsa River was accessible using the dam project development roads or where tributaries to the Tsitsa River were accessible using dam development roads. Taps/groundwater sources were sampled from the five selected villages. Monthly samples were collected upstream and downstream of the proposed dam wall, from June 2015 to April 2017.Seventeen (17) water quality indices were therefore analysed at sixteen sampling sites, over a two year period. The AB SCIEX TripleTOF™5600 LC/MS/MS was used to screen for pharmaceutical and pesticide pollutants. All the water quality indices were analysed using the AL400 Aqua lytic photometer, and the microbial analysis was done using the Rand Water Method Number 1.2.2.09.1 for enumerating the amount of E. coli and coliforms in the water samples (Rand Water, 2010f). The South African Water Quality Guidelines, Volumes 1 to 7 (DWS, 1996a-g) were used to assess the fitness-for-use of the water sources. To confirm the compliance of the water resources to various standards and guidelines, the water quality data were assessed against international and national guidelines and standards i.e. the WHO guideline, South African water quality guidelines (domestic, irrigation, livestock and watering, aquaculture, and aquatic ecosystems), and the SANS: 241 (2015) standard for drinking water. Non-parametric statistics were utilised to ascertain the changeability, which is a measure of how water quality may vary after some time. With non-parametric insights, the interquartile extent, which lies between the 25th and the 75th percentile, was utilised to depict inconstancy. The median value (50th percentile) was used as an indication of the central tendency or average. The 90th percentile was included as it can be used to assess the frequency of excursions into higher and possibly unacceptable water quality conditions. 3D Sigma plot was used to graphical present the spatial and seasonal variations of water quality indices and emerging pollutants against their concentrations. Fundamental statistical properties and correlations of water quality variables from the Tsitsa River, Tsitsa River tributaries and the drinking water sources were examined using SAS descriptive statistics. The water quality was determined to be of relatively sound quality, based on the comparison with guidelines and standards for the various intended uses, even though some of the water quality determinants were non-compliant and were “unacceptable” regarding fitness for purpose. The water quality of the Ntabalenga dam would most probably be affected by natural influences (for example rainfall, weathering and geological composition) and anthropogenic factors through non-point source pollution from agriculture activities, human settlements (pit latrines and open defecation) as well as industrial activities in the Maclear and Tsolo towns (wastewater treatments plants effluent, hospital effluent). The Tsitsa River had the highest number of non-compliances, especially to the World Health Organisation and Department of Water and Sanitation aquaculture guidelines. Therefore, the Tsitsa River’s water quality would be a significant factor that could compromise the water quality of the water collected in the dam. The human settlement conditions and agricultural inputs seem to be the factors contributing most to contamination of the surface water of the catchment area. The lack of sanitation systems and facilities means that community members have to use the bush and rivers for ablutions, thus contributing to microbial contamination of the environment. The direct application of manure and fertilisers on the fields by farmers further exacerbates microbial contamination and high nutrient inputs into the environment as observed in elevated microbial and phosphate contaminants during the study period. The data obtained from the analysis of pesticides and pharmaceuticals confirmed the contamination of the drinking water sources, the Tsitsa River and its tributaries with pesticides and pharmaceuticals through non-point source pollution. The origins of these pharmaceutical contaminants were identified as the pit latrines, open defecation and wastewater treatment plant effluent, while agricultural application of pesticides was identified as the source of pesticides in surface waters. If not monitored closely, the presence of these emerging pollutants will negatively affect the quality of the dam water both at spatial and temporal scales once the dam wall is completed. Pit latrines and wastewater treatment plants are a significant source of non-point source pollution. The results of this study will add to the ongoing efforts on water quality remediation by recording the spatial and seasonal variations in water quality across various water sources within the study area. The study also provides a baseline for future water quality fitness-for-use and compliance assessments. By these findings and conclusions, it is recommended that a long-term continuous monitoring programme be implemented, especially in areas where increased agricultural activities have been observed. Monitoring should be implemented for the Tsitsa River, its tributaries, and selected drinking water sources which showed the highest number of non-compliances and microbial contamination. All anthropogenic activities in the catchment areas of these sources, both upstream and downstream of the proposed dam wall, must be monitored and strictly managed to prevent and mitigate their possible impacts. Specific emphasis should be placed on agricultural development, which should be controlled to ensure sustainable livestock and cropping practises. Sanitation facilities, systems and community programmes should be put in place to minimise microbial contamination. It would be beneficial for the Department of Water and Sanitation office responsible for the Mzimvubu water resources to establish a central database for all information concerning the water quality of their water resources including the findings in this report. The database must be freely accessible to the residents of the Mzimvubu catchment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Mutingwende, Nhamo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Water quality -- South Africa Water quality management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9308 , vital:34320
- Description: The Department of Water Affairs as of late reported plans to build two substantial stockpiling dams in the Mzimvubu Catchment. The Mzimvubu stream basin is probably one of most prominent and undeveloped basin in South Africa. This is notwithstanding high yearly rainfall, high ecological status, high tourism potential, and appropriateness for afforestation, dryland/rainfed and water system agribusiness. Hence, the Department of Water Affairs researched the capability of building a multipurpose dam in the Mzimvubu catchment to catalyse financial and social improvement. The proposed dam will be based on the Tsitsa River. Often, scientific studies related to dam construction concentrate more on discovering the most, in fact, accessible place to construct it, than on the long haul socio-natural issues that come in its preparation. The water quality of the Tsitsa River, its tributaries and the underground drinking water sources within the Mzimvubu catchment are most likely to change once the dam wall is completed. Surface water resources are susceptible to chemical, physical, microbiological contamination and the so-called emerging pollutants either, through human or natural activities. A comprehensive baseline study on the water quality of the Mzimvubu water resources regarding traces of emerging pollutants and water quality determinants (physical, chemical and microbial) pre-dam construction is therefore essential. The objective of the water quality section of this study was to perform an in-depth analysis of water quality in the study area to form a baseline for future studies on how the built dam may affect these. The approach was to assess the spatial and seasonal variations of the pollutants (pharmaceuticals and pesticides) and water quality determinants for all water sources most likely to be affected by the development of the dam. The fitness-for-use and compliance assessments were conducted to assess if the current water resources are fit-for-use for various categories of use and if they comply with various water quality standards and guidelines as determined by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is the overseer of South Africa's water assets, and its central goal is to keep up the fitness-for-use of water on a sustained basis. Water samples (500ml) were collected from sixteen (16) sample points, ranging from the proposed mouth of the dam to the N2 bridge point of the Tsitsa River. Points were selected where the Tsitsa River was accessible using the dam project development roads or where tributaries to the Tsitsa River were accessible using dam development roads. Taps/groundwater sources were sampled from the five selected villages. Monthly samples were collected upstream and downstream of the proposed dam wall, from June 2015 to April 2017.Seventeen (17) water quality indices were therefore analysed at sixteen sampling sites, over a two year period. The AB SCIEX TripleTOF™5600 LC/MS/MS was used to screen for pharmaceutical and pesticide pollutants. All the water quality indices were analysed using the AL400 Aqua lytic photometer, and the microbial analysis was done using the Rand Water Method Number 1.2.2.09.1 for enumerating the amount of E. coli and coliforms in the water samples (Rand Water, 2010f). The South African Water Quality Guidelines, Volumes 1 to 7 (DWS, 1996a-g) were used to assess the fitness-for-use of the water sources. To confirm the compliance of the water resources to various standards and guidelines, the water quality data were assessed against international and national guidelines and standards i.e. the WHO guideline, South African water quality guidelines (domestic, irrigation, livestock and watering, aquaculture, and aquatic ecosystems), and the SANS: 241 (2015) standard for drinking water. Non-parametric statistics were utilised to ascertain the changeability, which is a measure of how water quality may vary after some time. With non-parametric insights, the interquartile extent, which lies between the 25th and the 75th percentile, was utilised to depict inconstancy. The median value (50th percentile) was used as an indication of the central tendency or average. The 90th percentile was included as it can be used to assess the frequency of excursions into higher and possibly unacceptable water quality conditions. 3D Sigma plot was used to graphical present the spatial and seasonal variations of water quality indices and emerging pollutants against their concentrations. Fundamental statistical properties and correlations of water quality variables from the Tsitsa River, Tsitsa River tributaries and the drinking water sources were examined using SAS descriptive statistics. The water quality was determined to be of relatively sound quality, based on the comparison with guidelines and standards for the various intended uses, even though some of the water quality determinants were non-compliant and were “unacceptable” regarding fitness for purpose. The water quality of the Ntabalenga dam would most probably be affected by natural influences (for example rainfall, weathering and geological composition) and anthropogenic factors through non-point source pollution from agriculture activities, human settlements (pit latrines and open defecation) as well as industrial activities in the Maclear and Tsolo towns (wastewater treatments plants effluent, hospital effluent). The Tsitsa River had the highest number of non-compliances, especially to the World Health Organisation and Department of Water and Sanitation aquaculture guidelines. Therefore, the Tsitsa River’s water quality would be a significant factor that could compromise the water quality of the water collected in the dam. The human settlement conditions and agricultural inputs seem to be the factors contributing most to contamination of the surface water of the catchment area. The lack of sanitation systems and facilities means that community members have to use the bush and rivers for ablutions, thus contributing to microbial contamination of the environment. The direct application of manure and fertilisers on the fields by farmers further exacerbates microbial contamination and high nutrient inputs into the environment as observed in elevated microbial and phosphate contaminants during the study period. The data obtained from the analysis of pesticides and pharmaceuticals confirmed the contamination of the drinking water sources, the Tsitsa River and its tributaries with pesticides and pharmaceuticals through non-point source pollution. The origins of these pharmaceutical contaminants were identified as the pit latrines, open defecation and wastewater treatment plant effluent, while agricultural application of pesticides was identified as the source of pesticides in surface waters. If not monitored closely, the presence of these emerging pollutants will negatively affect the quality of the dam water both at spatial and temporal scales once the dam wall is completed. Pit latrines and wastewater treatment plants are a significant source of non-point source pollution. The results of this study will add to the ongoing efforts on water quality remediation by recording the spatial and seasonal variations in water quality across various water sources within the study area. The study also provides a baseline for future water quality fitness-for-use and compliance assessments. By these findings and conclusions, it is recommended that a long-term continuous monitoring programme be implemented, especially in areas where increased agricultural activities have been observed. Monitoring should be implemented for the Tsitsa River, its tributaries, and selected drinking water sources which showed the highest number of non-compliances and microbial contamination. All anthropogenic activities in the catchment areas of these sources, both upstream and downstream of the proposed dam wall, must be monitored and strictly managed to prevent and mitigate their possible impacts. Specific emphasis should be placed on agricultural development, which should be controlled to ensure sustainable livestock and cropping practises. Sanitation facilities, systems and community programmes should be put in place to minimise microbial contamination. It would be beneficial for the Department of Water and Sanitation office responsible for the Mzimvubu water resources to establish a central database for all information concerning the water quality of their water resources including the findings in this report. The database must be freely accessible to the residents of the Mzimvubu catchment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Stewardship and collaboration in multifunctional landscapes: a transdisciplinary enquiry
- Authors: Cockburn, Jessica Jane
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Environmental management -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa , Ecosystem management -- South Africa , Social ecology -- South Africa , Interdisciplinary research
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61267 , vital:27998
