Trends in the game industry in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ferreira, Janene
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Game farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Management , Wildlife management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5451 , vital:20846
- Description: The game industry has become one of the fastest-growing industries in South Africa and consequently, during recent years, a growing number of stock farms have been converted to game farms. All forms of utilization within the game industry play a vital role with regards to sustainability and simultaneously contributing a significant boost to the national economy. It is therefore important to ensure that game ranchers are as well-informed as possible in their decision-making, as well as in assessing their outputs and endeavours. However, the information available on the game industry in the Eastern Cape is limited. This research study therefore focuses on the emerging trends in the game industry in the province. The objectives of the research are to examine various pertinent factors associated with the game industry, investigate the trends and discuss whether these trends have any implications for future purposes. The research commenced with a literature review, as well as information from earlier survey studies of the Eastern Cape game industry. For the current study, a replicate survey was conducted throughout the Eastern Cape, involving as many game ranchers as possible, and data were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires. The dilemma confronting the black wildebeest in the Eastern Cape was thoroughly investigated, together with farmers’ opinions and trends for the future of the species. It was important to include this particular aspect in the research, as at the time of the survey, widespread concerns were expressed with regards to new legislation which emerged during that time. The research cast light on several aspects associated with the industry which could positively assist game ranchers towards improved management and planning, as well as provide guidelines for future development purposes. Furthermore, the research identified crucial issues that should receive immediate attention from stakeholders across the industry as well as government.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ferreira, Janene
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Game farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Management , Wildlife management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5451 , vital:20846
- Description: The game industry has become one of the fastest-growing industries in South Africa and consequently, during recent years, a growing number of stock farms have been converted to game farms. All forms of utilization within the game industry play a vital role with regards to sustainability and simultaneously contributing a significant boost to the national economy. It is therefore important to ensure that game ranchers are as well-informed as possible in their decision-making, as well as in assessing their outputs and endeavours. However, the information available on the game industry in the Eastern Cape is limited. This research study therefore focuses on the emerging trends in the game industry in the province. The objectives of the research are to examine various pertinent factors associated with the game industry, investigate the trends and discuss whether these trends have any implications for future purposes. The research commenced with a literature review, as well as information from earlier survey studies of the Eastern Cape game industry. For the current study, a replicate survey was conducted throughout the Eastern Cape, involving as many game ranchers as possible, and data were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires. The dilemma confronting the black wildebeest in the Eastern Cape was thoroughly investigated, together with farmers’ opinions and trends for the future of the species. It was important to include this particular aspect in the research, as at the time of the survey, widespread concerns were expressed with regards to new legislation which emerged during that time. The research cast light on several aspects associated with the industry which could positively assist game ranchers towards improved management and planning, as well as provide guidelines for future development purposes. Furthermore, the research identified crucial issues that should receive immediate attention from stakeholders across the industry as well as government.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Trends in large carnivore diets in the Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa
- Authors: Wentworth, Julia Claire
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Game reserves -- South Africa , Carnivorous animals
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10595 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020993
- Description: Determining carnivore diets and how they may change over time is important if the management of large carnivores is successful in an enclosed reserve. Carnivore diets are known to shift over time in response to a variety of factors. These factors include prey availability and climatic conditions (rainfall patterns). The re-introduction of lions (Panthera leo) and spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) to Addo Elephant National Park (AENP), South Africa provided the opportunity to study diet trends of lions and spotted hyaena in an enclosed system. The study focused on the diets and overlap of lions and spotted hyaena and how their prey selection changed since their re-introduction in 2003 to 2010. The database included scats collected over a seven year period. A total of 195 spotted hyaena scats and 217 lion scats were analysed using scat analysis. Prey items estimated from scat samples were coupled with prey availabilities to determine preferred prey items. Additionally, from determined carnivore diets, lions and spotted hyaena diet overlap was estimated over time. Lions preferred prey items which included zebra (Equus quagga) and eland (Tragelaphus oryx) during the early portion of the study. Over time preference shifted to include buffalo (Syncerus caffer), bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) and grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia). Spotted hyaena preferred zebra and eland in the earlier part of the study, then over time, shifting their selection to grey duiker, buffalo, red hartebeest (Alcephalus busephalus) and bushbuck. Lions and spotted hyaena had a similar diet which increased in overlap during the study (67 percentage - 91 percentage). Our findings suggest that lions and spotted hyaena had a degree of diet specialization; both carnivores avoided and preferred certain prey items relative to their abundance. Their preference excluded the most abundant prey items, thus causing a decline in abundance of rarer species over time. Lions and spotted hyaena did not respond by shifting their diets to consume abundant prey items when their preferred prey items declined in availability. However, this study may be a snap-shot of carnivore’s diet trends. Thus further monitoring of the large carnivore diets should be researched in order to determine which factors drive their prey selection. Additionally, lions and spotted hyaena diet overlap increased overtime. The high diet overlap may be a result from spotted hyaena scavenging off lion kills, thus spotted hyaena diets may be facilitated by lion kills. Finally our data suggests that re-introduced large carnivores in AENP are likely to change the composition of the overall mammal community, potentially eliminating rare but preferred prey species in an enclosed reserve.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Wentworth, Julia Claire
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Game reserves -- South Africa , Carnivorous animals
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10595 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020993
- Description: Determining carnivore diets and how they may change over time is important if the management of large carnivores is successful in an enclosed reserve. Carnivore diets are known to shift over time in response to a variety of factors. These factors include prey availability and climatic conditions (rainfall patterns). The re-introduction of lions (Panthera leo) and spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) to Addo Elephant National Park (AENP), South Africa provided the opportunity to study diet trends of lions and spotted hyaena in an enclosed system. The study focused on the diets and overlap of lions and spotted hyaena and how their prey selection changed since their re-introduction in 2003 to 2010. The database included scats collected over a seven year period. A total of 195 spotted hyaena scats and 217 lion scats were analysed using scat analysis. Prey items estimated from scat samples were coupled with prey availabilities to determine preferred prey items. Additionally, from determined carnivore diets, lions and spotted hyaena diet overlap was estimated over time. Lions preferred prey items which included zebra (Equus quagga) and eland (Tragelaphus oryx) during the early portion of the study. Over time preference shifted to include buffalo (Syncerus caffer), bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) and grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia). Spotted hyaena preferred zebra and eland in the earlier part of the study, then over time, shifting their selection to grey duiker, buffalo, red hartebeest (Alcephalus busephalus) and bushbuck. Lions and spotted hyaena had a similar diet which increased in overlap during the study (67 percentage - 91 percentage). Our findings suggest that lions and spotted hyaena had a degree of diet specialization; both carnivores avoided and preferred certain prey items relative to their abundance. Their preference excluded the most abundant prey items, thus causing a decline in abundance of rarer species over time. Lions and spotted hyaena did not respond by shifting their diets to consume abundant prey items when their preferred prey items declined in availability. However, this study may be a snap-shot of carnivore’s diet trends. Thus further monitoring of the large carnivore diets should be researched in order to determine which factors drive their prey selection. Additionally, lions and spotted hyaena diet overlap increased overtime. The high diet overlap may be a result from spotted hyaena scavenging off lion kills, thus spotted hyaena diets may be facilitated by lion kills. Finally our data suggests that re-introduced large carnivores in AENP are likely to change the composition of the overall mammal community, potentially eliminating rare but preferred prey species in an enclosed reserve.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Trends and volatility in residential property prices in South Africa
