Structural violence on economically independent women aged between 30 and 50 years in Nairobi
- Authors: Ndungu, Shelmith
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Women -- Violence against -- Kenya -- Nairobi , Sex role -- Kenya -- Nairobi Social role -- Kenya -- Nairobi Women -- Economic conditions Women and socialism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42891 , vital:36703
- Description: The reasons patriarchal structural violence on economically independent women continues to happen are not fully understood. Most studies have been focused on socio-economic factors that influence women to stay in abusive relationships and the interventions that address these factors. However, the problem goes beyond economic ability. This study aimed to provide insight which can serve as the basis for remedial action and ultimately the development of an international standard prohibiting women’s abuse and domestic violence in families. The study focused on two key objectives; the role of culture and patriarchy in maintaining structural violence. The study aimed to investigate how these variables influence women’s decision to continue staying in abusive relationships. The target population was people working in non-governmental organisations which deal with domestic violence survivors in Nairobi, Kenya. A sample of 12 respondents was utilised in a qualitative study. The study employed qualitative interviews whose data were thematically analysed. Results indicate that gender based violence can start early in the relationship sometimes even during courtship. What changes over time is the severity of the violence. The main type of abuse experienced by the women visiting the sampled centres was physical abuse. The main reason given for staying in an abusive relationship is the fear that their children would be abused if left with the abusive partner. Societal norms also emerged as a barrier for women in abusive relationships. The study recommends creation of awareness in the general population on how to identify gender-based violence for the purpose of intervention.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The aesthetic manifestations of nothingness in contemporary visual arts practice
- Authors: Munnick, Robyn Therése
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Art -- Research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41625 , vital:36546
- Description: The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the notion of nothingness and how it [nothingness] is the conceptual and theoretical foundation for my practice. Furthermore, within this study I explicate how my art uses my mother’s battle with cancer and the subsequent void it created in me as source material for the artistic expression of nothingness. The diagnosis which followed by a physical and emotional absence of the matriarch of my family, led to an emotional trauma that triggered a feeling of nothingness within me. The overarching problem in the study is therefore how this nothingness could be expressed in my art. Nothingness, as a product of expectation, is a notion which refers to where something used to be, should be or is not anymore, and attempts to grasp what is there by not being there. In attempting to express nothingness, the research aimed to build on an exploration of the various materials and modes utilized in order to underpin the research objectives. The primary mode of delivery for my art-making process is painting. However, through strengthening the messages and meaning of the hypothesis of nothingness within my art and research, the use of further modes and materials became pivotal. This involved the use of unconventional contrasting modes within painting such as the cloth doily, thread, tubing, ceramics, food colour, spray paint, PVA, plaster, wooden boxes and fragments thereof. These materials and modes were vital in visualising and aestheticising the conceptual underpinnings of the research. As a result, this strengthened and emancipated my art from the traditional bounds of pure painting. Methods of data gathering took the form of artefacts, document analysis and field notes in the form of photographic journaling. Ultimately my body of work and research validates that the idea of nothingness can be artistically explored.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The aesthetic manifestations of nothingness in contemporary visual arts practice
- Authors: Munnick, Robyn Therése
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Art, Modern -- 21st century , Aesthetics , Visual perception , Art -- Philosophy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41636 , vital:36550
- Description: The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the notion of nothingness and how it [nothingness] is the conceptual and theoretical foundation for my practice. Furthermore, within this study I explicate how my art uses my mother’s battle with cancer and the subsequent void it created in me as source material for the artistic expression of nothingness. The diagnosis which followed by a physical and emotional absence of the matriarch of my family, led to an emotional trauma that triggered a feeling of nothingness within me. The overarching problem in the study is therefore how this nothingness could be expressed in my art. Nothingness, as a product of expectation, is a notion which refers to where something used to be, should be or is not anymore, and attempts to grasp what is there by not being there. In attempting to express nothingness, the research aimed to build on an exploration of the various materials and modes utilized in order to underpin the research objectives. The primary mode of delivery for my art-making process is painting. However, through strengthening the messages and meaning of the hypothesis of nothingness within my art and research, the use of further modes and materials became pivotal. This involved the use of unconventional contrasting modes within painting such as the cloth doily, thread, tubing, ceramics, food colour, spray paint, PVA, plaster, wooden boxes and fragments thereof. These materials and modes were vital in visualising and aestheticising the conceptual underpinnings of the research. As a result, this strengthened and emancipated my art from the traditional bounds of pure painting. Methods of data gathering took the form of artefacts, document analysis and field notes in the form of photographic journaling. Ultimately my body of work and research validates that the idea of nothingness can be artistically explored.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The challenges facing small, medium and microsize enterprise in public procurement: a case of Sundays River Valley Municipality
