The integration of effluent treatment using constructed wetlands, with crop production and aquaculture
- Authors: de Jong, Martyn
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Recycling (Waste, etc.) , Brewery waste , Sewage -- Purification , Beets , Mozambique tilapia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/95767 , vital:31197
- Description: Breweries are major consumers of water and produce nutrient rich wastewater. Therefore, it is important to research technologies that optimise the reuse and recycling of this waste. This study compared different constructed wetlands (CWs) in terms of their potential for cleaning brewery effluent and simultaneously producing crops Beta vulgaris and fish Oreochromis mossambicus. Filling and draining times (FDT; 15 min, 30 min and 60 min) in tidal CWs were compared in Experiment 1. The 15 min FDT (6.52 ± 0.09 mg/l) and 30 min FDT (5.74 ± 0.09 mg/l) had higher dissolved oxygen (DO) than the 60 min FDT (5.40 ± 0.09 mg/l; p<0.05). This resulted in the 15 and 30 min FDT treatments reaching ammonia effluent discharge standards sooner than the 60 min FDT. Total plant harvest increased with increasing FDT; therefore, 15 min FDT was used as the FDT in tidal treatments in the following experiments. The aerated CW (5.81 ± 0.07 mg/l) and tidal CW (5.67 ± 0.07 mg/l) treatments had higher DO concentrations than the unaerated CW treatment (3.76 ± 0.07 mg/l; p<0.05) in Experiment 2. This resulted in lower ammonia concentrations on day 5 in the aerated and tidal CWs compared with the unaerated treatment (p<0.05). The tidal CW (23.97 ± 2.57 kg) had a total harvest that was approximately four times higher than the unaerated CW (p<0.05), which had the highest frequency of chlorosis and plant mortality; and was unable to treat ammonia to discharge standards. In Experiment 3, the aerated and tidal CW were compared with municipal-water as water sources for aquaculture. There were no differences in fish growth (p > 0.05). However, there were differences in water quality; with the municipal treatment having the lowest pH, EC and nitrate concentration (p<0.05); but all water quality parameters remained in a range suitably for fish production. Due to the tidal CW having the highest plant harvest and lowest frequency of chlorosis and mortality; it was the most suitable CW technology to clean the brewery effluent, and to produce B. vulgaris and water that could be used downstream in aquaculture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: de Jong, Martyn
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Recycling (Waste, etc.) , Brewery waste , Sewage -- Purification , Beets , Mozambique tilapia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/95767 , vital:31197
- Description: Breweries are major consumers of water and produce nutrient rich wastewater. Therefore, it is important to research technologies that optimise the reuse and recycling of this waste. This study compared different constructed wetlands (CWs) in terms of their potential for cleaning brewery effluent and simultaneously producing crops Beta vulgaris and fish Oreochromis mossambicus. Filling and draining times (FDT; 15 min, 30 min and 60 min) in tidal CWs were compared in Experiment 1. The 15 min FDT (6.52 ± 0.09 mg/l) and 30 min FDT (5.74 ± 0.09 mg/l) had higher dissolved oxygen (DO) than the 60 min FDT (5.40 ± 0.09 mg/l; p<0.05). This resulted in the 15 and 30 min FDT treatments reaching ammonia effluent discharge standards sooner than the 60 min FDT. Total plant harvest increased with increasing FDT; therefore, 15 min FDT was used as the FDT in tidal treatments in the following experiments. The aerated CW (5.81 ± 0.07 mg/l) and tidal CW (5.67 ± 0.07 mg/l) treatments had higher DO concentrations than the unaerated CW treatment (3.76 ± 0.07 mg/l; p<0.05) in Experiment 2. This resulted in lower ammonia concentrations on day 5 in the aerated and tidal CWs compared with the unaerated treatment (p<0.05). The tidal CW (23.97 ± 2.57 kg) had a total harvest that was approximately four times higher than the unaerated CW (p<0.05), which had the highest frequency of chlorosis and plant mortality; and was unable to treat ammonia to discharge standards. In Experiment 3, the aerated and tidal CW were compared with municipal-water as water sources for aquaculture. There were no differences in fish growth (p > 0.05). However, there were differences in water quality; with the municipal treatment having the lowest pH, EC and nitrate concentration (p<0.05); but all water quality parameters remained in a range suitably for fish production. Due to the tidal CW having the highest plant harvest and lowest frequency of chlorosis and mortality; it was the most suitable CW technology to clean the brewery effluent, and to produce B. vulgaris and water that could be used downstream in aquaculture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The integration of graduate attributes into the curriculum at undergraduate level: a case of Central University of Technology, Free State
- Authors: Sibuqashe, Mziwakhe Ramos
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Universities and colleges -- Curricula -- South Africa -- Free State , Education, Higher -- Curricula -- South Africa -- Free State Education, Higher -- South Africa -- Aims and objectives College teaching -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43490 , vital:36897
- Description: Universities across the world have always endeavoured to develop quality graduates who are competitive throughout the world. In attempt to develop these students, universities have introduced generic skills or graduate attributes that should be taught along with disciplinary skills. Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) is one of the universities that has developed the generic skills for their students. This study is aimed at determining the extent to which these graduate attributes are integrated into the undergraduate curriculum. For the higher education system to provide quality graduates, curriculum development teaching and assessment practices should be of high quality as well. Teaching and assessment practices should be such that students are encouraged to produce their own knowledge. This can be achieved if teaching and assessment activities are constructively aligned to each other. By aligning assessment and teaching activities constructively students are encouraged to engage in deep learning and thus the quality of students improves. Qualitative research was conducted using CUT as the case. Interviews were conducted with Heads of Department, lecturers and students across eight departments in four faculties. Previous examination papers, the student assessment manuals and study guides were analysed to determine the extent to which graduate attributes were integrated into curriculum The findings of this study indicated that academics treat graduate attributes as outcomes that are disengaged from the course specific outcomes. It was also discovered that academics perceived the integration of graduate attributes as just another added responsibility on top of their overloaded job. This thesis concludes by making recommendations regarding methods of addressing the concerns of academics and students to enhance seamless integration of graduate attributes into the curriculum.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Sibuqashe, Mziwakhe Ramos
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Universities and colleges -- Curricula -- South Africa -- Free State , Education, Higher -- Curricula -- South Africa -- Free State Education, Higher -- South Africa -- Aims and objectives College teaching -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43490 , vital:36897
- Description: Universities across the world have always endeavoured to develop quality graduates who are competitive throughout the world. In attempt to develop these students, universities have introduced generic skills or graduate attributes that should be taught along with disciplinary skills. Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) is one of the universities that has developed the generic skills for their students. This study is aimed at determining the extent to which these graduate attributes are integrated into the undergraduate curriculum. For the higher education system to provide quality graduates, curriculum development teaching and assessment practices should be of high quality as well. Teaching and assessment practices should be such that students are encouraged to produce their own knowledge. This can be achieved if teaching and assessment activities are constructively aligned to each other. By aligning assessment and teaching activities constructively students are encouraged to engage in deep learning and thus the quality of students improves. Qualitative research was conducted using CUT as the case. Interviews were conducted with Heads of Department, lecturers and students across eight departments in four faculties. Previous examination papers, the student assessment manuals and study guides were analysed to determine the extent to which graduate attributes were integrated into curriculum The findings of this study indicated that academics treat graduate attributes as outcomes that are disengaged from the course specific outcomes. It was also discovered that academics perceived the integration of graduate attributes as just another added responsibility on top of their overloaded job. This thesis concludes by making recommendations regarding methods of addressing the concerns of academics and students to enhance seamless integration of graduate attributes into the curriculum.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The interaction between oil price shocks, currency volatility and stock market prices: evidence from South Africa
- Authors: Tshivhase, Mikovhe
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Petroleum products -- Prices , Accounting and price fluctuations , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Stock exchanges , Economics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43834 , vital:37051
- Description: Crude oil is an essential and strategic commodity in modern economies. Therefore, energy price fluctuations have the potential of affecting the economic welfare of a country. For instance, they have the potential to undermine the government’s attainment of its economic growth targets (National Treasury, 2016:2). The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) also considers oil price movements to be one of the major threats to currency volatility and the continued attainment of its inflation targets of about (3-6, per cent), as evidenced by numerous recent statements by its monetary policy committee (SARB, 2016:5-13). This study used co-integration tests to investigate the interaction between oil price shocks, exchange rates and stock market prices in South Africa over the period 1 January 2011 to 1 April 2018. The study employed the Johansen co-integration test. The results found no long run co-integration between oil prices, exchange rate and stock market prices. Therefore, this study adopted the VAR model for causality tests. Using the VAR model, this study found the existence of a unidirectional causality between stock prices and oil prices, with stock prices leading the oil prices changes. The all share index, resources and financials index were found to be significant variables to explain oil prices. This result is consistent with the business cycle view, which states that oil price fluctuations are mainly driven by demand factors. Furthermore, strong world output growth trends especially in emerging markets, could give rise to an upward surge in oil prices. The study also found that there is a weak correlation between stock price and exchange rate in South Africa. This is consistent with the asset approach. The findings of this study add to the already largely debated theories that seek to explain the relationship between the oil prices, exchange rates and stock market prices. The recommendation of this research is that, policy makers, researchers and investment bankers or fund managers who have interest or trade these financial instruments, may have to consider the role of stock market prices in the various sectors of the economy in their models for forecasting the path of the oil prices and the Rand/US Dollar exchange rate trend.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Tshivhase, Mikovhe
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Petroleum products -- Prices , Accounting and price fluctuations , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Stock exchanges , Economics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43834 , vital:37051