- Authors: Anyikwa, Izunna Chima
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Housing -- Prices -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9012 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018221
- Description: This study sought to empirically investigate trends and volatility in residential property prices in South Africa using quarterly data over the period 1980Q1 to 2011Q4. The empirical analysis uses a range of unit root and stationarity tests as well as a number of ARCH-family of models. The results from the trend analysis suggest that the behaviour of house prices in South Africa follows a random walk process. The randomness in the behaviour of house prices could be attributed to permanent effect of shock. Investigation into the dynamic behaviour of the house prices supports the existence of conditional volatility that is time-varying and highly persistent. Moreover, volatility is found to be asymmetric in news suggesting evidence of anti-leverage effects. These findings have important portfolio implications especially, considering the fact that large-scale losses are possible if house prices exhibit the type of persistent in behaviour as captured in this study. Also, the existence of asymmetric effects in volatility suggests that more caution needs to be placed on news arrival as they may have significant impacts on the house price behaviour. Accordingly, this study suggests the need for residential property market to be treated like other asset markets with regards to risk.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Anyikwa, Izunna Chima
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Housing -- Prices -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9012 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018221
- Description: This study sought to empirically investigate trends and volatility in residential property prices in South Africa using quarterly data over the period 1980Q1 to 2011Q4. The empirical analysis uses a range of unit root and stationarity tests as well as a number of ARCH-family of models. The results from the trend analysis suggest that the behaviour of house prices in South Africa follows a random walk process. The randomness in the behaviour of house prices could be attributed to permanent effect of shock. Investigation into the dynamic behaviour of the house prices supports the existence of conditional volatility that is time-varying and highly persistent. Moreover, volatility is found to be asymmetric in news suggesting evidence of anti-leverage effects. These findings have important portfolio implications especially, considering the fact that large-scale losses are possible if house prices exhibit the type of persistent in behaviour as captured in this study. Also, the existence of asymmetric effects in volatility suggests that more caution needs to be placed on news arrival as they may have significant impacts on the house price behaviour. Accordingly, this study suggests the need for residential property market to be treated like other asset markets with regards to risk.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Tree toppling by elephants and its consequences in thicket mosaic vegetation of Addo Elephant National Park
- Authors: Mgqatsa, Nokubonga
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Elephants -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Addo Elephant National Park Woody plants -- South Africa -- Addo Elephant National Park
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19365 , vital:28859
- Description: This study explored the extent of elephant tree toppling and possible cascading effects in Karoo Thicket Mosaic habitat in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. While the notion that elephants topple trees is well recognised, little is known about their indirect effects and the possible influence on several trophic levels. Changes brought about by elephants have the potential to influence microclimatic conditions, soil litter processes, plant community composition and other animals. Therefore, this study determined the impacts of elephants on tree toppling, and hence the production of coarse woody debris and the Coarse Woody Debris Profile. Additionally, I explored the consequences of elephant tree toppling on the plant community, small mammals and seed removal. Furthermore, I explored the potential factors facilitating the coexistence of woody plants and elephants. I compared coarse woody debris production and the Coarse Woody Debris Profile between sites with and without elephants. Further, I assessed the consequences of tree toppling in the elephant present site at a patch scale to explore the possible cascading effects of elephants. Firstly, I showed that elephants impacted woody plants through branch/stem breakages and toppling of trees, but that effects vary for different categories of the Coarse Woody Debris Profile. This result confirms the most recent findings that woody plants are at risk from elephant herbivory in Karoo Thicket Mosaic habitat. The elephant toppling effect on these landscapes is largely influenced by plant growth form, with woody trees suffering high levels of elephant toppling than shrubs of comparable size. However, toppled Pappea capensis is able to persist from being toppled by elephants, either through coppicing or resprouting. Additionally, I showed that toppled trees form discrete patches on the landscape, with altered microclimate and browsing pressures. While I detected no significant effect of these changes on plant composition and abundance within these patches, these findings indicate the possible influence of elephants on facilitating plant recruitment and altering plant communities of thicket through toppling of trees. Moreover, I showed that elephant toppling of trees provide habitat patches for small mammals, thus affecting seed removal by vertebrates within patches. These changes had no discernable effect on soil seed banks. However, they highlight the need to better understand the temporal dynamics of these patches and implications for seed dynamics and plant communities on the landscape. The results show the patterns of elephant impacts on woody plants and possible cascading effects in the presence of elephants. Therefore, the study advances our understanding of top-down effects of elephants and shows the relevance of understanding these effects in order to effectively manage elephant impacts in different systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mgqatsa, Nokubonga
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Elephants -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Addo Elephant National Park Woody plants -- South Africa -- Addo Elephant National Park
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19365 , vital:28859
- Description: This study explored the extent of elephant tree toppling and possible cascading effects in Karoo Thicket Mosaic habitat in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. While the notion that elephants topple trees is well recognised, little is known about their indirect effects and the possible influence on several trophic levels. Changes brought about by elephants have the potential to influence microclimatic conditions, soil litter processes, plant community composition and other animals. Therefore, this study determined the impacts of elephants on tree toppling, and hence the production of coarse woody debris and the Coarse Woody Debris Profile. Additionally, I explored the consequences of elephant tree toppling on the plant community, small mammals and seed removal. Furthermore, I explored the potential factors facilitating the coexistence of woody plants and elephants. I compared coarse woody debris production and the Coarse Woody Debris Profile between sites with and without elephants. Further, I assessed the consequences of tree toppling in the elephant present site at a patch scale to explore the possible cascading effects of elephants. Firstly, I showed that elephants impacted woody plants through branch/stem breakages and toppling of trees, but that effects vary for different categories of the Coarse Woody Debris Profile. This result confirms the most recent findings that woody plants are at risk from elephant herbivory in Karoo Thicket Mosaic habitat. The elephant toppling effect on these landscapes is largely influenced by plant growth form, with woody trees suffering high levels of elephant toppling than shrubs of comparable size. However, toppled Pappea capensis is able to persist from being toppled by elephants, either through coppicing or resprouting. Additionally, I showed that toppled trees form discrete patches on the landscape, with altered microclimate and browsing pressures. While I detected no significant effect of these changes on plant composition and abundance within these patches, these findings indicate the possible influence of elephants on facilitating plant recruitment and altering plant communities of thicket through toppling of trees. Moreover, I showed that elephant toppling of trees provide habitat patches for small mammals, thus affecting seed removal by vertebrates within patches. These changes had no discernable effect on soil seed banks. However, they highlight the need to better understand the temporal dynamics of these patches and implications for seed dynamics and plant communities on the landscape. The results show the patterns of elephant impacts on woody plants and possible cascading effects in the presence of elephants. Therefore, the study advances our understanding of top-down effects of elephants and shows the relevance of understanding these effects in order to effectively manage elephant impacts in different systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Treatment of Parkinson's disease in South Africa and investigation of risk factors causing dyskinesias
- Authors: Gaida, Razia
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Movement disorders , Parkinson's disease , Drugs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: vital:10159 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012466 , Movement disorders , Parkinson's disease , Drugs
