A critique of baroque performance practice with specific reference to the organ preludes and fugues by Johann Sebastian Bach
- Authors: Murphy, Liesel
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750 -- Organ music , Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750 -- Keyboard music , Performance practice (Music) -- History -- 17th century , Organ music -- History and criticism , Music -- 17th century -- Performance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MMus
- Identifier: vital:8509 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1023 , Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750 -- Organ music , Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750 -- Keyboard music , Performance practice (Music) -- History -- 17th century , Organ music -- History and criticism , Music -- 17th century -- Performance
- Description: This study aims to provide a critique of Baroque performance practice, with specific reference to the organ Preludes and Fugues of Johann Sebastian Bach. Drawing from the extensive body of literature pertaining to Bach’s keyboard music, a number of relevant issues are explored in so far as these may provide understanding of the manner in which the organ Preludes and Fugues should be performed today. These include: • The notion of Bach’s ‘generic’ keyboard works. Were the generic keyboard works as a whole intended to be performed on more than one keyboard instrument? The instrumental designations given by Bach in these works are a valuable source of information in answering this question. • The type of organ that was known to J.S. Bach and typical registration used in the Baroque, called the plenum. • Identification of the grey area that persists in the interpretation of Bach’s organ works with regard to registration, tempo, rhythm, articulation, phrasing, fingering and ornamentation. This study also engages with the current authenticity debate in musical performance as seen from the modernist and postmodernist points of view. The modernist ideal of authenticity is to “re-create” or “reconstruct” performances of Bach’s music with as much accuracy as the evidence of historical musicologists can provide. For the postmodernist, however, authenticity lies in embracing the human element of contingency in musical performance, along with a thorough grounding of such performance in historical evidence. In aligning itself with the postmodernist point of view, this study ultimately argues that we cannot learn everything there is to know about Baroque performance practice from books. Instead, in addition to historical evidence, we draw much of our understanding in this regard from our innate or tacit levels of knowing. In this regard the scholar of Bach’s organ works can draw valuable lessons from the levels of tacit knowledge of leading organ pedagogues and performers on the subject of Baroque performance practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
A descriptive study of conflict management strategies of the Johannesburg Central Methodist Church refugee community
- Authors: Burger, Christine-Maria
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Conflict management , Central Methodist Church Refugee Community , Refugees -- Housing -- South Africa -- Johannesburg
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:8199 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1301 , Conflict management , Central Methodist Church Refugee Community , Refugees -- Housing -- South Africa -- Johannesburg
- Description: The growth of forced migration populations - i.e. the movement of people within and across national boarders as a result of conflicts, disasters, and development policies and projects - has been a defining feature of the twentieth century and will no doubt remain with us well into the twenty-first century (Rutinwa, 2001: 13). Literature searches suggest that the ‘refugee’ constitutes the most powerful label within the forced migration discourse. Published calculations regarding the number of refugees in the world at the end of 2008, range between 15.2 million (UNHCR, 2009: 2) and 13.6 million (World Refugee Survey, 2009: 33). The refugee experience of a small representative population of these figures namely, the Zimbabwean refugees living within the Central Methodist Church (CMC) or Central Methodist Mission (CMM) refugee community, in Johannesburg city centre is the concern of this treatise. From the perspective of the conflict management scholar, the informal and formal conflict management strategies adopted among and between the CMM refugees, have been studied. Analysis of existing literature, interviews conducted with the refugees, as well as hours of experience within the refugee community, substantiate the descriptive study that follows. Guided by the grounded theory approach, research findings have emerged out of the descriptions. The research findings in turn have founded the development of the recommendations that appear in the conclusion to the treatise.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
A foucaultian critique of the conception of individual subjectivity within contemporary environmental discourse
- Authors: Konik, Inge
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Environmentalism , Environmental policy , Environmental management -- Social aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:8422 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016201
- Description: Certain prominent environmental theorists have accounted for and/or addressed our unmitigated environmentally damaging behavior in cognitive terms, related to a common (misplaced) belief that economic development and technological advancement, among other contemporary processes, will solve our environmental problems. However, I argue that they have not given due consideration to the complex (predominantly non-cognitive/non-conscious) discursive constitution of the individual, and thus seem to adhere to a Kantian notion of autonomy that overlooks such non-cognitive factors. Focusing on this non-cognitive aspect of discursive constitution, I ascribe our ecological apathy mainly to the fact that we have been discursively constituted as docile bodies and prostrate subjects. Further, I argue that, because this process of discursive constitution is primarily non-cognitive, any attempts to remedy our ecological apathy at a cognitive level alone will not be completely effective. Consequently, I propose that a more effective way of fostering pro-environmental dispositions may be for individuals to engage in an ethic/culture of the self that is not exclusively conceptual in orientation, and which is centered on the practice of a counter-discourse that does not constitute the individual as docile and prostrate nor negate the individual’s dependence on the environment. Alternatively, in order to engender pro-environmental civilizational change, it may be necessary to operate within the discursive parameters of dominant/popular institutions, in order to incrementally alter the discourses employed within, and disseminated through, these institutions, in a manner that would lead to the problematization, rather than the endorsement, of the ecologically deleterious technological, political and economic trajectories of our time.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