- Description: Crude oil is an essential and strategic commodity in modern economies. Therefore, energy price fluctuations have the potential of affecting the economic welfare of a country. For instance, they have the potential to undermine the government’s attainment of its economic growth targets (National Treasury, 2016:2). The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) also considers oil price movements to be one of the major threats to currency volatility and the continued attainment of its inflation targets of about (3-6, per cent), as evidenced by numerous recent statements by its monetary policy committee (SARB, 2016:5-13). This study used co-integration tests to investigate the interaction between oil price shocks, exchange rates and stock market prices in South Africa over the period 1 January 2011 to 1 April 2018. The study employed the Johansen co-integration test. The results found no long run co-integration between oil prices, exchange rate and stock market prices. Therefore, this study adopted the VAR model for causality tests. Using the VAR model, this study found the existence of a unidirectional causality between stock prices and oil prices, with stock prices leading the oil prices changes. The all share index, resources and financials index were found to be significant variables to explain oil prices. This result is consistent with the business cycle view, which states that oil price fluctuations are mainly driven by demand factors. Furthermore, strong world output growth trends especially in emerging markets, could give rise to an upward surge in oil prices. The study also found that there is a weak correlation between stock price and exchange rate in South Africa. This is consistent with the asset approach. The findings of this study add to the already largely debated theories that seek to explain the relationship between the oil prices, exchange rates and stock market prices. The recommendation of this research is that, policy makers, researchers and investment bankers or fund managers who have interest or trade these financial instruments, may have to consider the role of stock market prices in the various sectors of the economy in their models for forecasting the path of the oil prices and the Rand/US Dollar exchange rate trend.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The interests of justice in bail proceedings
- Authors: Ntontela, Mahlubandile
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Criminal procedure -- South Africa , Bail Preventive detention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42683 , vital:36680
- Description: Bail in the South African context is a very contentious issue. Over the years, courts have had to develop principles for the purposes of granting or refusing bail. The interim Constitution of 1994 placed an onus on the State to adduce evidence that interests of justice justified the accused’s incarceration pending trial. After the escalation of crime in the 1990’s and the subsequent public outcry, the Legislature introduced guiding principles as to what would constitute interests of justice in bail proceedings. These principles did not differ much from what the courts had developed over the years leading to the constitutional dispensation. The inquisitorial nature of the bail proceedings was further entrenched by the amendments as they tasked the courts to determine what would be in the interests of justice in every bail enquiry. The legislative amendments further introduced what was termed the reverse onus provisions which were heavily criticised at the time of their introduction. These provisions placed an onus on the accused to adduce evidence to satisfy the courts that the interests of justice were in favour of their release in serious offences, and further adduce exceptional circumstances in respect of very serious offences. It is argued in this research that, despite the development and the codification of the interests of justice concept over the years, the duty of the courts to uphold the constitutional values should not be neglected by the courts when determining what would be in the interests of justice in bail proceedings. The standard by which the courts are to uphold the concept of interests of justice in bail proceedings should reflect the task that has been placed on the courts and not on the parties to the proceedings, when reaching a just and equitable decision in bail proceedings.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Ntontela, Mahlubandile
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Criminal procedure -- South Africa , Bail Preventive detention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42683 , vital:36680
- Description: Bail in the South African context is a very contentious issue. Over the years, courts have had to develop principles for the purposes of granting or refusing bail. The interim Constitution of 1994 placed an onus on the State to adduce evidence that interests of justice justified the accused’s incarceration pending trial. After the escalation of crime in the 1990’s and the subsequent public outcry, the Legislature introduced guiding principles as to what would constitute interests of justice in bail proceedings. These principles did not differ much from what the courts had developed over the years leading to the constitutional dispensation. The inquisitorial nature of the bail proceedings was further entrenched by the amendments as they tasked the courts to determine what would be in the interests of justice in every bail enquiry. The legislative amendments further introduced what was termed the reverse onus provisions which were heavily criticised at the time of their introduction. These provisions placed an onus on the accused to adduce evidence to satisfy the courts that the interests of justice were in favour of their release in serious offences, and further adduce exceptional circumstances in respect of very serious offences. It is argued in this research that, despite the development and the codification of the interests of justice concept over the years, the duty of the courts to uphold the constitutional values should not be neglected by the courts when determining what would be in the interests of justice in bail proceedings. The standard by which the courts are to uphold the concept of interests of justice in bail proceedings should reflect the task that has been placed on the courts and not on the parties to the proceedings, when reaching a just and equitable decision in bail proceedings.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The Intsomi Ambassadors: using communicative ecologies to enhance home literacy practices amongst working class parents in Grahamstown
- Authors: Gush, Cathy
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Communication in economic development -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Literacy -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Literacy programs -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Education -- Parent participation -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Intsomi Project
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71459 , vital:29855
- Description: Utilising theories of Communication for Development, the research explores how literacy practices in the homes of a group of working class, English second language parents in Grahamstown are affected by the introduction of new literacy material and insights Furthermore, it discusses how, and through which forms of media, these observed dynamics and changes in practice are best communicated to similar households. The issue of children's literacy development in South Africa is of serious concern, in particular the role that parents play and the level of support they give through home literacy practices. The context is one in which South African children have performed very poorly with regard to literacy levels in international benchmark testing as well as in national assessments. The summary report on the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) found that some of the factors contributing to these poor results were the lack of reading resources in homes, as well as the lack of strong home-school partnerships in which parents took up the role of co-educators, or even of primary educators at the preschool stage. A group of parents employed by Rhodes University at the Grade 1 - 5 levels signed up to be the recipients of a programme supporting the literacy development of their primary and pre-primary school children. The Intsomi Project is run by the Rhodes Community Engagement Office as part of the Vice-Chancellor’s Education Initiative and provides close to 100 families with weekly reading material and educational games for their children, as well as workshops on the use of these materials and how they might benefit the children. Following a Participatory Action Research approach, a “vanguard” group of parent participants, known as the Intsomi Ambassadors, developed their role as literacy activists, becoming co-creators of media messages that utilised and built on the first stage of their communication within the group. The research explored how the principles and techniques of development support communication, and those of communicative ecologies, could be applied to explore, enhance and disseminate those qualitative changes in behaviour within households that positively affect children’s literacy development. In the process, it aimed to explore whether media representations that reflect the stories of parents trying out new literacy practices can create authentic, endogenous messages that resonate with people in similar circumstances, and can stimulate debate around the issue.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gush, Cathy
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Communication in economic development -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Literacy -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Literacy programs -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Education -- Parent participation -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Intsomi Project
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71459 , vital:29855
- Description: Utilising theories of Communication for Development, the research explores how literacy practices in the homes of a group of working class, English second language parents in Grahamstown are affected by the introduction of new literacy material and insights Furthermore, it discusses how, and through which forms of media, these observed dynamics and changes in practice are best communicated to similar households. The issue of children's literacy development in South Africa is of serious concern, in particular the role that parents play and the level of support they give through home literacy practices. The context is one in which South African children have performed very poorly with regard to literacy levels in international benchmark testing as well as in national assessments. The summary report on the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) found that some of the factors contributing to these poor results were the lack of reading resources in homes, as well as the lack of strong home-school partnerships in which parents took up the role of co-educators, or even of primary educators at the preschool stage. A group of parents employed by Rhodes University at the Grade 1 - 5 levels signed up to be the recipients of a programme supporting the literacy development of their primary and pre-primary school children. The Intsomi Project is run by the Rhodes Community Engagement Office as part of the Vice-Chancellor’s Education Initiative and provides close to 100 families with weekly reading material and educational games for their children, as well as workshops on the use of these materials and how they might benefit the children. Following a Participatory Action Research approach, a “vanguard” group of parent participants, known as the Intsomi Ambassadors, developed their role as literacy activists, becoming co-creators of media messages that utilised and built on the first stage of their communication within the group. The research explored how the principles and techniques of development support communication, and those of communicative ecologies, could be applied to explore, enhance and disseminate those qualitative changes in behaviour within households that positively affect children’s literacy development. In the process, it aimed to explore whether media representations that reflect the stories of parents trying out new literacy practices can create authentic, endogenous messages that resonate with people in similar circumstances, and can stimulate debate around the issue.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The invasion ecology of Nymphaea mexicana Zucc. (Mexican Water lily) in South Africa
- Authors: Naidu, Prinavin
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Nymphaea Mexicana zuccarini , Nymphaea , Nymphaea -- Biological control -- South Africa , Water lilies , Nymphaea -- Ecology -- South Africa , Water lilies -- Biological control -- South Africa , Invasive plants -- Biological control -- South Africa , Aquatic weeds -- Biological control -- South Africa , Water lilies -- Ecology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92920 , vital:30763