- Description: Background: Levodopa is still thought of as the 'gold standard' symptomatic treatment for Parkinson’s disease. However, after four to five years of treatment, levodopa efficacy tends to decline even if there was a good initial therapeutic response. The ideal treatment of Parkinson’s disease is a much debated issue with a range of guidelines available. Objectives: This study was undertaken to analyse medication use and prescribing patterns as well as to determine the risk factors involved in causing dyskinesias in Parkinson’s sufferers. Methods: The study consisted of two parts, namely a drug utilisation review (DUR) and a questionnaire survey. There were 25 523 antiparkinsonian records consisting of 5 168 patients for the year 2010. The questionnaires were verbally administered to patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. A total of 43 patients were interviewed. Results: The average age of the population was 70.74±10.37 years, with the oldest patient being 100 years. Females constituted 59.17percent (5 168: n = 3 058) of the total number of patients. The most common antiparkinsonian products dispensed were combination drugs containing levodopa with a decarboxylase inhibitor and some with a COMT-inhibitor as well (46.5percent; n = 11 875). Males represented 53.49percent (43: n = 23) of the patients included in the questionnaire survey. A review of the medical records showed that patients with dyskinesias were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at a younger age and had experienced longer disease duration. Conclusion: Parkinson’s disease is an under-recognised condition in South Africa. Treatment needs to be individualised and based on evidence-based guidelines. Further studies in South Africa, as well as SSA (sub-Saharan Africa), need to be conducted on both the prevalence as well as the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Gaida, Razia
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Movement disorders , Parkinson's disease , Drugs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: vital:10159 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012466 , Movement disorders , Parkinson's disease , Drugs
- Description: Background: Levodopa is still thought of as the 'gold standard' symptomatic treatment for Parkinson’s disease. However, after four to five years of treatment, levodopa efficacy tends to decline even if there was a good initial therapeutic response. The ideal treatment of Parkinson’s disease is a much debated issue with a range of guidelines available. Objectives: This study was undertaken to analyse medication use and prescribing patterns as well as to determine the risk factors involved in causing dyskinesias in Parkinson’s sufferers. Methods: The study consisted of two parts, namely a drug utilisation review (DUR) and a questionnaire survey. There were 25 523 antiparkinsonian records consisting of 5 168 patients for the year 2010. The questionnaires were verbally administered to patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. A total of 43 patients were interviewed. Results: The average age of the population was 70.74±10.37 years, with the oldest patient being 100 years. Females constituted 59.17percent (5 168: n = 3 058) of the total number of patients. The most common antiparkinsonian products dispensed were combination drugs containing levodopa with a decarboxylase inhibitor and some with a COMT-inhibitor as well (46.5percent; n = 11 875). Males represented 53.49percent (43: n = 23) of the patients included in the questionnaire survey. A review of the medical records showed that patients with dyskinesias were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at a younger age and had experienced longer disease duration. Conclusion: Parkinson’s disease is an under-recognised condition in South Africa. Treatment needs to be individualised and based on evidence-based guidelines. Further studies in South Africa, as well as SSA (sub-Saharan Africa), need to be conducted on both the prevalence as well as the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Treatment and care of children and adolescents diagnosed with Attention deficit/Hyperactivity disorder
- Authors: Snyman, Sanmari
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Attention-deficit disorder in adolescence , Hyperactive children -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10144 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/871 , Attention-deficit disorder in adolescence , Hyperactive children -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: Background: In recent years the incidence of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has increased. Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to determine the treatment of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD in South Africa and more specifically the Eastern Cape. Methods: The study consisted of two parts, a retrospective drug utilisation study and a questionnaire survey. The drug utilisation study was conducted on chronic medication records of a private sector medical scheme administrator and contained records from 1994 to 2006. A total of 42 250 records representing 8 274 patients and 4 001 families, were analysed. The questionnaire survey was conducted in the Eastern Cape. The questionnaires were distributed by responsible pharmacists to parents of children receiving medication for the treatment of ADHD from his/her pharmacy. Fifty one completed questionnaires were analysed. Results: The average age of patients in the drug utilisation study were 14.28 (SD = 5.50) years. Males represented 77.37 percent of patients. Ritalin® 10 mg was the most frequently prescribed methylphenidate-containing product, followed by Ritalin® LA 20 mg. The two most frequently prescribed active ingredients apart from methylphenidate were fluticasone and budesonide. The two most common comorbid conditions were allergic rhinitis and asthma. The average age of patients in the questionnaire survey was 10.26 (SD = 2.51) years. Males represented 73.58 percent of patients. A third of patients had relatives previously diagnosed with ADHD. Ritalin® 10 mg was the most frequently prescribed methylphenidate-containing product. Conclusion: ADHD is a complex life-long disorder. It does not only affect the child diagnosed with the disorder, but also has effects on the family, schooling system and peer relationship. Therefore, more studies regarding the incidence and treatment of ADHD need to be conducted in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Snyman, Sanmari
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Attention-deficit disorder in adolescence , Hyperactive children -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10144 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/871 , Attention-deficit disorder in adolescence , Hyperactive children -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: Background: In recent years the incidence of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has increased. Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to determine the treatment of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD in South Africa and more specifically the Eastern Cape. Methods: The study consisted of two parts, a retrospective drug utilisation study and a questionnaire survey. The drug utilisation study was conducted on chronic medication records of a private sector medical scheme administrator and contained records from 1994 to 2006. A total of 42 250 records representing 8 274 patients and 4 001 families, were analysed. The questionnaire survey was conducted in the Eastern Cape. The questionnaires were distributed by responsible pharmacists to parents of children receiving medication for the treatment of ADHD from his/her pharmacy. Fifty one completed questionnaires were analysed. Results: The average age of patients in the drug utilisation study were 14.28 (SD = 5.50) years. Males represented 77.37 percent of patients. Ritalin® 10 mg was the most frequently prescribed methylphenidate-containing product, followed by Ritalin® LA 20 mg. The two most frequently prescribed active ingredients apart from methylphenidate were fluticasone and budesonide. The two most common comorbid conditions were allergic rhinitis and asthma. The average age of patients in the questionnaire survey was 10.26 (SD = 2.51) years. Males represented 73.58 percent of patients. A third of patients had relatives previously diagnosed with ADHD. Ritalin® 10 mg was the most frequently prescribed methylphenidate-containing product. Conclusion: ADHD is a complex life-long disorder. It does not only affect the child diagnosed with the disorder, but also has effects on the family, schooling system and peer relationship. Therefore, more studies regarding the incidence and treatment of ADHD need to be conducted in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Travelling shoppers' perceptions on the comprehensive servicescape within the South African retail environment
- Authors: Zinhumwe, Cephas
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Retail trade -- Customer services -- South Africa , Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa , Consumption (Economics) -- Social aspects , Consumer behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DCom
- Identifier: vital:9296 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013610
- Description: The study is on the influence of comprehensive servicescape on shopping behaviour of road and rail travelling shoppers. The comprehensive servicescape is referred to as synchronization of the multidimensional servicescape dimensions, which are the physical environment, social environment, socially symbolic and the natural dimensions into one entity that the travellers encounter during the shopping exercise. The servicescape cues that include shoppers and the physical set-up of the service firm are important in influencing service quality evaluation and consumer satisfaction. The aim of this study was to establish the impact of servicescape on travelling shoppers’ buying behaviour and shopping motivations amongst different shoppers that were identified within the South African bus and railway stations. The bus and railway station environment induces an interesting type of shopping behaviour amongst the travelers. The purpose of the study was also to explore the travelling shoppers’ expectations and perceptions on the comprehensive servicescape within the bus station’s retail environment. Additionally the study attempted to address important gaps in the South African literature in respect of the influence of socialservicescape on the buyer behaviour and hedonic motivation of travelling shopper. The questionnaires used in the study were constructed along five dimensions of service quality containing statements linked to a five-point Likert-type interval scale anchored by “strongly agree” and “strongly disagree. Self administered questionnaires were used for data collection from the travelling shoppers through “mall intercept technique” and 300 questionnaires were collected from respondents. The academia benefits from this study from the comprehensive servicescape model of the South African bus and railway stations that was developed. The study built on literature by nvestigating the influence of the comprehensive servicescapes as perceived by travelling shoppers within the South African