A study of malicious software on the macOS operating system
- Authors: Regensberg, Mark Alan
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Malware (Computer software) , Computer security , Computer viruses , Mac OS
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92302 , vital:30701
- Description: Much of the published malware research begins with a common refrain: the cost, quantum and complexity of threats are increasing, and research and practice should prioritise efforts to automate and reduce times to detect and prevent malware, while improving the consistency of categories and taxonomies applied to modern malware. Existing work related to malware targeting Apple's macOS platform has not been spared this approach, although limited research has been conducted on the true nature of threats faced by users of the operating system. While macOS focused research available consistently notes an increase in macOS users, devices and ultimately in threats, an opportunity exists to understand the real nature of threats faced by macOS users and suggest potential avenues for future work. This research provides a view of the current state of macOS malware by analysing and exploring a dataset of malware detections on macOS endpoints captured over a period of eleven months by an anti-malware software vendor. The dataset is augmented with malware information provided by the widely used Virus. Total service, as well as the application of prior automated malware categorisation work, AVClass to categorise and SSDeep to cluster and report on observed data. With Windows and Android platforms frequently in the spotlight as targets for highly disruptive malware like botnets, ransomware and cryptominers, research and intuition seem to suggest the threat of malware on this increasingly popular platform should be growing and evolving accordingly. Findings suggests that the direction and nature of growth and evolution may not be entirely as clear as industry reports suggest. Adware and Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs) make up the vast majority of the detected threats, with remote access trojans (RATs), ransomware and cryptocurrency miners comprising a relatively small proportion of the detected malware. This provides a number of avenues for potential future work to compare and contrast with research on other platforms, as well as identification of key factors that may influence its growth in the future.
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- Date Issued: 2019
A study of the role of heritage in brand affinity of south African millennials for iconic South African beer brands
- Authors: Kingwill, Kelly
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Advertising -- Alcoholic beverages , Advertising -- Brewing industry , Consumers' preferences -- South Africa , Brand name products -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40610 , vital:36198
- Description: Hollis (2007) states that iconic brands address acute contradictions in society by tapping into a collective desire and that they develop a status that transcends functional benefits. According to Holt (2004) iconic brands hold strong appeal because of their reputation, as told by their brand story, their identity-value or resonance with the consumer and their culture or intense relationship that takes the consumer from merely consuming the brand to sharing the branded lifestyle with like-minded consumers. The reason iconic brands have managed to create seamless integration in consumers’ lives is because they have managed to build a foundation of brand resonance (Carruthers, 2012). Iconic brands in the 21st century have achieved brand saliency, which represents the depth and breadth of brand awareness that goes beyond basic recognition and recall. They have developed not only brand loyalty, but brand affinity in the minds of consumers. Recent years have demonstrated a shift in consumer behaviour. Brand loyalty is on the decrease (Scheuer, 2015), as there are increasing considerations for consumers to make in their purchase decision process. Not only are there more factors to consider, but the number of brands competing has grown exponentially. According to Raynor (2007), iconic brands are forced to remain flexible in this turbulent, consumer empowered environment. The myth of adaptability has seen brands fail as they have been unable to match the pace of these environmental changes. This has bought about the need for iconic brands to become more flexible, allowing them to anticipate future scenarios, formulate optimal strategies and operate effectively by knowing when and where to meet their consumer’s functional and emotional needs (Raynor, 2007).