A model to improve relations between management of the Eastern Cape provincial legislature and national education health and allied workers union (NEHAWU)
- Authors: Mosana, Nombulelo Pascaline
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Employee-management relations in government -- South Africa , Employment relations -- South Africa , Labor unions -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:8255 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1026 , Employee-management relations in government -- South Africa , Employment relations -- South Africa , Labor unions -- South Africa
- Description: This study seeks to generate a model that will give rise to improved working relations between the management of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature and NEHAWU. In the community of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature there are perceptions that management and NEHAWU do not trust each other. Based on the above, the main aim of the study therefore is to investigate the truth or falsehood of the perceptions mentioned above and to generate a model. As Punch (1993:37) explains, the researcher provides the hypothesis which is the predicted answer to the research question or problem identified in the study. The formulated hypothesis in this study is that “the application of a model to improve working relations will result in improved working relations between management of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature and NEHAWU”. Findings revealed in the answers received from respondents prove the accuracy of the hypothesis. The methodological framework used in this investigation is the qualitative research. Winberg (1997:411) states that in using the qualitative research approach, the researcher looks at people within a specific context. An appropriate research design selected for this research project is the empirical study that utilises the primary data sourced through a survey. A v survey has been conducted targeting different respondents in the legislature community. Findings reveal that in order to improve working relations an enabling environment in the ECPL should be created. Effective and user friendly systems and standard operating procedures should be put in place. Findings also reveal that interaction between management and the union takes place mainly around bargaining issues. Managament and NEHAWU do not trust each other and as a result of that relations are poor. Again, findings reveal a strong support by management and NEHAWU for the development of a “model to improve relations between management of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature and NEHAWU”. After analysing and interpreting the findings, the study recommends a model that will help improve working relations between management and NEHAWU. The proposed integrated model deals with institutional strategy that is informed by national policies and legislations, structure (inclusive of MPLs, management and the labour union), systems and standard operating procedures and cultural re-invigoration. Central to this model is an effort to build a team with a common purpose. The model recognises the importance of inter-relation and inter-dependency of its various elements in order to build a successful organization and to cultivate good corporate governance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Addressing the idiosyncrasies of contemporary notation in recorder compositions, with specific references to unconventional symbols in Music for a bird by Hans-Martin Linde and Sieben Stucke fur altblokflote by Markus Zahnhausen
- Authors: Bartle, Lynne
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Musical notation , Musical notation -- Study and teaching , Musical notation -- History , Music -- 20th century
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MMus
- Identifier: vital:8516 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/920 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012065 , Musical notation , Musical notation -- Study and teaching , Musical notation -- History , Music -- 20th century
- Description: This treatise provides recorder performers and teachers with a guide to understanding the unconventional notation symbols encountered in Music for a Bird by Hans-Martin Linde and Sieben Stücke Für Altblockflöte by Markus Zahnhausen. Given the context of the overall history of notation, it argues that the idiosyncrasies of the unconventional notation symbols encountered in the recorder repertoire of contemporary composers such as Linde and Zahnhausen are by no means an anomaly. Throughout history, notated scores have functioned merely as incomplete guides to the reconstruction and the realization of musical works. Along with the decoding of these instructions, a host of acculturated meanings have always been taken for granted on the part of the writers of such guidelines. In the light of the modernist crisis and the resultant exacerbation of the gulf between composers and their audience, however, it would seem that the need for such acculturated intervention is greater then ever before. This treatise serves to bridge the gulf between the works of Linde and Zahnhausen on the one hand, and the average performer and teacher of the recorder on the other, by offering an analysis both of the meaning of the unconventional symbols these works contain as well as of the method according to which they should be executed on the recorder.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An analysis of perceived and operationalised team effectiveness in community-based organisations within the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area: a case study
