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  • Authors: Tsamago, Hodi, Elias
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Technology integration , SOLEs pedagogy , Metacognitive
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60549 , vital:65833
  • Description: The study was carried out to investigate the effect of the use of technology in self-organised learning environments (SOLEs) (in Physical Sciences classrooms) on learners’ metacognitive skills. The study contributes by identifying a technology-enhanced pedagogy that can effectively equip learners with metacognitive skills, which many studies have reported as having an effect on Physical Sciences learners’ conceptual understanding. The study followed an experimental (control group quasi-experimental) methods design, in which both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analysed. A multistep stratified sampling method (which caters for both quantitative and qualitative facets) was employed to choose four schools (two rural and two urban) to participate in the study. These schools were randomly chosen from the population of all schools offering Physical Sciences in Grade 11 in the Capricorn District of Limpopo Province, South Africa were assigned to urban experimental group and rural experimental group (UEG and REG) and urban control group and rural control group (UCG and RCG) using geographical demographics. The participants were selected using both simple random sampling (for quantitative methods) and purposive sampling (for qualitative methods). The experimental groups were taught by the researcher using self-organised learning environments (SOLEs) pedagogy, while control groups were taught (also by the researcher of the study) using a traditional chalk-and-talk approach. A Physical Sciences concepts pre-/post-test and the Metacognitive Self-Assessment Scale (MSAS) questionnaire were used to glean the quantitative data, while focus group interviews (FGIs) were used to obtain the qualitative data. The analysis of the quantitative data employed both descriptive (mean, standard deviation and graphs) and inferential (both parametric t-test and non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests) statistics computed using the SPSS package version 22, while qualitative data were analysed thematically using coding techniques (applied on a sentence-by-sentence basis) after the transcription of the recorded FGIs. The study found that SOLEs pedagogy improves learners’ metacognitive skills, leading to better Physical Sciences conceptual understanding. In addition, the results indicate that all v aspects of metacognitive skills improved in experimental groups; however, certain aspects exhibited outstanding improvement such as “Respect shown to myself”; “Respect shown to others”; “Respect shown for empathy towards others” and “Respect shown towards problem solving”. Furthermore, the results of the FGIs revealed that a plausible explanation for the ability of SOLEs pedagogy to enhance metacognitive skills lies in its effortlessness to enable learners to link their classroom experiences to real-life experiences; simulate practical work; adapt to collaborative learning; use multiple channels for receiving information; and reducing learners’ reliance on the teacher. Hence, this study recommends the implementation of SOLEs pedagogy in the Physical Sciences classroom to improve learners’ metacognitive skills and conceptual understanding. However, the study had limitations, some of which included the sample size (which has an effect on the degree of generalisability of the research findings) and the period during which SOLEs pedagogy was implemented which might not have been long enough to exhaust its effect on metacognitive skills. Accordingly, further studies employing a longitudinal study design with a sample size bigger than 350 participants would be useful in understanding the effects of SOLEs pedagogy on metacognitive skills and improving the generalisability of research findings , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of education, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Mesozooplankton and particle dynamics in Algoa Bay, South Africa

  • Authors: Engelbrecht, Melindi Frances
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Marine zooplankton – Algoa bay -- South Africa , Estuarine ecology , Zooplankton –Ecology --South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59544 , vital:62157
  • Description: Coastal ecosystems provide society with important ecosystem services: climate regulation, biogeochemical nutrient and waste cycling, food security, shoreline protection, tourism, and recreational support. Increased anthropogenic pressure on coastal ecosystems and changing environmental variables ultimately affect the provision of ecosystem services. Mesozooplankton are key trophic species and biological indicators of change within the marine environment and provide sound predictions of ecosystem responses to a changing climate due to their short life cycles and physiology linked to temperature. Algoa Bay has been the subject of extensive research and monitoring and encompasses a marine protected area (Addo Elephant National Park MPA). The Underwater Vision Profiler 5 (UVP5) was utilised with conventional sampling techniques of the PELTER monitoring program (i.e., Bongo nets) to investigate mesozooplankton (200 – 2000 µm) and particle (> 100 µm) dynamics within the dynamic coastal ecosystem of Algoa Bay, located within warmtemperate South Africa, in spring 2020 and summer 2021. This study revealed seasonal shifts in mesozooplankton taxa succession from spring herbivorous/omnivorous, dominated by copepods, to summer omnivorous/carnivorous mesozooplankton, dominated by copepods, Noctiluca sp., Cladocera, doliolids, salps and siphonophores. The mesozooplankton integrated abundance (mean ± standard error) increased from spring to summer, with 101 ± 26 (min. – max.: 18 – 200) x 103 ind m¯ 2 and 422 ± 80 (min. – max.: 37 – 1056) x 103 ind m¯ 2 , respectively. In summer, mesozooplankton composition was affected by the passage of a Natal Pulse, identified from satellite-derived sea level anomaly data. This study also provided the first vertical profiles of copepod distributions and suspended particles in Algoa Bay, with a peak of small particle (< 1 mm ESD) biomass close to the bottom and often, but not systematically, higher copepod abundances above the thermocline. The results presented herein are expected to contribute to the understanding of the coastal pelagic ecosystem in Algoa Bay in response to environmental perturbations , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Modular Omni-directional AGV Developmental Platform with Integrated Suspension, Power-plant and Control Systems