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- Date Issued: 2019
A study on technology adoption in agriculture in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Keevy, Christine
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Agricultural implements -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48628 , vital:41054
- Description: arrival of the Fourth Industrial Revolution has brought with it a vast array of new technologies that can be applied across many industries and various applications, to help solve many of the social, economic and environmental issues the world faces. However, it also heralds in an unprecedented rate of change. The agricultural industry is expected to be heavily affected by new technology. As they are run by smaller management teams they may need support from organisations to introduce technologies. The study aims to identify drivers and barriers to technology adoption in agriculture through a conceptual model based on the Technology Adoption Model, Diffusion of Innovation Theory, and a Technology-Organisation-Environment Model, along with a thorough industry analysis. The study obtained quantitative data from 59 respondents from the Eastern Cape farming community. The key findings include the identification of Perceived Usefulness and Industry Pressures as the variables with a significant driving influence on the intention to adopt new technologies. However, Perceived Ease of Use, Employee Knowledge and External Support Structures were found to have a negative relationship with the adoption of technology. It has been interpreted that improvements in these areas may enable farmers to adopt technology more easily but that farmers feel sufficient pressure to make them adopt technology despite the complexities and lack of required internal skills or external support. Due to the low number of respondents, it is not possible to infer the findings on the larger population of farmers. The findings can therefore only be used as exploratory findings which need to be verified in focus groups, with farmers, before any action is taken. However, the findings in the study can be used to aid the definition of frameworks for further studies and the development of action plans to support farmers in the adoption of technology.
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- Date Issued: 2019
A suitability study for the implementation of a corporate geographic information system at the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality
- Authors: Triegaardt, Inge
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Geographic information systems , Information storage and retrieval systems -- Geography Information technology Sustainable development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:37044
- Description: A tender in the Government Gazette in 2013 for the implementation of a Corporate Geographic Information System (CGIS) at the King Sabata Dalindeybo (KSD) Local Municipality, created an opportunity for a study to be conducted for the implementation of a Corporate Geographic Information System (CGIS). A CGIS is a suitable management system for implementation at a municipality, given that the municipality is ready. Internationally the implementation of CGIS at municipalities has been done successfully. In South Africa, however, the implementation of said software has been slow and at times unsuccessful. The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the current GIS knowledge and infrastructure of the KSD Local Municipality for the municipality to be a suitable candidate for the implementation of a CGIS. The evaluation was done by the collection of data through three questionnaires, two interviews and observations. The findings of this research study are discussed according to the qualitative data collected from the KSD Local Municipality and recommendations based on the results of the data collection have been made for the municipality to be implementation ready. The qualitative instruments such as pre-training, post-training/pre-implementation and postimplementation questionnaires, observations and interviews with the IT Technician and the CGIS Specialist were processed by the researcher to obtain insight to the perceptions of the employees and the current state of GIS in the KSD Local Municipality. The results from this research study were in-line with the benefits and barriers of implementation of a CGIS in municipalities in international literature.
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- Date Issued: 2019
A systematic review of operationalizations of culture in post traumatic stress
- Authors: Ramasodi, Precious , Cronje, Johan
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43037 , vital:36729
- Description: Research which looks at the influence of culture on posttraumatic experience has explored the culture construct through many differing lenses. This is because of the complex nature of culture. Since investigators may delineate culture in any number of ways there are a host of ways in which culture can be operationalised. The presence of differing operationalisations of culture in the literature is not necessarily a hindrance to the furtherance of knowledge. However, researchers may find it beneficial to employ similar operational terms in order for studies to be compared and amalgamated. The present study reviewed literature studies published between 1980 and 2018 that explored Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) in different cultural cohorts. Thirty qualitative and quantitative research reports were assessed and six different operational terms were found. These were namely: geographic location, nationality, race, language, religion and ethnicity. Many articles in the pooled articles employed more than one operational to delineate the target population. The key themes which emerged from the pooled articles were the impact of differences between researcher and study participants, the differences in symptom expression and the stigma of the posttraumatic disorder.
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- Date Issued: 2019
A systematic review on contributing factors leading to prison (Correctional Service) escapes.