- Authors: Gititu, Diana Wambui
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Teams in the workplace -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Community-based organisations -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Management committees -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:16144 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/908 , Teams in the workplace -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Community-based organisations -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Management committees -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: Literature on effectiveness indicates the interest of researchers in the role that teams play within organisations. The conclusion is that different variables affect team performance effectiveness. A further analysis of literature on team effectiveness enabled the researcher to develop a matrix of assessment of team effectiveness from these variables to serve as a benchmark. In addition to this, a matrix consisting of perceived variables of team effectiveness was constructed from the outcome of in-depth interviews and focus group sessions with the members of management committees of community-based organisations (CBOs) based within Port Elizabeth townships. These matrixes were used by the researcher to assess the operationalisation of these variables within the CBO management committees. The research indicates that management committees either did not operationalise these variables within their teams or did not do so to their fullest capacity. The overall outcome of these assessments indicates the areas that require attention, and provides opportunity for group practitioners to assist CBO management committees to enhance their effectiveness as teams. It is suggested that group practitioners together with members of CBO management committees, embark as a task team project to develop a strategy to refine the perceived variables guided by those emphasised by experts within this field, to strategise a clear path towards enhanced team effectiveness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An analysis of the 2007 general elections in Kenya: a political leadership perspective
- Authors: Wanjiru, Stephanie M
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Elections -- Kenya , Kenya -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:8170 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1082 , Elections -- Kenya , Kenya -- Politics and government
- Description: On 27 December, 2007, Kenyan citizens took to the polls for the fourth time since multiparty democracy was introduced in 1992. The sentiment was that democracy was finally coming of age in this East African country. For many, these elections represented a turn in the country’s democratic process that would bring change in the areas of justice, food, shelter, education and employment to all – as these were the main campaign promises. Instead, at the conclusion of the voting and at the beginning of the tallying process, the electorate erupted violently at the suspicion and eventual reporting of the process being rigged. One of the main subjects discussed in this study includes the argument that Kenya is ailing from a lack of responsible political leadership. The breed of Kenyan politicians that have been experienced in the country since it gained its independence from British colonialists in 1963, have plundered its resources – material and human – to the brink of war. It is no longer a valid argument that Africa, just because of a history of governments looting and plundering the vast resources that belong to the world’s poorest of the poor, in particular Kenya produces bad leaders. The second topic of discussion in this study questions the role of ethnic mobilisation during the elections. It is well documented by authors such as Cowen and Kanyinga (in Cowen and Laakso (eds.) 2002: 128-171) that ethnicity in Kenya, under the machinations of irresponsible political leaders, has in the past played a critical part in rallying one political party against another. The 2007 General Election was no different. The contested presidential election results were announced on 30 December, 2007, declaring another term of office for the incumbent president, Mwai Kibaki. Since that announcement, thousands of people were reported dead while hundreds of thousands were considered displaced. The chaos was followed by a long mediation process kicked off with the AU chairman, John Kufuor, president of Ghana, hosting a number of talks between the two parties. However, this did not bear much fruit as the two conflicting parties could not agree on the main issue of the creation of a position of Prime Minister for Raila Odinga to 7 fill. This was then followed by a more successful mediation process hosted by the Elders1 including former United Nations (UN) secretary general, Kofi Annan, Graça Maçhel and Benjamin Mkapa, as indicated by The Daily Nation newspapers throughout the month of January 2008. It is with this background that the study will now turn to the discussion about the context of the research, its objectives, rationale, motivation and the research design
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An analysis of the reporting on poverty and foreign aid in Sub-Saharan Africa before and during the current global economic crisis, in BBC online (Texts)
- Authors: Achu, Stella
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Economic assistance -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Poverty -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Financial crises , Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8371 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1257 , Economic assistance -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Poverty -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Financial crises , Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Economic conditions