- Description: The Mexican water lily, Nymphaea mexicana Zuccarini, is an aquatic perennial, native to southern USA and Mexico, and has been introduced to South Africa via the ornamental plant trade. This species has rapid growth rates and becomes weedy in dams, ponds and rivers. It is currently listed as a NEM:BA category 1b invasive plant in South Africa. One possible management measure for this weed is biological control, but it is a novel target because no biological control programme has been initiated against it anywhere in the world. This study is intended as a baseline for the biological control programme against this plant in South Africa. Assessing the population structure and mode of reproduction of invasive alien plants is an imperative aid to determining if biological control is a suitable management option. Using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) molecular markers, I compared the amount of genetic variability and differentiation of N. mexicana in its native range (USA), and invasive range (South Africa). Results indicated a large genetic distance between populations in the USA and South Africa, compared to populations within each country. The genetic variability of the invasive populations was higher than that found in the native distribution. This could be due to hybridization in the introduced range, and/or multiple introductions from different source populations. Differences in the morphology of N. mexicana plants in the invasive range and South Africa were also observed which confirm the results of the genetic analyses. I also assessed the reproductive mode of N. mexicana cultivars/hybrids by conducting breeding system experiments and field pollinator studies. Results indicated that the cultivars are sterile, suggesting that the primary mode of reproduction is asexual via fragmentation of tubers. The main pollinators that were found to be associated with the cultivars in South Africa were honeybees, sweat bees, flies and beetles. These insect groups were the same as those that were observed in another study which was conducted on the pollinators associated with the pure N. mexicana in the native range in southern USA. Mechanical and chemical control of N. mexicana and its multiple genotypes have been applied but have not been efficient due to the fast regeneration of shoots, especially in summer. Therefore, these two management options are not long–term solutions and will also be costly due to the widespread occurrence of the hybrids in South Africa. Thus the only cost–effective, environmentally friendly, self–sustainable and long–term management option is biological control. The significant divergence between native and invasive populations of N. mexicana, as well as the possibility of numerous invasive cultivars, may limit future prospects of biological control of this species. However the differences in the root structures between native South African waterlilies, such as N. lotus and N. nouchali, and the introduced waterlilies, such as N. mexicana and its associated hybrids, may play a pivotal role in the success of biological control of the N. mexicana hybrid complex in South Africa. Natural enemies which feed on the hard tuberous roots of N. mexicana and its hybrids, as opposed to the soft bulbs of the native N. nouchali and N. lotus, should be prioritised.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Naidu, Prinavin
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Nymphaea Mexicana zuccarini , Nymphaea , Nymphaea -- Biological control -- South Africa , Water lilies , Nymphaea -- Ecology -- South Africa , Water lilies -- Biological control -- South Africa , Invasive plants -- Biological control -- South Africa , Aquatic weeds -- Biological control -- South Africa , Water lilies -- Ecology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92920 , vital:30763
- Description: The Mexican water lily, Nymphaea mexicana Zuccarini, is an aquatic perennial, native to southern USA and Mexico, and has been introduced to South Africa via the ornamental plant trade. This species has rapid growth rates and becomes weedy in dams, ponds and rivers. It is currently listed as a NEM:BA category 1b invasive plant in South Africa. One possible management measure for this weed is biological control, but it is a novel target because no biological control programme has been initiated against it anywhere in the world. This study is intended as a baseline for the biological control programme against this plant in South Africa. Assessing the population structure and mode of reproduction of invasive alien plants is an imperative aid to determining if biological control is a suitable management option. Using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) molecular markers, I compared the amount of genetic variability and differentiation of N. mexicana in its native range (USA), and invasive range (South Africa). Results indicated a large genetic distance between populations in the USA and South Africa, compared to populations within each country. The genetic variability of the invasive populations was higher than that found in the native distribution. This could be due to hybridization in the introduced range, and/or multiple introductions from different source populations. Differences in the morphology of N. mexicana plants in the invasive range and South Africa were also observed which confirm the results of the genetic analyses. I also assessed the reproductive mode of N. mexicana cultivars/hybrids by conducting breeding system experiments and field pollinator studies. Results indicated that the cultivars are sterile, suggesting that the primary mode of reproduction is asexual via fragmentation of tubers. The main pollinators that were found to be associated with the cultivars in South Africa were honeybees, sweat bees, flies and beetles. These insect groups were the same as those that were observed in another study which was conducted on the pollinators associated with the pure N. mexicana in the native range in southern USA. Mechanical and chemical control of N. mexicana and its multiple genotypes have been applied but have not been efficient due to the fast regeneration of shoots, especially in summer. Therefore, these two management options are not long–term solutions and will also be costly due to the widespread occurrence of the hybrids in South Africa. Thus the only cost–effective, environmentally friendly, self–sustainable and long–term management option is biological control. The significant divergence between native and invasive populations of N. mexicana, as well as the possibility of numerous invasive cultivars, may limit future prospects of biological control of this species. However the differences in the root structures between native South African waterlilies, such as N. lotus and N. nouchali, and the introduced waterlilies, such as N. mexicana and its associated hybrids, may play a pivotal role in the success of biological control of the N. mexicana hybrid complex in South Africa. Natural enemies which feed on the hard tuberous roots of N. mexicana and its hybrids, as opposed to the soft bulbs of the native N. nouchali and N. lotus, should be prioritised.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The Kinshasa-based Kin ArtStudio in the Democratic Republic of Congo: visual arts spaces and the potential to challenge global art's representative and legitimizing mechanisms
- Tshilumba Mukendi, Jean-Sylvain
- Authors: Tshilumba Mukendi, Jean-Sylvain
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Space (Art) , Art -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Art and globalization , Postcolonialism and the arts -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Arts, Modern -- 21st century , Arts publicity , Arts, Modern -- 21st century -- Economic aspects , Arts, Modern -- 21st century -- Social aspects , Bondo, Vitshois Mwilambwe , Kin ArtStudio , Beauté Congo – 1926-2015 – Congo Kitoko
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115050 , vital:34073
- Description: The emergence of visual art spaces over the past few decades on the African continent invites art practitioners, historians and critics to re-examine the conditions of production, diffusion and reception of contemporary art of Africa. In this thesis I critically engage with these conditions in relation to artworks and practices of the Democratic Republic of Congo, considering the curatorial logic that has governed the ‘global art world’. I focus on the Kin ArtStudio as my main case study. I undertook research within this art space in 2016, from the 10th of April to the 15th of June, and again from the 16th of July to the 12th of September. My position as a participant observer turned out to be as engaging as informative. The Kin ArtStudio is a Kinshasa-based visual art platform founded in 2011 by the Congolese artist Vitshois Mwilambwe Bondo. It was established out of the will to empower emerging artists in that specific context, and facilitate the negotiation that the legitimization of their creations entails in today’s global art and cultural dynamics. In order to evaluate the stakes of such negotiation, I start with reviewing the existing mechanisms, trends and networks that have legitimized visual art productions of the Democratic Republic of Congo on a global stage, as exemplified by the Beauté Congo – Congo Kitoko exhibition (2015). Then, my enquiry evolves towards specificity, towards the immediacy and the subjectivity that characterize Kinshasa's urban and socio-cultural context, and visual art practices therein. Subjectivity also applies to my four months immersive experience with that art space. Drawing from my observations, setbacks, hopes and recent academic and practical debates around contemporary art practices on the African continent, the role those art spaces can play in the curatorship, circulation, reception and commodification of contemporary art productions cannot be underestimated. While operating in lasting postcolonial settings, they are going through the negotiation of their global and translocal situatedness, which can in turn lead to new legitimizing narratives. These will more appropriately inform understandings of contemporary art practices of Africa, challenging the identifying prism sustained by the ‘global art world’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Tshilumba Mukendi, Jean-Sylvain
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Space (Art) , Art -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Art and globalization , Postcolonialism and the arts -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Arts, Modern -- 21st century , Arts publicity , Arts, Modern -- 21st century -- Economic aspects , Arts, Modern -- 21st century -- Social aspects , Bondo, Vitshois Mwilambwe , Kin ArtStudio , Beauté Congo – 1926-2015 – Congo Kitoko
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115050 , vital:34073
- Description: The emergence of visual art spaces over the past few decades on the African continent invites art practitioners, historians and critics to re-examine the conditions of production, diffusion and reception of contemporary art of Africa. In this thesis I critically engage with these conditions in relation to artworks and practices of the Democratic Republic of Congo, considering the curatorial logic that has governed the ‘global art world’. I focus on the Kin ArtStudio as my main case study. I undertook research within this art space in 2016, from the 10th of April to the 15th of June, and again from the 16th of July to the 12th of September. My position as a participant observer turned out to be as engaging as informative. The Kin ArtStudio is a Kinshasa-based visual art platform founded in 2011 by the Congolese artist Vitshois Mwilambwe Bondo. It was established out of the will to empower emerging artists in that specific context, and facilitate the negotiation that the legitimization of their creations entails in today’s global art and cultural dynamics. In order to evaluate the stakes of such negotiation, I start with reviewing the existing mechanisms, trends and networks that have legitimized visual art productions of the Democratic Republic of Congo on a global stage, as exemplified by the Beauté Congo – Congo Kitoko exhibition (2015). Then, my enquiry evolves towards specificity, towards the immediacy and the subjectivity that characterize Kinshasa's urban and socio-cultural context, and visual art practices therein. Subjectivity also applies to my four months immersive experience with that art space. Drawing from my observations, setbacks, hopes and recent academic and practical debates around contemporary art practices on the African continent, the role those art spaces can play in the curatorship, circulation, reception and commodification of contemporary art productions cannot be underestimated. While operating in lasting postcolonial settings, they are going through the negotiation of their global and translocal situatedness, which can in turn lead to new legitimizing narratives. These will more appropriately inform understandings of contemporary art practices of Africa, challenging the identifying prism sustained by the ‘global art world’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The legal consequences of unprotected strikes
- Authors: Van Blerk, Caro
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Strikes and lockouts -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Strikes and lockouts -- South Africa Strikes and lockouts Labor laws and legislation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43688 , vital:37030