- Authors: Nunze, Ncediswa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Prisoners -- South Africa Escapes -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Criminology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16506 , vital:40726
- Description: The study presents a systematic literature on contributing factors leading to prison escape. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the contributing factors that are associated with escape from correctional centre. Objectives of the study: To investigate the impact of social and cultural dynamics and triggers that motivates inmates to escape from correctional centre e.g. the internal factors and the external factors and to establish prevention strategies to deal with escapes. Method: Secondary data was employed in the study. The researcher collected the data using qualitative approach from different sources, including newspaper, prison journals, articles and the data that was originally collected for other research purposes on prison escape, both internationally and nationally. Specific data within the studies and articles is used to determine the contributing factors leading to prison escape. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: External factors such as: (family problems, missing family, the external environment and contact with the external environment, residency, loss loved ones, loss of liberty and lack of stimulation and loss of control), and internal factors such as: structural factors (e.g., crowding and size of prison, transfers, loss of security); management practices (e.g., management style, staff culture, inadequate institutional management); and environmental influences (e.g., alcohol and drug abuse, institutional crisis situations, parole problems, institutional misconduct and punishment, institutional programs, violence in prison (vulnerability to violence and gang related), limitation of goods and services, limitation of autonomy, sexual deprivation, inadequate facilities, unnatural environmental conditions are contributing factors leading to prison escapes. Conclusion: The more closely the conditions of imprisonment approximate those normally seen outside, the better the inmates can learn to survive without resorting to criminal. This allows them to also learn the ways that will help them survive outside the correctional centre and function as normal citizens. More opportunities must be created for inmates to pursue a meaningful life in prison and the existing programmes should be continuously checked if they are being practised properly. Encourage inmates to keep contact with relatives and mends so that they do not lose contact with the outside world. Correctional staff and administrators pay close attention to the policies and practices for circumstances in which violence is likely to occur, such as during inmate transport.
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- Date Issued: 2019
A systematic review on South African literature on hegemonic masculinity
- Authors: Pieterse, Carl
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Masculinity , Men -- Psychology Hegemony
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43225 , vital:36761
- Description: The application and use of hegemonic masculinity as a theory and concept in South African literature is confusing and ambiguous. This confusion often results in hegemonic masculinity being equated to the concepts of dominant masculinity or traditional masculinity. Recently, research has suggested that studies on hegemonic masculinity contaminated the concept, whereas only a few have added new and acceptable knowledge. The concept of hegemonic masculinity has an almost hegemonic foundation in global literature, often resulting in the misuse of the concept. The aim of the study was to identify, analyse, and report on the themes and trends in South African literature that represents the understudied populations that create and maintain hegemonic masculinity. A systematic review process was utilised to identify and summarise the data, while thematic analysis was used to identify, analyse, and report on the patterns in the data. The results revealed five major themes that contribute toward the complex and paradoxical ways in which hegemonic masculinity was created and maintained by both individuals and society. In conclusion, the study discovered the complex nexus of paradoxes that exist in South African society and ultimately how they are used to create and maintain heteronormative standards of living by means of alignment with hegemonic masculinity. The study recommends that future research should focus on intersectionality as a lens through which hegemonic masculinity is studied.
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- Date Issued: 2019
A technical survey of the South African harvesting machine population
- Authors: Mathelele, Ouma Florah
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Harvesting -- South Africa , Energy harvesting -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40999 , vital:36281
- Description: South Africa adopted the practice of conducting technical surveys from Austria three decades ago. The Austrian technical survey was used to model the South African technical survey. The survey was conducted with the aim of providing the forestry industry with a detailed analysis of the state of timber harvesting operations. The first technical survey in South Africa was conducted in 1987, and the second one in 1998. The most recent study was carried out in 2007. Since 2007, there has been no other technical survey of a similar nature conducted on harvesting and transport operations. There is no recent information quantifying the volumes harvested, identifying harvesting systems and methods used, and determining volumes harvested using these systems and methods. Furthermore, no updated information exists on the type and quantities of timber trucks transporting the volume. A fourth technical survey that quantifies and analyses these aspects in harvesting