- Description: Since 1929, the world economy has not encountered any financial crisis as severe as the case of the Great Depression, until 2007 when the fall of stock markets and the collapse of large financial institutions in the United States resulted in a worldwide recession. According to an IMF report, and as a result of the direct impact of the crisis, advanced economies such as those of the United States and Europe are suffering from a systemic banking crisis with economic output expected to contract by over 1 ¾ % in 2009. (Bourdin 2009:2) Although the crisis erupted in the United States, the effects quickly spread to countries worldwide. However, its effects are said to be more devastating for the poorest regions in the world including Sub-Saharan Africa. During the last few years, prior to the crisis, many Sub-Saharan African countries had enjoyed a growth rate of over 5%. This was partly as a result of sound economic policies and increased external support in the form of debt relief and higher inflows from economically powerful countries in the West. However, with the current financial crisis, wealthy nations have been forced to concentrate on sustaining their own economy. As a result, amongst changes like tighter immigration policies, skyrocketing oil prices and food prices, foreign aid is being withdrawn. (ibid 2009:3) According to foreign media reports, donor governments and the G8 are no longer as committed to aid as before the crisis. This research paper examines the evolution of aid to Africa in view of various contexts through a broad historical economic and political economy overview, and finally corroborates these observations with a discourse analysis of a sample of BBC online articles. The research project thus investigates in this last section, the BBC’s representation of poverty and aid in Sub-Saharan Africa before and during the current global economic crisis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An analysis of the views of health practitioners with respect to location of primary health care within Nelson Mandela Bay municipality district
- Authors: Tolom, Andile W
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Primary health care -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Primary health care -- Management , Health services accessibility
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:8229 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/860 , Primary health care -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Primary health care -- Management , Health services accessibility
- Description: The South African Department of Health, like the health departments of many other countries, has reviewed its policies to focus on the delivery of comprehensive Primary Health Care (PHC). The South African health care sector is undergoing major restructuring in an attempt to address the inadequacies resulting from the fragmentation and duplication of health services in apartheid South Africa. Following this restructuring, the decentralisation to health services has been adopted as the model for both the governance and management of health issues (Department of Health, 2002:7). Before 1994, local government health departments were rendering certain primary health care services in terms of the Health Act 63 of 1977. Post 1994, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 (Act 108 of 1996) classified primary health care as a provincial function. Based on this classification, primary health care services in South Africa are now being provided by two authorities, namely local government and provincial government, in the same community. Thus, in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality District, primary health care services are rendered by two authorities, namely the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the Nelson Mandela Health District of the Eastern Cape Department of Health. These authorities are targeting the same community, with the same PHC package, with different sets of conditions of service, salary structures, infrastructure, accountability and authority. Such differences are believed to have impeded functional integration, depleted human resource capacity in rendering an effective and efficient PHC system and resulted in inefficient budget spending by both authorities. The problems of location, duplication and fragmentation of primary health care provision in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality District are not conducive to optimal service rendering. This will be resolved only once a unified, single integrated health service has been established. This study was undertaken to explore and describe the views of health practitioners with respect to the location of primary health care within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality District. The research design of this study was a quantitative, explorative, descriptive survey. Healthcare practitioners, like management, doctors and nurses, were asked to respond to a structured questionnaire. The findings of the study indicate that while health practitioners may hold diverse views on where primary health care should be located, they agree that a unified, single PHC authority would be desirable. Although primary health care is a combination of task-orientated basic health services and the process of community development, it is important that the authority of choice should ensure the highest possible quality through an integrated process, taking into account local needs. The recommendations made by the researcher on the conclusion of this study cover the principles on which a successful strategy for implementing primary health care should be based, including the need to create sustainable communities. It is hoped that the recommendations offered, will contribute to the more effective and efficient implementation of comprehensive primary health care services in Nelson Mandela Bay and also elsewhere in South African local government.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An anthropological study of the experiences of exchange students in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- Authors: Maganga, Stewart Martin
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Education, Higher Cross-cultural studies -- Port Elizabeth -- South Africa , Students, Foreign -- Education(Higher) -- Port Elizabeth -- South Africa , International education -- South Africa , Intellectual life -- Cross-cultural studies , Educational change Cross-cultural studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:16143 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1007 , Education, Higher Cross-cultural studies -- Port Elizabeth -- South Africa , Students, Foreign -- Education(Higher) -- Port Elizabeth -- South Africa , International education -- South Africa , Intellectual life -- Cross-cultural studies , Educational change Cross-cultural studies