- Description: The purpose of a strike is to ensure that the employer‘s business remains at a standstill until the demands of workers are met1.Workers have tried to increase the effect that strikes would have on the employer, as to obtaining their demands, through resorting to violence, violating property of employer and other people. Our collective bargaining system could be seen as contributing to low wages, and thelack of a balloting requirement. The Labour Relations Act (LRA)2 gives effect to the right to strikes and the circumstances under which it might lose its protected status3. There are certain requirements that need to be met to ensure strikes are protected and once they are not adhered to, there are detrimental consequences. This leads to the high levels of violent unprotected strike action in the country, which has a negative impact on our social and economic abilities as a country. This study investigates the different areas, and analyses all factors associated with unprotected strikes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Van Blerk, Caro
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Strikes and lockouts -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Strikes and lockouts -- South Africa Strikes and lockouts Labor laws and legislation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43688 , vital:37030
- Description: The purpose of a strike is to ensure that the employer‘s business remains at a standstill until the demands of workers are met1.Workers have tried to increase the effect that strikes would have on the employer, as to obtaining their demands, through resorting to violence, violating property of employer and other people. Our collective bargaining system could be seen as contributing to low wages, and thelack of a balloting requirement. The Labour Relations Act (LRA)2 gives effect to the right to strikes and the circumstances under which it might lose its protected status3. There are certain requirements that need to be met to ensure strikes are protected and once they are not adhered to, there are detrimental consequences. This leads to the high levels of violent unprotected strike action in the country, which has a negative impact on our social and economic abilities as a country. This study investigates the different areas, and analyses all factors associated with unprotected strikes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The legalisation of prostitution in South Africa
- Authors: Vaveki, Vuyani Patrick
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Prostitution|xLaw and legislation , Sex and law -- South Africa Prostitution -- South Africa Women -- Legal status, laws, etc
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43698 , vital:37034
- Description: Prostitution or Sex work has been a crime in the country for a number of decades. In earlier years sex work was not explicitly crminalised and the government relied on various laws to regulate and deal with sex work. With the passage of time sex work was formally regulated and dealt with specifically as a criminal offence by legislation. Those legislative measures still exist to ensure that sex work remains a crime in South Africa. Courts have on a number of occasion been tasked to consider the status of sex workers in the context of the human rights provided for by the Constitution of the Republic (both the interim and the final). In the two seminal cases of S v Jordan and others and Kylie v CCMA the courts approached the status of sex workers on the basis that even sex workers are entitled to the human rights enshrined in the Constitution. The Constitutional Court in Jordan, however refused to decriminalise sex work for those purposes holding that it is for the legislature to decide the issue of decriminalisation. Various interest groups have lobbied for the decriminalisation of sex work in order to give meaning to Constitutional rights of sex workers. The criminalisation of sex work appears to be a case of the state legislating morality and interfering with private individual matters. With a bad history of state interference in private affairs of individuals this practise should be guarded against in the Constitutional dispensation. Criminal law as such should have no application in private instances that cause no harm to any other person or state interests. It appears that the continued criminalisation of sex work is increasingly appearing to be without proper justification and as such it is recommended that the country adopts the New Zealand model of decriminalisation. This will ensure that the rights of sex workers are duly respected.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Vaveki, Vuyani Patrick
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Prostitution|xLaw and legislation , Sex and law -- South Africa Prostitution -- South Africa Women -- Legal status, laws, etc
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43698 , vital:37034
- Description: Prostitution or Sex work has been a crime in the country for a number of decades. In earlier years sex work was not explicitly crminalised and the government relied on various laws to regulate and deal with sex work. With the passage of time sex work was formally regulated and dealt with specifically as a criminal offence by legislation. Those legislative measures still exist to ensure that sex work remains a crime in South Africa. Courts have on a number of occasion been tasked to consider the status of sex workers in the context of the human rights provided for by the Constitution of the Republic (both the interim and the final). In the two seminal cases of S v Jordan and others and Kylie v CCMA the courts approached the status of sex workers on the basis that even sex workers are entitled to the human rights enshrined in the Constitution. The Constitutional Court in Jordan, however refused to decriminalise sex work for those purposes holding that it is for the legislature to decide the issue of decriminalisation. Various interest groups have lobbied for the decriminalisation of sex work in order to give meaning to Constitutional rights of sex workers. The criminalisation of sex work appears to be a case of the state legislating morality and interfering with private individual matters. With a bad history of state interference in private affairs of individuals this practise should be guarded against in the Constitutional dispensation. Criminal law as such should have no application in private instances that cause no harm to any other person or state interests. It appears that the continued criminalisation of sex work is increasingly appearing to be without proper justification and as such it is recommended that the country adopts the New Zealand model of decriminalisation. This will ensure that the rights of sex workers are duly respected.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The living and learning experiences of Nelson Mandela University students residing in off-campus residence accommodation
- Authors: Mzileni, Pedro Mihlali
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Student housing -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Learning Learning, Psychology of Motivation in education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41697 , vital:36573
- Description: This research study investigated the living and learning experiences of Nelson Mandela University students who reside in off-campus student accommodation. The university is located in the suburb of Summerstrand in the city of Port Elizabeth (PE) and it is one of the large universities in South Africa with a student population of 27 311 students by 2017. With only 3285 beds in its on-campus residence system, the university can only cater for 12% of students on site. The rest of the student population, which is the majority, resides in offcampus residences and private accommodation. The off-campus accommodation system of the university consists of accredited and nonaccredited off-campus residences. The non-accredited residences are privately owned houses that are based in the upper-income area of Summerstrand whilst the accredited residences are big properties that are also privately owned but are administratively managed by the university and they are based in the low-income area of North End. The study used Tinto’s Theory of Student Integration to frame the investigation and it found that PE resembles elements of an apartheid city that is divided along class and gender patterns. This spatial structure of the city affects the governance and administrative systems of the university, such as commuting, and they affect the materiality of student’s learning experiences. This criticality brings a different understanding of ‘studentification’ when it occurs in a developing country’s context wherein the different demographics of students shape how it becomes visible in a university city that is engulfed which socio-political problems of violence and crime. This brings diverse traditions of studying higher education in a post-apartheid setting where student accommodation is viewed as a need emanating from student vulnerability within the context of enrolment massifications, infrastructure limitations, and the privatization of living structures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mzileni, Pedro Mihlali
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Student housing -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Learning Learning, Psychology of Motivation in education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41697 , vital:36573
- Description: This research study investigated the living and learning experiences of Nelson Mandela University students who reside in off-campus student accommodation. The university is located in the suburb of Summerstrand in the city of Port Elizabeth (PE) and it is one of the large universities in South Africa with a student population of 27 311 students by 2017. With only 3285 beds in its on-campus residence system, the university can only cater for 12% of students on site. The rest of the student population, which is the majority, resides in offcampus residences and private accommodation. The off-campus accommodation system of the university consists of accredited and nonaccredited off-campus residences. The non-accredited residences are privately owned houses that are based in the upper-income area of Summerstrand whilst the accredited residences are big properties that are also privately owned but are administratively managed by the university and they are based in the low-income area of North End. The study used Tinto’s Theory of Student Integration to frame the investigation and it found that PE resembles elements of an apartheid city that is divided along class and gender patterns. This spatial structure of the city affects the governance and administrative systems of the university, such as commuting, and they affect the materiality of student’s learning experiences. This criticality brings a different understanding of ‘studentification’ when it occurs in a developing country’s context wherein the different demographics of students shape how it becomes visible in a university city that is engulfed which socio-political problems of violence and crime. This brings diverse traditions of studying higher education in a post-apartheid setting where student accommodation is viewed as a need emanating from student vulnerability within the context of enrolment massifications, infrastructure limitations, and the privatization of living structures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The management of conflict between employees: a case study of an information technology company in Johannesburg
- Authors: Monakali, Robin
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Conflict management -- Case studies Interpersonal relations Personnel management -- Psychological aspects Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41997 , vital:36616
- Description: The global working environment has transformed significantly over the last two decades, with rapid advancements in technology and information as well as the levels of diversity in the workplace. This process of adaptation, the failure to adapt or weaknesses in adaptation can be an underlying cause of conflict within organizations. For an organization to be successful, there must be effective conflict management techniques in place in order to resolve or keep the conflict at a minimum. The aim of this exploratory case study was to therefore explore the management of conflict between employees in an Information Technology company in Johannesburg. The human needs theory, which states that the deprivation of human needs is a major source of conflict, was used as the theoretical framework guiding this study. A mixed methods approach, also known as methodological triangulation, was used, which involved combining qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to achieve triangulation of data. The qualitative research method that was used comprised individual semi-structured interviews with two Human Resources managers and the quantitative research method involved the completion of self-administered questionnaires by 94 employees of the IT company. The researcher used a purposive sampling design for the interviews and simple random sampling for the questionnaires. Ethics permission for this research was received from Nelson Mandela University’s Research Ethics Committee and the study was conducted in accordance with the university’s Policy on Research Ethics. The findings of this study have revealed that the type of conflict mainly experienced in this organization was employee conflict, due to interpersonal clashes relating to personality differences. The employees were unanimous that conflict can have both a positive and negative effect. The interviews confirmed that the IT company makes use of negotiation and mediation to resolve workplace conflict, with the literature review providing evidence that negotiation and mediation are useful means of managing conflict between employees. However, the results from the completed questionnaires revealed that employees attempt to manage conflict by avoiding the conflict, which could be due to employees having limited awareness of the organization’s procedures to address conflict. This study can therefore potentially be beneficial to organizations and assist the latter in developing conflict management skills and practices, which can enhance organizational performance, productivity and employee retention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Monakali, Robin