  • Authors: Macfarlane, Alexander B. S
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Automated guided vehicle systems , Electric automobiles--Batteries--Design and construction
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59500 , vital:62123
  • Description: The thesis focuses on the development of an industrial automatic guided vehicle (AGV) with omni-directional capabilities. The omni-directional strategy used was the "swerve drive" system, a system whereby a wheel can be rotated about both its y axis (rolling axis) and z axis (vertical axis). Unlike most commonly used swerve drive systems that have swerve capabilities on each wheel attached to the body of the vehicle, this research seeks to reduce cost by only having swerve capabilities on two diagonal wheels. The remaining two wheels will act as castor units. AC drives are used on the system in place of more traditional DC drives, due to their cost vs capability advantage over DC and their prevalence in the industrial environment. Since an AGV is a mobile platform any power source found on it is usually derived from batteries, a DC source. Usage of DC introduces several limitations including difficulty transforming voltage levels for different systems, inability to run AC drives directly from the power source and comparably larger conduction wires. These limitations were overcome by adding a stand-alone power-plant on the AGV in the form of an inverter. The inverter transformed the DC power supplied by a battery bank from 48 volts DC to 230 volts AC. Thus, the primary focus of this research is on the development and validation of a novel two wheel omni-directional drive system that makes use of inexpensive and readily available components that have already been proven to work in industry. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Moult and energetics in three species from the Euplectes genus representing a gradient of elaborate plumage ornamentation

  • Authors: Webb, Stacey Leigh
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Sexual selection in animals – South Africa , Bird watching -- Africa, Southern , Plumage
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60026 , vital:62734
  • Description: Elaborate plumage ornamentation in birds has fascinated scientists since the 1800s. The evolution and persistence of elaborate and costly ornamentation seemed to be in opposition to the theory of natural selection. However, over the years research has revealed the role and functional significance of elaborate plumage ornamentation in sexual selection. Recent studies have shown that the energetic costs associated with moulting into new plumages are higher than maintenance costs, but these costs have not been quantified for species that exhibit elaborate breeding plumage ornamentation for sexual selection. In addition, for these sexually selected ornamental traits (signals) to have evolved and be maintained, there must be some aspect of individual quality that they convey to the receiver. Despite a large body of literature on sexual selection, honest signalling and ornamental plumage in birds, the physiological correlates of honest signalling during sexual selection and the messages these signals convey to the receivers are poorly understood. In this study, I investigated four aspects related to the honesty of the sexual selection signal. These were (i) seasonal variation in standardised resting metabolic rates of breeding and non-breeding birds, (ii) moult phenology, (iii) physiological parameters linked to honest signalling, and (iv) the energetic costs of production and maintenance of elaborate plumage ornamentation using three species from the Euplectes genus as model species. The three species selected, the red-collared widowbird (Euplectes ardens), fan-tailed widowbird (Euplectes axillaris) and the southern red bishop (Euplectes orix) represent a gradient of plumage elaboration and although the receivers of the sexual selection signals are known for these three species, the energetic cost of the signals and the underlying message the signals convey remain unknown. I measured seasonal variation in resting metabolic rate (RMR), body mass (Mb), thermoneutral zone (TNZ) and body temperature (Tb) over the course of two years in the three selected Euplectes species (E. ardens, E. axillaris and E. orix; chapter 2). My results showed no significant effect of season on RMR (except in E. orix females) suggesting that in these species the metabolic costs in summer (associated with breeding season) are comparable to the metabolic costs associated with thermoregulation during winter. Contrary to my prediction that metabolic costs would increase along a gradient of increasing tail length (due to the energetic costs Webb V associated with elaborate plumage ornamentation), I found no significant effect of species. The lack of a significant result indicates that once the initial investment in plumage is complete, other predictor variables play a role (in this case body mass). , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Participatory communications as a tool for women’s empowerment: A study of five community radio stations in Northern Ghana