- Description: This research study aims to investigate the exchange students' experiences with living in a foreign environment. Twenty students took part in this study and were made up of two categories namely study abroad students and student interns. The twenty students who took part in this study were mostly from industrialized countries namely Germany, the United States of America, Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden. Data were collected by means of individual semi-structured interviews as well as observational methods namely participant and simple observations. The results indicate that if sojourners are to gain a better understanding the South African culture, it is important that they interact with the host nationals. Given that most of the students highlighted the issue of crime as their main concern, their knowledge on how to survive in a crime-ridden country like South Africa would be essential.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An assessment of the practice of public relations practitioners in marketing the corporate image in selected organisations
- Authors: Lukusa, Adolphine Cama
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Public relations -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Corporate image , Marketing , Professions -- Marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8394 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1002 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009562 , Public relations -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Corporate image , Marketing , Professions -- Marketing
- Description: The profession of public relations has suffered negative associations and connotations as far as its role and practice are concerned. Alongside these, there are theories put forward within the field suggesting ways that could be used to assist public relations practitioners to become more successful in serving their organisations, marketing their organisation’s corporate image as well as reversing public relations’ negative legacy which has long existed as suggested by Steyn and Puth. This treatise argues that the real situation of the practice of public relations, its roles and the successes of PR practitioners in marketing the corporate image of their organisation might differ from what theories proposed. Thus this study seeks and intends to correlate what has been theorized with current practice in the profession. In addition, this study reflects and corroborates public relations practitioners’ roles in marketing the corporate image of organisations within the proposed new strategic role and through the existing traditional roles as compared to theory. Finally, this study also helps establish required changes to the traditional roles of the practitioners with the aim of reflecting the current situations in the existing selected organisations. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, the views and perceptions of public relations practitioners and managers of selected organisations were examined through a survey by questionnaire. This data was then analysed to determine their roles in marketing the corporate image of organisations in terms of the new strategic role and through the existing traditional roles as compared to theory. The sample included public relations practitioners and chief executive officers of Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Holdings (Pty) Ltd , Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and Transnet National Ports Authority. The findings seem to support the hypotheses of the study in concluding that: The strategic roles identified in theory such as the solution around the myth and allegory of success in the practice and profession of public relations might not be realised in current practice, and Public relations practitioners’ effectiveness in marketing the corporate image of their organisations is affected by the way their roles are perceived within organisations. It is the hope of the researcher that, the findings of this investigation will set foundations for further research on the assessment and estimation of the practice of the public relations practitioners in marketing the corporate image of organisations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An evaluation of the role of parents' representatives in school governing bodies : a case study of selected rural public schools in the Butterworth district
- Authors: Shumane, Lindile Sebastian
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: School boards -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management and organization -- Parent participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Education -- Parent participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:8212 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1092 , School boards -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management and organization -- Parent participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Education -- Parent participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: In South Africa, School Governing Bodies include parent component. This indicates that the participation of parents in the governance of a school is regarded as having a role to play. Since it would be impossible to include all the parents in the School Governing Body their representatives are elected to the School Governing Body. This study investigated the role of parents’ representatives in School Governing Bodies in rural public schools of the Butterworth District in the province of the Eastern Cape. Among others the study found that parents’ representatives experience various challenges with their role in this regard. For instance, in many instances School Governing Bodies struggle to maintain a full complement of the parents’ component. However, there are various ways and means that can be used in order to improve the situation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An evaluation of the ward committee system as a mechanism for enhancing service delivery in Nkonkobe Local Municipality : a case study of Middledrift
- Authors: Pule, Banguxolo