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Conflict management -- Case studies Interpersonal relations Personnel management -- Psychological aspects Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41997 , vital:36616
- Description: The global working environment has transformed significantly over the last two decades, with rapid advancements in technology and information as well as the levels of diversity in the workplace. This process of adaptation, the failure to adapt or weaknesses in adaptation can be an underlying cause of conflict within organizations. For an organization to be successful, there must be effective conflict management techniques in place in order to resolve or keep the conflict at a minimum. The aim of this exploratory case study was to therefore explore the management of conflict between employees in an Information Technology company in Johannesburg. The human needs theory, which states that the deprivation of human needs is a major source of conflict, was used as the theoretical framework guiding this study. A mixed methods approach, also known as methodological triangulation, was used, which involved combining qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to achieve triangulation of data. The qualitative research method that was used comprised individual semi-structured interviews with two Human Resources managers and the quantitative research method involved the completion of self-administered questionnaires by 94 employees of the IT company. The researcher used a purposive sampling design for the interviews and simple random sampling for the questionnaires. Ethics permission for this research was received from Nelson Mandela University’s Research Ethics Committee and the study was conducted in accordance with the university’s Policy on Research Ethics. The findings of this study have revealed that the type of conflict mainly experienced in this organization was employee conflict, due to interpersonal clashes relating to personality differences. The employees were unanimous that conflict can have both a positive and negative effect. The interviews confirmed that the IT company makes use of negotiation and mediation to resolve workplace conflict, with the literature review providing evidence that negotiation and mediation are useful means of managing conflict between employees. However, the results from the completed questionnaires revealed that employees attempt to manage conflict by avoiding the conflict, which could be due to employees having limited awareness of the organization’s procedures to address conflict. This study can therefore potentially be beneficial to organizations and assist the latter in developing conflict management skills and practices, which can enhance organizational performance, productivity and employee retention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The meaning and practice of stewardship in South Africa
- Cockburn, Jessica, Cundill, Georgina, Shackleton, Sheona, Rouget, Mathieu
- Authors: Cockburn, Jessica , Cundill, Georgina , Shackleton, Sheona , Rouget, Mathieu
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/390683 , vital:68574 , xlink:href="http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2019/5339"
- Description: Stewardship offers a means of addressing social-ecological sustainability challenges, from the local to the global level. The concept of stewardship has had various meanings attached to it over time, and the links between the theory and practice of stewardship are not well understood. We sought to characterise the practice of stewardship in South Africa, to better understand the relationship between theory and practice. We found that practitioners’ understandings of stewardship coalesce around two core notions: the idea of stewardship as ‘responsible use and care’ of nature, and stewardship as a ‘balancing act’ between stewards’ use of natural resources for agricultural production and their responsibility to protect and manage the wider ecosystem. Stewardship practice in South Africa is strongly influenced by the biodiversity stewardship tool; however, many practitioners are integrating biodiversity stewardship with other approaches. These emerging social-ecological stewardship initiatives operate at landscape-level and work towards integrated social and ecological stewardship outcomes, by facilitating collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Further research is needed to better understand what is required to support these integrated, collaborative and cross-sectoral initiatives. Policy mechanisms that facilitate integrated place-based stewardship practice can contribute to expanding the practice of biodiversity stewardship in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Cockburn, Jessica , Cundill, Georgina , Shackleton, Sheona , Rouget, Mathieu
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/390683 , vital:68574 , xlink:href="http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2019/5339"
- Description: Stewardship offers a means of addressing social-ecological sustainability challenges, from the local to the global level. The concept of stewardship has had various meanings attached to it over time, and the links between the theory and practice of stewardship are not well understood. We sought to characterise the practice of stewardship in South Africa, to better understand the relationship between theory and practice. We found that practitioners’ understandings of stewardship coalesce around two core notions: the idea of stewardship as ‘responsible use and care’ of nature, and stewardship as a ‘balancing act’ between stewards’ use of natural resources for agricultural production and their responsibility to protect and manage the wider ecosystem. Stewardship practice in South Africa is strongly influenced by the biodiversity stewardship tool; however, many practitioners are integrating biodiversity stewardship with other approaches. These emerging social-ecological stewardship initiatives operate at landscape-level and work towards integrated social and ecological stewardship outcomes, by facilitating collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Further research is needed to better understand what is required to support these integrated, collaborative and cross-sectoral initiatives. Policy mechanisms that facilitate integrated place-based stewardship practice can contribute to expanding the practice of biodiversity stewardship in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The meaning of community: the viability of Public Sphere theory and Social Cohesion on social media groups: a reception study of the ‘Grahamstown’ Facebook Group
- Authors: Ferreira, Ettioné
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Digital media -- Social aspects , Facebook (Firm) , Social participation -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Public sphere -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Group identity -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Grahamstown Facebook Group
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/114870 , vital:34043 , Digital media -- Social aspects , Facebook (Firm) , Social participation -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Public sphere -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Group identity -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Grahamstown Facebook Group
- Description: This study explores the meaning of community to Grahamstown’s online social media community, through a case study of the ‘Grahamstown’ Facebook group (GFG). The study explores the possibilities of social media as a public sphere and the way geographically-based social media sites might contribute to social cohesion in a community. The study explores what kinds of discussions take place on the GFG and why they are happening. It investigates whether these discussions can promote understanding and social solidarity, and whether useful deliberations are taking place, in some kind of approximation of a public sphere. Is this Group contributing to the wellbeing of the community, and how? Drawing on public sphere theory and various conceptions of the concept of social cohesion, the dissertation aims to find out how much of an impact the GFG has on Grahamstown/Makhanda inhabitants’ lives and sense of community. The study argues that with the advent of digital media, another ‘structural transformation’ in Habermasian terms, is underway, both empirically and theoretically. Through more than a dozen in-depth interviews combined with content analysis (via participant observation), the study finds that participation in and exposure to the GFG does lead, for many, to a sense of belonging and social cohesion as community members come together to act in relation to the state, local business and other institutions. The viability of ideas of highly localised (in time and space) ‘public sphericules’ as an alternative to broader more overarching concepts of a public sphere, is explored in this study. The study also suggests a typology of users, identifying the frequency, tone of voice and motives for participating on the GFG and attempts a periodisation of the GFG’s changing role in the community over the past decade.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Ferreira, Ettioné
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Digital media -- Social aspects , Facebook (Firm) , Social participation -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Public sphere -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Group identity -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Grahamstown Facebook Group
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/114870 , vital:34043 , Digital media -- Social aspects , Facebook (Firm) , Social participation -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Public sphere -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Group identity -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Grahamstown Facebook Group
- Description: This study explores the meaning of community to Grahamstown’s online social media community, through a case study of the ‘Grahamstown’ Facebook group (GFG). The study explores the possibilities of social media as a public sphere and the way geographically-based social media sites might contribute to social cohesion in a community. The study explores what kinds of discussions take place on the GFG and why they are happening. It investigates whether these discussions can promote understanding and social solidarity, and whether useful deliberations are taking place, in some kind of approximation of a public sphere. Is this Group contributing to the wellbeing of the community, and how? Drawing on public sphere theory and various conceptions of the concept of social cohesion, the dissertation aims to find out how much of an impact the GFG has on Grahamstown/Makhanda inhabitants’ lives and sense of community. The study argues that with the advent of digital media, another ‘structural transformation’ in Habermasian terms, is underway, both empirically and theoretically. Through more than a dozen in-depth interviews combined with content analysis (via participant observation), the study finds that participation in and exposure to the GFG does lead, for many, to a sense of belonging and social cohesion as community members come together to act in relation to the state, local business and other institutions. The viability of ideas of highly localised (in time and space) ‘public sphericules’ as an alternative to broader more overarching concepts of a public sphere, is explored in this study. The study also suggests a typology of users, identifying the frequency, tone of voice and motives for participating on the GFG and attempts a periodisation of the GFG’s changing role in the community over the past decade.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The mediating role of job autonomy on mobile technology usage, work engagement and emotional exhaustion amongst a sample of public service employees in Bhisho
- Authors: Mkabile, Siphesihle
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems Psychology, Industrial
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13748 , vital:39707