  • Authors: Asuman, Kofi Antwi Manfred
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Women in agriculture -- Africa -- Ghana , Agricultural development , Community radios – Ghana
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59293 , vital:62026
  • Description: In the process of achieving social equity and local development in Ghana, the empowerment and improvement of the lives of women remain critical factors, because of the existing role women and girls assume in the household and larger communal setting. In Northern Ghana culture and religion have historically side-lined, and in some cases, completely excluded women from participating in the dialogues, economic and political processes that lead to, or facilitate the transformation and development of their households and communities. Even though the media has largely contributed to the discrimination and stereotype of women through how women are represented in mainstream media, the Ghanaian media, in its assumed role as the “fourth estate of the realm” has the power to explicitly advocate and implicitly frame messages which can accelerate the processes of social change, women’s empowerment and social inclusion through the community radio broadcast system (Diedong, 2017: pp. 59, 64). After 30 years of the liberalization of the Ghanaian media and 25 years after the opening of the first community radio station, there have been few studies of how community radio influences women’s empowerment, how it gives opportunity for women to participate in political processes and whether, and how, it strengthens the livelihood capabilities of women. This research was motivated by the empowerment theory and the theory of participatory development communications. The researcher also makes references to feminist media theory in his arguments about the need for women to have access to radio in order to make their own content and also listen to content produced by other women. This study adopted a mixed methods research approach and collected data through programme analysis of the sampled radio stations, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews. After field data was collected, they were analysed in themes that focus on the objectives of this study, data is presented through thematic discourse methods in order to help the researcher draw conclusions and propose a framework to guide practitioners in the implementation of communication for development projects which use mass media in targeting women for development objectives. My analyses are broadly presented in three chapters with each chapter focusing on one research objective. Based on the data, the researcher discovered that, community radio improves the livelihoods of women in Northern Ghana by providing them with agricultural programming which teaches women new farming techniques and how to practice sustainable agriculture while improving the yield of their crops. The study also found out that community radio provides. opportunities for women to monitor how public funds meant for community development projects are allocated, disbursed, and used for their intended purposes, by creating an avenue of two-way communication and dialogue between women, their district officers, and their elected leaders. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher concludes that, it is important for development practitioners who use mass media to implement women-focused projects to conduct a contextual analysis of the communities, the women, and the identified stakeholders of the intended project because every community is unique. Whereas all women in rural areas are vulnerable and underprivileged. To some extent, their needs and preferences are different because of their different levels of education and income status. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Language and Communications, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Perceptions of Kwazulu-Natal radiographers regarding the role of professional development in clinical practice

  • Authors: Zulu Anelisa
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Radiography -- KwaZulu Natal , radiographers regarding
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60290 , vital:64292
  • Description: Professional development in the form of continuing education is associated with professional competence and good service delivery to the patient, and this understanding of professional development applies to the radiography profession. A manager may prompt participation in professional development, or the needs of a radiography department may influence it, or it may be driven by the personal and professional ambitions of the radiographer. Participation could also be due to regulatory body requirements, which require tracking and documentation as in the case of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) which may audit the professional’s continuing professional development (CPD) compliance. Professional development is a concept inclusive of all learning such as CPD; postgraduate qualifications; staff development; and reflective practice, pursued for the betterment of the radiographers’ professional expertise. Few if any qualitative studies have sought to explore South African radiographers’ perceptions of professional development as a concept inclusive of all learning. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of KwaZulu-Natal radiographers regarding the role of professional development in clinical practice to make recommendations to radiography managers on how to optimise the participation of radiographers in professional development. Bandura’s social learning theory was used as the theoretical framework for a study of the perceptions of practising KZN radiographers regarding the role of professional development in clinical practice and exploring how people learn from one another, including concepts such as observational learning, imitation, and modelling. The target population for the study consisted of practising radiographers working in the public and private, rural and urban hospitals in KZN. Data were gathered using semi-structured one-on-one interviews and were coded using Tesch’s eight steps. The trustworthiness of this study was enhanced using Lincoln and Guba’s (1985) model of trustworthiness, namely: credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Post Pandemic Professional Practice: Dynamics and How Spatial Design, Functionality and Perceptions are Adapting

  • Authors: King, Kirsty
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Built Environment -- South Africa , Pattern perception
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59476 , vital:62121
  • Description: On 23 March 2020, the onset of the Covid 19 Pandemic in South Africa brought with it anxiety, uncertainty and volatility. Change was forced upon everyday life in an unprecedented way. The aim of this study was to determine how professional practices in the built environment are adapting to the forced changes from the perspective of spatial design, functionality and perception. By means of literature reviews and survey responses, insight can be obtained as to the effect of the forced changes on professional practices in South Africa. The effect of the changes and how they are being adapted to, and implemented within the built environment, becomes important, in order to fully understand such changes, from the point-of-view of quality-control mechanisms, skills and knowledge transfer and communication. A mixed-use research approach was used to gather the data; and the outcome of the study aims to identify how the forced change fully affected work-place practices and the people in them. An initial pilot questionnaire was circulated to a small group of professionals in the built environment. Following this, a web-based survey was distributed via the professional-practice governing bodies to Architects, Engineers and Quantity Surveyors within South Africa. Both professionally registered and candidate professionals were invited to participate in the survey. A low response rate of 31% was received. The data from the 47 respondents were captured on the data base. The data were then analysed by the researcher; and by a semantic approach, themes and trends were identified and assumptions were made, based on the results. The respondents identified with the forced changes; and it has emerged that the forced changes are only implemented when necessary or legislated. It was also evident that the remote working environment is not conducive to productive work flow, skills development and quality control in the built-environment sector. The study further makes recommendations, based on the objectives identified. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Protection of the environment from pollution emanating from offshore oil installations