- Authors: Mkele, Makhaya Nelson
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Government purchasing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Government purchasing -- Case studies Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Small business -- Research -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40017 , vital:35675
- Description: The purpose of this study is to investigate challenges facing Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in order to improve the participation of SMMEs in public procurement processes within category B municipalities. A Total Quality Management approach was used to interpret the manner in which to install change within a selection of supplier procedures. The study employed desktop analysis to explain and describe the challenges SMMEs are facing in public procurement in the Sundays River Valley Municipality. Based on the discussions of the participation of SMMEs in public procurement, the challenges which exist within a centralised approach of public procurement were discovered. The findings of the study revealed that SMMEs are challenged by the lack of entrepreneurial coaching by local government, low demand for the commodities, lack of experience, skills and knowledge, limited access to debt finance, poor marketing skills, poor managerial and lack of planning skills, gaps in implementation of preference point system, poor management of core strategies of the preferential system, gaps in implementation of preference point system, poor management of the tender system, improper integration of central supplier database, globalisation and the impact of e-procurement on local government level. Subsequently, the study made recommendations in this regard.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The contribution of tourism in local economic development: the case of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Tshobeni, Yolanda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Tourism -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Tourism -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43732 , vital:37039
- Description: The primary aim of the study was to analyse the contribution of tourism to Local economic development in BCMM. Tourism is one of the most important sectors of the economy and an extremely lucrative business. The industry is growing and carries great potential of contributing to a country and/or local areas’ economy and development. What motivated the study is that there are no published studies on the contribution of tourism to LED in BCMM. Therefore, is a lack of information on the importance of tourism activities on promoting the local communities’ economies and social well-being by helping to reduce poverty. Even though, the municipality gives some information on activities that are being done by the municipality to work with the local communities that have tourist attraction hubs, the information does not delve into economic issues that are needed to ensure that there is promotion of development in areas that are around the tourist attraction hubs. The study was qualitative and it used secondary data to achieve its objectives. Data was sourced from journals, municipal documents, newspapers and many other secondary sources. Results showed that tourism in BCCM has led to economic development in that there are quite a number of attractions and tourism products in the city i.e. museums, theatres, beautiful beaches, conference, restaurants, and accommodation facilities, and this is where job opportunities are created. The tourism sector is one of the key areas with great potential for poverty alleviation and has been taken as a key portfolio to be appropriately monitored to foster its growth and development in the Buffalo City Metropolitan.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The design of a building linking central and the Baakens river mouth
- Authors: De Klerk, Paul
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Architecture -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- 21st century , Urban renewal -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Architecture -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43138 , vital:36746
- Description: This treatsie focuses around the reationship of the Baakens Valley and the historical core and their respective declined states that has been affected through shifts in urban development and urban sprawl. Urban centres are moving away from the core decentralizing activity affecting the central areas allowing people-orientated environments to decline as an outcome of urbanism. Settlement expansion was forced along the coast due to topography Decentralised city growth with urban sprawl far from the historical core. New centres developed within residential realms detracted from people returning to the historical core Increased major arterial routes diminished density through vehicular orientated living spaces vs the density of the historical core orientated to the pedestian and mixed use activity City centre deteriorated due to Urban expansion and activity centres leaving the CBD resulting in a dilapidated city core.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The design of a learning resource centre in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Henderson, Lauren
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: School buildings -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans , Elementary school buildings -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Design and construction School buildings -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Architecture -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42705 , vital:36683