retail environment. Additionally it was shown both theoretically and empirically, that, that service quality in high contact service environment like the bus and railway station can best be explained by an analysis of the comprehensive servicescape or the multidimensional and hierarchical model. As a result of this study retailers will have a full picture on the specific needs, perception and expectations of road and rail travellers in relation to the quality of the stations’ servicescape, which retailers have to improve in order to increase customer patronage. It is assumed that retailers will be aware that store image and the store ambience should meet the challenges of the perceptions, motivations and consumer behaviour of travellers within the comprehensive servicescape of the station. This study provides a trigger effect to spatial planners to design high quality servicescape that will attract travellers for both hedonic and utilitarian shopping. Hirschman and Holbrook (1982) believed that shoppers derive pleasure from the experience of shopping itself, regardless of the joy from acquiring goods, this more so with travelling shoppers. A bus station can be both a growth node and a tourist attraction, if its features are attractive, therefore planners can benefit from this study. In this study theory that forms the bases of the influence of social servicescape on the behaviour of travelling shoppers that frequently visit and participate in shopping at various South African bus station retail outlets is provided. Additionally, this study provided empirical information on the relationships that exist amongst the characteristics of the South African Park Stations’ physical retail environments, user perceptions and interpersonal encounters. The behaviour of shopping travellers was extensively discussed to provide the background of theories and various models concerning shopping behaviour of travellers. Through this work, clarity on consumer behavioural trends of travelling shoppers in the South African retail sector is provided, which assist in differentiating retail products, services and segmentation of markets in a way that could enhance marketing effectiveness amongst the travelling shopping segment. Special attention was paid to factors that motivate road travellers’ choice of stores; the type of products they purchase and their decision making processes. Effort were made to identify, categorize and segment shopper typologies and their shopping behaviours. Effort was also made to discuss extensively the social and physical influences of environments in a retail environment such as that of the bus and railway station. The discussions in this study focussed on describing the comprehensive servicescape model dimensions which shoppers encountered during their shopping activity. The study also indicated the significance of the interaction of service staff with the customers in determining the service quality, customer satisfaction and the future intention of travelers. Additionally this study emphasised the importance of social encounters and perceptiveness to cues within the station, which determine whether they actively or passively are involved in the shopping encounter. The research findings reveal that, travellers perceive the servicescape within the bus station as unattractive and lack appropriate facilities. Furthermore travelers considered the two dimensions (store image and store ambience) of the store’s servicescape as one composite unit of the servicescape. This position is supported in literature, where it is argued that people respond to their environment holistically, rather than to individual stimuli. The travelling shoppers reveal that although they always find the shops from the bus station clean and neat, consumers expect a certain level of ambient environmental conditions to be present. The empirical findings in this study indicate that travelling shoppers are not interested in visiting the stores at the bus and railway station for shopping because merchandise from the bus station stores is poor in quality and unreliable; the surroundings at the station as unpleasant and the bus and railway station stores are congested. Thus, hasty shopping and spending more time or stay longer than planned for shopping at the bus and railway station is not useful to travelling shoppers. Therefore, travellers feel strongly that the shopping environment of the station is not conducive to shopping. These facilities (stations) are only used for travelling purposes; therefore there is a need for improvement in the retail and station facilities in order to increase shopping activities within this servicescape. The research findings reveal that shopping at the bus station seems to be driven by traditional needs such as functional and experiential motivations as well as travelrelated needs such as busstation-atmosphere-related and bus station-infrastructurerelated motivations. It was difficult to deduce a particular typology of shoppers in this environment, but due to the stress related to travelling. Passive shopping was observed amongst travellers, which is not a positive shopping behaviour for retailers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Zinhumwe, Cephas
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Retail trade -- Customer services -- South Africa , Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa , Consumption (Economics) -- Social aspects , Consumer behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DCom
- Identifier: vital:9296 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013610
- Description: The study is on the influence of comprehensive servicescape on shopping behaviour of road and rail travelling shoppers. The comprehensive servicescape is referred to as synchronization of the multidimensional servicescape dimensions, which are the physical environment, social environment, socially symbolic and the natural dimensions into one entity that the travellers encounter during the shopping exercise. The servicescape cues that include shoppers and the physical set-up of the service firm are important in influencing service quality evaluation and consumer satisfaction. The aim of this study was to establish the impact of servicescape on travelling shoppers’ buying behaviour and shopping motivations amongst different shoppers that were identified within the South African bus and railway stations. The bus and railway station environment induces an interesting type of shopping behaviour amongst the travelers. The purpose of the study was also to explore the travelling shoppers’ expectations and perceptions on the comprehensive servicescape within the bus station’s retail environment. Additionally the study attempted to address important gaps in the South African literature in respect of the influence of socialservicescape on the buyer behaviour and hedonic motivation of travelling shopper. The questionnaires used in the study were constructed along five dimensions of service quality containing statements linked to a five-point Likert-type interval scale anchored by “strongly agree” and “strongly disagree. Self administered questionnaires were used for data collection from the travelling shoppers through “mall intercept technique” and 300 questionnaires were collected from respondents. The academia benefits from this study from the comprehensive servicescape model of the South African bus and railway stations that was developed. The study built on literature by nvestigating the influence of the comprehensive servicescapes as perceived by travelling shoppers within the South African retail environment. Additionally it was shown both theoretically and empirically, that, that service quality in high contact service environment like the bus and railway station can best be explained by an analysis of the comprehensive servicescape or the multidimensional and hierarchical model. As a result of this study retailers will have a full picture on the specific needs, perception and expectations of road and rail travellers in relation to the quality of the stations’ servicescape, which retailers have to improve in order to increase customer patronage. It is assumed that retailers will be aware that store image and the store ambience should meet the challenges of the perceptions, motivations and consumer behaviour of travellers within the comprehensive servicescape of the station. This study provides a trigger effect to spatial planners to design high quality servicescape that will attract travellers for both hedonic and utilitarian shopping. Hirschman and Holbrook (1982) believed that shoppers derive pleasure from the experience of shopping itself, regardless of the joy from acquiring goods, this more so with travelling shoppers. A bus station can be both a growth node and a tourist attraction, if its features are attractive, therefore planners can benefit from this study. In this study theory that forms the bases of the influence of social servicescape on the behaviour of travelling shoppers that frequently visit and participate in shopping at various South African bus station retail outlets is provided. Additionally, this study provided empirical information on the relationships that exist amongst the characteristics of the South African Park Stations’ physical retail environments, user perceptions and interpersonal encounters. The behaviour of shopping travellers was extensively discussed to provide the background of theories and various models concerning shopping behaviour of travellers. Through this work, clarity on consumer behavioural trends of travelling shoppers in the South African retail sector is provided, which assist in differentiating retail products, services and segmentation of markets in a way that could enhance marketing effectiveness amongst the travelling shopping segment. Special attention was paid to factors that motivate road travellers’ choice of stores; the type of products they purchase and their decision making processes. Effort were made to identify, categorize and segment shopper typologies and their shopping behaviours. Effort was also made to discuss extensively the social and physical influences of environments in a retail environment such as that of the bus and railway station. The discussions in this study focussed on describing the comprehensive servicescape model dimensions which shoppers encountered during their shopping activity. The study also indicated the significance of the interaction of service staff with the customers in determining the service quality, customer satisfaction and the future intention of travelers. Additionally this study emphasised the importance of social encounters and perceptiveness to cues within the station, which determine whether they actively or passively are involved in the shopping encounter. The research findings reveal that, travellers perceive the servicescape within