- Description: Social-ecological sustainability challenges, from the local to the global level, are of increasing concern. Stewardship has been proposed as a means of dealing with these challenges, but how can it be achieved in practice? In South Africa, the concept is put into practice by practitioners working with local stewards to facilitate more sustainable and equitable management of ecosystem services across landscapes. This landscape approach requires collaboration between multiple stakeholders, as social-ecological processes function beyond the boundaries of individual farms or villages. The aim of this research was to investigate the practice of stewardship and collaboration in multifunctional landscapes in South Africa through a transdisciplinary enquiry. This was achieved using a methodological framework based on critical complexity, transdisciplinarity, and critical realism. This framework was applied through an inductive, mixed methods research design which involved stewardship practitioners, stewards, and other stakeholders in the research. Practitioners' understandings of the stewardship concept vary, yet they coalesce around the idea of responsible use and care of nature. Accordingly, the primary role of stewards is to interact with nature responsibly and carefully, balancing the use of ecosystem services for their own benefit with broader social- ecological interests and needs. Although the biodiversity stewardship tool dominates stewardship practice in South Africa, more integrated social-ecological initiatives are also emerging, often hand-in-hand with this approach. Practitioners working in these initiatives face multiple interacting and mutually reinforcing enablers and barriers that facilitate or hinder collaboration for stewardship. Individual and social-relational enablers are pivotal to long-term sustainability of initiatives, whilst deep-seated inequalities and mistrust are significant barriers to collaboration. Despite such challenges, practitioners are succeeding in fostering collaboration by operating as hubs in the landscape. They are actively building new relationships and networks among diverse stakeholders to address shared sustainability challenges. This results in a patchwork of collaborative stewardship activity across the landscape, suggesting that stewardship and collaboration are fundamentally relational processes and that pluralistic approaches to sustainability are needed in multifunctional landscapes. Moreover, by re-focusing stewardship on stewards, practitioners are finding innovative ways to enable farmers to appreciate and practice stewardship, addressing the conflict between agriculture and conservation. Drawing on these findings, a critical realist analysis revealed underlying generative mechanisms that help to explain the challenges encountered in collaborative efforts toward stewardship. These mechanisms included, amongst others: individual stewards' values, societal constraints on the ability of stewards to express care, conflict between agriculture and conservation due to dominant agricultural approaches and neoliberal economic policies, and the divided and unequal nature of South African society. Operationalising transdisciplinary research enabled meaningful engagement with practitioner partners, allowing for novel insights and unexpected findings to emerge from practice-based knowledge. Putting transdisciplinarity into practice revealed the dynamic and multi-faceted role that researchers can play in transdisciplinary research, highlighting the importance of relational knowledge and competencies. Existing support systems and incentives within universities need to be re-configured to enable postgraduate students to conduct engaged science in service of society. , Kuyanda ukuxhalatyiswa yimiceli mngeni yobudlewlane obuhlala buhleli bezentlalo nendalo, ekuhlaleni nakwihlabathi. Kuphakanyiswe umbono wobugosa-bumeli (ubuphathi bendalo, stewardship) ukuze kuhlangatyezwane nale miceli mngeni, kodwa iza kwenziwa njani le nto? EMzantsi Afrika le ngcamango iye yabekwa entsebenzweni ngabo banezakhono no bugcisa besebenza namagosa-bameli asekuhlaleni, benceda ekulawulweni ngendlela ehlala ihleli nelinganayo iinkonzo zobudlelwane nendalo kuyo yonke imihlaba. Le ndlela yokusebenzisa le mihlaba ifuna intsebenziswano phakathi kwabo bonke ababandakanyekayo, njengoko ubudlelwane bentlalo nendalo busebenza ngaphaya kwemida yomfama ngamnye okanye iilali. Injongo yoluhlolisiso ibikukuphanda ngoqheliselo lobugosa-bumeli nentsebenziswano yeemihlaba esebenza ngendlela ezininzi eMzantsi Afrika kubuzwa kumasebe olwazi ohlukeneyo olwazi(transdisciplinarity). Oku kwathi kwaphunyezwa ngenkqubo ehlola izinto ezahlukahlukeneyo kwimigangatho eyahlukeneyo, isekelwe kwingcamango enzulu kunoko kubonakala kuqondakalayo, kumasebe olwazi ohlukeneyo, nakulwazi lwesayensi nentlalo. Le nkqubo yenziwa kusetyenziswa inkqubo yokuqokelela ulwazi luze luhlalutywe, iintlobo ezahlukeneyo zokwenza uhlolisiso, ezazibandakandakanya abanezakhono zobugosa-bumeli, amagosa-bameli nabanye ababandakanyekileyo kolu hlolisiso. Ingcamango zabanezakhono zobubugosa-bumeli ziyohluka, kanti iingcamango zinye ngokuphathelele ukusetyenziswa nokukhathelela indalo yemvelo. Phofu ke, indima esisiseko yamagosa-bameli kukuphembelelana ngokufanelekileyo nangenkathalo nendalo, bethelekisa ukusebenzisa iinkonzo zobudlelwane nendalo ukuze zincede bona, kunye nomdla neemfuno eziphangaleleyo zobudlelwane bendalo nentlalo. Nakubeni isixhobo Sobugosa-Bumeli Bendalo Eyahlukeneyo Yezityalo Nezilwanyana (Biodiversity Stewardship) isesona sitshotsha phambili kuqheliselo lobugosa-bumeli eMzantsi Afrika, zikhona nezinye izixhobo ezivelayo eziqukwayo kwiphulo lobudlelwane bendalo nentlalo, ezisoloko zisebenza kakuhle neli lokuqala. Abanezakhono nabasebenza kula maphulo bajamelene neendidi zokuphembelelana, iingxaki ezahlukeneyo, izisombululo nezithinteli ezinceda okanye zonakalise intebenziswano yobugosa-bumeli. Isisombululo ngasinye nezo zayanyaniswa nentlalo zibaluleke gqitha kumaphulo azakuhlala ehleli, nakubeni ukungalingani okuzinze nzulu nokungathembani iyimiqobo ebelulekileyo kwintsebenziswano. Nangona ikhona le micelimngeni, abanezakhono bayaphumelela ekukhuliseni intsebenziswano ngokuthi basebenze kwiindawo ezithile kwimihlaba. Bakha unxulumano olutsha noqhagamishelwano nababandakanyekileyo ngokwahluka kwabo ukuze kusingathwe nemiceli mngeni yokugcina ubudlelwane bendalo nentlalo buhlale buhleli. Oku kuye kwaphumela kwintsebenziswano yobugosa-bumeli ethe yakho pha na pha kule mihlaba, nto leyo ebonisa ukuba ubugosa- bumeli nentsebenziswano ngokusisiseko yinkqubo enxulumeneyo, kwaye iindlela ezininzi zokwenza ubudlelwane bendalo nentlalo buhlale buhleli ziyimfuneko kwimihlaba ekwenziwa izinto ezininzi kuyo. Ngapha koko, ngokuthi kuphindwe kunikelwe ingqalelo kubugosa-bumeli isiya kumagosa bameli, abanezakhono bafumana iindlela ezintsha zokunceda amafama axabise aze aqhelisele ubugosa-bumeli, ngolu hlobo kusingathwa ingxabano phakathi kwezolimo nolondolozo lwendalo. Xa sifunda koku, ukucamngca nzulu ngako kutyhile enye indlela eye yanceda ekucaciseni imiceli mngeni ekuhlangatyezwane nayo kwimigudu yentsebenziswano yobugosa-bumeli. Ezi ndlela zibandakanya, phakathi kwezinye: indlela aziphatha ngayo amagosa-bameli, iingcinezelo yabahlali ekubeni amagosa-bameli abonakalise inkathalo, ukungavisisani phakathi kwezolimo nolondolozo lwendalo ngenxa yendlela ezongamelayo nezisetyenziswayo zolimo, nemigaqo-nkqubo yezoqoqosho elawulwa bucala, nokwahlukana, ukungalingani kwabantu baseMzantsi Afrika. Ukusebenzisa uhlolisiso lwamasebe olwazi ohlukeneyo kubangele ukufuthelana okunentsingiselo namaqabane abo banezakhono, oku kuvulele iingcamango ezinzulu nokufumana izinto ebezingalindelekanga kulwazi olusekelwe kuqheliselo. Ukubeka ulwazi lwamasebe ahlukeneyo entsebenzweni kutyhile iindima ezahlukeneyo okanye ezininzi ezidlalwa ngabahlolisisi kuhlolisiso lolwazi lwamasebe ohlukeneyo, kubalaseliswa ukubaluleka kolwazi olunxulunyaniswayo nozimiselo. Iinkqubo zenkxaso nezinye izinto ezincedayo ezikhoyo kwiyunivesiti kufuneka ziphinde zakhiwe ukuze zincede abafundi abenza uhlolisiso balwenze benomfutho wesayensi enceda abahlali.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Cockburn, Jessica Jane
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Environmental management -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa , Ecosystem management -- South Africa , Social ecology -- South Africa , Interdisciplinary research
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61267 , vital:27998
- Description: Social-ecological sustainability challenges, from the local to the global level, are of increasing concern. Stewardship has been proposed as a means of dealing with these challenges, but how can it be achieved in practice? In South Africa, the concept is put into practice by practitioners working with local stewards to facilitate more sustainable and equitable management of ecosystem services across landscapes. This landscape approach requires collaboration between multiple stakeholders, as social-ecological processes function beyond the boundaries of individual farms or villages. The aim of this research was to investigate the practice of stewardship and collaboration in multifunctional landscapes in South Africa through a transdisciplinary enquiry. This was achieved using a methodological framework based on critical complexity, transdisciplinarity, and critical realism. This framework was applied through an inductive, mixed methods research design which involved stewardship practitioners, stewards, and other stakeholders in the research. Practitioners' understandings of the stewardship concept vary, yet they coalesce around the idea of responsible use and care of nature. Accordingly, the primary role of stewards is to interact with nature responsibly and carefully, balancing the use of ecosystem services for their own benefit with broader social- ecological interests and needs. Although the biodiversity stewardship tool dominates stewardship practice in South Africa, more integrated social-ecological initiatives are also emerging, often hand-in-hand with this approach. Practitioners working in these initiatives face multiple interacting and mutually reinforcing enablers and barriers that facilitate or hinder collaboration for stewardship. Individual and social-relational enablers are pivotal to long-term sustainability of initiatives, whilst deep-seated inequalities and mistrust are significant barriers to collaboration. Despite such challenges, practitioners are succeeding in fostering collaboration by operating as hubs in the landscape. They are actively building new relationships and networks among diverse stakeholders to address shared sustainability challenges. This results in a patchwork of collaborative stewardship activity across the landscape, suggesting that stewardship and collaboration are fundamentally relational processes and that pluralistic approaches to sustainability are needed in multifunctional landscapes. Moreover, by re-focusing stewardship on stewards, practitioners are finding innovative ways to enable farmers to appreciate and practice stewardship, addressing the conflict between agriculture and conservation. Drawing on these findings, a critical realist analysis revealed underlying generative mechanisms that help to explain the challenges encountered in collaborative efforts toward stewardship. These mechanisms included, amongst others: individual stewards' values, societal constraints on the ability of stewards to express care, conflict between agriculture and conservation due to dominant agricultural approaches and neoliberal economic policies, and the divided and unequal nature of South African society. Operationalising transdisciplinary research enabled meaningful engagement with practitioner partners, allowing for novel insights and unexpected findings to emerge from practice-based knowledge. Putting transdisciplinarity into practice revealed the dynamic and multi-faceted role that researchers can play in transdisciplinary research, highlighting the importance of relational knowledge and competencies. Existing support systems and incentives within universities need to be re-configured to enable postgraduate students to conduct engaged science in service of society. , Kuyanda ukuxhalatyiswa yimiceli mngeni yobudlewlane obuhlala buhleli bezentlalo nendalo, ekuhlaleni nakwihlabathi. Kuphakanyiswe umbono wobugosa-bumeli (ubuphathi bendalo, stewardship) ukuze kuhlangatyezwane nale miceli mngeni, kodwa iza kwenziwa njani le nto? EMzantsi Afrika le ngcamango iye yabekwa entsebenzweni ngabo banezakhono no bugcisa besebenza namagosa-bameli asekuhlaleni, benceda ekulawulweni ngendlela ehlala ihleli nelinganayo iinkonzo zobudlelwane nendalo kuyo yonke imihlaba. Le ndlela yokusebenzisa le mihlaba ifuna intsebenziswano phakathi kwabo bonke ababandakanyekayo, njengoko ubudlelwane bentlalo nendalo busebenza ngaphaya kwemida yomfama ngamnye okanye iilali. Injongo yoluhlolisiso ibikukuphanda ngoqheliselo lobugosa-bumeli nentsebenziswano yeemihlaba esebenza ngendlela ezininzi eMzantsi Afrika kubuzwa kumasebe olwazi ohlukeneyo olwazi(transdisciplinarity). Oku kwathi kwaphunyezwa ngenkqubo ehlola izinto ezahlukahlukeneyo kwimigangatho eyahlukeneyo, isekelwe kwingcamango enzulu kunoko kubonakala kuqondakalayo, kumasebe olwazi ohlukeneyo, nakulwazi lwesayensi nentlalo. Le nkqubo yenziwa kusetyenziswa inkqubo yokuqokelela ulwazi luze luhlalutywe, iintlobo ezahlukeneyo zokwenza uhlolisiso, ezazibandakandakanya abanezakhono zobugosa-bumeli, amagosa-bameli nabanye ababandakanyekileyo kolu hlolisiso. Ingcamango zabanezakhono zobubugosa-bumeli ziyohluka, kanti iingcamango zinye ngokuphathelele ukusetyenziswa nokukhathelela indalo yemvelo. Phofu ke, indima esisiseko yamagosa-bameli kukuphembelelana ngokufanelekileyo nangenkathalo nendalo, bethelekisa ukusebenzisa iinkonzo zobudlelwane nendalo ukuze zincede bona, kunye nomdla neemfuno eziphangaleleyo zobudlelwane bendalo nentlalo. Nakubeni isixhobo Sobugosa-Bumeli Bendalo Eyahlukeneyo Yezityalo Nezilwanyana (Biodiversity Stewardship) isesona sitshotsha phambili kuqheliselo lobugosa-bumeli eMzantsi Afrika, zikhona nezinye izixhobo ezivelayo eziqukwayo kwiphulo lobudlelwane bendalo nentlalo, ezisoloko zisebenza kakuhle neli lokuqala. Abanezakhono nabasebenza kula maphulo bajamelene neendidi zokuphembelelana, iingxaki ezahlukeneyo, izisombululo nezithinteli ezinceda okanye zonakalise intebenziswano yobugosa-bumeli. Isisombululo ngasinye nezo zayanyaniswa nentlalo zibaluleke gqitha kumaphulo azakuhlala ehleli, nakubeni ukungalingani okuzinze nzulu nokungathembani iyimiqobo ebelulekileyo kwintsebenziswano. Nangona ikhona le micelimngeni, abanezakhono bayaphumelela ekukhuliseni intsebenziswano ngokuthi basebenze kwiindawo ezithile kwimihlaba. Bakha unxulumano olutsha noqhagamishelwano nababandakanyekileyo ngokwahluka kwabo ukuze kusingathwe nemiceli mngeni yokugcina ubudlelwane bendalo nentlalo buhlale buhleli. Oku kuye kwaphumela kwintsebenziswano yobugosa-bumeli ethe yakho pha na pha kule mihlaba, nto leyo ebonisa ukuba ubugosa- bumeli nentsebenziswano ngokusisiseko yinkqubo enxulumeneyo, kwaye iindlela ezininzi zokwenza ubudlelwane bendalo nentlalo buhlale buhleli ziyimfuneko kwimihlaba ekwenziwa izinto ezininzi kuyo. Ngapha koko, ngokuthi kuphindwe kunikelwe ingqalelo kubugosa-bumeli isiya kumagosa bameli, abanezakhono bafumana iindlela ezintsha zokunceda amafama axabise aze aqhelisele ubugosa-bumeli, ngolu hlobo kusingathwa ingxabano phakathi kwezolimo nolondolozo lwendalo. Xa sifunda koku, ukucamngca nzulu ngako kutyhile enye indlela eye yanceda ekucaciseni imiceli mngeni ekuhlangatyezwane nayo kwimigudu yentsebenziswano yobugosa-bumeli. Ezi ndlela zibandakanya, phakathi kwezinye: indlela aziphatha ngayo amagosa-bameli, iingcinezelo yabahlali ekubeni amagosa-bameli abonakalise inkathalo, ukungavisisani phakathi kwezolimo nolondolozo lwendalo ngenxa yendlela ezongamelayo nezisetyenziswayo zolimo, nemigaqo-nkqubo yezoqoqosho elawulwa bucala, nokwahlukana, ukungalingani kwabantu baseMzantsi Afrika. Ukusebenzisa uhlolisiso lwamasebe olwazi ohlukeneyo kubangele ukufuthelana okunentsingiselo namaqabane abo banezakhono, oku kuvulele iingcamango ezinzulu nokufumana izinto ebezingalindelekanga kulwazi olusekelwe kuqheliselo. Ukubeka ulwazi lwamasebe ahlukeneyo entsebenzweni kutyhile iindima ezahlukeneyo okanye ezininzi ezidlalwa ngabahlolisisi kuhlolisiso lolwazi lwamasebe ohlukeneyo, kubalaseliswa ukubaluleka kolwazi olunxulunyaniswayo nozimiselo. Iinkqubo zenkxaso nezinye izinto ezincedayo ezikhoyo kwiyunivesiti kufuneka ziphinde zakhiwe ukuze zincede abafundi abenza uhlolisiso balwenze benomfutho wesayensi enceda abahlali.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Strategies teachers use to enhance grade 7 learners' reading comprehension skills in first additional language : four primary schools in Fort Beaufort
- Authors: Matakane, Euphimia Nobuzwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Reading comprehension -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Education
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9533 , vital:34363
- Description: This study focused on the strategies teachers use to enhance grade 7 learners’ reading comprehension skills in English First Additional Language at Fort Beaufort District. This study was impelled by low performance of learners in English language, where learners were unable to read and answer questions promptly due lack of understanding what they read. This study is qualitative in approach and underpinned interpretive paradigm position. Fort Beaufort Education District used as a case study whereby four schools were purposively selected and each with six grade seven learners, teachers and Subject Advisor. Qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, observations and documents analysis. Interviews and focus groups discussions were taped, transcribed, analysed and the data was categorised into themes. The findings of this study disclosed the weak correlation between teachers’ knowledge and teaching practices and lack of support from the district. The participating teachers had limited understanding of reading comprehension strategies; as a result, they regarded teaching reading comprehension as a challenge since they do not know what comprehension strategies are, and how to apply them. Teachers lack theoretical knowledge and practice concerning the teaching of reading for comprehension resulted to a negative attitude and a total neglect towards teaching reading for comprehension. The participants showed dissatisfaction with the intervention of the Department of Education and the policies they impose on them. The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement has no clear guidelines on how to teach these strategies of reading comprehension, rather it places reading comprehension under three phases, namely: Pre-reading, During- reading and Post-reading. As they lack appropriate techniques to teach English comprehension effectively, more workshops should be done to empower them in order to become competent teachers. Teachers need more training on active approaches in order to change their comprehension instruction and to select texts that are relevant to learners’ life situations or experiences, in order for them to relate with the text and thus would cause them to read with understanding.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Matakane, Euphimia Nobuzwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Reading comprehension -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Education
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9533 , vital:34363