operations, therefore, was due. The fourth technical survey aimed at quantifying the number of harvesting machines and timber trucks. The survey further investigated the drivers behind the mechanisation and system preference. The four technical surveys were compared to identify trends in harvesting machines and methods. The data were collected from grower companies, harvesting and transport contractors and small-scale timber growers. Questionnaires were sent to all potential respondents from the three target groups, and interviews were later conducted with selected respondents. The harvesting machines were quantified per function i.e. felling, extraction, processing and loading. The results showed that some machines were more common compared to other machines performing the same function. Mechanised felling machines sampled had more units in the fourth survey than the previous surveys had. Of the 10.6 million m3 volume surveyed in 2017, chainsaws had 1 048 units, and their number had decreased from the 5 000 sampled in the first technical survey in 1987 that sampled about 12.8 million m3. Harvesters and feller bunchers also increased from zero in the first technical survey to 94 and 13, respectively in the fourth survey. The drivers towards the increased use of mechanised equipment were identified as safety and health, ergonomics, productivity, labour issues, operational costs, terrain, and company policies. Despite the introduction of mechanisation, however, the use of manual labour was evident in hardwood processing and loading operations. Manual debarking was more common than mechanised debarking in the fourth technical survey. When comparing all four technical surveys, the cut to length (CTL) harvesting method was dominant in hardwood; harvesting 79% of the volume sampled in the 2017 survey. The full tree method was barely applied in the first three technical surveys and in the 2007 survey, it was absent. It was only in the fourth technical survey that the method was applied, felling 27% and 9% of the sampled volumes in softwood and hardwood, respectively. The technical survey provides information to the different stakeholders in the forest industry. Such include harvesting managers and contractors, grower companies, machine distributors and researchers. The information will bring awareness to harvesting managers and contractors about the different machine options available to assist in decision making when selecting systems. Machine distributors will know the number of machines, where machines are operating and their target market. A gap in knowledge will be bridged between the different provinces regarding the different types of harvesting machines out there.
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- Date Issued: 2019
A theoretical study on the local government turnaround strategy: a South African perspective
- Authors: Mcunukelwa, Mgcineni Raymond
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Local government -- South Africa , Public administration -- South Africa Business planning -- South Africa South Africa -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41482 , vital:36491
- Description: During 2009 the State of Local Government in South Africa 2009 Report, (2009:71- 75) showed that much of local government is in distress and it also revealed that most municipalities faced serious challenges such as, inter alia, the lack of service delivery, poor financial management and weak integration between the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and Local Economic Development (LED). To improve the performance of municipalities, the national government approved a comprehensive Local Government Turnaround Strategy (LGTAS) that serves as a country-wide intervention with the aim to address the communities’ increasing dissatisfaction with poor municipal services, as well as to improve the administrative and financial performance of all municipalities. The purpose of the study was to assess the extent to which the Local Government Turnaround Strategy has managed to deal with the challenges as stated in the State of the Local Government in South Africa Report 2009. It was found during the study that, although some strides and achievements were made in the areas of accountability; citizen participation; anti-corruption; developing skills and capacity and service delivery, there still are challenges in the areas such as governance, accountability, skills shortages, financial well-being in local government, service delivery and a lack of confidence in certain government institutions. The study followed a desktop analysis approach without the participation of human subjects, for purposes of primary data collection.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Absent parent/s: Psychological implications on children
- Authors: Magqamfana, Simnikiwe Happy
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Single parent families -- South Africa , Father and child -- Psychological aspects -- South Africa , Father figures -- Psychological aspects , -- Children, Black -- South Africa -- Psychology , College students, Black -- South Africa -- Psychology , Child development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96886 , vital:31343