- Description: Orientation: The constant subjective criticism by the public for poor and or a total lack of service delivery by government departments in terms of meeting requirements and standards and the non-performance seem to rest with the public employees. In government, work engagement leads to the satisfaction of the citizens or clients, which in turn leads to the citizens trusting and having confidence in public organisations. Research purpose: This study aimed at examining the mediating role of job autonomy between mobile technology usage, work engagement and emotional exhaustion amongst public service employees in Bhisho. Motivation for the study: There is growth in the usage of mobile technology in Africa. However, the effects of mobile devices on the working environment are still unclear. A research gap exists on the effects of mobile technology on employee outcomes such as work engagement and emotional exhaustion. Research approach/design and method: This study used a quantitative approach, with a descriptive and explanatory research design. Analyses were conducted by SPSS 23 and Amos 22 on a sample of 165 public service employees. Main findings: The results show that mobile technology usage improved work engagement of the employees through their job autonomy. Mobile technology usage did not have any significant effect on the employees’ emotional exhaustion and work engagement. Practical/managerial implications: The findings from this study imply that mobile technology can result in positive psychological experiences for employees and present some managerial implications for boundary conditions. Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to the literature on mobile technology usage, work engagement, emotional exhaustion and job auto
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mkabile, Siphesihle
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems Psychology, Industrial
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13748 , vital:39707
- Description: Orientation: The constant subjective criticism by the public for poor and or a total lack of service delivery by government departments in terms of meeting requirements and standards and the non-performance seem to rest with the public employees. In government, work engagement leads to the satisfaction of the citizens or clients, which in turn leads to the citizens trusting and having confidence in public organisations. Research purpose: This study aimed at examining the mediating role of job autonomy between mobile technology usage, work engagement and emotional exhaustion amongst public service employees in Bhisho. Motivation for the study: There is growth in the usage of mobile technology in Africa. However, the effects of mobile devices on the working environment are still unclear. A research gap exists on the effects of mobile technology on employee outcomes such as work engagement and emotional exhaustion. Research approach/design and method: This study used a quantitative approach, with a descriptive and explanatory research design. Analyses were conducted by SPSS 23 and Amos 22 on a sample of 165 public service employees. Main findings: The results show that mobile technology usage improved work engagement of the employees through their job autonomy. Mobile technology usage did not have any significant effect on the employees’ emotional exhaustion and work engagement. Practical/managerial implications: The findings from this study imply that mobile technology can result in positive psychological experiences for employees and present some managerial implications for boundary conditions. Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to the literature on mobile technology usage, work engagement, emotional exhaustion and job auto
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The medicinal chemistry of selected halogenated diketopiperazines CYCLO(CIS-PRO-4F-PRO) and CYCLO(L-PHE-4I-VAL)
- Authors: Dakada, Vuyokazi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Medicinal plants , Drug development Cells -- Effect of drugs on
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39370 , vital:35221
- Description: Generally, peptides are selective and efficacious compounds; as a result, they are the best candidates for drug discovery and development. Most peptide-based drugs have been approved for clinical use. The 2,5-Diketopiperazines (DKPs), also known as cyclic dipeptides, are simple compounds which come from nature. Many DKPs are extracted from animals and plants. For example, cyclo(Proline(Pro)-Leucine(Leu)), cyclo(Proline-Valine(Val)), cyclo(Proline-Phenylalanine(Phe)) etc. In this study cyclo(cis-Proline(Pro)-4F-Proline(Pro)) and cyclo(L- Phenylalanine(Phe)-4I- Valine (Val)) were synthesized from their linear esters using a method modified by Milne et al. (1992). This method yielded good results. However, cyclo(L-Phe-4I-Val) degraded due to physicochemical stability attributes caused by hygroscopicity and photosensitivity. Quantitative analysis and evaluation of physicochemical properties of each dipeptide was achieved by using scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis) and X-ray powder diffraction. To determine the purity of the cyclic dipeptide, high performance liquid chromatography and thin layer chromatography was used. The structural elucidation of the cyclic dipeptides was carried by employing infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and, molecular modelling and computational chemistry. The aim of this research was to discover possible biological activity of cyclo(cis-Pro-4-F-Pro) and cyclo(L-Phe-4I-Val) with respect to their antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-diabetic and haematological effects. Cyclo(cis-Pro-4Fluoro-Pro) had no inhibitory effect on the antimicrobial strains tested, and cyclo(L-Phe-4Iodo-Val) could not be tested as the compound decomposed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Dakada, Vuyokazi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Medicinal plants , Drug development Cells -- Effect of drugs on
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39370 , vital:35221
- Description: Generally, peptides are selective and efficacious compounds; as a result, they are the best candidates for drug discovery and development. Most peptide-based drugs have been approved for clinical use. The 2,5-Diketopiperazines (DKPs), also known as cyclic dipeptides, are simple compounds which come from nature. Many DKPs are extracted from animals and plants. For example, cyclo(Proline(Pro)-Leucine(Leu)), cyclo(Proline-Valine(Val)), cyclo(Proline-Phenylalanine(Phe)) etc. In this study cyclo(cis-Proline(Pro)-4F-Proline(Pro)) and cyclo(L- Phenylalanine(Phe)-4I- Valine (Val)) were synthesized from their linear esters using a method modified by Milne et al. (1992). This method yielded good results. However, cyclo(L-Phe-4I-Val) degraded due to physicochemical stability attributes caused by hygroscopicity and photosensitivity. Quantitative analysis and evaluation of physicochemical properties of each dipeptide was achieved by using scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis) and X-ray powder diffraction. To determine the purity of the cyclic dipeptide, high performance liquid chromatography and thin layer chromatography was used. The structural elucidation of the cyclic dipeptides was carried by employing infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and, molecular modelling and computational chemistry. The aim of this research was to discover possible biological activity of cyclo(cis-Pro-4-F-Pro) and cyclo(L-Phe-4I-Val) with respect to their antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-diabetic and haematological effects. Cyclo(cis-Pro-4Fluoro-Pro) had no inhibitory effect on the antimicrobial strains tested, and cyclo(L-Phe-4Iodo-Val) could not be tested as the compound decomposed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The Moderating Influence of Psychological Empowerment in the relationship between Job Insecurity and Organizational Citizenship Behaviour among the Eastern Cape Department of Health Employees
- Authors: Nwokolo, Echezona E
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Job security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Organizational commitment Employee assistance programs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D.Com (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13881 , vital:39722
- Description: The unabated focus of many organizations on competition and profitability has amplified the threats of real or anticipated job loss resulting in the feelings of insecurity for employees about their job and future work life. The research investigated the role of psychological empowerment as moderator of the relationship between job insecurity and organizational citizenship behavior among the Eastern Cape Department of Health employees, in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study adopted an exploratory and correlational research design to understand the relationships that exist between the study variables. Respondents were selected using convenience sampling technique, where a sample size of 357 respondents was selected from sample frame of 4847 employees. Seven-point and Five-point likert scale were used to measure the responses. The data analysis methods used include descriptive statistics, regression analysis, ANOVA and Structural Equation Modeling. The reliability, factor analysis and research hypotheses of the research instruments were tested using the aforementioned statistical techniques. The findings reveal a significant negative correlation between job insecurity and Organizational Citizenship Behaviour, a significant positive correlation between psychological empowerment and OCB. It also revealed that job insecurity and psychological empowerment combined account for a significant higher proportion of variance in OCB than any of the two separately, and that significantly and positively moderates the relationship between job insecurity and OCB. Recommendations to promote psychological empowerment in the organization in order to increase organizational citizenship behavior and decrease job insecurity among employees were suggested to leadership of the government departments, organizations and practicing managers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Nwokolo, Echezona E
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Job security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Organizational commitment Employee assistance programs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D.Com (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13881 , vital:39722
- Description: The unabated focus of many organizations on competition and profitability has amplified the threats of real or anticipated job loss resulting in the feelings of insecurity for employees about their job and future work life. The research investigated the role of psychological empowerment as moderator of the relationship between job insecurity and organizational citizenship behavior among the Eastern Cape Department of Health employees, in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study adopted an exploratory and correlational research design to understand the relationships that exist between the study variables. Respondents were selected using convenience sampling technique, where a sample size of 357 respondents was selected from sample frame of 4847 employees. Seven-point and Five-point likert scale were used to measure the responses. The data analysis methods used include descriptive statistics, regression analysis, ANOVA and Structural Equation Modeling. The reliability, factor analysis and research hypotheses of the research instruments were tested using the aforementioned statistical techniques. The findings reveal a significant negative correlation between job insecurity and Organizational Citizenship Behaviour, a significant positive correlation between psychological empowerment and OCB. It also revealed that job insecurity and psychological empowerment combined account for a significant higher proportion of variance in OCB than any of the two separately, and that significantly and positively moderates the relationship between job insecurity and OCB. Recommendations to promote psychological empowerment in the organization in order to increase organizational citizenship behavior and decrease job insecurity among employees were suggested to leadership of the government departments, organizations and practicing managers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The morphological and molecular variation of southern African Nannocharax (Characiformes: Distichodontidae), and its taxonomic implications
- Authors: Smith, Timothy
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Nannocharax -- Africa, Southern , Distichodontidae -- Africa, Southern , Freshwater fishes -- Africa, Southern , Nannocharax -- Genetics -- Africa, Southern , Distichodontidae -- Genetics -- Africa, Southern , Freshwater fishes -- Genetics -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69212 , vital:29446