- Description: This study focused on the strategies teachers use to enhance grade 7 learners’ reading comprehension skills in English First Additional Language at Fort Beaufort District. This study was impelled by low performance of learners in English language, where learners were unable to read and answer questions promptly due lack of understanding what they read. This study is qualitative in approach and underpinned interpretive paradigm position. Fort Beaufort Education District used as a case study whereby four schools were purposively selected and each with six grade seven learners, teachers and Subject Advisor. Qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, observations and documents analysis. Interviews and focus groups discussions were taped, transcribed, analysed and the data was categorised into themes. The findings of this study disclosed the weak correlation between teachers’ knowledge and teaching practices and lack of support from the district. The participating teachers had limited understanding of reading comprehension strategies; as a result, they regarded teaching reading comprehension as a challenge since they do not know what comprehension strategies are, and how to apply them. Teachers lack theoretical knowledge and practice concerning the teaching of reading for comprehension resulted to a negative attitude and a total neglect towards teaching reading for comprehension. The participants showed dissatisfaction with the intervention of the Department of Education and the policies they impose on them. The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement has no clear guidelines on how to teach these strategies of reading comprehension, rather it places reading comprehension under three phases, namely: Pre-reading, During- reading and Post-reading. As they lack appropriate techniques to teach English comprehension effectively, more workshops should be done to empower them in order to become competent teachers. Teachers need more training on active approaches in order to change their comprehension instruction and to select texts that are relevant to learners’ life situations or experiences, in order for them to relate with the text and thus would cause them to read with understanding.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Strategies to facilitate the use of birth care provided by skilled birth attendants in the rural areas of Ghana
- Authors: Adatara, Peter
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Maternity nursing -- Ghana , Neonatal nursing -- methods Delivery (Obstetrics) Midwifery -- Ghana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23415 , vital:30541
- Description: Increasing skilled attendance during childbirth is well established in literature to play a significant role in averting the many preventable maternal deaths that occur in developing countries such as Ghana.Inadequate utilisation of skilled birth care services in Sub-Saharan Africa is believed to be a major hindrance to efforts aimed at improving the health of women, especially during delivery. There is low utilisation of birth care services provided by skilled birth attendants in the rural areas in Ghana. The purpose of this study was to develop strategies that could facilitate the utilisation of skilled birth care provided by skilled birth attendants in the rural areas of Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual method to explore and describe women’s experiences regarding the utilisation or non-utilisation of skilled birth care services provided by skilled birth attendants in the rural areas in Ghana. The study was conducted in three phases: Phase One of this study described the research population, sampling method, data collection and analysis to obtain women’s experiences regarding the utilisation or non-utilisation of skilled birth care services. In this study, data were collected and analysed from the research population. The research population consisted of women who utilised skilled birth care attendants or unskilled care attendants during child birth. The data collection method used was individual interviews. Data collected from the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed according to the steps suggested by Tesch to identify themes and sub-themes. The study identified three themes and sub-themes: Theme 1: Experiences of participants related to the use of skilled birth care attendants; Theme 2: Participants expressed their reasons for choosing a home birth; Theme 3: Participants offered suggestions to improve skilled birth care at healthcare facilities. The findings in Phase one of this study formed the basis for the development of the strategies in Phase three. Phase Two of the research design focused on the development of a conceptual framework based on the research findings and utilized to develop strategies which skilled birth attendant may use to facilitate the use of skilled birth care services by women in the rural areas of Ghana where there is low utilisation of birth services provided by skilled birth attendants. The conceptual framework of Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach was used to provide a guide and a link between the different concepts in the research study. Phase Three of this study focused on the development of strategies that will facilitate an increased in the labouring women utilisation of the services provided by skilled birth attendants. The data obtained was used to developed three strategies such as collaboration, education and training, supportive supervision as well as community mobilisation and participation to guide skilled birth attendants to facilitate the utilisation of skilled birth care services during childbirth. The WHO Health for All model, the theoretical model underpinning this study, also guided the development of the strategies to facilitate labouring women utilisation of the services provided by skilled birth attendants. Recommendations regarding the implementation of a national collaborative, education and supportive supervision policies on a macro level are made, as well as recommendations for nursing practice, education and research. It is therefore concluded that the researcher succeeded in achieving the purpose for this study because the strategies which are understandable, clear, simple, applicable and significant to skilled birth care in rural areas has been developed for use by skilled birth attendants to facilitate the utilisation of skilled birth care provided by skilled birth attendants in the rural areas of Ghana.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Adatara, Peter
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Maternity nursing -- Ghana , Neonatal nursing -- methods Delivery (Obstetrics) Midwifery -- Ghana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23415 , vital:30541
- Description: Increasing skilled attendance during childbirth is well established in literature to play a significant role in averting the many preventable maternal deaths that occur in developing countries such as Ghana.Inadequate utilisation of skilled birth care services in Sub-Saharan Africa is believed to be a major hindrance to efforts aimed at improving the health of women, especially during delivery. There is low utilisation of birth care services provided by skilled birth attendants in the rural areas in Ghana. The purpose of this study was to develop strategies that could facilitate the utilisation of skilled birth care provided by skilled birth attendants in the rural areas of Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual method to explore and describe women’s experiences regarding the utilisation or non-utilisation of skilled birth care services provided by skilled birth attendants in the rural areas in Ghana. The study was conducted in three phases: Phase One of this study described the research population, sampling method, data collection and analysis to obtain women’s experiences regarding the utilisation or non-utilisation of skilled birth care services. In this study, data were collected and analysed from the research population. The research population consisted of women who utilised skilled birth care attendants or unskilled care attendants during child birth. The data collection method used was individual interviews. Data collected from the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed according to the steps suggested by Tesch to identify themes and sub-themes. The study identified three themes and sub-themes: Theme 1: Experiences of participants related to the use of skilled birth care attendants; Theme 2: Participants expressed their reasons for choosing a home birth; Theme 3: Participants offered suggestions to improve skilled birth care at healthcare facilities. The findings in Phase one of this study formed the basis for the development of the strategies in Phase three. Phase Two of the research design focused on the development of a conceptual framework based on the research findings and utilized to develop strategies which skilled birth attendant may use to facilitate the use of skilled birth care services by women in the rural areas of Ghana where there is low utilisation of birth services provided by skilled birth attendants. The conceptual framework of Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach was used to provide a guide and a link between the different concepts in the research study. Phase Three of this study focused on the development of strategies that will facilitate an increased in the labouring women utilisation of the services provided by skilled birth attendants. The data obtained was used to developed three strategies such as collaboration, education and training, supportive supervision as well as community mobilisation and participation to guide skilled birth attendants to facilitate the utilisation of skilled birth care services during childbirth. The WHO Health for All model, the theoretical model underpinning this study, also guided the development of the strategies to facilitate labouring women utilisation of the services provided by skilled birth attendants. Recommendations regarding the implementation of a national collaborative, education and supportive supervision policies on a macro level are made, as well as recommendations for nursing practice, education and research. It is therefore concluded that the researcher succeeded in achieving the purpose for this study because the strategies which are understandable, clear, simple, applicable and significant to skilled birth care in rural areas has been developed for use by skilled birth attendants to facilitate the utilisation of skilled birth care provided by skilled birth attendants in the rural areas of Ghana.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Strategies used by teachers to promote reading in grade 4 : a case of english first additional language learners
- Authors: Fesi, Liziwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching English language -- Rhetoric Reading -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9264 , vital:34316
- Description: The study examines strategies used by teachers to promote reading: A Case of English First Additional Language Learners. The study was located within the constructivism paradigm of reading and used a qualitative research approach that incorporated a case study research design in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data. The data instruments used were interviews and observations. Data were analyzed using non-statistical procedures. The findings of the study revealed that reading problems are still eminent in Grade Four. It was found that the resources in schools inhibits the progress to promote reading. The educational system is underdeveloped and under resourced with respect to reading materials, and schools are in a bad state due to obsolete facilities. Inadequate infrastructure is also another challenge since most of the participants reported that classes are overcrowded; thus, limiting the space to interact with learners. It was found that primary schools have no libraries; as a result, it was difficult for the teachers to instill the culture of reading. Some participants revealed that technology can be useful to encourage reading, however, their schools have no computer centers and most teachers do not know how to use computers. It emerged from the findings that parents fail to involve themselves in their children’s education. In addition, it was found that poor socio-economic backgrounds affect many homes, and this has a negative impact on schools. Most South African parents are found to be unable to support their children at all. There are also challenges interconnected with the English First Additional Language learners, the eccentricities of the English language, the teacher training and continuing professional development of teachers, as it emerged from the findings of this study that most teachers do not understand the reading strategies, skills of teaching reading and learners lack vocabulary, hence their resistance to reading. A comprehensive model of strategies to improve reading in primary schools was developed by the researcher based on the findings of the study and an extensive literature review.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Fesi, Liziwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching English language -- Rhetoric Reading -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9264 , vital:34316
- Description: The study examines strategies used by teachers to promote reading: A Case of English First Additional Language Learners. The study was located within the constructivism paradigm of reading and used a qualitative research approach that incorporated a case study research design in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data. The data instruments used were interviews and observations. Data were analyzed using non-statistical procedures. The findings of the study revealed that reading problems are still eminent in Grade Four. It was found that the resources in schools inhibits the progress to promote reading. The educational system is underdeveloped and under resourced with respect to reading materials, and schools are in a bad state due to obsolete facilities. Inadequate infrastructure is also another challenge since most of the participants reported that classes are overcrowded; thus, limiting the space to interact with learners. It was found that primary schools have no libraries; as a result, it was difficult for the teachers to instill the culture of reading. Some participants revealed that technology can be useful to encourage reading, however, their schools have no computer centers and most teachers do not know how to use computers. It emerged from the findings that parents fail to involve themselves in their children’s education. In addition, it was found that poor socio-economic backgrounds affect many homes, and this has a negative impact on schools. Most South African parents are found to be unable to support their children at all. There are also challenges interconnected with the English First Additional Language learners, the eccentricities of the English language, the teacher training and continuing professional development of teachers, as it emerged from the findings of this study that most teachers do not understand the reading strategies, skills of teaching reading and learners lack vocabulary, hence their resistance to reading. A comprehensive model of strategies to improve reading in primary schools was developed by the researcher based on the findings of the study and an extensive literature review.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Strength and conditioning of adolescent male cricket players
- Authors: Pote, Lee
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Cricket South Africa , Cricket injuries South Africa , Cricket Physiological aspects , Cricket Coaching South Africa , Physical fitness for youth South Africa , CricFit
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63933 , vital:28508