the bus station as unattractive and lack appropriate facilities. Furthermore travelers considered the two dimensions (store image and store ambience) of the store’s servicescape as one composite unit of the servicescape. This position is supported in literature, where it is argued that people respond to their environment holistically, rather than to individual stimuli. The travelling shoppers reveal that although they always find the shops from the bus station clean and neat, consumers expect a certain level of ambient environmental conditions to be present. The empirical findings in this study indicate that travelling shoppers are not interested in visiting the stores at the bus and railway station for shopping because merchandise from the bus station stores is poor in quality and unreliable; the surroundings at the station as unpleasant and the bus and railway station stores are congested. Thus, hasty shopping and spending more time or stay longer than planned for shopping at the bus and railway station is not useful to travelling shoppers. Therefore, travellers feel strongly that the shopping environment of the station is not conducive to shopping. These facilities (stations) are only used for travelling purposes; therefore there is a need for improvement in the retail and station facilities in order to increase shopping activities within this servicescape. The research findings reveal that shopping at the bus station seems to be driven by traditional needs such as functional and experiential motivations as well as travelrelated needs such as busstation-atmosphere-related and bus station-infrastructurerelated motivations. It was difficult to deduce a particular typology of shoppers in this environment, but due to the stress related to travelling. Passive shopping was observed amongst travellers, which is not a positive shopping behaviour for retailers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Transition from performance appraisal to performance management
- Authors: Maphazi, Thandeka
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Employees -- Rating of , Performance standards , Management by objectives , Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8808 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018570
- Description: The aim of this research study was to conduct an investigation to establish whether a performance management system would facilitate the achievement of the organisation’s strategic goals and objectives. The organisation used as a case study in this research uses a performance appraisal process which is not effective in facilitating the organisation’s strategic goals and objectives. Hence, this study has been undertaken against the above background. The researcher has utilised a positivist paradigm in this research. This means that the researcher has used a quantitative methodology in the process of data collection. A random sampling technique was used with an aim of including critical elements of the population of this study. More particularly, 50 employees of the organisation were electronically presented with a questionnaire based on important key elements of performance management. Moreover, the questionnaire included a Likert type scale consisting of closed and opened-end questions. Questionnaires were received from 35 employees, of which one was from senior management, 13 project managers, 12 from supervisory staff and 9 from support staff. Statistica was used in this research as a software program for the quantification of the data. This study revealed that the transition to a performance management will help the selected company achieve their strategic goals and objectives. Recommendations are made for the role of line management and the role of human resources in performance management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Maphazi, Thandeka
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Employees -- Rating of , Performance standards , Management by objectives , Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8808 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018570
- Description: The aim of this research study was to conduct an investigation to establish whether a performance management system would facilitate the achievement of the organisation’s strategic goals and objectives. The organisation used as a case study in this research uses a performance appraisal process which is not effective in facilitating the organisation’s strategic goals and objectives. Hence, this study has been undertaken against the above background. The researcher has utilised a positivist paradigm in this research. This means that the researcher has used a quantitative methodology in the process of data collection. A random sampling technique was used with an aim of including critical elements of the population of this study. More particularly, 50 employees of the organisation were electronically presented with a questionnaire based on important key elements of performance management. Moreover, the questionnaire included a Likert type scale consisting of closed and opened-end questions. Questionnaires were received from 35 employees, of which one was from senior management, 13 project managers, 12 from supervisory staff and 9 from support staff. Statistica was used in this research as a software program for the quantification of the data. This study revealed that the transition to a performance management will help the selected company achieve their strategic goals and objectives. Recommendations are made for the role of line management and the role of human resources in performance management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Transient analysis of erroneous tripping at grassridge static VAr compensator
- Authors: Taberer, Marcel Wayne
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Transients (Electricity) , Electric transformers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9603 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020918
- Description: The research work conducted and presented forward in this document is the evaluation of real time values obtained using three recording devices at two independent locations and implementing them as recorder devices in Eskom’s power system. The research work conducted was presented at an IEEE International Conference (ICIT2013) and Appendix A shows the accepted paper presented. A derived model within a simulation software package known as DIgSILENT PowerFactory is created and Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) studies are performed and then compared to the real time values obtained using the OMICRON CMC 356’s. Transformers are normally energised via a circuit breaker which is controlled by an auxiliary closing contact. By applying system voltage at a random instant in time on the transformer windings may result in a large transient magnetizing inrush current which causes high orders of 2nd harmonic currents to flow under no load conditions. A philosophy known to mitigate these currents is to energise the transformer by controlling each individual phase 120 degrees apart with the first pole closing at the peak on the voltage waveform. Transients produced due to 500MVA transformers been introduced into the power system at a certain space in time can cause nuisance tripping’s at the particular location where the respective transformer is energised. OMICRON EnerLyzer is the software tool used for the Comtrade recordings at both locations. Four independent case studies are generated within EnerLyzer software and the relevant Comtrade files are extracted for the four independent case studies relative to Transformer1 and Transformer2 switching’s. TOP software, which is a mathematical tool used to analyse Comtrade files, is then used to analyse and investigate the four case studies. Results from DIgSILENT PowerFactory are then generated according to the derived model. The results extracted depict three scenarios, indicating a power system that is weak, strong and specifically a power system that correlates to the actual tripping of a Static VAr Compensator (SVC). The results are all formulated and then evaluated in order to produce a conclusion and bring forward recommendations to Eskom in order to effectively ensure the Dedisa/Grassridge power system is reliable once again.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Taberer, Marcel Wayne
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Transients (Electricity) , Electric transformers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9603 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020918
- Description: The research work conducted and presented forward in this document is the evaluation of real time values obtained using three recording devices at two independent locations and implementing them as recorder devices in Eskom’s power system. The research work conducted was presented at an IEEE International Conference (ICIT2013) and Appendix A shows the accepted paper presented. A derived model within a simulation software package known as DIgSILENT PowerFactory is created and Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) studies are performed and then compared to the real time values obtained using the OMICRON CMC 356’s. Transformers are normally energised via a circuit breaker which is controlled by an auxiliary closing contact. By applying system voltage at a random instant in time on the transformer windings may result in a large transient magnetizing inrush current which causes high orders of 2nd harmonic currents to flow under no load conditions. A philosophy known to mitigate these currents is to energise the transformer by controlling each individual phase 120 degrees apart with the first pole closing at the peak on the voltage waveform. Transients produced due to 500MVA transformers been introduced into the power system at a certain space in time can cause nuisance tripping’s at the particular location where the respective transformer is energised. OMICRON EnerLyzer is the software tool used for the Comtrade recordings at both locations. Four independent case studies are generated within EnerLyzer software and the relevant Comtrade files are extracted for the four independent case studies relative to Transformer1 and Transformer2 switching’s. TOP software, which is a mathematical tool used to analyse Comtrade files, is then used to analyse and investigate the four case studies. Results from DIgSILENT PowerFactory are then generated according to the derived model. The results extracted depict three scenarios, indicating a power system that is weak, strong and specifically a power system that correlates to the actual tripping of a Static VAr Compensator (SVC). The results are all formulated and then evaluated in order to produce a conclusion and bring forward recommendations to Eskom in order to effectively ensure the Dedisa/Grassridge power system is reliable once again.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Transformation adaptation: developing a framework for donor organisation support of climate change adaptation in resource poor communities