  • Authors: Kuture, Dudzai Chandisaita
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Marine pollution -- South Africa , Marine Law – South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59710 , vital:62383
  • Description: The desperate need for South Africa to develop its oil industry is driven by the goal of improving the social and economic situation in the State. This goal has sparked an interest in expanding the exploration and exploitation of oil within the marine environment to the extent of venturing into uncharted deeper waters.1 This interest has been met with a constant reminder of the Deepwater Horizon explosion as one of the many events that stirred up concerns within the global community on the possibility of an oil spill causing pollution within the marine environment. Also, that explosion and its effects have demonstrated the need for the global community to closely monitor and effectively regulate environmental matters, including the exploration and exploitation of oil and the prevention of oil pollution.2 Therefore, the recent discovery of additional oil deposits in South Africa has confirmed the need to revisit the current legal system regulating the impact on the marine environment including the exploration and exploitation of oil.3 An oil spill causing pollution amongst other pollutants is a significant contributor to loss and damage to the marine environment and its habitat. In developing States like South Africa, an oil spill causing pollution can present challenges due to the scarcity of resources, technology, and knowledge to prepare, prevent and combat the spreading of the pollutant. As it stands, in the event of an oil spill, States must rely on international cooperation and expertise to ensure that the impact does not cause irreversible harm and degradation to the marine environment. South Africa within the global community gives effect to international law by adopting domestic laws that regulate the exploration and exploitation of oil to protect the environment from oil spills causing oil pollution within the marine environment. In addition, the liability caused by oil spills plays a vital role in the need to rehabilitate the marine environment and compensate the aggrieved parties. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, Department of Public law , 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Psychologists’ perceptions of the growth and change promoting factors in psychotherapy within a culturally diverse South Africa

  • Authors: Heyneke, Wilmie
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Psychotherapy -- South Africa , therapeutic alliance
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60155 , vital:63207
  • Description: The therapeutic relationship established between a psychologist and a client is considered one of the main factors determining successful psychotherapy outcomes. While this may be the case, there remain inconsistencies in the literature and debate regarding its influence, especially when contextual factors such as diverse beliefs, may influence the therapeutic relationship. Furthermore, there is a scarcity of information focusing on psychologists’ experiences working within the culturally diverse South African context. This study aimed to better understand, from a psychologist’s perspective, the growth and change promoting factors they feel are influencing successful therapeutic outcomes within the South African context. This was pursued recognising that the diverse belief systems in South Africa, which do not always adhere to biomedical conceptualisations of health and illness, may influence the therapeutic interaction. This study explored the following research question: What are the key factors that promote growth and change in individual psychotherapy within the diverse South African context? Drawing on a qualitative approach, an explorative descriptive research design was chosen as it enabled the researcher to explore the perceptions of the participants on the given topic. The sampling technique that was employed was non-probability purposive sampling and psychologists registered with the Health Professionals Council of South Africa formed part of the sample. In-depth online interviewing was employed as the data collection tool, using online platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis guidelines and themes that were identified was reported. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Reciprocal peer reviews : evaluating potential bias and conflict of interest

  • Authors: Baca, Zolile
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Reciprocal , Peer review , Conflict of interests
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , Thesis
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59358 , vital:62074
  • Description: External quality assessments are conducted to provide independent reasonable assurance that an internal audit activity is operating in conformance with the Institute of Internal Auditors’ (IIA) Standards, Code of Ethics, and the extent of compliance with international best practices. The assurance provided by an internal audit activity is relied on by various stakeholders in the organisation for decision-making purposes. Therefore, it is crucial for an independent external quality assessment process to be credible and trustworthy for internal audit stakeholders to know that the internal audit activity conforms with the Standards and Code of Ethics, which in turn allows the stakeholders to rely on assurances and advice provided by the internal audit activity. The objective of this study was to determine the potential existence of a conflict of interest and or bias, in fact or in appearance, when reciprocal peer reviews are performed by people working within the same district and who are familiar with each other. A qualitative research method was followed to achieve the objective of this study and answer the primary research question. A single case study approach was followed in this study using municipalities in the Overberg District to answer the primary research question, with a purposive sampling method used to select relevant participants for the study. Participants were the Audit Committee members, the Municipal Managers, and the Chief Audit Executives from the municipalities in the Overberg District. An interview guide was administered by the researcher to collect the primary research data through semi-structured interviews. The interviews were electronically recorded after permission was obtained from each participant, and each interview session was also transcribed. The primary data collected was then analysed using the In vivo coding method. Each interview transcript was manually analysed to identify key words, phrases or statements that agreed or disagreed with the IIA’s guidance pronouncements in relation to the performance of external quality assessments, with a specific focus on the use of reciprocal peer reviews. The findings of this study indicated that most participants did not perceive reciprocal peer reviews performed by persons working within the same district to be without bias and or conflict of interest, in fact or in appearance because of familiarities and close relations that exist between persons working in the same district in the same sector. The findings revealed that participants would consider the process and results of reciprocal peer reviews to be credible and trustworthy if they were conducted across the district or even across the provincial borders. The findings further showed that participants perceived a full external assessment to be the most reliable and trustworthy method to be used because of the external assessors or assessment teams having the necessary training, knowledge, and experience to perform external quality assessments which give the credibility and trustworthiness that is required for the external quality assessment process.. , Thesis (MCOM) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economics Science, School of Applied Accounting, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Representation of history in Tsitsi Dangarembga’s trilogy – nervous conditions, the book of not and this mournable body