- Description: Nannocharax is the most species rich genus in the family Distichodontidae, being currently represented by 41 species. The genus is widely distributed across much of sub-Saharan Africa, with a range extending from the Zambezi ichthyofaunal province in the south to the Nilo-Sudan ichthyofaunal province in the north. In southern Africa, the genus is currently represented by four species, Nannocharax dageti Jerep, Vari, & Vreven, 2014, N. machadoi (Poll, 1967), N. macropterus Pellegrin, 1926, and N. multifasciatus Boulenger, 1923. Each of these species exhibit considerable intraspecific pigmentation pattern variation across their respective distribution ranges, suggesting that the current taxonomy possibly underestimates the taxonomic diversity of Nannocharax species in southern Africa. Much pigmentation pattern variation within these southern African species has been observed by both collectors and scientists in the field, prompting an investigation into the extent of this morphological variation as well as what molecular variation may occur as well. The genus displays a high degree of morphological conservatisim, making it difficult to assign external morphological characters as diagnostic. To this end, this study was conducted to determine the extent of diversity of this genus in the region, employing an integrative approach with traditional morphological analysis techniques as well as sequencing the ‘barcoding gene’, cytochrome oxidase I, testing the hypothesis that there is a greater, hidden diversity of this genus in the region than currently recognised. This study aims to identify these potential lineages and accurately map their distributions. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference, using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene region. Massive genetic divergence was detected between populations of taxa previously considered to be singular, widely distributed species. The three approaches of phylogenetic inference used in this study yielded trees of comparable overall topology, with the exception of the maximum parsimony tree which indicated additional lineages within the southern African N. multifasciatus group. These analyses revealed four deeply divergent (1.3 – 12.3%) lineages within southern African N. macropterus, as well as two deeply divergent (0.4-14.6%) populations from the Congo ichthyofaunal region, the lineages here named “N. macropterus Congo 1” and “N. macropterus Congo 2”. Within the southern African region, two deeply divergent (10.3%) lineages of N. macropterus were identified from the Okavango River system, identified as “N. macropterus Okavango 2” lineage restricted to the Cuito-Canavale tributary, and “N. macropterus Okavango 1” distributed throughout the remainder of the Okavango system. “N. macropterus Okavango 2” shares a closer relationship with the unique lineage from the Kwanza ichthyofaunal region, named N. macropterus “Kwanza”, which itself is deeply divergent from the N. macropterus “Okavango 1”, N. macropterus “Zambezi”, N. macropterus “Congo 1” and N. macropterus “Congo 2” lineages (3.1-14.4%). Principal component analyses (PCA) and discriminant function analyses (DFA) produced overlapping clusters for all identified lineages, with the exception of the N. macropterus “Kwanza” lineage, which in all analyses clustered away from the other lineages. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskall-Wallis tests indicated significant differences in means between character traits between lineages, however, overlap in measurements and counts occurred in all instances except between the N. macropterus “Kwanza” and N. macropterus Congo lineages. However the N. macropterus “Kwanza” lineages could be distinguished from the other lineages by generally smaller fin lengths (dorsal fin 19.5%SL vs 20.0-22.1%SL in others; pectoral fin 16.5%SL vs 20.6-21.8%SL in others; pelvic fin 18.3%SL vs 21.3-22.4) and pigmentation pattern differences. The N. macropterus species group displayed extensive pigmentation pattern variation, to the extent that five pattern grades could be used to classify them. These pattern grades, while not specific to river systems, showed patterns similar to that which was seen in the molecular analyses and could be linked to lineages with only minor overlap between them. Three lineages of N. multifasciatus were identified, with two occurring in the southern African region, each corresponding to a river system, being the N. multifasciatus “Zambezi” and N. multifasciatus “Okavango” lineages. This species group displayed shallower divergence between lineages than did the N. macropterus group, at 2.5% genetic distance. Genetic analysis inferred a closer relationship between the N. multifasciatus “Zambezi” and N. multifasciatus “Congo” lineages than with the N. multifasciatus “Okavango” lineage. Morphological PCA and DFA analyses indicated morphological divergence of the N. multifasciatus “Congo” lineage, with generally larger proportional measurements than southern African specimens (body width 12.6%SL vs 9.5-9.7%SL; body depth 26.6%SL vs 21.6-21.9%SL; head width 12.0%SL vs 10.0-10.4%SL). PCA, DFA, and measurements show a near complete overlap between the N. multifasciatus “Okavango” and N. multifasciatus “Zambezi” lineages. Pigmentation pattern variation occurred within this group, but none that could be assigned to a particular lineage. The N. machadoi species group in southern Africa consists of five lineages: N. machadoi “Zambezi 1”, N. machadoi “Zambezi 2”, N. machadoi “Kafue 1”, N. machadoi “Kafue 2”, and N. machadoi “Okavango”. This group displayed shallower genetic divergence between lineages than the other southern African Nannocharax species groups (0.4-1.3%). This shallow genetic divergence is paralleled by near complete morphological overlap, with PCA and DFA producing overlapping clusters, and measurements, meristics, and pigmentation pattern metrics consisting of very similar values for the lineages. These results indicate that what is considered to be “N. macropterus” in southern Africa should not be named as such. The N. macropterus “Zambezi” and the N. macropterus “Okavango 1” lineages, are misidentifications of Nannocharax dageti. Other “N. macropterus” from the southern African region possesses fewer circumpeduncular scales than the true N. macropterus as described by Pellegrin (1926), and require taxonomic re-evaluation, each here being recognised as a unique lineage with species status, here named N. macropterus “Okavango 2” and N. macropterus “Kwanza”. In particular, N. macropterus “Kwanza” displays deep genetic divergence as well as morphological dissimilarity with the other southern African “N. macropterus” groups. Nannocharax fasciolaris and N. monardi are here placed as junior synonyms of N. multifasciatus, owing to vast overlaps in measurements and character counts of these species and N. multifasciatus, which is also known to occur within the same geographical distribution, as well as dubious arguments from the original publications in delineating these species from N. multifasciatus. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence indicating the presence of multiple species originating from the Okavango system, where it is here indicated that only a single lineage of banded, adipose fin-bearing Nannocharax occurs, namely N. multifasciatus “Okavango”.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Smith, Timothy
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Nannocharax -- Africa, Southern , Distichodontidae -- Africa, Southern , Freshwater fishes -- Africa, Southern , Nannocharax -- Genetics -- Africa, Southern , Distichodontidae -- Genetics -- Africa, Southern , Freshwater fishes -- Genetics -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69212 , vital:29446
- Description: Nannocharax is the most species rich genus in the family Distichodontidae, being currently represented by 41 species. The genus is widely distributed across much of sub-Saharan Africa, with a range extending from the Zambezi ichthyofaunal province in the south to the Nilo-Sudan ichthyofaunal province in the north. In southern Africa, the genus is currently represented by four species, Nannocharax dageti Jerep, Vari, & Vreven, 2014, N. machadoi (Poll, 1967), N. macropterus Pellegrin, 1926, and N. multifasciatus Boulenger, 1923. Each of these species exhibit considerable intraspecific pigmentation pattern variation across their respective distribution ranges, suggesting that the current taxonomy possibly underestimates the taxonomic diversity of Nannocharax species in southern Africa. Much pigmentation pattern variation within these southern African species has been observed by both collectors and scientists in the field, prompting an investigation into the extent of this morphological variation as well as what molecular variation may occur as well. The genus displays a high degree of morphological conservatisim, making it difficult to assign external morphological characters as diagnostic. To this end, this study was conducted to determine the extent of diversity of this genus in the region, employing an integrative approach with traditional morphological analysis techniques as well as sequencing the ‘barcoding gene’, cytochrome oxidase I, testing the hypothesis that there is a greater, hidden diversity of this genus in the region than currently recognised. This study aims to identify these potential lineages and accurately map their distributions. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference, using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene region. Massive genetic divergence was detected between populations of taxa previously considered to be singular, widely distributed species. The three approaches of phylogenetic inference used in this study yielded trees of comparable overall topology, with the exception of the maximum parsimony tree which indicated additional lineages within the southern African N. multifasciatus group. These analyses revealed four deeply divergent (1.3 – 12.3%) lineages within southern African N. macropterus, as well as two deeply divergent (0.4-14.6%) populations from the Congo ichthyofaunal region, the lineages here named “N. macropterus Congo 1” and “N. macropterus Congo 2”. Within the southern African region, two deeply divergent (10.3%) lineages of N. macropterus were identified from the Okavango River system, identified as “N. macropterus Okavango 2” lineage restricted to the Cuito-Canavale tributary, and “N. macropterus Okavango 1” distributed throughout the remainder of the Okavango system. “N. macropterus Okavango 2” shares a closer relationship with the unique lineage from the Kwanza ichthyofaunal region, named N. macropterus “Kwanza”, which itself is deeply divergent from the N. macropterus “Okavango 1”, N. macropterus “Zambezi”, N. macropterus “Congo 1” and N. macropterus “Congo 2” lineages (3.1-14.4%). Principal component analyses (PCA) and discriminant function analyses (DFA) produced overlapping clusters for all identified lineages, with the exception of the N. macropterus “Kwanza” lineage, which in all analyses clustered away from the other lineages. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskall-Wallis tests indicated significant differences in means between character traits between lineages, however, overlap in measurements and counts occurred in all instances except between the N. macropterus “Kwanza” and N. macropterus Congo lineages. However the N. macropterus “Kwanza” lineages could be distinguished from the other lineages by generally smaller fin lengths (dorsal fin 19.5%SL vs 20.0-22.1%SL in others; pectoral fin 16.5%SL vs 20.6-21.8%SL in others; pelvic fin 18.3%SL vs 21.3-22.4) and pigmentation pattern differences. The N. macropterus species group displayed extensive pigmentation pattern variation, to the extent that five pattern grades could be used to classify them. These pattern grades, while not specific to river systems, showed patterns similar to that which was seen in the molecular analyses and could be linked to lineages with only minor overlap between them. Three lineages of N. multifasciatus were identified, with two occurring in the southern African region, each corresponding to a river system, being the N. multifasciatus “Zambezi” and N. multifasciatus “Okavango” lineages. This species group displayed shallower divergence between lineages than did the N. macropterus group, at 2.5% genetic distance. Genetic analysis inferred a closer relationship between the N. multifasciatus “Zambezi” and N. multifasciatus “Congo” lineages than with the N. multifasciatus “Okavango” lineage. Morphological PCA and DFA analyses indicated morphological divergence of the N. multifasciatus “Congo” lineage, with generally larger proportional measurements than southern African specimens (body width 12.6%SL vs 9.5-9.7%SL; body depth 26.6%SL vs 21.6-21.9%SL; head width 12.0%SL vs 10.0-10.4%SL). PCA, DFA, and measurements show a near complete overlap between the N. multifasciatus “Okavango” and N. multifasciatus “Zambezi” lineages. Pigmentation pattern variation occurred within this group, but none that could be assigned to a particular lineage. The N. machadoi species group in southern Africa consists of five lineages: N. machadoi “Zambezi 1”, N. machadoi “Zambezi 2”, N. machadoi “Kafue 1”, N. machadoi “Kafue 2”, and N. machadoi “Okavango”. This group displayed shallower genetic divergence between lineages than the other southern African Nannocharax species groups (0.4-1.3%). This shallow genetic divergence is paralleled by near complete morphological overlap, with PCA and DFA producing overlapping clusters, and measurements, meristics, and pigmentation pattern metrics consisting of very similar values for the lineages. These results indicate that what is considered to be “N. macropterus” in southern Africa should not be named as such. The N. macropterus “Zambezi” and the N. macropterus “Okavango 1” lineages, are misidentifications of Nannocharax dageti. Other “N. macropterus” from the southern African region possesses fewer circumpeduncular scales than the true N. macropterus as described by Pellegrin (1926), and require taxonomic re-evaluation, each here being recognised as a unique lineage with species status, here named N. macropterus “Okavango 2” and N. macropterus “Kwanza”. In particular, N. macropterus “Kwanza” displays deep genetic divergence as well as morphological dissimilarity with the other southern African “N. macropterus” groups. Nannocharax fasciolaris and N. monardi are here placed as junior synonyms of N. multifasciatus, owing to vast overlaps in measurements and character counts of these species and N. multifasciatus, which is also known to occur within the same geographical distribution, as well as dubious arguments from the original publications in delineating these species from N. multifasciatus. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence indicating the presence of multiple species originating from the Okavango system, where it is here indicated that only a single lineage of banded, adipose fin-bearing Nannocharax occurs, namely N. multifasciatus “Okavango”.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The morphological complexity of L1 Arabic-speaking children