- Description: The present study intends to explore the psychological implications on the university students who grew up in households where their biological fathers are absent. Most studies associate the absence of the biological fathers with psychological challenges which, among others, include negative emotions such as anger, challenges with maintaining romantic relationships and tend to perform poorly at school. Such research on absence of fathers tends to privilege the biological father discourse in its analysis and often mentions in passing the role played by ‘other’ family members as ‘fathers’. Since during data collection participants kept on referring to the role of other family members or father figures, the study then expanded its scope of inquiry to include this phenomenon. Semi-structured face to face interviews were used to collect data from five university students and thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Psychoanalytic theory was used to specifically to understand or conceptualize the psychological implications on participants caused by the absence of the biological father. Black Social organization theory and Structural Functionalism theory were used to conceptualize the role of other family members/families or father figures in participants’ experiences and the influence of the society they grew up in. This study found that the participants accepted the role of the biological father as central in their lives and its absence resulted in psychological and economical difficulties. To cope with such difficulties, the support from other family members or other father figures was found to be significant in participants lives. Also, this study found that father absence motivates the participants to succeed to better their lives and majority of the participants regarded their grandmothers as father figures.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Academic performance and cognitive critical thinking skills of certificate in theory of accounting students at Nelson Mandela University
- Authors: Pienaar, Joné
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Academic achievement , Thought and thinking , Cognitive learning , Educational tests and measurements , Academic achievement -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Evaluation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43196 , vital:36759
- Description: With advances in computerisation, the skills that accountants need to remain relevant in an ever-changing world deserves consideration. Literature indicates that “critical thinking skills” form part of the required skill set. However, the development and assessment of critical thinking skills in the accounting curriculum has not received sufficient attention. This study focuses on evaluating the assessment of accounting students’ critical thinking skills, specifically those aspiring to be CAs (SA), who are in their final year of university education. The primary objective of this study is to establish whether a relationship exists between cognitive critical thinking skills and academic performance of CTA students at Nelson Mandela University. The research followed a positivistic mixed method research methodology. Using the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (W-GCTA), the cognitive critical thinking ability of the sample (CTA students (n=60)) was determined and compared to their academic performance using various statistical techniques. Since the proxy for academic performance was the final marks of which the year-end examination forms a very large component, the examiners of each of the modules comprising the CTA programme also completed a questionnaire wherein they indicated the critical thinking skills assessed, and the assessment characteristics used in the examination papers. The results indicate that a relationship exists between cognitive critical thinking skills and academic performance of the sample in three of the four modules of the CTA programme: Accounting, Taxation and Estate Planning and Management Accounting. The questionnaire feedback indicates that cognitive critical thinking skills were assessed in the CTA programme to some extent, but that focus was placed on skills not assessed by the W-GCTA.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Access and control of biodiversity in the context of biopiracy: the case of pelargonium sidoides in the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality
- Authors: Doyle, Anastasia Roxane
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Biopiracy -- South Africa , Traditional ecological knowledge -- South Africa , Plants, Cultivated -- Patents , Biodiversity -- Conservation -- South Africa , Pelargoniums -- Harvesting -- South Africa , Pelargonium sidoides -- Harvesting -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76321 , vital:30547
- Description: The purpose of this research is to explore access and control of biodiversity in the context of biopiracy with specific reference to the case of pelargonium sidoides in the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality. The research is informed by the increased appropriation of local biodiversity and indigenous knowledge by industry as well as global debates on promoting sustainable resource utilisation and sustainable rural livelihoods. This study adopts a two-pronged conceptual approach mainly, Marx’s Ecology and the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Framework (SRLF). The former provides useful insights into the processes and dynamics of power asymmetries between developed and developing countries, capital accumulation, inherent displacement and the predatory nature of capitalism. Whilst the latter addresses how livelihoods are fashioned in a holistic way. As a significant starting point the South African political economy is examined through the lens of the two economies debate. This research is primarily qualitative using in-depth interviews, observations and archival research as the primary data collection techniques. Preliminary site visits were conducted to negotiate access. Key informants of the study were representatives of the core groups (interested and affected stakeholders) involved in the case of pelargonium sidoides. Specifically, participants included representatives from the Imingcangathelo Community Development Trust and the Masakhane Community Property Association, local harvesters, local community members, monitoring and enforcement environmental officers, plant breeders (cultivators), scientists, local businessmen involved in natural resource trade, academics, legal representatives and non-governmental organisations. The Rhodes University research ethical guidelines were followed accordingly. The findings of the study suggest that trade in pelargonium sidoides is influenced by a complex and dynamic interplay