- Description: Background: Modern day cricketers are faced with longer, more strenuous seasons which are more physically demanding than the traditional forms of the game. Due to these increased physical demands, players are more prone to both overuse injuries, particularly of the lower back (bowlers) and lower limbs (batsmen), as well as acute, impact injuries (fielders/wicket keepers). The increase in injury risk is of particular concern at younger levels as research has shown that adolescents are at a higher risk for injury than their adult counterparts. Therefore, there is a need for strength and conditioning programs that reduce the risk of injury and improve performance at this level. However, of the programs that are available, most are not multi-factorial in nature and are aimed at elite cricketers. This is of concern in low-to-middle income countries such as South Africa, where players often do not have access to facilities or equipment and thus need to be exposed to low-cost, no-cost training programs. Furthermore, most information is anecdotal and there is a distinct lack of injury prevention programs at an adolescent level. Objective: The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the strength and conditioning practices of adolescent cricket players, particularly from a South African context, where there is a distinct lack of resources. This was through the completion of three phases; firstly, a literature review was completed to determine the information currently available on injury prevention strategies in cricket. The review also examined the injury statistics of five major playing cricket nations. Secondly, a survey was conducted to determine the current strength and conditioning practices of schoolboy and university coaches in South Africa. Lastly, a novel intervention program (CricFit) was designed and implemented within an adolescent population. The main purpose of the intervention was to determine whether players’ physical fitness parameters improved over time and whether the risk of injury was reduced. Methods: For phase one of the thesis (review paper), a search of the different scientific databases was undertaken to determine the nature and incidence of injuries in cricket activity as well as well as current strength and conditioning practices in place to reduce these injuries. These injury statistics and prevention programs where then reviewed. For the survey based research, an online questionnaire, adapted from previous strength and conditioning studies, was sent to 38 school boy and 12 university teams that participated in the top competitions in South Africa. In addition to the previous questionnaires, cricket specific practices and injury statistic questions were added to the survey. The survey consisted of three sections: a general, cricket specific and injury and injury prevention section. The survey also allowed coaches at both university and school levels to describe their practices and ideas in order to understand their basic knowledge of scientifically-based principles of strength and conditioning. Thus coaches were encouraged to explain what conditioning practices they implemented through a number of open ended questions which were then analysed for minor and major themes. The focus of the intervention program was to improve general physical fitness for cricket players. The study was a pre- and post-test design where twenty eight schoolboy cricketers (aged 15-19 years) were allocated to a control (n=14) or experimental (n=14) group during the cricket pre-season period. Both groups performed traditional net and field based training over a four week period (one net and one field based session), with the experimental group performing an additional two, 35-45 minute, conditioning sessions per week (“CricFit” intervention program). The intervention consisted of exercises that centred on the movement demands associated with the sport of cricket as well as injury prevention exercises (specifically Nordic lowers and core strength). Prior to and post the four week intervention period, responses were measured using a test battery that was designed to replicate the demands of cricket activity. Results: The results indicate on overall thesis summary. The literature view showed that there is a limited amount of injury prevention programs available for adolescent cricket players. It was also confirmed that for both adolescent and adult players, fast bowlers (lower back), followed by batsmen (lower limbs) and then fielders (impact) are the most prone to injuries. The survey showed that schools and universities in South Africa do conduct some form of conditioning, workload monitoring and injury prevention exercises; however the incorrect practices are being administered when considering the movement demands and most common injuries in cricket. It was also shown that most coaches did not have the adequate qualifications and experience to implement acceptable strength and conditioning programs. For the intervention study, both the control and experimental groups showed significant (p<0.05) improvements in most responses, but the changes for the experimental group were greater than those shown in the control group. Furthermore, significant (p<0.05) changes were shown between the two groups (control vs. experimental) for percentage body fat (12 vs. 11%), sit and reach flexibility (40.79 vs. 80.50mm), plank time (105.36 vs. 185.29s), 20 m sprint time (3.27 vs. 2.84s), push ups (34 vs. 41) and 25 m shuttle distance (699.18 vs. 746.79m). Conclusion: Coaches need to be educated and trained to implement the correct strength and conditioning practices at an adolescent level as well as to better understand the link between the movement demands and principles of testing and training. An improved education process may be needed to improve the quality as well as the qualifications of strength and conditioning coaches. If coaches and trainers are educated properly, then the “CricFit” intervention program may be used to improve cricket specific fitness throughout the pre-season period. The “CricFit” programme is useful in countries such as South Africa, where often players do not have access to coaches and facilities and thus can be implemented easily with minimal cost.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Pote, Lee
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Cricket South Africa , Cricket injuries South Africa , Cricket Physiological aspects , Cricket Coaching South Africa , Physical fitness for youth South Africa , CricFit
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63933 , vital:28508
- Description: Background: Modern day cricketers are faced with longer, more strenuous seasons which are more physically demanding than the traditional forms of the game. Due to these increased physical demands, players are more prone to both overuse injuries, particularly of the lower back (bowlers) and lower limbs (batsmen), as well as acute, impact injuries (fielders/wicket keepers). The increase in injury risk is of particular concern at younger levels as research has shown that adolescents are at a higher risk for injury than their adult counterparts. Therefore, there is a need for strength and conditioning programs that reduce the risk of injury and improve performance at this level. However, of the programs that are available, most are not multi-factorial in nature and are aimed at elite cricketers. This is of concern in low-to-middle income countries such as South Africa, where players often do not have access to facilities or equipment and thus need to be exposed to low-cost, no-cost training programs. Furthermore, most information is anecdotal and there is a distinct lack of injury prevention programs at an adolescent level. Objective: The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the strength and conditioning practices of adolescent cricket players, particularly from a South African context, where there is a distinct lack of resources. This was through the completion of three phases; firstly, a literature review was completed to determine the information currently available on injury prevention strategies in cricket. The review also examined the injury statistics of five major playing cricket nations. Secondly, a survey was conducted to determine the current strength and conditioning practices of schoolboy and university coaches in South Africa. Lastly, a novel intervention program (CricFit) was designed and implemented within an adolescent population. The main purpose of the intervention was to determine whether players’ physical fitness parameters improved over time and whether the risk of injury was reduced. Methods: For phase one of the thesis (review paper), a search of the different scientific databases was undertaken to determine the nature and incidence of injuries in cricket activity as well as well as current strength and conditioning practices in place to reduce these injuries. These injury statistics and prevention programs where then reviewed. For the survey based research, an online questionnaire, adapted from previous strength and conditioning studies, was sent to 38 school boy and 12 university teams that participated in the top competitions in South Africa. In addition to the previous questionnaires, cricket specific practices and injury statistic questions were added to the survey. The survey consisted of three sections: a general, cricket specific and injury and injury prevention section. The survey also allowed coaches at both university and school levels to describe their practices and ideas in order to understand their basic knowledge of scientifically-based principles of strength and conditioning. Thus coaches were encouraged to explain what conditioning practices they implemented through a number of open ended questions which were then analysed for minor and major themes. The focus of the intervention program was to improve general physical fitness for cricket players. The study was a pre- and post-test design where twenty eight schoolboy cricketers (aged 15-19 years) were allocated to a control (n=14) or experimental (n=14) group during the cricket pre-season period. Both groups performed traditional net and field based training over a four week period (one net and one field based session), with the experimental group performing an additional two, 35-45 minute, conditioning sessions per week (“CricFit” intervention program). The intervention consisted of exercises that centred on the movement demands associated with the sport of cricket as well as injury prevention exercises (specifically Nordic lowers and core strength). Prior to and post the four week intervention period, responses were measured using a test battery that was designed to replicate the demands of cricket activity. Results: The results indicate on overall thesis summary. The literature view showed that there is a limited amount of injury prevention programs available for adolescent cricket players. It was also confirmed that for both adolescent and adult players, fast bowlers (lower back), followed by batsmen (lower limbs) and then fielders (impact) are the most prone to injuries. The survey showed that schools and universities in South Africa do conduct some form of conditioning, workload monitoring and injury prevention exercises; however the incorrect practices are being administered when considering the movement demands and most common injuries in cricket. It was also shown that most coaches did not have the adequate qualifications and experience to implement acceptable strength and conditioning programs. For the intervention study, both the control and experimental groups showed significant (p<0.05) improvements in most responses, but the changes for the experimental group were greater than those shown in the control group. Furthermore, significant (p<0.05) changes were shown between the two groups (control vs. experimental) for percentage body fat (12 vs. 11%), sit and reach flexibility (40.79 vs. 80.50mm), plank time (105.36 vs. 185.29s), 20 m sprint time (3.27 vs. 2.84s), push ups (34 vs. 41) and 25 m shuttle distance (699.18 vs. 746.79m). Conclusion: Coaches need to be educated and trained to implement the correct strength and conditioning practices at an adolescent level as well as to better understand the link between the movement demands and principles of testing and training. An improved education process may be needed to improve the quality as well as the qualifications of strength and conditioning coaches. If coaches and trainers are educated properly, then the “CricFit” intervention program may be used to improve cricket specific fitness throughout the pre-season period. The “CricFit” programme is useful in countries such as South Africa, where often players do not have access to coaches and facilities and thus can be implemented easily with minimal cost.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Students’ perceptions towards the influences of social media on students’ academic engagement at a tertiary institution: a case study on the use of Facebook and Twitter at Rhodes University
- Authors: Moongela, Harry
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Facebook (Firm) , Twitter (Firm) , Social media in education -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Motivation in education -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Education, Higher -- Effect of technological innovations on -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Rhodes University
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/60730 , vital:27823
- Description: The use of social media has become an integral part of student’s academic lives and has had an impact on students’ academic engagement in tertiary institutions. Subsequently, researchers have shown an interest in investigating the impact of social media on students’ academic engagement. Despite the fact that researcher have shown interest, there still remains a limited number of studies that have discussed the effects of social media on students’ academic engagement, particularly within a South African context. Also, studies that have been carried have revealed limited and mixed findings. This study then aims to further investigate whether the exposure of students to social media has an effect on their academic engagement and how tertiary institutions together with students can use social media to improve students’ academic engagement. A qualitative research method using an interpretive (inductive) approach is carried out to find out students’ perceptions towards the use of social media and its influence on students’ academic engagement. The study then reveals recommendations from students’ perceptions on the effective ways of using social media to benefit students’ academic engagement in tertiary institutions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Moongela, Harry
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Facebook (Firm) , Twitter (Firm) , Social media in education -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Motivation in education -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Education, Higher -- Effect of technological innovations on -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Rhodes University
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/60730 , vital:27823
- Description: The use of social media has become an integral part of student’s academic lives and has had an impact on students’ academic engagement in tertiary institutions. Subsequently, researchers have shown an interest in investigating the impact of social media on students’ academic engagement. Despite the fact that researcher have shown interest, there still remains a limited number of studies that have discussed the effects of social media on students’ academic engagement, particularly within a South African context. Also, studies that have been carried have revealed limited and mixed findings. This study then aims to further investigate whether the exposure of students to social media has an effect on their academic engagement and how tertiary institutions together with students can use social media to improve students’ academic engagement. A qualitative research method using an interpretive (inductive) approach is carried out to find out students’ perceptions towards the use of social media and its influence on students’ academic engagement. The study then reveals recommendations from students’ perceptions on the effective ways of using social media to benefit students’ academic engagement in tertiary institutions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Studies in leaf domatia-mite mutualism in South Africa
- Authors: Situngu, Sivuyisiwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Insect-plant relationships , Mites , Mutualism (Biology) , Biological pest control agents
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63334 , vital:28394
- Description: Plants have various traits which allow them to cope and resist their enemies including both insects and fungi . In some cases such traits allow plants to build mutualistic relationships with natural enemies of plant pests. This is the case in many dicotyledonous plants which produce leaf domatia. Leaf domatia are plant cavities usually found in the axils of major veins in the abaxial side of leaves. They are usually associated with mites and often mediate mutualistic relationships with predacious mites. Mites use leaf domatia primarily for shelter, to reproduce, and to develop. In turn, plants benefit from having predaceous mites on their leaves, because mites act as plant “bodyguards” and offer defence against pathogens and small arthropod herbivores. This phenomenon has been well documented all over the world, but Africa remains disproportionally understudied. The aim of this study was to fill the gap that exists in our knowledge of the extent of the distribution of leaf domatia-mite mutualisms and generate a better understanding of the diversity of mites found within leaf domatia from an African perspective. This was done by surveying plant species that bear leaf domatia from different vegetation types in South Africa. The plants with leaf domatia were examined for the presence of mites in order to determine patterns of mite abundance and diversity and, in so doing, address the following questions: • Does each tree species host have a specific mite or mite assemblage? • Do some mites prefer certain types of leaf domatia? • Do mites prefer a specific place in the tree canopy and does the microclimate in the tree canopy affect the distribution of mites? • Do different vegetation sites and types differ in their mite diversity and species composition? • Does mite abundance and diversity vary with seasons? Do coffee plantations have a different suite of mites than the adjacent forest? The anatomical structures of leaf domatia from six selected plant species(Coffea arabica, Gardenia thunbergia, Rothmannia capensis, Rothmannia globosa (Rubiaceae), Ocotea bullata (Lauraceae) and Tecoma capensis (Bignoniaceae) with different types of leaf domatia were also studied. The results from this study suggested that the key futures which distinguish domatia are the presence of an extra layer of tissue in the lower epidermis, a thick cuticle, cuticular folds, the presence of trichomes and an invagination. This study provides a better understating of the structure of leaf domatia. Leaf domatia bearing plants are widely distributed in South Africa, and species and vegetation-specific associations were assessed. Over 250 plant specimens with leaf domatia were collected and examined and more than 60 different mite species were found in association with the sampled plant species. The majority of mites found within the domatia of these tree species were predaceous and included mites from Stigmatidae, Tydeidae and Phytoseiidae. Furthermore, 15 new species were collected, suggesting that mites are understudied in South Africa. This study showed that the different vegetation types sampled did not differ markedly in terms of their mite biota and that similar mites were found across the region, and the association between leaf domatia and mites was found to be opportunistic and that mites had no preference for any particular domatia types. No host specificity relationship was observed between plants and mites. The assessment of mites associated with Coffea arabica showed that indigenous mites are able to colonise and establish a beneficial mutualism on exotic species. This is important as it ascertains that economically important plants that are cultivated outside their area of natural distribution can still benefit from this mutualism. This study also found that mite abundance and diversity in plants with leaf domatia were influenced by factors such as temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. Mite communities found in association with domatia changed as the year progressed and over the seasons. The seasonal fluctuations varied between the sampled plant species. In addition, this study found that mites were sensitive to extreme environmental conditions, and thus, mites preferred leaves found in the lower parts of the tree canopy and avoided exposed leaves. This study provides a better understanding of the distribution of domatia bearing plants in South Africa and their associated mites and contributes to our knowledge of the biodiversity of mites in the region. Furthermore, this study also adds to our understanding of the leaf domatia - mite mutualism in Africa. The applied example looking at the plant-mite mutualism in Coffea arabica highlights the importance of this mutualism in commercial plants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Situngu, Sivuyisiwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Insect-plant relationships , Mites , Mutualism (Biology) , Biological pest control agents