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Citizens' advisory committees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:8231 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/857 , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Citizens' advisory committees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The South African local sphere of government has been mandated to provide a developmental and accountable local government and to ensure provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner. As a key developmental agent, local government is obliged by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 to develop a culture of municipal governance that encourage and create conditions for the local community to participate in the affairs of the municipality. In this regard, ward committees have been introduced to municipalities as community structures to play a critical role in linking and informing the municipalities about the needs, aspirations and problems of their communities. In adherence to national legislation, such as the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act 117 (Act117 of 1998) and the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 2000 (Act 32 of 2000) Nkonkobe Local Municipality established advisory structures in the form of ward committees throughout its area of jurisdiction to advise the municipal council on any matter within the council’s competence. As a representative structure of the community the ward committee is expected to serve as a link between the council and the community and for this purpose articulates community needs and aspirations to better the living standards of the community. Despite the stated objectives of ward committees, the Middledrift area has been identified by Nkonkobe Local Municipality IDP: 2007-2012 as the poorest area in Nkonkobe municipality with backlogs in infrastructure and service delivery. This study evaluates the extent at which the Middledrift ward committee (Ward 16) is enhancing service delivery in its area of jurisdiction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An exploration of peace-building challenges faced by acholi women in Gulu, Northern Uganda
- Authors: Kabahesi, Pamela
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Peace-building , Women and peace , Conflict management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:8220 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/992 , Peace-building , Women and peace , Conflict management
- Description: An important focus of peacebuilding as a part of post-conflict reconstruction is the provision of basic needs. Peacebuilding is a move from war to a peaceful future. Peacebuilding rests on the premise that provision of people’s needs eliminates unrest and lawlessness that arise due to war. This in turn prevents a relapse into war. Also, communities that experience war lose many years and tend to develop at slower rates than peaceful areas, if at all they do develop. The twenty year old war in Northern Uganda has caused a gap between this area and the rest of the country. Poverty has left many unable to provide basic needs. Peacebuilding efforts have been undertaken by Non Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations, Government of Uganda as well as people in the community organizing themselves into groups to enable them reconstruct their lives. Efforts are being made towards reconstruction, resettlement, reconciliation and providing relief in an effort to move from war and destruction. In many societies, women are left out, marginalized and discriminated against as a result of patriarchy. Their roles in peacebuilding are not considered important and they face many challenges in their efforts to rebuild their lives and families. This research focused on the challenges faced by women in Gulu, a district in the Northern region of Uganda in peacebuilding. Through conducting face to face interviews, and consulting documents available to the public, the researcher collected information about the challenges faced by the Acholi women, the women of Gulu district.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An exploration of refugee integration : a case study of Krisan refugee camp, Ghana
- Authors: Mensah, David Ampoma
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Refugee camps -- Ghana -- Krisan Refugee Camp , Refugees -- International cooperation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:8217 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1014 , Refugee camps -- Ghana -- Krisan Refugee Camp , Refugees -- International cooperation
- Description: Conflict in Africa remains one of the continent’s principal development challenges. The human, economic and development costs of conflict are immense. A peaceful and secure environment remains the greatest priority for ordinary Africans across the continent. However, this often remains a mirage for many as violent armed conflicts continue to take its toll on many ordinary citizens, often, displacing them as refugees. Some refugees remain in very a deplorable refugee camps that offer them no prospects of decent livelihood for many years. With fear that they would be persecuted upon return to their countries of origin and often the delays in finding solutions to political violence, refugees remain in a protracted situation. A Protracted refugee situation means that refugees have lived in exile for more than five years with no immediate prospect of finding a durable solution to their plight by means of voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement. Thousands of refugees who fled violent conflicts in the West Africa and other parts of Africa have lived for more than a decade in the Krisan and Buduburam refugee camps in Ghana. A situation that can be termed protracted. This paper investigated the perceptions of local Ghanaians, Refugees of Krisan Refugee Camp and Government Official on the integration of refugees in Ghana. Krisan Refugee Camp which was built in 1996, particularly, houses about 1,700 refugees from nine countries: The Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Sudan. The refugees have lived with the indigenous people of Krisan village for more than a decade and thus offered the best case for the investigation. The researcher used qualitative triangulation method to collect data. That is, he observed the refugees, the local people and supervisors of the refugee camp who made up the sample population. The researcher was able to conduct a face to face in-depth interview and studied necessary documents that informed the study immensely. Thematic data analysis revealed economic and employment opportunities, security, cultural and social networking and finally good counselling on the three traditional durable solutions as the themes greatly impacting on the integration of refugees in Ghana. A number of recommendations are made to inform the management and integration of refugees in Ghana and in Africa in general.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An exploration of the nature of a private general medical practice as a social system : a case study