between the state-industry-rural elite coalitions. Moreover, that this activity is largely centralised and exclusionary. This process is depicted in the unsustainable utilisation of pelargonium sidoides and other natural resources, the dismantling of local livelihoods, exploitation of harvesters and an incoherent environmental governance structure. At the core of this unequal system of exchange is industry, which effectively functions to generate profits whilst dispossessing peripheral communities such as the Masakhane community. The study therefore, argues that in order for local communities to access the trade there needs to be a shift in this system of unequal exchange. Not only regarding beneficiation, but in building community capacity and becoming involved as critical stakeholders in the governance of resources in the study area. The study found that there are competing narratives that inform the status and sustainability of pelargonium sidoides. Furthermore, given the current trajectory of the Masakhane community’s struggle for land, access to natural resources and exclusion from decision-making regarding pelargonium sidoides, the area will continue to be underdeveloped with concomitant poverty, inequality and comprised rural livelihoods.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Accountability of United Nations peacekeepers for sexual violence
- Authors: Maseka, Ntemesha Mwila
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: United Nations -- Peacekeeping forces , Sex crimes Women (International law) Women -- Crimes against Women (International law)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:36279
- Description: Over the last three decades reports of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers while on mission have emerged with predictable regularity. What is particularly disturbing is that peacekeepers, who are viewed as representatives of the international community in the arduous environments in which they operate, commit these crimes against the local population with apparent impunity. This impunity is rooted in the perception that peacekeepers are immune from prosecution for crimes they commit while deployed – which in most cases has not been far from the truth. This dissertation considers whether a lacuna in the existing law causes the impunity and thus lack of accountability of peacekeepers who commit sexual violence. The study considers this question from three main angles: the legal status of peacekeepers, the lex specialis prohibition of sexual violence and the domestic application of the law using South Africa as an example. The determination of the legal status of peacekeepers is the first port of call to establish the applicable framework when crimes are committed and the source of their immunity. To achieve this, a framework of UN peacekeeping operations is outlined which considers the origin, constitutional basis and legal principles governing such operations culminating in a definition of peacekeeping. The study relies on the definition of peacekeeping advanced by the Capstone Doctrine which besides sitting at the top of the doctrinal framework governing UN operations, identifies three categories of peacekeepers - military, police and civilian personnel. This distinction is important because each category is subject to different rules. The study concentrates only on the military personnel who form the largest contingent of peacekeepers, who are the most likely offenders and who are immune from host state jurisdiction. It is submitted that while peacekeepers’ immunity is based on the status-of-forces agreement concluded between the UN and a troop-contributing country, the doctrine of sovereign immunity confirms that one State cannot exercise jurisdiction over another State’s armed forces. This does not mean such forces exist in a legal vacuum, but rather the troop-contributing country is obliged to exercise criminal and disciplinary jurisdiction over them. Due to the operational environment of UN peacekeeping operations, IHL is identified as the lex specialis. A synopsis of this densely codified body of law reveals sexual violence is prohibited both expressly and implicitly in treaty and customary law. The study contends with the applicability of IHL to UN peacekeeping operations, drawing the conclusion that while it can be applied, the obligation for enforcement ultimately lies with individual States. South Africa’s legislative framework is examined, specifically the Implementation of the Geneva Conventions Act to determine whether the State complies with its IHL obligations which includes the exercise of criminal jurisdiction over peacekeepers deployed on a UN mission. The study concludes that while there is a complex relationship between international and national law applicable to peacekeepers when they commit a crime, the law – at least in the South African case - is not deficient. Based on the analysis, recommendations are proposed to ensure the accountability of peacekeepers who commit sexual violence.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Acculturation and Coming of age in female African writing; a Freudian psychoanalysis of Tsitsi Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions and Chimamada Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus
- Authors: Abiodun, Adedoyin Catherine
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: African literature (English)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16274 , vital:40704