- Authors: Dada, Rehana
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Climatic changes , Human beings -- Effect of climate on , Acclimatization
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4158 , vital:20560
- Description: Poor communities already face severe challenges in meeting their basic needs, whether because of poor income opportunities, inadequate service delivery, or degraded ecosystems that can no longer support the needs of people. Non profit organisations who provide support for development are also challenged by financial restrictions and social and political structures that prevent or limit project development. Climate change is understood to have the most severe impact on the most vulnerable communities and sectors of communities by reducing the availability and accessibility of basic resources such as water, food and energy, impacting severely on human health and wellbeing, and further reducing the capacity of ecosystems to support livelihoods. This will add a layer of significant new complications to the ability of poor communities to maintain or improve standards of living, and further challenge non profit organisations that support such communitiesAnticipatory adaptation to climate change can reduce some of the impacts of climate change, and also address some key development stresses. This thesis aims to provide a framework that is relevant for supporting adaptation to climate change within the context of resource poor communities in a developing country. Non profit organisations and donor agencies could support success and autonomy in adaptation processes by making provision for locally defined understanding of adaptation, and locally determined processes and programmes. This can be taken further into implementation of programming that addresses local short term development priorities alongside, or as part of long term adaptation work. The research followed a number of steps involving a multitude of techniques including literature review, interviews, a survey, consultation with an expert group, further consultation with stakeholders, and a final electronic review. Its outcome is a strategy that can be used to support climate change adaptation in resource poor communities. A definition for adaptation is proposed as an interpretation of adaptation that is relevant in this context. The intended end goal of adaptation as defined in this research is a better form of development that : supports a harmonious and respectful relationship between humans and their natural resource base; averts further destructive global change or at the very least prevents it from becoming unmanageable; and manages the impacts of past and ongoing destructive change so that there is lowest possible loss of natural, human, or cultural resources. The term transformative adaptation emerged from the research processes to describe adaptation to climate change that concurrently addresses development challenges, is grounded in community development aspirations, integrates programming work across multiple thematic areas and approaches, and addresses the causes of climate change within adaptation interventions. The following broad guidelines are used to inform programming within the framework of transformative adaptation : Human communities are faced with an enormous challenge resulting from global change and sociopolitical injustices; Well planned anticipatory adaptation can limit exposure and vulnerability to at least some of the projected impacts of climate change; Adaptation to climate change incorporates a reduction of vulnerability to underlying development stresses, alongside a reduction of vulnerability to specific climate change stresses; Existing development work forms the foundation for adaptation interventions, acknowledging the interdependence of social, natural and economic systems and the need to maintain their health; Adaptation decision making is community based, and acknowledges that resource poor communities are best placed to establish their own development needs, drive implementation of interventions in own spaces, and identify own limits to adaptation; Adaptation work incorporates mitigation objectives so that the causes of climate change are addressed as part of the strategy for coping with climate change; Adaptation programming acknowledges the strong interlinkages between, and integrates work across, the thematic areas of water security, food sovereignty, energy security, land security, human wellbeing and livelihood diversity; Adaptation uses a broad set of approaches that spans research, knowledge sharing, advocacy, and investment in technology and infrastructure; There is flexibility in project design and implementation to allow room for experimentation with new concepts, and also to change design as knowledge, understanding, and geophysical, biophysical and sociopolitical conditions change.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Dada, Rehana
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Climatic changes , Human beings -- Effect of climate on , Acclimatization
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4158 , vital:20560
- Description: Poor communities already face severe challenges in meeting their basic needs, whether because of poor income opportunities, inadequate service delivery, or degraded ecosystems that can no longer support the needs of people. Non profit organisations who provide support for development are also challenged by financial restrictions and social and political structures that prevent or limit project development. Climate change is understood to have the most severe impact on the most vulnerable communities and sectors of communities by reducing the availability and accessibility of basic resources such as water, food and energy, impacting severely on human health and wellbeing, and further reducing the capacity of ecosystems to support livelihoods. This will add a layer of significant new complications to the ability of poor communities to maintain or improve standards of living, and further challenge non profit organisations that support such communitiesAnticipatory adaptation to climate change can reduce some of the impacts of climate change, and also address some key development stresses. This thesis aims to provide a framework that is relevant for supporting adaptation to climate change within the context of resource poor communities in a developing country. Non profit organisations and donor agencies could support success and autonomy in adaptation processes by making provision for locally defined understanding of adaptation, and locally determined processes and programmes. This can be taken further into implementation of programming that addresses local short term development priorities alongside, or as part of long term adaptation work. The research followed a number of steps involving a multitude of techniques including literature review, interviews, a survey, consultation with an expert group, further consultation with stakeholders, and a final electronic review. Its outcome is a strategy that can be used to support climate change adaptation in resource poor communities. A definition for adaptation is proposed as an interpretation of adaptation that is relevant in this context. The intended end goal of adaptation as defined in this research is a better form of development that : supports a harmonious and respectful relationship between humans and their natural resource base; averts further destructive global change or at the very least prevents it from becoming unmanageable; and manages the impacts of past and ongoing destructive change so that there is lowest possible loss of natural, human, or cultural resources. The term transformative adaptation emerged from the research processes to describe adaptation to climate change that concurrently addresses development challenges, is grounded in community development aspirations, integrates programming work across multiple thematic areas and approaches, and addresses the causes of climate change within adaptation interventions. The following broad guidelines are used to inform programming within the framework of transformative adaptation : Human communities are faced with an enormous challenge resulting from global change and sociopolitical injustices; Well planned anticipatory adaptation can limit exposure and vulnerability to at least some of the projected impacts of climate change; Adaptation to climate change incorporates a reduction of vulnerability to underlying development stresses, alongside a reduction of vulnerability to specific climate change stresses; Existing development work forms the foundation for adaptation interventions, acknowledging the interdependence of social, natural and economic systems and the need to maintain their health; Adaptation decision making is community based, and acknowledges that resource poor communities are best placed to establish their own development needs, drive implementation of interventions in own spaces, and identify own limits to adaptation; Adaptation work incorporates mitigation objectives so that the causes of climate change are addressed as part of the strategy for coping with climate change; Adaptation programming acknowledges the strong interlinkages between, and integrates work across, the thematic areas of water security, food sovereignty, energy security, land security, human wellbeing and livelihood diversity; Adaptation uses a broad set of approaches that spans research, knowledge sharing, advocacy, and investment in technology and infrastructure; There is flexibility in project design and implementation to allow room for experimentation with new concepts, and also to change design as knowledge, understanding, and geophysical, biophysical and sociopolitical conditions change.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Training of officials in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Charles, Kidwell
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Municipal officials and employees -- Training of , Local government -- South Africa -- East London , Customer relations -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7659 , vital:22480
- Description: The impetus that informs the drive for developmental state that promotes growth and development centres on the local capacity of the local sphere of the government to effectively discharge its responsibilities. The essence of this study is to evaluate the training of officials in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and assess the extent to which service delivery has impacted on the lives of the community within this area.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Charles, Kidwell