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63334 , vital:28394
- Description: Plants have various traits which allow them to cope and resist their enemies including both insects and fungi . In some cases such traits allow plants to build mutualistic relationships with natural enemies of plant pests. This is the case in many dicotyledonous plants which produce leaf domatia. Leaf domatia are plant cavities usually found in the axils of major veins in the abaxial side of leaves. They are usually associated with mites and often mediate mutualistic relationships with predacious mites. Mites use leaf domatia primarily for shelter, to reproduce, and to develop. In turn, plants benefit from having predaceous mites on their leaves, because mites act as plant “bodyguards” and offer defence against pathogens and small arthropod herbivores. This phenomenon has been well documented all over the world, but Africa remains disproportionally understudied. The aim of this study was to fill the gap that exists in our knowledge of the extent of the distribution of leaf domatia-mite mutualisms and generate a better understanding of the diversity of mites found within leaf domatia from an African perspective. This was done by surveying plant species that bear leaf domatia from different vegetation types in South Africa. The plants with leaf domatia were examined for the presence of mites in order to determine patterns of mite abundance and diversity and, in so doing, address the following questions: • Does each tree species host have a specific mite or mite assemblage? • Do some mites prefer certain types of leaf domatia? • Do mites prefer a specific place in the tree canopy and does the microclimate in the tree canopy affect the distribution of mites? • Do different vegetation sites and types differ in their mite diversity and species composition? • Does mite abundance and diversity vary with seasons? Do coffee plantations have a different suite of mites than the adjacent forest? The anatomical structures of leaf domatia from six selected plant species(Coffea arabica, Gardenia thunbergia, Rothmannia capensis, Rothmannia globosa (Rubiaceae), Ocotea bullata (Lauraceae) and Tecoma capensis (Bignoniaceae) with different types of leaf domatia were also studied. The results from this study suggested that the key futures which distinguish domatia are the presence of an extra layer of tissue in the lower epidermis, a thick cuticle, cuticular folds, the presence of trichomes and an invagination. This study provides a better understating of the structure of leaf domatia. Leaf domatia bearing plants are widely distributed in South Africa, and species and vegetation-specific associations were assessed. Over 250 plant specimens with leaf domatia were collected and examined and more than 60 different mite species were found in association with the sampled plant species. The majority of mites found within the domatia of these tree species were predaceous and included mites from Stigmatidae, Tydeidae and Phytoseiidae. Furthermore, 15 new species were collected, suggesting that mites are understudied in South Africa. This study showed that the different vegetation types sampled did not differ markedly in terms of their mite biota and that similar mites were found across the region, and the association between leaf domatia and mites was found to be opportunistic and that mites had no preference for any particular domatia types. No host specificity relationship was observed between plants and mites. The assessment of mites associated with Coffea arabica showed that indigenous mites are able to colonise and establish a beneficial mutualism on exotic species. This is important as it ascertains that economically important plants that are cultivated outside their area of natural distribution can still benefit from this mutualism. This study also found that mite abundance and diversity in plants with leaf domatia were influenced by factors such as temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. Mite communities found in association with domatia changed as the year progressed and over the seasons. The seasonal fluctuations varied between the sampled plant species. In addition, this study found that mites were sensitive to extreme environmental conditions, and thus, mites preferred leaves found in the lower parts of the tree canopy and avoided exposed leaves. This study provides a better understanding of the distribution of domatia bearing plants in South Africa and their associated mites and contributes to our knowledge of the biodiversity of mites in the region. Furthermore, this study also adds to our understanding of the leaf domatia - mite mutualism in Africa. The applied example looking at the plant-mite mutualism in Coffea arabica highlights the importance of this mutualism in commercial plants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Sustainable competitive tourism in South Africa
- Authors: Ferreira, Daniel Petrus
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Tourism -- South Africa , Sustainable development Competition -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22464 , vital:29972
- Description: Tourism is one of the major economic industries in the world and is one of the main income sources for many developing countries such as South Africa (SA). The South African tourism industry contributes approximately R309 billion to the country‘s Gross Domestic Product, and is considered the country‘s fastest growing industry. Although, in comparison to 2016 SA experienced a 2% growth rate of international tourist arrivals in 2014, the increase is considerably lower than the global average of 7%. In 2018, SA also dropped five rankings to number 61, as compared to the previous year according to the Global Competitiveness 2017 to 2018 report. Consequently, SA is not considered a competitive global tourism economy. To increase the country‘s position in the global ranking, it must develop policies and marketing strategies that include both competitive and sustainable aspects. The primary objective of this study is to develop a sustainable- and competitive tourism model for SA. The study investigated and analysed how the independent variables (tourism driving forces) influence sustainable- and competitive tourism (dependent variables). From a comprehensive literature review, a hypothetical model was developed to determine tourism driving forces that might influence sustainable- and competitive tourism. Twenty-two hypotheses were formulated to test the relationships between the eleven tourism driving forces and two dependent variables, namely sustainable- and competitive tourism. This quantitative research approach study sought the perceptions of various tourism stakeholders in SA. A survey was conducted with the aid of a structured web-based questionnaire, distributed via e-mail, and posted on various tourism-specific Facebook pages. A combination of convenience- and snowball sampling was utilised. A final sample of 512 respondents was obtained. The items in the questionnaire were validated by conducting exploratory factor analysis, thereafter the Cronbach‘s alpha values were calculated for each of the valid constructs to confirm inter-item reliability. The results of the Pearson product-moment correlation tests between the various independent and dependent variables revealed mostly moderate to strong correlations. For this reason, multi-collinearity diagnostics testing was conducted prior to multiple regression analysis to confirm that there is no evidence of collinearity between the tourism driving forces, as well as between the dependent variables. The multiple regression analysis reveals three statistically significant relationships between the enabling country conditions (market conditions, technological conditions and tourism policy development) and sustainable tourism. In addition, four statistically significant relationships were found between the destination appeal forces (enablers, enhancers, infrastructure and political conditions) and competitive tourism. The empirical findings further confirmed natural attraction promotional tactics as a destination appeal driving force had a statistically significant relationship with both competitive tourism and sustainability tourism. The inter-relationship between sustainable- and competitive tourism was also confirmed, however, competitive tourism was shown to influence sustainable tourism to a larger extent. Multivariate analysis of variance calculations was used to identify whether the demographic profiles of respondents (classification data) occupy a role in how they view the tourism forces (destination appeal and enabling country conditions) important to create tourism demand in South Africa. A total of 69 statistically significant relationships were found between the classification data and the tourism forces. Post-hoc Tukey tests identified numerous significant means differences within the different classification data categories. The Cohen‘s D analysis revealed 135 practically significant relationships, of which twenty had large practical significance. The five key aspects relevant to increase tourism demand were to have a discrimination-free country regarding race, religion and sexual preference, as well as a safe and stable tourism environment without xenophobic violence. For this reason, the SA government must work actively towards providing a peaceful, safe and discrimination-free tourism environment to attract tourists. Based on the multiple regression results, the marketing of SA‘s natural attractions as a destination appeal factor is essential for competitive tourism to enhance the tourism experience, while it is also imperative for sustainable tourism to increase tourism demand. It is thus suggested that SA Tourism update relevant information regarding the country‘s wildlife and national parks monthly to remain competitive in its quest to towards sustainability. As the destination appeal factors (enablers, enhancers, infrastructure and political conditions) had statistically significant relationships with competitive tourism, these destination appeal factors require consideration. It is therefore recommended that SA should ensure its visa regulations are easily understood, and consider introducing a Tourist Visa On Arrival system to increase the country‘s global tourism competitiveness. In addition, SA should consider creating business- and paleo-tourism niche markets for tourism sustainability. Furthermore, the marketing material must outline the favourable infrastructure available and contain visuals to capture the tourists‘ experiences when selecting SA as a travel destination. The SA government should act responsibly in addressing politically-related unrest through public condemnation of xenophobic violence and showing the severe consequences to those involved in it. Based on the empirical results, enabling country condition factors such as market- and technological conditions, as well as paying attention to the development of the tourism policy, are essential in striving towards sustainable tourism in SA. It is thus suggested that tourism companies promote SA‘s current (2018) favourable exchange rate to potential foreign tourists originating from developed countries. Furthermore, the SA government should adopt globally acceptable online travel application technology to provide travellers with access to reliable and accurate information and enable easy and swift online bookings. This study can be considered one of the first in SA to compile a comprehensive model to confirm empirically which tourism driving forces bring about sustainable- and competitive tourism in the country. This model can now be used by other researchers as a framework for further testing within their respective countries. The study is also the first to identify the major role the demographic profiles of tourists can play in how they view the tourism forces by clearly indicating the differences in thinking of the different demographic groups. The recommendations are tailored for different stakeholder groups such as the government, SA Tourism and travel companies to market SA aptly in their quest towards increasing the country‘s tourism competitiveness and striving towards sustainable tourism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Ferreira, Daniel Petrus
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Tourism -- South Africa , Sustainable development Competition -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22464 , vital:29972
- Description: Tourism is one of the major economic industries in the world and is one of the main income sources for many developing countries such as South Africa (SA). The South African tourism industry contributes approximately R309 billion to the country‘s Gross Domestic Product, and is considered the country‘s fastest growing industry. Although, in comparison to 2016 SA experienced a 2% growth rate of international tourist arrivals in 2014, the increase is considerably lower than the global average of 7%. In 2018, SA also dropped five rankings to number 61, as compared to the previous year according to the Global Competitiveness 2017 to 2018 report. Consequently, SA is not considered a competitive global tourism economy. To increase the country‘s position in the global ranking, it must develop policies and marketing strategies that include both competitive and sustainable aspects. The primary objective of this study is to develop a sustainable- and competitive tourism model for SA. The study investigated and analysed how the independent variables (tourism driving forces) influence sustainable- and competitive tourism (dependent variables). From a comprehensive literature review, a hypothetical model was developed to determine tourism driving forces that might influence sustainable- and competitive tourism. Twenty-two hypotheses were formulated to test the relationships between the eleven tourism driving forces and two dependent variables, namely sustainable- and competitive tourism. This quantitative research approach study sought the perceptions of various tourism stakeholders in SA. A survey was conducted with the aid of a structured web-based questionnaire, distributed via e-mail, and posted on various tourism-specific Facebook pages. A combination of convenience- and snowball sampling was utilised. A final sample of 512 respondents was obtained. The items in the questionnaire were validated by conducting exploratory factor analysis, thereafter the Cronbach‘s alpha values were calculated for each of the valid constructs to confirm inter-item reliability. The results of the Pearson product-moment correlation tests between the various independent and dependent variables revealed mostly moderate to strong correlations. For this reason, multi-collinearity diagnostics testing was conducted prior to multiple regression analysis to confirm that there is no evidence of collinearity between the tourism driving forces, as well as between the dependent variables. The multiple regression analysis reveals three statistically significant relationships between the enabling country conditions (market conditions, technological conditions and tourism policy development) and sustainable tourism. In addition, four statistically significant relationships were found between the destination appeal forces (enablers, enhancers, infrastructure and political conditions) and competitive tourism. The empirical findings further confirmed natural attraction promotional tactics as a destination appeal driving force had