- Authors: Visser, Henriette
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Physicians (General practice) , Physicians -- Family relationships , Family medicine , Physician and patient
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:16146 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/884 , Physicians (General practice) , Physicians -- Family relationships , Family medicine , Physician and patient
- Description: This research study explores in general the nature of a private general medical practice [PGMP] and whether analysis of the PGMP as a social system can lead the Group Dynamics Practitioner towards developing interventions that will enhance group effectiveness in the PGMP support staff group. The main assumption is that, through the application of a framework of analysis based on that of G. C. Homans and the AGIL functional prerequisites developed by T. Parsons, a structured analysis of the external and internal variables that impact on the PGMP as a social system can be undertaken. The findings of the analysis would lead to the formulation of interventions that would improve the performance effectiveness of the PGMP as a social system. Following a two-questionnaire survey of 17 practices that provided demographic information as well as soft skills training needs, a single PGMP was identified for the case study. Data pertaining to the group as a social system were collected, and by using direct observation, content analysis and a sociometric test, the practice support staff sub-system, being the main focus of this research, could be analysed. By linking the findings to the elements of the framework of analysis, areas of ineffective group functioning could be identified and interventions suggested. This research indicates that the choice of soft skills is associated with the nature and size of the practice, as well as the dynamics of the sociometric patterns characteristic of the relations within the practice support staff subsystem; that while some practice support staff have preferences for sociometric task and socio-emotional relations outside their work clusters, these seem to serve as a buffer against clique forming, thus enhancing the function of integration within the social system as a whole; and that the physical practice layout, and the interaction dynamics that it creates, tend to hinder integration between the members of the practice support staff group, as a social subsystem.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An exploratory study of employee responses to the implementation of SAP R/3 and connected application portfolios (CAPs) at an energy company
- Authors: Anthony, Lizel Angelique
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: SAP R/3 , Organizational change -- South Africa , Personnel management -- South Africa , Business planning -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:16137 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1415 , SAP R/3 , Organizational change -- South Africa , Personnel management -- South Africa , Business planning -- South Africa
- Description: The aim of this research was to explore employee responses to the implementation of SAP R/3 and Connected Application Portfolios (CAPs) in Shell South Africa (Pty) Ltd. Downstream-One (DS-1) Business/Lubricants (B2B/Lubes) Project Implementation Programme. It assessed whether employees accepted or rejected change prior to the implementation of SAP R/3 and CAP’s. In 2005 globally Shell launched its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation. Its 16th implementation was conducted in Shell South Africa (Pty) Ltd. (Shell SA) in 2008. This research was conducted using a qualitative approach.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An exploratory study of the role of synergy between the state and civil society in popular participation with reference to the province of Kwazulu-Natal
- Authors: Mtaka, Nhlanhla Dalibhurhwana
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Economic development -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- KwaZulu Natal , Civil society , Responsibility , Political ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:8210 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1135 , Economic development -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- KwaZulu Natal , Civil society , Responsibility , Political ethics
- Description: A healthy democracy is generally seen as one in which citizens participate regularly in formal political activities. Citizens’ participation in governance has come to be accepted as an expression of their rights and the manifestation of citizen agency. Access to information remains a crucial component of the right to participate. Transparency, as a normative and constitutional value, represents a means, not an end. The means is the mechanism of access to information. Within the South African context, there is evidence of an increase in participation of a variety of interest groups by means of different processes, as well as through the establishment of numerous consultative bodies and mechanisms for popular participation at all levels of the political structure (Houston, 2001:1). However, accountability to citizens can best be gauged by assessing citizens’ opportunities to influence legislation between elections. Ultimately, the effectiveness and sustainability of mechanisms aim at improving citizens’ participation in policy formulation in order to become effective when they are “institutionalized” and when the state’s own “internal” mechanisms are rendered more transparent and open to civic engagement. Furthermore, the success depends on some form of effective interaction between the state and civic society. In the case of South Africa, whilst the political context and culture for participation exist in the form of the constitutional provisions and several pieces of legislation, a discrepancy exist whereby many South Africans are excluded or devalued by the vast differences in wealth. Citizen’s votes may count equally, but they are still not able to participate on an equal basis between elections. Participatory mechanisms established to ensure citizen’s participation, access to information and monitoring inside and outside the legislature, remain ineffective. These unequal opportunities mean that the poorer and less