- Authors: Issa, Iyad
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Cognition in children , Reading , Arabic language -- Orthography and spelling , Arabic language -- Orthography and spelling -- Study and teaching , Arabic language -- Study and teaching , Arabic language -- Phonetics
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92831 , vital:30754
- Description: Spelling poses a challenge to Arabic-speaking learners due to the complexity of the morphological and orthographic system in Arabic. Arabic morphology has been argued to play a critical role in spelling since its morphological operations are built on a system consisting of a root that is interlocking into different patterns of vowels to form different categories of words. In addition, Arabic orthography is considered to be loyal to the morphographic principle (Ravid, 2012), where morphemes correspond to graphic representation regardless of the pronunciation, especially in the non-vowelized texts. This study made a detailed classification of spelling errors in a word dictation task, based on morphological structures, undertaken by 107 Typically-developing learners (TD) and learners with learning disabiities (LD) attending the same schools. All participants ranged in age from 7 years, 3 months to 15 years, 2 months (grades 2 to 8). The spelling task was made up of 400 common words representing all morphological forms in different conjugations and grammatical classes. The results indicated that learners made three types of errors: errors with respect to the root, errors with respect to the word pattern, and errors with respect to both the root and the word pattern. The results also showed that TD and LD learners follow a similar pattern of complexity even though the LD group produced more errors than the TD group. The results revealed that MA and PA exhibited significant positive regression (b= 9.398, 16.106 respectively) with spelling, indicating that learners with higher scores in PA and MA have higher scores in spelling. The results argued for the crucial contribution that morphological awareness makes towards the general spelling abilities among learners and provide additional evidence for the nonlinear growth of morphological knowedge in spelling. In addition, spelling errors suggested that the spelling process goes in a hierarchical way where words can be accessed and processed either according to the root or according to the stem. Intact verbs are processed according to their root and word pattern. Some weak verb forms, whose radicals undergo modifications, are processed according to their stem, while those whose radicals are fully represented in the spoken word, are processed according to their root and word patterns. Therefore, roots or stems are firstly accessed and attached to basic word patterns (the grapheme without diacritics and affixes). Thereafter, prefixes and, then, suffixes are attached to the word pattern and, finally, diacritics are accessed and attached to the word pattern.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Issa, Iyad
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Cognition in children , Reading , Arabic language -- Orthography and spelling , Arabic language -- Orthography and spelling -- Study and teaching , Arabic language -- Study and teaching , Arabic language -- Phonetics
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92831 , vital:30754
- Description: Spelling poses a challenge to Arabic-speaking learners due to the complexity of the morphological and orthographic system in Arabic. Arabic morphology has been argued to play a critical role in spelling since its morphological operations are built on a system consisting of a root that is interlocking into different patterns of vowels to form different categories of words. In addition, Arabic orthography is considered to be loyal to the morphographic principle (Ravid, 2012), where morphemes correspond to graphic representation regardless of the pronunciation, especially in the non-vowelized texts. This study made a detailed classification of spelling errors in a word dictation task, based on morphological structures, undertaken by 107 Typically-developing learners (TD) and learners with learning disabiities (LD) attending the same schools. All participants ranged in age from 7 years, 3 months to 15 years, 2 months (grades 2 to 8). The spelling task was made up of 400 common words representing all morphological forms in different conjugations and grammatical classes. The results indicated that learners made three types of errors: errors with respect to the root, errors with respect to the word pattern, and errors with respect to both the root and the word pattern. The results also showed that TD and LD learners follow a similar pattern of complexity even though the LD group produced more errors than the TD group. The results revealed that MA and PA exhibited significant positive regression (b= 9.398, 16.106 respectively) with spelling, indicating that learners with higher scores in PA and MA have higher scores in spelling. The results argued for the crucial contribution that morphological awareness makes towards the general spelling abilities among learners and provide additional evidence for the nonlinear growth of morphological knowedge in spelling. In addition, spelling errors suggested that the spelling process goes in a hierarchical way where words can be accessed and processed either according to the root or according to the stem. Intact verbs are processed according to their root and word pattern. Some weak verb forms, whose radicals undergo modifications, are processed according to their stem, while those whose radicals are fully represented in the spoken word, are processed according to their root and word patterns. Therefore, roots or stems are firstly accessed and attached to basic word patterns (the grapheme without diacritics and affixes). Thereafter, prefixes and, then, suffixes are attached to the word pattern and, finally, diacritics are accessed and attached to the word pattern.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The morphotactic constraints of verbal extensions in isiXhosa
- Authors: Mkabile, Hlumela
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Xhosa language -- Grammar
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92849 , vital:30749
- Description: Bantu verbal suffixes, also known as extensions, follow a rather rigid pattern when they attach to the verb. Studies (e.g. Hyman 2002, Good 2005, 2007, among others) have shown that the order followed by these extensions is: Causative, Applicative, Reciprocal, Passive (CARP). Although this pattern is widespread across Bantu, some variations in the ordering of these extensions have been observed in some languages (Kathupa 1991, Simango 1995, Sibanda 2004, among others), which suggests that the template is not as rigid as one might think. This study investigated the morphotactic constraints between four verbal extensions in isiXhosa, the Causative, Applicative, Reciprocal and Passive. It focused on the morphotactics of the transitivising extensions (Causative and Applicative) in the first instance, and morphotactics of the detransitivising extensions (Reciprocal and Passive) in the second instance. The study found that although the co-occurrence of causatives and applicatives is a regular feature in Bantu languages, isiXhosa has restrictions on the co-occurrence of these extensions on some verbs. The study also found that although Causative-Applicative is the expected order the language permits Applicative-Causative in certain contexts. With respect to the detransitivising extensions, the study revealed that there are limited contexts in which these extensions co-occur and, crucially, that these extensions are freely ordered in the language.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mkabile, Hlumela
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Xhosa language -- Grammar
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92849 , vital:30749
- Description: Bantu verbal suffixes, also known as extensions, follow a rather rigid pattern when they attach to the verb. Studies (e.g. Hyman 2002, Good 2005, 2007, among others) have shown that the order followed by these extensions is: Causative, Applicative, Reciprocal, Passive (CARP). Although this pattern is widespread across Bantu, some variations in the ordering of these extensions have been observed in some languages (Kathupa 1991, Simango 1995, Sibanda 2004, among others), which suggests that the template is not as rigid as one might think. This study investigated the morphotactic constraints between four verbal extensions in isiXhosa, the Causative, Applicative, Reciprocal and Passive. It focused on the morphotactics of the transitivising extensions (Causative and Applicative) in the first instance, and morphotactics of the detransitivising extensions (Reciprocal and Passive) in the second instance. The study found that although the co-occurrence of causatives and applicatives is a regular feature in Bantu languages, isiXhosa has restrictions on the co-occurrence of these extensions on some verbs. The study also found that although Causative-Applicative is the expected order the language permits Applicative-Causative in certain contexts. With respect to the detransitivising extensions, the study revealed that there are limited contexts in which these extensions co-occur and, crucially, that these extensions are freely ordered in the language.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The Neethling Brain Instrument (NBI) as a predictive indicator for leadership branding
- Authors: Buys, Hein
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Branding (Marketing) , Educational leadership -- Marketing Corporate image Leadership -- South Africa Executive ability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/37900 , vital:34260
- Description: The purpose of this treatise is to determine whether the Neethling 8-Dimensional Brain Instrument (NBI) can serve as a predictive indicator of leadership brand of individuals. In practice the focus of recruitment is often solely concerned with the person-job fit in so far as hard-skills of the individual applicants are relevant and suitable to the position that must be filled. It is the belief of the researcher in this treatise that a more holistic approach in filling leadership roles most be adopted in order to increase the successful placement of leaders based not only on the person-job fit, but also on the person-team and person-organisation fit. Certain leadership brands are more suitable in certain environments and this must be tested for as part of the recruitment and placement process. This qualitative case study is exploratory in nature and hopes to gain a deeper understanding of predictive capability of the NBI in relation to leadership branding.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Buys, Hein
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Branding (Marketing) , Educational leadership -- Marketing Corporate image Leadership -- South Africa Executive ability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/37900 , vital:34260
- Description: The purpose of this treatise is to determine whether the Neethling 8-Dimensional Brain Instrument (NBI) can serve as a predictive indicator of leadership brand of individuals. In practice the focus of recruitment is often solely concerned with the person-job fit in so far as hard-skills of the individual applicants are relevant and suitable to the position that must be filled. It is the belief of the researcher in this treatise that a more holistic approach in filling leadership roles most be adopted in order to increase the successful placement of leaders based not only on the person-job fit, but also on the person-team and person-organisation fit. Certain leadership brands are more suitable in certain environments and this must be tested for as part of the recruitment and placement process. This qualitative case study is exploratory in nature and hopes to gain a deeper understanding of predictive capability of the NBI in relation to leadership branding.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019