a statistically significant relationship with both competitive tourism and sustainability tourism. The inter-relationship between sustainable- and competitive tourism was also confirmed, however, competitive tourism was shown to influence sustainable tourism to a larger extent. Multivariate analysis of variance calculations was used to identify whether the demographic profiles of respondents (classification data) occupy a role in how they view the tourism forces (destination appeal and enabling country conditions) important to create tourism demand in South Africa. A total of 69 statistically significant relationships were found between the classification data and the tourism forces. Post-hoc Tukey tests identified numerous significant means differences within the different classification data categories. The Cohen‘s D analysis revealed 135 practically significant relationships, of which twenty had large practical significance. The five key aspects relevant to increase tourism demand were to have a discrimination-free country regarding race, religion and sexual preference, as well as a safe and stable tourism environment without xenophobic violence. For this reason, the SA government must work actively towards providing a peaceful, safe and discrimination-free tourism environment to attract tourists. Based on the multiple regression results, the marketing of SA‘s natural attractions as a destination appeal factor is essential for competitive tourism to enhance the tourism experience, while it is also imperative for sustainable tourism to increase tourism demand. It is thus suggested that SA Tourism update relevant information regarding the country‘s wildlife and national parks monthly to remain competitive in its quest to towards sustainability. As the destination appeal factors (enablers, enhancers, infrastructure and political conditions) had statistically significant relationships with competitive tourism, these destination appeal factors require consideration. It is therefore recommended that SA should ensure its visa regulations are easily understood, and consider introducing a Tourist Visa On Arrival system to increase the country‘s global tourism competitiveness. In addition, SA should consider creating business- and paleo-tourism niche markets for tourism sustainability. Furthermore, the marketing material must outline the favourable infrastructure available and contain visuals to capture the tourists‘ experiences when selecting SA as a travel destination. The SA government should act responsibly in addressing politically-related unrest through public condemnation of xenophobic violence and showing the severe consequences to those involved in it. Based on the empirical results, enabling country condition factors such as market- and technological conditions, as well as paying attention to the development of the tourism policy, are essential in striving towards sustainable tourism in SA. It is thus suggested that tourism companies promote SA‘s current (2018) favourable exchange rate to potential foreign tourists originating from developed countries. Furthermore, the SA government should adopt globally acceptable online travel application technology to provide travellers with access to reliable and accurate information and enable easy and swift online bookings. This study can be considered one of the first in SA to compile a comprehensive model to confirm empirically which tourism driving forces bring about sustainable- and competitive tourism in the country. This model can now be used by other researchers as a framework for further testing within their respective countries. The study is also the first to identify the major role the demographic profiles of tourists can play in how they view the tourism forces by clearly indicating the differences in thinking of the different demographic groups. The recommendations are tailored for different stakeholder groups such as the government, SA Tourism and travel companies to market SA aptly in their quest towards increasing the country‘s tourism competitiveness and striving towards sustainable tourism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Sustainable livelihood adaptation strategies to climate change in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Authors: Nzante, Ekiyie
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Global warming -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22924 , vital:30146
- Description: The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) is in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is comprised of Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage, Seaview, Despatch and Blue Horizon Bay. The municipality spans 100 km of coastline and is responsible for 44% of the province’s gross geographical product. In past years the NMBM has experienced problems related to severe climate change, such as storm surges, floods and droughts, which have affected the livelihood of the people. Generally, the NMBM is looked upon as a vulnerable region with regard to climate change because of environmental stressors compounded by recurrent droughts and floods that limit the community’s capacity to cope and adapt effectively. This research explored the existing livelihood strategies set to adapt to the effects of climate change in the municipal area and assessed how effective these strategies are. It proposed sustainable solutions to livelihood problems as climate change consequences were accentuated within the municipal area. The study employed a qualitative research approach whereby data was collected by means of strategic interviews, document analysis, participant observation, focus groups and a study of existing literature. A total of 38 respondents were interviewed using a self-administered questionnaire and 5 focus groups participated in the study. The data was collected within the NMBM over a period of 9 months. The concept of sustainable livelihood (SL) was used to assess the effectiveness of the livelihood strategies implemented in the NMBM to adapt to climate change. The study findings primarily disclosed that certain livelihood strategies exist in the NMBM, such as the hydroponics projects. These strategies are ineffective due to the lack of capital and poor leadership within the municipality. Based on these findings several recommendations were made, for example, the implementation of a household credit system and the creation of a community environmental education programme, amongst others. These will speak not only to a short-term mitigation model of climate change, but would be capable of ensuring a long-term scenario and also create sustainable livelihoods for the people of the NMBM.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Nzante, Ekiyie
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Global warming -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22924 , vital:30146
- Description: The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) is in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is comprised of Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage, Seaview, Despatch and Blue Horizon Bay. The municipality spans 100 km of coastline and is responsible for 44% of the province’s gross geographical product. In past years the NMBM has experienced problems related to severe climate change, such as storm surges, floods and droughts, which have affected the livelihood of the people. Generally, the NMBM is looked upon as a vulnerable region with regard to climate change because of environmental stressors compounded by recurrent droughts and floods that limit the community’s capacity to cope and adapt effectively. This research explored the existing livelihood strategies set to adapt to the effects of climate change in the municipal area and assessed how effective these strategies are. It proposed sustainable solutions to livelihood problems as climate change consequences were accentuated within the municipal area. The study employed a qualitative research approach whereby data was collected by means of strategic interviews, document analysis, participant observation, focus groups and a study of existing literature. A total of 38 respondents were interviewed using a self-administered questionnaire and 5 focus groups participated in the study. The data was collected within the NMBM over a period of 9 months. The concept of sustainable livelihood (SL) was used to assess the effectiveness of the livelihood strategies implemented in the NMBM to adapt to climate change. The study findings primarily disclosed that certain livelihood strategies exist in the NMBM, such as the hydroponics projects. These strategies are ineffective due to the lack of capital and poor leadership within the municipality. Based on these findings several recommendations were made, for example, the implementation of a household credit system and the creation of a community environmental education programme, amongst others. These will speak not only to a short-term mitigation model of climate change, but would be capable of ensuring a long-term scenario and also create sustainable livelihoods for the people of the NMBM.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Synthesis, characterization and application of novel acetals derived from Eucalyptus oil
- Authors: Burger, Kirstin.
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Plasticizers , Eucalyptus citriodora
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23548 , vital:30579
- Description: The aim of the project was to develop new bio-plasticizer compounds which could be incorporated into infant plastics. Plasticizers increase flexibility of plastic. These plasticizer compounds were derived from crude natural oils such as Eucalyptus citriodora oil and virgin coconut oil. A reagent which could be synthesized from Eucalyptus citriodora oil was, para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) which was present in a 60:40 ratio of cis and trans isomers of the diol. A green procedure to synthesize the diol, where an environmentally friendly catalyst, citric acid was used. Optimal conditions were 7% aqueous citric acid as the catalyst and 12 hour reaction which resulted in a citronellal conversion of 88.4 ± 0.80% and PMD selectivity of 75.4 ± 1.22%. As the diol was present in isomers, it was of interest to separate the cis and trans isomers for characterization purposes and later for subsequent individual isomer acetalization reactions. Yields obtained for the reaction for cis and trans-PMD were 51% and 36%, respectively. The kinetics for PMD synthesis from Eucalyptus citriodora oil was determined as second order with a rate constant of 0.0008hr-1 and Ea of 15.77kJ/mol. The isomers of para-menthane-3,8-diol could be separated from the isomeric mixture by solvent extraction at -78°C with n-heptane. Individual rod-shaped crystals could be isolated with this procedure and was characterized by X-ray crystallography techniques and identified as cis-para-menthane-3,8-diol. The trans-para-menthane-3,8-diol was successfully separated, however adequate crystals were not grown for X-ray crystallography analysis. Another method of isomer separation was investigated for PMD by the formation of a complex where anhydrous copper chloride could only form a novel complex with cis-para-menthane-3,8-diol. The trans isomer remained unreacted in the filtrate. The cis-para-menthane-3,8-diol isomer could be freed from the complex to yield pure cis isomer. Aldehydes could be synthesized from virgin coconut oil with carboxylic acid extraction procedures of the crude oil. Subsequent synthesis reactions from carboxylic acid to form aldehydes were performed and octanal (85% yield), decanal (88% yield), dodecanal (86% yield) and tetradecanal (14% yield) could be successfully synthesized as precursors to the novel acetalization reactions. Eight novel cyclic acetals with a characteristic 1,3-dioxine ring were successfully synthesized. However, diastereoisomers of cis-acetal and trans-acetal were present and required separation for characterization 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, FT-IR, GC-MS and optical rotation techniques. The eight novel acetals were further characterized according to their physical properties such as there was no data available for these compounds. The following properties were determined: molecular mass, molecular formula, density, viscosity, boiling point, refractive index, enthalpy of vaporization, flash point, UV-VIS compatibility, solubility’s, colour and odour determination. Yields of up to 97% were obtained for these acetal compounds. The synthesis of acetals was optimized with batch reactions and optimum conditions were determined where eight catalysts were screened. These catalysts included: scandium triflate, Zeolite, sulphuric acid, p-toluene-sulfonic acid, Amberlyst 15®, Amberlyst 36®, Amberlite® IRA-120 and formic acid. Optimal conditions were with Amberlyst 15® catalyst, 50 minute reaction time at 65°C reaction temperature. The kinetics of the reaction was determined as zero order with a rate constant of 11.92 hr-1 and Ea of 0.050 kJ/mol. The acetalization reaction was evaluated using a UniQsis FlowSyn continuous flow reactor. One of the eight acetals (hexanal acetal) was used for the optimization study and the remaining acetals were evaluated with the optimum flow conditions. The reaction was improved with the use of continuous flow chemistry techniques by lowering of the optimum batch conditions. Various residence times (3.46-17.30 minutes) and temperature range (25-85°C) were studied to obtain optimum conditions. This process was efficient and low maintenance, which produced high acetal product selectivity of Optimum continuous flow conditions were determined at 55°C and 17.30 minute residence time with the flow rate of 0.1 ml/min. Heterogeneous catalysts such as Amberlyst 15® and Zeolite were screened and Amberlyst 15® determined as most favourable. The effect of Amberlyst 15® catalyst loading (0.5-2 g) was investigated over a temperature range of 25-85°C. Optimum catalyst loading was determined at 1g. The 8 compounds were tested for potential as plasticizers. This included mechanical, thermal, migratory and aesthetic testing. The novel acetals had to be compared to known plasticizers. Therefore, their plasticizer properties were compared to two commercial plasticizers: DBP and Eastman 168. As the compounds were derived from natural resources, they would be classified as bio-plasticizers if they exhibited such properties. Therefore, it was of interest to compare the novel compounds to a known bio-plasticizer: PMD-citronellal acetal. This compound was also present as a diastereoisomers mixture of cis and trans isomers. Therefore, diastereoisomers of the 8 acetals were separated as cis and trans isomers in high yields for plasticizer testing purposes. All 11 compounds (8 novel acetals, PMD-citronellal acetal, DBP and Eastman 168) were formulated in PVC to produce plastic films. As previously stated, isomers were present for the acetal compounds and these individual isomers were formulated into PVC formulations to evaluate if there was an effect of stereochemistry in the plastic films. Studies on this phenomenon were limited and therefore of interest. For isomeric plasticizer testing, 9 acetals (8 novel acetals and PMD-citronellal acetal) were used in the testing. Therefore 18 test compounds were formulated in PVC films for isomer plasticizer testing. The effect of increasing the compound amount in the PVC formulation was investigated in the range of 3-12% (w/w). The following tests were evaluated for all PVC test films: elongation, stress to fracture, glass transition temperature, leaching rate, flexibility, gloss and opacity. To validate the data and observations made, statistical validation models were developed to justify experimental design and trends observed. All novel compounds had plasticizer properties and one acetal compound was concluded as superior to DBP and Eastman 168, within the testing scope of the research. It was observed that higher molecular mass acetal compounds had increased plasticizer properties. Isomers for all acetal compounds were concluded to affect plasticizer properties differently and were highly significant. As the novel acetal compounds could be synthesized from natural crude resources, it was interesting to investigate if the synthesized acetals retained their anti-bacterial properties which the precursor oils possessed. Anti-bacterial testing of isomeric mixtures of C5-C12 acetal was investigated and compared to PMD-citronellal acetal and the two commercial plasticizers: DBP and Eastman 168. As the scope of the research focussed on bio-plasticizers for infant plastic products, test bacterial strains were chosen based on the pathogenic strains which cause diseases in babies. Six strains of bacteria were evaluated. It was of interest to evaluate the potency of the compounds by determining the minimum concentration of the compounds which would be potent enough to inhibit the bacteria. The commercial plasticizers inhibited no bacteria within the scope of the research. The acetals retained their anti-bacterial properties where C12 acetal was superior in 4/6 strains of bacteria and PMD-citronellal acetal was superior in 2/6 strains of bacteria. This research is novel and there are presently no data available on this. It was concluded that 8 new bio-plasticizers were synthesized, optimized and tested, within the scope of this research. These compounds were comparable to industry standards in all tests and possessed anti-bacterial properties which the industrial standards don’t possess.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Burger, Kirstin.