  • Authors: Mutsambi, Tinoten
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Women and literature --Zimbabwe--History --20th century , Identification (Psychology) in literature
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59446 , vital:62116
  • Description: This dissertation analyses Tsitsi Dangarembga’s novels Nervous Conditions (1988), The Book of Not (2006) and This Mournable Body (2018). The three novels under study capture a great deal of Zimbabwe’s history, spanning from the colonial era as depicted in Nervous Conditions, through the period before and after independence in The Book of Not, to the contemporary post independence Zimbabwe in This Mournable Body. Reading these three novels and analysing their depiction of historic events is important as they cover significant and contested epochs in Zimbabwean history, making it possible for us to examine the intersection between history and literature. Moreover, since most Zimbabwean narratives that depict the country’s history have been male authored, Dangarembga’s novels offer an interesting opportunity to study the depiction of history from a female perspective , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Language, Media and Communication, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Residential private property valuation accuracy in south Africa: A case study of Knysna in the Western Cape province

  • Authors: Qusheka, Siphokazi
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Real property -- Valuation -- Knysna , Right of property -- Knysna
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59876 , vital:62482
  • Description: a Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong b Faculty of Built Environment, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Property valuation end-users generally rely on property value opinion provided by valuers in making informed real estate investment decisions. However, the inaccuracy of valuation estimates could be attributed to the adoption of inappropriate property valuation methods and such inaccurate estimates could mislead real estate investors and stakeholders. This could result in individual loss and national loss due to the importance of the real estate sector to the national economy. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Selected Aspects of the Crime of Necrophilia

  • Authors: Somandi, Siphuxolo
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Rape , Necrophilia , Crime of Necrophilia
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60421 , vital:64874
  • Description: The treatise begins by defining rape pre and post-Constitution. Through the analysis of the latter, it refers to the Masiya case, particularly in light of extending the definition of rape to align it with the spirit, purport and objects of the Bill of Rights. It further focuses on the rights that Masiya identified as being infringed upon whenever the act of rape occurs. The treatise thereafter discusses the crime of committing sexual acts with a corpse, formerly known as necrophilia. It argues that not all sexual acts with a corpse are committed with the sole purpose of having sexual intercourse with a "corpse". For an illustration of the latter, the treatise categorises the circumstances of sexual acts committed with corpses into Categories A and B and uses cases in each Category as an aid. Some of the sexual acts by perpetrators begin with the sole purpose of rape but because the rape cannot be achieved due to the resistance of the victim, the perpetrator has no choice but to overcome the resistance of the victim, which in the context of this treatise means killing the victim. The perpetrator thereafter proceeds with what was initially intended, the rape of the victim. However, in the cases considered, the perpetrator is saved by expert evidence to the effect that the victim was dead at the time of penetration and therefore the perpetrator in addition to being convicted for murder is convicted of committing a sexual act with a corpse. The treatise thus argues that not all sexual acts with a corpse are committed with the sole purpose of having sexual intercourse with the corpse. The treatise highlights the fact that a sexual act with a corpse is a crime of intention. The differing circumstances in which the said crime is committed carries with it a difference in intention and thus should be criminalised differently. This is particularly so when one considers that expert evidence is used to confirm whether or not the victim was dead or alive at the time of the sexual penetration. This confirms that the perpetrator could not have known that the victim was dead at the time of penetration and thus for all intents and purposes, the perpetrator believed he is raping the victim, who he considers to be alive. he treatise thus argues that the perpetrator cannot be saved by expert evidence that surmises that the perpetrator intended to have sexual intercourse with a corpse, the intention that the perpetrator did not carry at the time of committing the crime. The treatise further argues that because rape has been identified as a crime that infringes on human rights, these rights are not extinguished by death thus the same rights are infringed by sexual acts with a corpse. With the aid of some international authorities, the treatise argues that a Category B sexual act committed with a corpse could be criminalised under attempted rape. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, Department of Criminal and Procedural Law, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Spatial and temporal analysis of the critical zone in the Western rift valley corridor: towards earth stewardship science in East Africa