organised segments of society are prejudiced in terms of influencing legislation and policy. Their lack of full and meaningful participation means legislative outcomes are less representative of, and responsive to, the interests of the poorer segments of society (Habib, Shultz – Herzenberg, 2005: 144). The focus of this study is limited to the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The aim is to, firstly, assess the extent to which citizens can control those who make collective decisions about public affairs. Secondly, it assess the extent to which citizens participate in the existing participatory mechanisms, and thirdly, the study explores the possibilities of the synergy between the state and civil society in promoting effective participation by its citizens. The study, therefore : 1. Assess the theoretical and policy framework for citizen’s participation in South Africa; and 2. Evaluate the level of participation and effectiveness of participatory mechanisms inside and outside the KwaZulu - Natal Legislature. The study introduces the theoretical and conceptual framework of citizen participation through a literature review; followed by an empirical study of citizen participation in the legislative process in the kwaZulu Natal legislature. The study makes the following findings: 1. The literature review concurs that South Africa has one of the most progressive and liberal constitutions in the world. This is coupled with a sound policy framework demonstrating genuine political will for citizens’ participation in policy formulation. 2. Within the political context and culture for citizen participation, the main question of how much control citizens have over the actions of their government remains. Another issue is whether existing mechanisms in the legislature are effective in engendering citizen’s participation and quality input in public policy – making processes. 3. The study showed that ultimately the effectiveness and sustainability of citizen participation mechanisms is improved when they are “institutionalised” and when the state’s own internal mechanisms of accountability are rendered more transparent and open to civic engagement. The study also highlighted the need for synergy between the state and civil society. This includes, among other things, participatory budgeting, public expenditure tracking, monitoring of public service delivery, investigative journalism and citizens’ advisory boards. The study, therefore, makes two recommendations: 1. A comparative Citizens Education and Outreach Programme be developed and spearheaded by both the legislature and civil society in kwaZulu-Natal; and 2. A further study needs to be undertaken to investigate the possible structural nature of the synergy (relationship) between the state and civil society in the province.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An investigation into political apathy amongst students : a case study of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- Authors: Breakfast, Ntsikelelo Benjamin
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Students -- Political activity -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Students -- Political participation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8224 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/925 , Students -- Political activity -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Students -- Political participation
- Description: The primary motivation for this research was to examine political apathy amongst students at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The secondary motivation was to question whether youth political apathy threatens the consolidation of democracy. More specifically, the purpose of the study was to critically analyze contemporary literature on the politics of young people in post apartheid South Africa, in order to identify its shortcomings and give an in-depth explanation for youth political apathy, and how it impacts democracy. The writer has employed a qualitative method. Four focus groups were arranged by the researcher at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. All participants of the study were Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) undergraduate and postgraduate black students aged 21-35. The sample of this study included fifty participants. Thus the researcher has utilized a purposive sampling technique. Participants were encouraged by the researcher to have maximum participation in the focus group deliberations. The researcher also made use of elite interviews in the study. The findings of this study suggest that political apathy amongst students at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University does exist. Most of the participants in the focus groups indicated that young people in post-apartheid South Africa have no interest in politics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An investigation into the extent to which the socio-economic dimension is addressed in attempts to manage the North-South Sudanese Conflict : with a particular focus on the comprehensive peace agreement of 2005
- Authors: Masabala, Josiah
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Sudan -- Politics and government , Conflict management -- Sudan , Sudan -- Social conditions , Sudan -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:8176 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1551 , Sudan -- Politics and government , Conflict management -- Sudan , Sudan -- Social conditions , Sudan -- Economic conditions
- Description: The socio-economic dimension of conflicts has enjoyed increasing attention in research dealing with the dynamics of contemporary conflict. The underlying assumption of this study is that the socio-economic dimension of conflict can be hugely informative in terms of providing an understanding as to why peace agreements fail and in that sense can contribute to the resolution of conflicts if taken into account during the formulation of peace agreements. This study explores the way in which conflict theory has dealt with conflict and determines to what degree peace agreements in the Sudan have taken into consideration the socio-economic dimension of the conflict between the North and South Sudan since February 1972 to January 2005. This study proposes a number of recommendations in terms of the peace process in the Sudan with possible wider application to other future peace agreements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009