- Description: This study explores Acculturation and Coming of age not only as a social process but also a psychological one. The constructs are examined in line with Freudian psychoanalytic theory. The study focuses on migrant inclination of two female African writers, Tsitsi Dangarembga and Chimamanda Adichie in Nervous Conditions and Purple Hibiscus respectively. Through the study, it is discovered that acculturation involves both cultural and psychological change or adaptation and failure in either can result in trauma or produce socially imbalanced individuals. In other to have a healthy coming of age, family and the home status play a very significant role in the totality of an individual and also serves as a microcosm of social and political milieu. Also, the study in the course of the study, we discover there is no ‘authentic African culture’, culture is non-static and so, the study also discusses culture as being transnational and translational. The writers’ consciousness of space and place in their writing through reminiscent times of childhood play significant roles. Childhood figures are constructed in a matrix of concrete memories, spaces, places and times that play a significant role in the production of meanings of their migrant identities. The study identifies ways in which female socialisation further enhances her marginalisation in the society and how the family in the African setting as an ideological state apparatus contributes in ensuring the marginalised position of women. The authors being studied interrogate methods of raising children among African families in contemporary society
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- Date Issued: 2019
Acorn girl
- Authors: Kukard, Gina
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: South African fiction (English)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96969 , vital:31382
- Description: My thesis encapsulates a coming-of-age novella told through short vignettes of flash fiction and prose poetry. It makes use of the distillation and fragmentation of these forms to explore themes such as the nature of violation, and works between genres to engage the tension between inner and outer realities, and the blurred lines between passivity and resistance. Moving fluidly between memoir and fiction and set in modern day South Africa, it draws inspiration from both my own experiences and the writing of others, especially Raul Zurita’s resistance poetry in Dreams for Kurosawa, Claudia Rankine’s subtle absurdity in Don’t Let Me Be Lonely, bizarro elements as seen in Athena Villaverde’s The Clockwork Girl and the use of physicality to explore the emotional world, as seen in Shelley Jackson’s The Melancholy of Anatomy: Stories.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Active vs passive portfolio management: an empirical analysis of selected South African equity funds
- Authors: Mphahlele, Phaswane Moatlegi
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/97846 , vital:31493
- Description: Expected release date-April 2020
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2019
Adoption and risk of mobile financial services: a case of some selected municipalities in Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Aderibigbe, Ifeoluwa A.I
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mobile commerce Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Economics)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13281 , vital:39630
- Description: The study investigated risk and adoption of mobile financial services among some users in selected municipalities within the Eastern Cape Province, using the theory of reason action, technology acceptance model and the theory of expected utility and risk aversion to explain the variables. Moreover, the explanatory research design and quantitative data collection approach formed the methodology adopted in the study. In addition, a validated semistructured interview questionnaire was used as a research instrument in the study. The multistage, stratify, purposive and convenience sampling techniques were applied to select 6 research sites and 386 research participants for the study. Three research objectives were stated and tested using descriptive, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to profile the risk and logit regression statistics. The results of statistical analysis show different level of cross tabulation between MFS and education level, all the 6 different locations, individual age range, job type, and average income of individual. Analysis revealed that age and income level of individuals have the highest relationship with the use of MFS. The statistical analysis used was the logistic regression. Pool of effort of all the stake holders in financial services sector should focus on including the low income earners and the technology should be simple enough for the use of the older generation.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Adult circumcision practices of traditional surgeons and nurses in relation to the initiates’ health outcomes/morbidity in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Dalasa, Siyamthemba
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Circumcision -- Social aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17029 , vital:40834
- Description: BACKGROUND Despite the adverse outcomes associated with traditional male circumcision, the practice remains prevalent, especially in the Eastern Cape, South, Africa. This study seeks to assess the practices of traditional surgeons and nurses in relation to the prevention and control of infections and their understanding of human physiological mechanisms during circumcision processes. METHOD This study has adopted a qualitative design, which involved conducting 115 semistructured interviews among traditional surgeons, traditional nurses and traditionally circumcised men, and one focus group discussion among traditional nurses. The data generated were transcribed and subjected to thematic content analysis. RESULTS The analysis revealed that both traditional surgeons and nurses demonstrated both poor aseptic techniques and a lack of knowledge of how the human body functions. Their lack of knowledge of basic human physiology meant that they trivialised sepsis in the penile wound. In addition, the seclusion lodges for circumcision and initiates living were unclean and uninhabitable. CONCLUSION The poor aseptic techniques of traditional surgeons and nurses, as well as the uncleanliness of their environment during traditional male circumcision procedures, could expose initiates to infections and morbidity. Environmental health officers should regularly supervise traditional surgeons and nurses in order to prevent the adverse health outcomes associated with the traditional male circumcision practice.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Advancing finance revenue through sustainable electricity distribution – eMalahleni Municipality