  • Authors: Miller, Warren David
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59771 , vital:62423
  • Description: Over the coming decades, Africa is expected to experience disturbing effects due to climate change and increased land cover change due to human influences presenting a significant concern for the future well-being of human and biological systems, the latter being the foundation of ecosystem services supplied to humanity. Therefore, unprecedented transdisciplinary cooperation, coordination, and integration amongst researchers, government, and civil society are necessary to increase the resiliency of these systems. This study aims to provide an outline of the Africa Alive Corridors (AAC) as an essential model for the encouragement of sustainable development through Earth Stewardship science. These aims are accompanied by the quantification and forward modelling for land cover change of the Critical Zone over 10 Great Lake Basins across one of the AAC, the Western Rift Valley Corridor (WRVC), in East Africa between the years 2018 and 2060. This approach provides the foundation for implementing improved regional governance, better encouragement of sustainable development beyond the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and education programs, such as the AAC, that promote socio-ecological resilience through Earth Stewardship Science. The AAC archives a portion of East Africa as the WRVC, a corridor along the western branch of the East African Rift System that highlights twenty heritage nodes, primarily great lakes, mountain ranges, national parks, and biological hotspots. These heritage entities are associated with ca. 12-million-years of evolution and transformation of the East African topography and related African Great Lake (AGL) systems. The thesis defines the study area by delineating AGL basins intersected by the WRVC. Across these basins, land cover change analysis provides a platform for an integrated assessment of the projected health of the corridor region. Existing land cover datasets provide the initial conditions of the study area for 2008 and 2013. Land cover between 2008 and 2013 is cross-tabulated using the Land Cover Module in the Terrset software, followed by the iii delineation of sub-models and driver variable identification. The Multi-Layer Perceptron algorithm provides the transition potentials between tree cover, urban area, cropland, wetland, and open area classes. Change quantification and prediction using Markov Chain analysis are then established for 2018, 2030, and 2060. The model successfully simulated future land cover change and concluded that: (1) proximity to existing human activity, proximity to existing tree cover, and population are the primary drivers of change; (2) the dominant land cover of the ten lake basins for 2018 was cropland at ca. 48%, followed by tree cover at ca. 33%; (3) total anthropogenic change over the coming four decades equates to over ca. 52 000 km2 (5 200 000 ha), and particularly (4) an urban area is expected to increase by >130%. This assessment ultimately provides a platform for regional governance development at the basin scale and Earth Stewardship science in East Africa. These changes require transdisciplinary action from researchers to civil society. The AAC provides the foundation for understanding the dynamics of the systems that support life across broader spatial and temporal resolutions in Africa, highlighting the need for future generations to build socio-ecological resilience to anticipate challenges such as biodiversity loss posed by climate change and excessive land cover change. , Thesis (DSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Strategic architecture for quantity surveying Firms in South Africa

  • Authors: Mokonenyane, Mofumahatsana Dibuseng
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Sustainable architecture , Quantity surveyors
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59521 , vital:62149
  • Description: Quantity surveying firms are a crucial part of the construction industry because they are involved in the financial aspects of the projects, and their role and benefits have been documented across various studies. Furthermore, they provide services such as estimating, cost control and feasibility studies in numerous industries and these services are not limited to the construction industry. They are crucial in ensuring that the project proceeds according to budget, quality and time. Despite the noted benefits of quantity surveying firms, there has been a noticeable decline in the survival rate of the firms over the past ten years. It has been documented that several external and internal environmental factors affect the firms and thus have caused a decline in the survival rate. The volatility of internal and external forces that affect the industry has formed the basis of this study. Previous studies have failed to highlight the strategies to reduce threats and utilise opportunities. This study aims to establish common internal and external environmental factors affecting quantity surveying firms and determine these firms’ strategic architecture. A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews to assess the internal and external environment and strategic nature of Quantity surveying firms. In addition, a thematic analysis was administered to identify themes. The themes that arose from the external business environment were technology, political instability, tendering irregularities, lack of availability of work and the practice of green building. The technology theme highlighted the respondents’ views of the technological environment and the role of BIM and other software. Tendering irregularities threatened prospective tenderpreneurs as the respondents viewed the process as flawed and requiring better regulation. Lack of work was highlighted as a further factor. Although not many respondents mentioned this theme, green building is an emerging theme within the South African market. Two main themes were identified in the internal business environment: fee discounting and human resources. Fee discounting refers to the reduction of fees to secure work, while human resources were highlighted as an important factor and are regarded as the fuel that keeps the organisation running. Owing to the varying nature of factors within the external and internal business environment, it was concluded that there is no formal generic strategy that can be utilised to mitigate internal and external environmental factors. The client relationships were highlighted as an important factor, while client relationships were discussed under the balanced scorecard section of the study. The two main themes derived from the balanced scorecard were the financial perspective and client relationships under customer. Increased revenue per customer and venturing into new markets were the main themes mentioned within the financial perspective. The importance of nurturing client relationships was identified as an important factor under the customer section of the balanced scorecard. iii | P a g e The findings of this study will assist the stakeholders within the built environment in determining common internal and external environmental issues facing the industry. The recommendation will assist stakeholders in establishing probable solutions that can be implemented to overcome these challenges. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Termination of employment in the public service sector: the constitutionality of the deeming provisions