- Description: Streets and sidewalks should be seen as public spaces within themselves (Flositz, 2010,iii) this thought triggered an interest in public spaces and what they offer the users and community in which they are placed. This research will examine not only the impacts of the colonialist regime’s planning on Port Elizabeth, but more specifically the segregation and planning of public spaces affecting New Brighton, a predominantly “Black” suburb along the periphery of the city that came to be as a result of forced removals from the city centre (Pettman, 1913: 298). The main argument being carried through this treatise is the significant role that public spaces play in the lives of the urban poor (Dewar & Uytenbogaardt, 1995: 10) especially looking at South Africa and the impact apartheid had on public spaces. It looks at the potential and the ability of the design of public architecture to develop community spaces for all that contributes to a sense of place and pride for the community of New Brighton, Port Elizabeth. This treatise uses the understandings and information gathered throughout the research conducted to develop a suitable design response that generated a significant educational community hub inclusive of a Learning Resource Centre. It will strengthen not only the connection between the various users (races, religions, genders or ages) but also the current segregated and isolated schools within New Brighton’s community. The intention was to bridge not only street and building together but also school and community as a cohesive environment that works together to create a unique experience, exclusive to that area impacted by the context and community in which it sits. Ideas of public space, the in-between and Montessori’s schooling together with the notions of place-making is what ultimately influenced many of the design decisions and the authors theoretical stance. Looking at streets as more than just movement routes or thoroughfares from point A to point B, we can see them as places within a space, where one can experience the world that moves around them. Ultimately the design developed as a response to the identified issues and challenges and created a facility that not only meets the need of the under-resourced secondary schools in New Brighton but also contributes to the development of the public realm of those schools.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The design of an office headquarters for SAMSUNG in the foreshore, Cape Town
- Authors: Wiese, Andre
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Office buildings -- South Africa -- Cape Town , Office layout -- South Africa -- Cape Town Office buildings -- Design and construction Office buildings -- Planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40413 , vital:36159
- Description: This treatise developed through an interest in 21st century office buildings and most particularly, their impact on productivity, employee wellness and corporate culture. The conventional office of the mid-20th century disregarded employee health and well-being and was geared toward increasing productivity and production. The retrofitting of these buildings is very costly, and it is almost impossible to ensure compliance with modern-day environmental and efficiency standards to ultimately create a good office environment conducive to productivity and employee well-being. The nature of office has shifted to a more collaborative, socially interactive, open and flexible working environment because of the mobility technology offers the workplace. The current office building typology is concerned with the health and well-being of employees, active design, sustainability and environmental awareness. The treatise takes a qualitative research approach that is exploratory in nature and through careful analysis and interpretation, site constraints and informants are identified that inform the design of an office headquarters for Samsung. Pure research is based on the readings of Richard Sennett, Jane Jacobs, Stephen Kellert and Judith Heerwagen. An understanding is developed around factors that positively impact employee health and well-being in the workplace. Research determines that social interaction, human nature connectivity and the designed environment significantly impact the health and well-being of office user. Social interaction is scalable from the urban network to internal workspaces and is essential to create a seamless connection between the office environment and immediate urban context to stimulate serendipitous moments of interaction. The design of a Samsung Headquarters in Foreshore Cape Town uses Building Information Management (BIM) among other strategies to respond to its immediate environmental conditions and to create an environment conducive to the health and well-being of the office user and effectively increase productivity. The design is situated along a prominent pedestrian corridor that connects the CBD to the waterfront.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The implementation of performance management systems: Chris Hani District Municipality
- Authors: Zazi, Luzuko
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Performance -- Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Chris Hani District Municipality , Employees -- Rating of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Chris Hani District Municipality Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Chris Hani District Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44301 , vital:37150
- Description: This study stemmed from the researcher’s observations about the seemingly ‘obvious’ under performance of the Chris Hani District Municipality and the Lukhanji Local Municipality. As a resident of Komani – under the now Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, the researcher noticed the rampant water cuts and electric power outages, among other issues, experienced in the district; and sort to understand the underlying causes to these. To understand the root-cause, this study aimed to describe the implementation of performance management systems within the Chris Hani District Municipality; neglecting the Lukhanji Local Municipality as it was in the process of amalgamation to form the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality. The process was finalised in August 2017, proving the municipality ‘too new’ to study. As a descriptive, qualitative study following the constructivist paradigm, focus was placed on the role senior management plays in the performance management processes, with six operational staff’s perceptions about this process interrogated through a focus group. As custodians and drivers of quality service delivery, five directors and senior managers were interviewed through semi-structured interviews to gather thick, descriptive narratives about the process. The study found performance management was implemented at management level only, with ‘loose’ performance arrangements between supervisors and subordinates. This made it difficult to manage performance or account for poor performance as there are not strict, contractual targets. At management level, critical issues found included poor performance information collection, management not owning their respective targets on their portfolios