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Plasticizers , Eucalyptus citriodora
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23548 , vital:30579
- Description: The aim of the project was to develop new bio-plasticizer compounds which could be incorporated into infant plastics. Plasticizers increase flexibility of plastic. These plasticizer compounds were derived from crude natural oils such as Eucalyptus citriodora oil and virgin coconut oil. A reagent which could be synthesized from Eucalyptus citriodora oil was, para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) which was present in a 60:40 ratio of cis and trans isomers of the diol. A green procedure to synthesize the diol, where an environmentally friendly catalyst, citric acid was used. Optimal conditions were 7% aqueous citric acid as the catalyst and 12 hour reaction which resulted in a citronellal conversion of 88.4 ± 0.80% and PMD selectivity of 75.4 ± 1.22%. As the diol was present in isomers, it was of interest to separate the cis and trans isomers for characterization purposes and later for subsequent individual isomer acetalization reactions. Yields obtained for the reaction for cis and trans-PMD were 51% and 36%, respectively. The kinetics for PMD synthesis from Eucalyptus citriodora oil was determined as second order with a rate constant of 0.0008hr-1 and Ea of 15.77kJ/mol. The isomers of para-menthane-3,8-diol could be separated from the isomeric mixture by solvent extraction at -78°C with n-heptane. Individual rod-shaped crystals could be isolated with this procedure and was characterized by X-ray crystallography techniques and identified as cis-para-menthane-3,8-diol. The trans-para-menthane-3,8-diol was successfully separated, however adequate crystals were not grown for X-ray crystallography analysis. Another method of isomer separation was investigated for PMD by the formation of a complex where anhydrous copper chloride could only form a novel complex with cis-para-menthane-3,8-diol. The trans isomer remained unreacted in the filtrate. The cis-para-menthane-3,8-diol isomer could be freed from the complex to yield pure cis isomer. Aldehydes could be synthesized from virgin coconut oil with carboxylic acid extraction procedures of the crude oil. Subsequent synthesis reactions from carboxylic acid to form aldehydes were performed and octanal (85% yield), decanal (88% yield), dodecanal (86% yield) and tetradecanal (14% yield) could be successfully synthesized as precursors to the novel acetalization reactions. Eight novel cyclic acetals with a characteristic 1,3-dioxine ring were successfully synthesized. However, diastereoisomers of cis-acetal and trans-acetal were present and required separation for characterization 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, FT-IR, GC-MS and optical rotation techniques. The eight novel acetals were further characterized according to their physical properties such as there was no data available for these compounds. The following properties were determined: molecular mass, molecular formula, density, viscosity, boiling point, refractive index, enthalpy of vaporization, flash point, UV-VIS compatibility, solubility’s, colour and odour determination. Yields of up to 97% were obtained for these acetal compounds. The synthesis of acetals was optimized with batch reactions and optimum conditions were determined where eight catalysts were screened. These catalysts included: scandium triflate, Zeolite, sulphuric acid, p-toluene-sulfonic acid, Amberlyst 15®, Amberlyst 36®, Amberlite® IRA-120 and formic acid. Optimal conditions were with Amberlyst 15® catalyst, 50 minute reaction time at 65°C reaction temperature. The kinetics of the reaction was determined as zero order with a rate constant of 11.92 hr-1 and Ea of 0.050 kJ/mol. The acetalization reaction was evaluated using a UniQsis FlowSyn continuous flow reactor. One of the eight acetals (hexanal acetal) was used for the optimization study and the remaining acetals were evaluated with the optimum flow conditions. The reaction was improved with the use of continuous flow chemistry techniques by lowering of the optimum batch conditions. Various residence times (3.46-17.30 minutes) and temperature range (25-85°C) were studied to obtain optimum conditions. This process was efficient and low maintenance, which produced high acetal product selectivity of Optimum continuous flow conditions were determined at 55°C and 17.30 minute residence time with the flow rate of 0.1 ml/min. Heterogeneous catalysts such as Amberlyst 15® and Zeolite were screened and Amberlyst 15® determined as most favourable. The effect of Amberlyst 15® catalyst loading (0.5-2 g) was investigated over a temperature range of 25-85°C. Optimum catalyst loading was determined at 1g. The 8 compounds were tested for potential as plasticizers. This included mechanical, thermal, migratory and aesthetic testing. The novel acetals had to be compared to known plasticizers. Therefore, their plasticizer properties were compared to two commercial plasticizers: DBP and Eastman 168. As the compounds were derived from natural resources, they would be classified as bio-plasticizers if they exhibited such properties. Therefore, it was of interest to compare the novel compounds to a known bio-plasticizer: PMD-citronellal acetal. This compound was also present as a diastereoisomers mixture of cis and trans isomers. Therefore, diastereoisomers of the 8 acetals were separated as cis and trans isomers in high yields for plasticizer testing purposes. All 11 compounds (8 novel acetals, PMD-citronellal acetal, DBP and Eastman 168) were formulated in PVC to produce plastic films. As previously stated, isomers were present for the acetal compounds and these individual isomers were formulated into PVC formulations to evaluate if there was an effect of stereochemistry in the plastic films. Studies on this phenomenon were limited and therefore of interest. For isomeric plasticizer testing, 9 acetals (8 novel acetals and PMD-citronellal acetal) were used in the testing. Therefore 18 test compounds were formulated in PVC films for isomer plasticizer testing. The effect of increasing the compound amount in the PVC formulation was investigated in the range of 3-12% (w/w). The following tests were evaluated for all PVC test films: elongation, stress to fracture, glass transition temperature, leaching rate, flexibility, gloss and opacity. To validate the data and observations made, statistical validation models were developed to justify experimental design and trends observed. All novel compounds had plasticizer properties and one acetal compound was concluded as superior to DBP and Eastman 168, within the testing scope of the research. It was observed that higher molecular mass acetal compounds had increased plasticizer properties. Isomers for all acetal compounds were concluded to affect plasticizer properties differently and were highly significant. As the novel acetal compounds could be synthesized from natural crude resources, it was interesting to investigate if the synthesized acetals retained their anti-bacterial properties which the precursor oils possessed. Anti-bacterial testing of isomeric mixtures of C5-C12 acetal was investigated and compared to PMD-citronellal acetal and the two commercial plasticizers: DBP and Eastman 168. As the scope of the research focussed on bio-plasticizers for infant plastic products, test bacterial strains were chosen based on the pathogenic strains which cause diseases in babies. Six strains of bacteria were evaluated. It was of interest to evaluate the potency of the compounds by determining the minimum concentration of the compounds which would be potent enough to inhibit the bacteria. The commercial plasticizers inhibited no bacteria within the scope of the research. The acetals retained their anti-bacterial properties where C12 acetal was superior in 4/6 strains of bacteria and PMD-citronellal acetal was superior in 2/6 strains of bacteria. This research is novel and there are presently no data available on this. It was concluded that 8 new bio-plasticizers were synthesized, optimized and tested, within the scope of this research. These compounds were comparable to industry standards in all tests and possessed anti-bacterial properties which the industrial standards don’t possess.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of photophysical and electrochemical properties of ruthenium(II) complexes for dye-sensitized solar cells
- Authors: Adjogri, Shadrack John
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Ruthenium Ruthenium compounds
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17828 , vital:41363
- Description: Eight series of thirty (30) novel heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes were designed, synthesized and spectroscopically characterized, with the following general molecular formulae as [Ru(bdmpmar)(H2dcbpy)(NCS)]+, [Ru(bdmpmar)(vpdiinp)(H2dcbpy)]2,+, [Ru(bdmpmar)(vpbpp)(H2dcbpy)]2+,[Ru(H2dcbpy)2(N^)(NCS)]+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)2(N^)2]2+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)(N^)2(NCS)2], [Ru(H2dcbpy)(N^)(NCS)3]– and [Ru(vptpy)(H2dcbpy)(N^^^)]2+ where bdmpmar is a tridentate ligand of N,N-bis(3, 5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl-methyl) aromatic organic compound (such aromatic organic compounds(Ar) are anthranilic acid, 4-methoxy-2-nitroaniline, aniline, toluidine, cyclohexylamine and anisidine), vpdiinp represents a monodentate ligand of 11-(4-vinylphenyl)diindeno[1,2-b:2’,1’-e]pyridine, vpbpp represents a monodentate ligand of 4-(4-vinylphenyl)-2.6-bis(phenyl)pyridine and vptpy represents a tridentate ligand of 4’-(4-vinyl)-2,2’:6’,2’’-terpyridine. Meanwhile, N^ represents any of the monodentate ligands of either vpdiinp or vpbpp and (N^^^) represents any of the monodentate ligands either of vpdiinp or vpbpp or NCS as disclosed in series VIII. The complexes were characterized by conductivity measurement, solubility, melting point, UV-Vis, PL, FTIR (ATR), NMR, Cyclic and square wave voltammetry. Nine chelating ligands, comprising of six (6) tripodal chelating ligands, two (2) vinyl monodentate ligands and one (1) vinyl tridentate ligand, were used for the synthesis of ruthenium(II) complexes ATR-FTIR spectra of all the ruthenium(II) complexes measured as solid samples, exhibited fine resolution IR bands in region between 3473-3438 cm-1 of carboxylic group in H2dcbpy. The bands in the range 3040-2950 cm-1 were ascribed to C-H bond stretching for the CH3 groups. The coordination of NCS group in the sphere of ruthenium(II) complexes related to series I, IV, VI VII and one compound of series VIII was investigated by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Bands in the range of 2116-2106 cm-1 and 777-770 cm-1 are ascribed to the respective N=C and the C=S bond stretching vibration which confirms the N-coordination of the SCN group. For all the complexes, the stretching vibration of Ru-N bonding was between 466 and 411 cm-1 due to coordination of the nitrogen atoms of the ligands to ruthenium central metal atom. The introduction of the two vinyl monodentate ligands (vpdiinp and vpbpp) in the coordination sphere of [Ru(bdmpmar)(vpdiinp)(H2dcbpy)]2+, [Ru(bdmpmar) (vpbpp)(H2dcbpy)]2+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)2(N^)(NCS)]+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)2(N^)2]2+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)(N^)2(NCS)2], [Ru(H2dcbpy)(N^)(NCS)3]– and [Ru(vptpy)(H2dcbpy)(N^^^)]2+ respectively, all related to series II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and two compounds of series VIII ruthenium(II) complexes, has been studied using the 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy techniques. The 1H NMR spectra of series II-VII and the two compounds of series VIII of the ruthenium(II) complexes show multiplets in the aromatic region above 6 ppm due to the presence of either vpdiinp or vpbpp ligand, situated in different magnetic environment. However, no splitting pattern was observed in series I and part of VIII complexes possibly due to the absence vinyl monodentate subunits (vpdiinp and vpbpp) in series I and one of compound in series VIII ruthenium(II) complexes show no signals of complex splitting patterns. Carbon-13 NMR spectra data of series I to VIII ruthenium(II) complexes show most resonance signals range in the aromatic region of (δ 116.54-199.63ppm) corresponding to the molecular formulation of ruthenium(II) complexes incorporating 4,4-dicarboxy-2,2’-bipyridine, bdmpmar, vptpy, vpdiinp or vpbpp and NCS ligands respectively, depending on the intrinsic ligand variations. Carbon-13 NMR spectra data of series I, IV, VI VII and one compound in VIII show resonance peaks within the range 130-135 ppm are ascribed to NCS ligand confirming the presence of N-coordinated thiocyanate. Cyclic voltammograms of series I-IV and VI-VIII complexes display ruthenium-based oxidative peaks and the pyridines ligand-based reductive peaks. The redox behavior of complexes 4-12, 14-16, 18-20, 24-26 and 30 is dominated by the Ru(II)/R(III) redox couple in region (E1/2 between 0.53 and 1.18) and the pyridines ligand-based redox couples in the region between (E1/2 between −0.25 and −1.45). The photophysical property studies of the Ru(II) complexes are determined through the acquisitions of the absorption spectra, which tends to have profound effect on the short circuit current of DSSC. The absorption maxima were tuned by the introduction and variation of six (6) tripodal chelating ligands, two (2) vinyl monodentate ligands and one (1) vinyl tridentate ligand. From the studies, the results show that series IV, V, VI, VII and VIII complexes of molecular formula [Ru(H2dcbpy)2(N^)(NCS)]2+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)2(N^)2]2+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)(N^)2(NCS)2]2+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)(N^)(NCS)3]2+ and [Ru(vptpy)(H2dcbpy)(N^^^)]2+ respectively, have higher and multiple local absorption maxima near-IR region than the complexes of series I, II and III of molecular [Ru(bdmpmar)(H2dcbpy)(NCS)]2,+, [Ru(bdmpmar)(vpdiinp)(H2dcbpy)]2,+, [Ru(bdmpmar)(vpbpp)(H2dcbpy)]2,+respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Adjogri, Shadrack John