  • Authors: Mbewana, Inga
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: unfair labor practices--South Africa , labor law and legislation--South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60080 , vital:62940
  • Description: In terms of the South African Public Service Act,1 an employee who absents him- /herself from official duties without permission of his or her head of department, office or institution for a period exceeding one calendar month is deemed to have been discharged by operation of law. A similar provision can also be found in section 14 of the Employment of Educators Act,2 which expressly refers to fourteen (14) consecutive day’s unauthorised absence as opposed to thirty (30) days. Employees whose services have been terminated by operation of law are deprived an opportunity to defend themselves prior to the dismissal as prescribed by the Labour Relations Act3 (LRA). South African courts have grappled with several cases relating to dismissal by operation of law in the public service. The nature of these provisions is such that employees in the public sector are discharged from their duties without any hearing to offer them the opportunity to state their side and/or give a reasonable explanation for their absence. These provisions will thus be referred to herein as “the deeming provisions”. The deeming provisions provide that the discharge / dismissal is “on account of misconduct” however, it does not provide for a pre-dismissal procedure that is to be followed when dismissal is on account of misconduct, as prescribed by the LRA. It has been settled in our law that dismissal by operation of law is not dismissal for the purposes of the LRA. The employees dismissed by operation of law are regarded as if they are not entitled to a hearing. The right to fair labour practices protects everyone including public sector employees, 4 and such right is given effect to by way of enactment of the LRA. The LRA serves to protect public sector employees except where the exclusion is specified. This treatise seeks to challenge the necessity and constitutionality of the deeming provisions on the basis of its contravention of the constitutional right to fair labour practices. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, Department of Mercantile law, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

The co-evolution of Africa’s eastern margin and its primate fauna: implications for hominin evolution

  • Authors: Mambalu, Philasande
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59755 , vital:62418
  • Description: I investigated potential links between the diversification of African primate lineages and the physical evolution of the continent. I compared published phylogenetic trees based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA for five clades: (a) Lorisoidea (galagos and pottos); (b) arboreal guenon monkeys (Cercopithecus and its allies); (c) living apes (including humans); (d) Papionini (baboons); and (e) savanna or “vervet” monkeys (Chlorocebus). I compared primate divergence dates with the ages of tectonic events, patterns of climatic change, and their palaeo-vegetational consequences. Based on present primate distributions, I estimated likely geographic locations of the divergence events. Finally, I compared the phylogenetic patterns of the primate clades with hominin evolutionary scenarios. Phylogenetic comparisons indicated three time periods when rates of speciation increased across the five primate clades: the Eocene – Oligocene transition (34 – 32 Ma); the mid-late Miocene (10 – 5 Ma); and the Pliocene – Pleistocene transition (2.7 – 2.3 Ma). Concentrated bursts of lineage splitting indicate a broadscale causal relationship between environmental change and lineage divergence. Human evolution followed similar biogeographic patterns to those of other primate clades. Tectonic events, climatic changes and palaeo-vegetational shifts are intimately connected, and have synergistic effects on biotic diversity. Tectonic events influence climatic change through their effects on oceanic circulation, planetary temperatures and rainfall patterns. Additionally, tectonic uplift and erosion may create geographic barriers to organismal dispersal across the continent, increasing the likelihood of geographic separation of populations and speciation. Recently evolved primate species show high levels of hybridisation for several generations after their initial divergence. Genus Homo generated ~10 species over 2.5 Ma. The emergence of these taxa likely involved substantial hybridisation, as demonstrated by the presence of Neanderthal genes within the H. sapiens genome. I suggest that this hybridisation contributed to the difficulties palaeoanthropologists often experience in distinguishing fossil hominin taxa. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

The determinants of entrepreneurship in African countries

  • Authors: Malungane, Neo
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Determinants , Entrepreneurship -- African countries
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , Thesis
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59677 , vital:62349
  • Description: This research investigates the determinants of entrepreneurship by examining the statistical relationships between entrepreneurship and macroeconomic, human capital, and institutional quality variables in 50 African countries utilising data from 2000-2018. The study intended to contribute to existing literature with new knowledge on the discipline since there is limited literature on African countries. The Generalised Methods of Moments technique was employed to examine the effect of independent variables on the dependent variable using Stata software. The study findings indicate that domestic credit to the private sector, education and training, the rule of law, political stability and absence of violence/terrorism, regulatory quality have a significant effect on entrepreneurship. The remaining selected variables are insignificant. These findings suggest that smooth access to credit through business loans, trade credits, and other accounts receivables from financial institutions as the primary funding mechanism for businesses. Further encouraging entrepreneurship, the African government should ensure that education and training, particularly entrepreneurial education, is available to all inhabitants. Improving existing laws and regulations and enacting new effective laws and regulations that align with the current African business climate is recommended to protect existing and infant businesses by governing the entire entrepreneurial environment. , Thesis (MEcon) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Science, School of Applied Accounting, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

The development of a flow route to synthesize 3- benzyl-6-bromo-2-methoxyquinoline, an intermediate of an anti-TB drug, bedaquilin