- Authors: Nkopo, Tabisa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Finance, Public -- South Africa -- Mpumalanga , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Finance Environmental policy -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42858 , vital:36700
- Description: In the past Emalahleni municipality operated its electricity distribution efficiently and effectively. However, along the years, the municipality’s operations changed and the situation changed from bad to a financially distressed municipality. The municipality has been experiencing challenges in sustaining its distribution power in the area of its jurisdiction in the past decade. As a result, more than half of the population in the area is affected by the ineffectiveness of the distribution of electricity which lowers their standard of living. As the city’s population is growing, it was envisaged that the power sector will experience a steady growth. The anticipation has been that due to the rate of growth and development in the city, most of Emalahleni municipality should have been electrified by now. However, challenges in the distribution of electricity have persisted and this has negatively affected the economy and living standard of the city. From a management perspective, this research looks at advancing finance revenue through sustainable electricity distribution. Specifically, it analyses the management challenges that affect the distribution of electricity in the city. It is well documented that Emalahleni municipality is currently facing an electricity crisis despite all the government efforts to provide adequate power to the citizens. The research will look at the sustainability of the municipality through the distribution of electricity in Emalahleni. The research will further look at how management manages and ensures better controls in the municipality to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of power delivery within the municipal boundaries. For the municipality to be sustainable through electricity distribution, it should reinvest more money in the electricity infrastructure, improve its governance to ensure high performance and continuous performance improvement amongst leadership and management. Furthermore the municipality requires qualified and skilled labour to enhance growth and efficient running of the municipality. In this research, qualitative research techniques were employed. The data was collected from questionnaires, reports, published books, journals, newspaper articles, and relevant government policies were well studied in order to produce a well-informed report.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Aeolian processes and landforms at Mesrug on sub-Antarctic Marion Island
- Authors: Nguna, Abuyiselwe Athandile
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Eolian processes Sediments (Geology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17095 , vital:40848
- Description: Recent observations have recognised the increasing role of aeolian processes as a geomorphic agent on sub-Antarctic Marion Island. This study presents the first long-term data on aeolian processes and dynamics at Mesrug (46° 56’ 41”S; 37° 49’ 59”E) on subAntarctic Marion Island. An intensive and high-resolution (five-minute interval) environmental monitoring campaign was initiated using Pace Scientific XR5 data loggers while aeolian transported sediments were collected using Big Spring Number Eight (BSNE) sediment traps at four different heights above the ground. The aeolian features at Mesrug is identified as mega-ripples and is essentially an erosional feature, while annual sediment flux at 0.05 m height were calculated as 2.29 kg cm-2 y -1 . Spatial data based on a two-year survey showed that the entire surface of the study area have lowered by deflation while the ripples shifted slightly eastward (down-wind). Furthermore, the site lost 3.4 m3 of sediment between these two surveys with an average of 0.75 cm per 1 m2 across the site which has an area of 454 m2 . The study suggest that the relatively large particle size of surface sediments on Marion Island is a major contributor to the low annual aeolian sediment flux. From the AWS data it is clear that high wind speeds are frequent at Mesrug and the high wind speeds facilitating sediment movement. Sediment supply is the limiting factor of aeolian sediment transport, but even though the perennial wetness experienced on the island is not a major limiting factor to sediment flux, it may influence rate of movement. The predominant wind direction at the study site is from the south-west but maximum wind velocities are from the north-west. The data from the wind-aspirated BSNE sediment traps, indicate that sediment movement occurs closest to the surface and weight of sediment moved as well as size of particles decreases vertically in the air column. It seems that the upper limit of aeolian sediment transport at Mesrug is 0.8 m above the ground and saltation of particles is the dominant aeolian transport mechanism. Sediment movement occur in near gale to gale force winds and horizontal precipitation. This is mainly associated with strong north-westerly winds which are linked to a frontal system from a mid-latitudinal cyclone that has a strong meridional component or is a cut of low pressure. The data suggest that the climate change implication of a reduction in the westerly component of wind could reduce wind speeds and this could influence the magnitude and frequency of aeolian sediment transport on Marion Island in the future
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- Date Issued: 2019