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Ruthenium Ruthenium compounds
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17828 , vital:41363
- Description: Eight series of thirty (30) novel heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes were designed, synthesized and spectroscopically characterized, with the following general molecular formulae as [Ru(bdmpmar)(H2dcbpy)(NCS)]+, [Ru(bdmpmar)(vpdiinp)(H2dcbpy)]2,+, [Ru(bdmpmar)(vpbpp)(H2dcbpy)]2+,[Ru(H2dcbpy)2(N^)(NCS)]+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)2(N^)2]2+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)(N^)2(NCS)2], [Ru(H2dcbpy)(N^)(NCS)3]– and [Ru(vptpy)(H2dcbpy)(N^^^)]2+ where bdmpmar is a tridentate ligand of N,N-bis(3, 5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl-methyl) aromatic organic compound (such aromatic organic compounds(Ar) are anthranilic acid, 4-methoxy-2-nitroaniline, aniline, toluidine, cyclohexylamine and anisidine), vpdiinp represents a monodentate ligand of 11-(4-vinylphenyl)diindeno[1,2-b:2’,1’-e]pyridine, vpbpp represents a monodentate ligand of 4-(4-vinylphenyl)-2.6-bis(phenyl)pyridine and vptpy represents a tridentate ligand of 4’-(4-vinyl)-2,2’:6’,2’’-terpyridine. Meanwhile, N^ represents any of the monodentate ligands of either vpdiinp or vpbpp and (N^^^) represents any of the monodentate ligands either of vpdiinp or vpbpp or NCS as disclosed in series VIII. The complexes were characterized by conductivity measurement, solubility, melting point, UV-Vis, PL, FTIR (ATR), NMR, Cyclic and square wave voltammetry. Nine chelating ligands, comprising of six (6) tripodal chelating ligands, two (2) vinyl monodentate ligands and one (1) vinyl tridentate ligand, were used for the synthesis of ruthenium(II) complexes ATR-FTIR spectra of all the ruthenium(II) complexes measured as solid samples, exhibited fine resolution IR bands in region between 3473-3438 cm-1 of carboxylic group in H2dcbpy. The bands in the range 3040-2950 cm-1 were ascribed to C-H bond stretching for the CH3 groups. The coordination of NCS group in the sphere of ruthenium(II) complexes related to series I, IV, VI VII and one compound of series VIII was investigated by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Bands in the range of 2116-2106 cm-1 and 777-770 cm-1 are ascribed to the respective N=C and the C=S bond stretching vibration which confirms the N-coordination of the SCN group. For all the complexes, the stretching vibration of Ru-N bonding was between 466 and 411 cm-1 due to coordination of the nitrogen atoms of the ligands to ruthenium central metal atom. The introduction of the two vinyl monodentate ligands (vpdiinp and vpbpp) in the coordination sphere of [Ru(bdmpmar)(vpdiinp)(H2dcbpy)]2+, [Ru(bdmpmar) (vpbpp)(H2dcbpy)]2+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)2(N^)(NCS)]+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)2(N^)2]2+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)(N^)2(NCS)2], [Ru(H2dcbpy)(N^)(NCS)3]– and [Ru(vptpy)(H2dcbpy)(N^^^)]2+ respectively, all related to series II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and two compounds of series VIII ruthenium(II) complexes, has been studied using the 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy techniques. The 1H NMR spectra of series II-VII and the two compounds of series VIII of the ruthenium(II) complexes show multiplets in the aromatic region above 6 ppm due to the presence of either vpdiinp or vpbpp ligand, situated in different magnetic environment. However, no splitting pattern was observed in series I and part of VIII complexes possibly due to the absence vinyl monodentate subunits (vpdiinp and vpbpp) in series I and one of compound in series VIII ruthenium(II) complexes show no signals of complex splitting patterns. Carbon-13 NMR spectra data of series I to VIII ruthenium(II) complexes show most resonance signals range in the aromatic region of (δ 116.54-199.63ppm) corresponding to the molecular formulation of ruthenium(II) complexes incorporating 4,4-dicarboxy-2,2’-bipyridine, bdmpmar, vptpy, vpdiinp or vpbpp and NCS ligands respectively, depending on the intrinsic ligand variations. Carbon-13 NMR spectra data of series I, IV, VI VII and one compound in VIII show resonance peaks within the range 130-135 ppm are ascribed to NCS ligand confirming the presence of N-coordinated thiocyanate. Cyclic voltammograms of series I-IV and VI-VIII complexes display ruthenium-based oxidative peaks and the pyridines ligand-based reductive peaks. The redox behavior of complexes 4-12, 14-16, 18-20, 24-26 and 30 is dominated by the Ru(II)/R(III) redox couple in region (E1/2 between 0.53 and 1.18) and the pyridines ligand-based redox couples in the region between (E1/2 between −0.25 and −1.45). The photophysical property studies of the Ru(II) complexes are determined through the acquisitions of the absorption spectra, which tends to have profound effect on the short circuit current of DSSC. The absorption maxima were tuned by the introduction and variation of six (6) tripodal chelating ligands, two (2) vinyl monodentate ligands and one (1) vinyl tridentate ligand. From the studies, the results show that series IV, V, VI, VII and VIII complexes of molecular formula [Ru(H2dcbpy)2(N^)(NCS)]2+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)2(N^)2]2+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)(N^)2(NCS)2]2+, [Ru(H2dcbpy)(N^)(NCS)3]2+ and [Ru(vptpy)(H2dcbpy)(N^^^)]2+ respectively, have higher and multiple local absorption maxima near-IR region than the complexes of series I, II and III of molecular [Ru(bdmpmar)(H2dcbpy)(NCS)]2,+, [Ru(bdmpmar)(vpdiinp)(H2dcbpy)]2,+, [Ru(bdmpmar)(vpbpp)(H2dcbpy)]2,+respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Tanzania’s mediation process in the conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi parties in Burundi 1993 -2005: a mediation perspective
- Authors: Kanuwa, Juma Mabasa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Mediation -- Tanzania , Mediation -- Burundi Conflict management -- Tanzania Conflict management -- Burundi Hutu (African people) -- Burundi
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30671 , vital:31011
- Description: The goal of this research was to examine Tanzania’s mediation process in the conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi parties in Burundi from 1993 to 2005, from a mediation theoretical perspective. To achieve this, a critical paradigm was used as the way to view the mediation process in the Great Lakes Region. The study also aimed at attaining a grounded theoretical understanding of the topic under study, including an in depth understanding of Tanzania’s history in conflict resolution, the historical causes of Burundi’s deep-rooted social conflict, theories of conflict and conflict resolution, third party intervention and mediation theories and perspectives. This study is underpinned by Bercovitch’s Mediation Framework and its quest for problem-solving. It is a qualitative study that used documentary review, individual interviews and focus group interviews as data-gathering instruments. The selection of the study sample was carried out according to a purposive approach. The data was collected from minutes of meetings, verbatim reports, letters, journals, books, individual interviews and focus group interviews. The findings of the study culminated in three major findings which are: the finding of the first research question on Tanzania’s mediation process that Tanzania’s motivation for mediating stemmed from its traditional foreign policy, the effectiveness of the intervention stemmed from its sound understanding of the root causes of the conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi and because the parties retained ownership of the mediation process. Other success factors were due to the third-party collaboration with International Organizations, and the use of a transformative mediation approach. The finding in respect of the second research question comparing Tanzania’s mediation process with the mediation perspectives of Bercovitch and Burton was that there were similarities which were based on their assumptions in respect of social conflict, responses to conflict, the objectives of mediation, the role of mediator, the mediation action itself, the focus of mediator, timing of mediation and the success of mediation. With regards to the third question, the findings proposed improvements in respect of vii professionalism of the mediator, a change of mediation culture and attitude, the personality of mediators, diplomatic support for mediation and the institutionalisation and consolidation of conflict management. The study concluded by proposing a Professional Integration Mediation Practice (PIMP) framework. The PIMP framework was developed, based on the findings of the study, and anticipates the provision of guidance to mediators and facilitators on the use of a more Professional Integration Mediation Practice approach to facilitate a positive mediation process. The PIMP framework further provides a range of advantages in the process of conflict resolution with respect to deep–rooted social conflict. However, there is a need for agreement of international organizations on the use of professional mediators and facilitators in a mediation process. The PIMP framework can go a long way to effectively resolve deep–rooted social conflicts with the appropriate support of international organisations, and the international community as a whole.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Kanuwa, Juma Mabasa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Mediation -- Tanzania , Mediation -- Burundi Conflict management -- Tanzania Conflict management -- Burundi Hutu (African people) -- Burundi
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30671 , vital:31011
- Description: The goal of this research was to examine Tanzania’s mediation process in the conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi parties in Burundi from 1993 to 2005, from a mediation theoretical perspective. To achieve this, a critical paradigm was used as the way to view the mediation process in the Great Lakes Region. The study also aimed at attaining a grounded theoretical understanding of the topic under study, including an in depth understanding of Tanzania’s history in conflict resolution, the historical causes of Burundi’s deep-rooted social conflict, theories of conflict and conflict resolution, third party intervention and mediation theories and perspectives. This study is underpinned by Bercovitch’s Mediation Framework and its quest for problem-solving. It is a qualitative study that used documentary review, individual interviews and focus group interviews as data-gathering instruments. The selection of the study sample was carried out according to a purposive approach. The data was collected from minutes of meetings, verbatim reports, letters, journals, books, individual interviews and focus group interviews. The findings of the study culminated in three major findings which are: the finding of the first research question on Tanzania’s mediation process that Tanzania’s motivation for mediating stemmed from its traditional foreign policy, the effectiveness of the intervention stemmed from its sound understanding of the root causes of the conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi and because the parties retained ownership of the mediation process. Other success factors were due to the third-party collaboration with International Organizations, and the use of a transformative mediation approach. The finding in respect of the second research question comparing Tanzania’s mediation process with the mediation perspectives of Bercovitch and Burton was that there were similarities which were based on their assumptions in respect of social conflict, responses to conflict, the objectives of mediation, the role of mediator, the mediation action itself, the focus of mediator, timing of mediation and the success of mediation. With regards to the third question, the findings proposed improvements in respect of vii professionalism of the mediator, a change of mediation culture and attitude, the personality of mediators, diplomatic support for mediation and the institutionalisation and consolidation of conflict management. The study concluded by proposing a Professional Integration Mediation Practice (PIMP) framework. The PIMP framework was developed, based on the findings of the study, and anticipates the provision of guidance to mediators and facilitators on the use of a more Professional Integration Mediation Practice approach to facilitate a positive mediation process. The PIMP framework further provides a range of advantages in the process of conflict resolution with respect to deep–rooted social conflict. However, there is a need for agreement of international organizations on the use of professional mediators and facilitators in a mediation process. The PIMP framework can go a long way to effectively resolve deep–rooted social conflicts with the appropriate support of international organisations, and the international community as a whole.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018