  • Authors: Mpalala, Anele
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis -- South Africa , Tuberculosis --Chemotherapy -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59864 , vital:62455
  • Description: SA has a high number of reported cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Bedaquiline is a newly approved active ingredient of an anti-tuberculosis drug with high potency against MDR-TB. The limited access to this life-saving medicine to many people in the world has driven a great deal of research effort by the scientific community to find new, better and more practical approaches to this drug. However, many of the reported synthetic procedures suffer from long reaction times, which in turn require many hours of effort by the chemists conducting the reactions. This has prompted us to investigate an efficient process towards the synthesis to produce the key intermediates of bedaquiline using continuous flow technology. Additionally, since there is not much literature on continuous flow synthesis of bedaquiline, this research revealed interesting continuous flow processes towards the drug. Chapter 1: In order to provide insight, the first chapter of this dissertation presents a comprehensive background and literature review on tuberculosis; its pathogenesis, impact, medicines available for the treatment as well as the drug classes with novel mode of action and new chemical entities. Furthermore, bedaquiline is discussed in detail with the various synthetic protocols of the drug. An introduction to continuous flow chemistry is discussed, along with an outline of its advantages and disadvantages. Chapter 2: The second chapter encompasses the experimental procedures utilized for both batch and continuous flow syntheses. The three key intermediates of bedaquiline were synthesized in batch synthesis and these compounds were characterized using 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. Subsequently, the continuous flow synthesis protocols for the preparations of these intermediates and their optimization are outlined. Chapter 3: The results are explained in this chapter with detailed discussions of the batch synthesis and the continuous flow optimization of each step within the scope of this research. The investigation started with the batch preparation of the primary intermediate, N-(4-bromophenyl)-3-phenylpropanamide via an amidation reaction between 3-phenylpropanoyl chloride and p-bromoaniline. The primary intermediate then undergoes a subsequent formylation and cyclization via a Vilsmeier–Haack reaction to yield 3-benzyl-6-bromo-2-chloroquinoline. The chloroquinoline ii intermediate undergoes a methoxylation reaction to form 3-benzyl-6-bromo-2- methoxyquinoline. Subsequently, the batch protocol was transferred into continuous flow systems, optimized by varying reaction parameters within the synthesis route to achieve the as much yield as possible. The optimization studies showed an improvement in conversions in the various steps with shorter reaction times. The first step was optimized in a 0.2ml microreactor and because of the enhanced safety of flow chemistry, this exothermic amidation reaction was optimised at elevated temperatures to afford the primary intermediate at a 100% conversion within a residence time of 5 seconds using DMF as a solvent with DIPEA as a base. Next, the Vilsmier-Haack cyclization and chlorination was optimised in flow to afford the 2-chloroquinoline intermediate. The ability to use a back pressure regulator allowed for investigation of the effect of high temperature on the reaction and the 2- chloroquinoline intermediate was obtained at 78% conversion in a residence time of 30 min at 150 ⁰C using acetonitrile as a solvent. Subsequently, the optimization of the third step in flow to afford the central core intermediate of bedaquiline, 3-benzyl-6-bromo-2-methoxyquinoline, achieved 100% conversion in DMSO/MeOH solvent system at a residence time of 5 min. The effect of temperature, molar equivalence and solvent on reaction conversions could be observed in these steps. The results obtained from this study clearly demonstrated the successful establishment of an efficient flow chemistry protocol that can be used to successfully synthesize all intermediates within the scope of this research. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

The effect of factor endowment on BRICS countries export diversification

  • Authors: Olisa,Onyiyechukwu Rebecca
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Factor proportions , Brics countries
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , Thesis
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60037 , vital:62787
  • Description: Historically, the expansion of a nation’s export portfolio has always been considered as an important agenda for economic growth, regardless of the nation’s abundant factor of production. In recent decades, the shift in attention of developing nations from export concentration towards export diversification has increased. This is because of the increasing volatility of exports across the globe. This study is therefore conducted to determine the effect of land, human and capital endowments on the BRICS countries’ export diversification. This study utilises the data from the individual BRICS countries from 1995 to 2019 and makes use of the ARDL model, the ridge, lasso, elastic net regressions and quantile regression to determine the long-run and short-run effects. The results of this study show that in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa land endowment promotes export diversification in the long-run. In the short-run it promotes export concentration in Brazil, Russia, India and China. Human endowment promotes export diversification in China in both the long-run and the short-run. For Brazil and South Africa, human endowment only promotes export diversification in the short-run and not the long-run. For Russia and India, in the short-run human endowment promotes export diversification, in the long-run it depends on the regression method utilised. Capital endowment promotes export diversification in Brazil, India, China and South Africa in the short-run. In the long-run depending on the methods, capital endowment promotes export diversification in Brazil, Russia and China. In India and South Africa, capital endowment promotes export concentration and not export diversification in the long-run. This therefore implies that, for the individual BRICS countries, policy makers need to implement the appropriate policies that will enable the positive effect of factor endowment on export diversification, in either/both the long-run and the short-run. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economics Science, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12
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