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Municipal officials and employees -- Training of , Local government -- South Africa -- East London , Customer relations -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7659 , vital:22480
- Description: The impetus that informs the drive for developmental state that promotes growth and development centres on the local capacity of the local sphere of the government to effectively discharge its responsibilities. The essence of this study is to evaluate the training of officials in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and assess the extent to which service delivery has impacted on the lives of the community within this area.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2015
Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine use in HIV-positive patients
- Authors: Lunat, Imran
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: HIV infections -- Alternative treatment -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: vital:10137 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1388 , HIV infections -- Alternative treatment -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality
- Description: The standard anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS have significant side effects resulting in a lack of adherence and the emergence of multidrug resistant viral strains. These drugs are also expensive, making it essential to investigate all alternatives to classical HIV/AIDS treatment. A wide variety of nonconventional medicines are used by patients for the treatment HIV and for symptoms associated with HIV. So long as they are safe and effective, traditional, complementary and alternative medicines (TCAMs) may be considered more advantageous for developing countries as they are relatively cheap, more accessible and widely accepted by local populations. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of TCAM use in HIV-positive patients, prior to, and during ARV therapy. The study was exploratory, cross sectional and observational in nature. Participants were selected via convenience sampling from the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, and included 244 HIV-positive patients, 29 health care professionals (HCPs) and 30 traditional, complementary and alternative practitioners (TCAMPs). A wide variety of TCAMs were used by the sample population. These medicines were more commonly used by non-ARV patients (36 percent) compared with ARV patients (22 percent). A significant statistical difference in TCAM use between the ARV and non- ARV population was found in relation to education, employment, period of status awareness, patient opinion of personal health and the reasons for TCAM use. Amongst the HCPs, 24 percent recommended TCAM use prior to ARVs, and 55 percent were aware of patients self-prescribing before and during ARV treatment. Amongst the TCAMPs, 90 percent provided a wide range of TCAMs for HIV, with some giving consideration to conventional management. TCAMs are commonly used by HIV-positive patients on ARVs, as well as by those not on ARVs. These medicines are also the preferred form of treatment for those not seeking conventional treatment. TCAMs are widely available and recommended by TCAMPs as well as some HCPs. Due to public health concerns, clinical trials of the widely used TCAMs are crucial in order to establish the safety and efficacy of these medicines in HIV.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Lunat, Imran
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: HIV infections -- Alternative treatment -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: vital:10137 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1388 , HIV infections -- Alternative treatment -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality
- Description: The standard anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS have significant side effects resulting in a lack of adherence and the emergence of multidrug resistant viral strains. These drugs are also expensive, making it essential to investigate all alternatives to classical HIV/AIDS treatment. A wide variety of nonconventional medicines are used by patients for the treatment HIV and for symptoms associated with HIV. So long as they are safe and effective, traditional, complementary and alternative medicines (TCAMs) may be considered more advantageous for developing countries as they are relatively cheap, more accessible and widely accepted by local populations. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of TCAM use in HIV-positive patients, prior to, and during ARV therapy. The study was exploratory, cross sectional and observational in nature. Participants were selected via convenience sampling from the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, and included 244 HIV-positive patients, 29 health care professionals (HCPs) and 30 traditional, complementary and alternative practitioners (TCAMPs). A wide variety of TCAMs were used by the sample population. These medicines were more commonly used by non-ARV patients (36 percent) compared with ARV patients (22 percent). A significant statistical difference in TCAM use between the ARV and non- ARV population was found in relation to education, employment, period of status awareness, patient opinion of personal health and the reasons for TCAM use. Amongst the HCPs, 24 percent recommended TCAM use prior to ARVs, and 55 percent were aware of patients self-prescribing before and during ARV treatment. Amongst the TCAMPs, 90 percent provided a wide range of TCAMs for HIV, with some giving consideration to conventional management. TCAMs are commonly used by HIV-positive patients on ARVs, as well as by those not on ARVs. These medicines are also the preferred form of treatment for those not seeking conventional treatment. TCAMs are widely available and recommended by TCAMPs as well as some HCPs. Due to public health concerns, clinical trials of the widely used TCAMs are crucial in order to establish the safety and efficacy of these medicines in HIV.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Traditional practices and girl education in rural Democratic Republic of Congo: exploring the voices of Luba girls
- Authors: Lubadi, Kyungu Lubaba
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Girls -- Education -- Congo (Democratic Republic) Rural schools -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Sex discrimination in education -- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18321 , vital:28619
- Description: Girl child education has been a challenge for many African countries due to the patriarchal gender order of communities. This is not different in the Democratic Republic of Congo where son preference is still rife. This study sought to explore how girls in rural Lubaland in DRC experience their schooling in relation to the traditional gendered practices. A qualitative approach to research was employed within an interpretive paradigm. Young school going girls were purposively selected from two rural schools in Malemba and Mwanza. A total of 18 girls became participants to the study. Data were generated through the use of drawings and focus group discussions to explore how the girls saw themselves as girls and students at home, on the way to school and at school. This was done in order to understand how they experience their schooling lives. The findings revealed several gendered challenges that the rural girls experience daily in terms of gaining access to and succeeding in schools. The challenge of son preference and gender role stereotyping created challenges for girls at home, while lack of facilities for girls’ sexual health and long distances to school created challenges for girls on the way to school. At school the girls experienced challenge of being unable to afford school fees and corporal punishment. If these challenges are to be eradicated, there is need for all stakeholders in education, including traditional leaders and communities to deconstruct the gendered dynamics that position women and girls as subordinate and not deserving of an education. This study has implications for educational planning in the Democratic Republic of Congo for girl children to get better access and success in their education. The findings also highlight the need for more concerted efforts to understand the experiences of schooling girls across DRC in order to influence teacher training and educational provisioning that is girl friendly.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Lubadi, Kyungu Lubaba
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Girls -- Education -- Congo (Democratic Republic) Rural schools -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Sex discrimination in education -- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18321 , vital:28619
- Description: Girl child education has been a challenge for many African countries due to the patriarchal gender order of communities. This is not different in the Democratic Republic of Congo where son preference is still rife. This study sought to explore how girls in rural Lubaland in DRC experience their schooling in relation to the traditional gendered practices. A qualitative approach to research was employed within an interpretive paradigm. Young school going girls were purposively selected from two rural schools in Malemba and Mwanza. A total of 18 girls became participants to the study. Data were generated through the use of drawings and focus group discussions to explore how the girls saw themselves as girls and students at home, on the way to school and at school. This was done in order to understand how they experience their schooling lives. The findings revealed several gendered challenges that the rural girls experience daily in terms of gaining access to and succeeding in schools. The challenge of son preference and gender role stereotyping created challenges for girls at home, while lack of facilities for girls’ sexual health and long distances to school created challenges for girls on the way to school. At school the girls experienced challenge of being unable to afford school fees and corporal punishment. If these challenges are to be eradicated, there is need for all stakeholders in education, including traditional leaders and communities to deconstruct the gendered dynamics that position women and girls as subordinate and not deserving of an education. This study has implications for educational planning in the Democratic Republic of Congo for girl children to get better access and success in their education. The findings also highlight the need for more concerted efforts to understand the experiences of schooling girls across DRC in order to influence teacher training and educational provisioning that is girl friendly.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Traditional Dealerships’ Operational Capacity to Sell Electric Vehicles