of evidence, non-alignment of targets with the Integrated Development Plan, and Council not holding persons responsible for irregular expenditure accountable - as no investigations were done in order to recover the monies. This, the Auditor General says promotes a general culture of unaccountability; thus, confirming the researcher’s observations and identifying the root-cause. Recommendations included a ‘back-to-basics’ philosophical approach to municipal governance. These included an adoption of a comprehensive performance management policy; management empowerment in the collection and use of performance information; a change in organisational culture from both side of the political-administrative dichotomy; and an introduction of a community-based monitoring mechanism supplemented with a non-partisan voter education initiative. Furthermore, the strengthening of intergovernmental relations was recommended insofar as this pertains to the delivering of basics services and infrastructure, developing the local economy, and improving the quality of life within the district.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The living and learning experiences of Nelson Mandela University students residing in off-campus residence accommodation
- Authors: Mzileni, Pedro Mihlali
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Student housing -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Learning Learning, Psychology of Motivation in education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41697 , vital:36573
- Description: This research study investigated the living and learning experiences of Nelson Mandela University students who reside in off-campus student accommodation. The university is located in the suburb of Summerstrand in the city of Port Elizabeth (PE) and it is one of the large universities in South Africa with a student population of 27 311 students by 2017. With only 3285 beds in its on-campus residence system, the university can only cater for 12% of students on site. The rest of the student population, which is the majority, resides in offcampus residences and private accommodation. The off-campus accommodation system of the university consists of accredited and nonaccredited off-campus residences. The non-accredited residences are privately owned houses that are based in the upper-income area of Summerstrand whilst the accredited residences are big properties that are also privately owned but are administratively managed by the university and they are based in the low-income area of North End. The study used Tinto’s Theory of Student Integration to frame the investigation and it found that PE resembles elements of an apartheid city that is divided along class and gender patterns. This spatial structure of the city affects the governance and administrative systems of the university, such as commuting, and they affect the materiality of student’s learning experiences. This criticality brings a different understanding of ‘studentification’ when it occurs in a developing country’s context wherein the different demographics of students shape how it becomes visible in a university city that is engulfed which socio-political problems of violence and crime. This brings diverse traditions of studying higher education in a post-apartheid setting where student accommodation is viewed as a need emanating from student vulnerability within the context of enrolment massifications, infrastructure limitations, and the privatization of living structures.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The management of conflict between employees: a case study of an information technology company in Johannesburg
- Authors: Monakali, Robin
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Conflict management -- Case studies Interpersonal relations Personnel management -- Psychological aspects Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41997 , vital:36616
- Description: The global working environment has transformed significantly over the last two decades, with rapid advancements in technology and information as well as the levels of diversity in the workplace. This process of adaptation, the failure to adapt or weaknesses in adaptation can be an underlying cause of conflict within organizations. For an organization to be successful, there must be effective conflict management techniques in place in order to resolve or keep the conflict at a minimum. The aim of this exploratory case study was to therefore explore the management of conflict between employees in an Information Technology company in Johannesburg. The human needs theory, which states that the deprivation of human needs is a major source of conflict, was used as the theoretical framework guiding this study. A mixed methods approach, also known as methodological triangulation, was used, which involved combining qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to achieve triangulation of data. The qualitative research method that was used comprised individual semi-structured interviews with two Human Resources managers and the quantitative research method involved the completion of self-administered questionnaires by 94 employees of the IT company. The researcher used a purposive sampling design for the interviews and simple random sampling for the questionnaires. Ethics permission for this research was received from Nelson Mandela University’s Research Ethics Committee and the study was conducted in accordance with the university’s Policy on Research Ethics. The findings of this study have revealed that the type of conflict mainly experienced in this organization was employee conflict, due to interpersonal clashes relating to personality differences. The employees were unanimous that conflict can have both a positive and negative effect. The interviews confirmed that the IT company makes use of negotiation and mediation to resolve workplace conflict, with the literature review providing evidence that negotiation and mediation are useful means of managing conflict between employees. However, the results from the completed questionnaires revealed that employees attempt to manage conflict by avoiding the conflict, which could be due to employees having limited awareness of the organization’s procedures to address conflict. This study can therefore potentially be beneficial to organizations and assist the latter in developing conflict management skills and practices, which can enhance organizational performance, productivity and employee retention.
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- Date Issued: 2019