- Authors: Knoetze, Alicia Jo-mari
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Electric vehicle industry Automobile industry and trade
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48686 , vital:41059
- Description: The global automotive industry faces an emerging turning point where an unceasing dependence on costly fossil fuels and a growing concern over global warming is driving the industry to form new possibilities. A major challenge for decision makers is to assure that the consumer market is informed about both the advantages and disadvantageous of electric vehicle technology. A significant amount of research has been done on both the operational ability of electric vehicles and consumer resistance and preferences towards new technology and the marketing of electric vehicles. Given the retail relationship between key industry stakeholders such as the Original Equipment Manufacturers, franchised dealership network and potential electric vehicle consumers, the transition towards new electric vehicle technology represents an important strategic realignment for dealerships in order to sell electric vehicles along with traditional internal combustion engine vehicles and questions their operational capacity to do so successfully. The primary data was collected from a sample of forty respondents by means of an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed from literature and using similar extracts from other electric vehicle consumer resistance studies questionnaires. An email containing a Universal Resource Link (URL) to the questionnaire was sent and by means of snowball sampling, a representative sample of forty-eight respondents participated in the study who fully completed all the sections of the questionnaire. Interviews were conducted with Senior Management of local dealerships in the Port Elizabeth area. The interviews were executed in the same method as a ‘walk-in’ potential customer. Participation therefore was based on the willingness, readiness and availability of management. Three dealerships who already sell electric vehicles as well as two dealership who still only sell traditional internal combustion engine vehicles participated in the interviews. In addition, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) commented on the strategic realignment of the South African industry as a whole. The results indicated that the majority of respondents believed that electric vehicles were a suitable alternative to the traditional internal combustion engine vehicle and were willing to personally contribute to improved sustainable mobility. Uncertainty remained with consumers and there was unwillingness to purchase and electric vehicle within the next five years. Electric vehicles were also believed to perform better but there was uncertainty about the return that would be achieved from investment in an electric vehicle despite the reduction in their carbon footprint and the associated image boost with family and colleagues. Furthermore, there appeared to be an alignment amongst the interviewees that South Africa does not face and immediate threat in terms of electric vehicles as the anticipated tipping point is envisaged to be in the region of 2030 onwards, however NADA as a professional industry body still warns that this is not a set point in time and that market forces could change the outlook and adaption dramatically.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Knoetze, Alicia Jo-mari
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Electric vehicle industry Automobile industry and trade
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48686 , vital:41059
- Description: The global automotive industry faces an emerging turning point where an unceasing dependence on costly fossil fuels and a growing concern over global warming is driving the industry to form new possibilities. A major challenge for decision makers is to assure that the consumer market is informed about both the advantages and disadvantageous of electric vehicle technology. A significant amount of research has been done on both the operational ability of electric vehicles and consumer resistance and preferences towards new technology and the marketing of electric vehicles. Given the retail relationship between key industry stakeholders such as the Original Equipment Manufacturers, franchised dealership network and potential electric vehicle consumers, the transition towards new electric vehicle technology represents an important strategic realignment for dealerships in order to sell electric vehicles along with traditional internal combustion engine vehicles and questions their operational capacity to do so successfully. The primary data was collected from a sample of forty respondents by means of an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed from literature and using similar extracts from other electric vehicle consumer resistance studies questionnaires. An email containing a Universal Resource Link (URL) to the questionnaire was sent and by means of snowball sampling, a representative sample of forty-eight respondents participated in the study who fully completed all the sections of the questionnaire. Interviews were conducted with Senior Management of local dealerships in the Port Elizabeth area. The interviews were executed in the same method as a ‘walk-in’ potential customer. Participation therefore was based on the willingness, readiness and availability of management. Three dealerships who already sell electric vehicles as well as two dealership who still only sell traditional internal combustion engine vehicles participated in the interviews. In addition, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) commented on the strategic realignment of the South African industry as a whole. The results indicated that the majority of respondents believed that electric vehicles were a suitable alternative to the traditional internal combustion engine vehicle and were willing to personally contribute to improved sustainable mobility. Uncertainty remained with consumers and there was unwillingness to purchase and electric vehicle within the next five years. Electric vehicles were also believed to perform better but there was uncertainty about the return that would be achieved from investment in an electric vehicle despite the reduction in their carbon footprint and the associated image boost with family and colleagues. Furthermore, there appeared to be an alignment amongst the interviewees that South Africa does not face and immediate threat in terms of electric vehicles as the anticipated tipping point is envisaged to be in the region of 2030 onwards, however NADA as a professional industry body still warns that this is not a set point in time and that market forces could change the outlook and adaption dramatically.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Trade, financial development and the economic growth nexus in South Africa
- Authors: Zhanje, Stephen
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: South Africa -- Economic conditions Economic development -- South Africa Finance -- Developing countries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13327 , vital:27175
- Description: South Africa is endowed with a well-developed and regulated financial system which compares favourably with those of other developed economies. Therefore the financial sector is intended to play a significant role in supporting the real economy, by enhancing trade and stimulating economic growth and development. Despite the existence of a stable, developed and well-regulated financial sector, the South African economy has experienced current account deficits for the past 10 years and economic growth rates have mostly trailed behind the targets prescribed by the socio-economic programs formulated and implemented since 1994. To solve the trade – financial development – economic growth nexus problem, most studies have focused on other countries while research studies on South Africa did not explicitly investigate the trade – financial development – economic growth triangle, the linkage which failed to yield the desired outcome for South Africa’s post 1994 era.Therefore, this study employs Cointegration Vector Autoregressive (CVAR) methodology to investigate the relationship between trade, financial development and economic growth in South Africa. The unit root test revealed that the variables considered in the study are I(1) variables and the Johansen cointegration test justified the existence of a long run relationship among the variables. The empirical findings indicate that imports and financial development are positively related to exports whilst economic growth is negatively related to exports. The VAR Ganger causality test has shown that there is a uni-directional causality running from financial development to economic growth, exports and imports and that imports Granger cause exports. The results of this study form the basis for further investigation into the non-performance of exports and economic growth in the nexus. The research study opens up new policy insights by suggesting that financial policy can be used to be more supportive to the production of intermediate and finished products destined for both international and domestic markets.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Zhanje, Stephen
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: South Africa -- Economic conditions Economic development -- South Africa Finance -- Developing countries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13327 , vital:27175
- Description: South Africa is endowed with a well-developed and regulated financial system which compares favourably with those of other developed economies. Therefore the financial sector is intended to play a significant role in supporting the real economy, by enhancing trade and stimulating economic growth and development. Despite the existence of a stable, developed and well-regulated financial sector, the South African economy has experienced current account deficits for the past 10 years and economic growth rates have mostly trailed behind the targets prescribed by the socio-economic programs formulated and implemented since 1994. To solve the trade – financial development – economic growth nexus problem, most studies have focused on other countries while research studies on South Africa did not explicitly investigate the trade – financial development – economic growth triangle, the linkage which failed to yield the desired outcome for South Africa’s post 1994 era.Therefore, this study employs Cointegration Vector Autoregressive (CVAR) methodology to investigate the relationship between trade, financial development and economic growth in South Africa. The unit root test revealed that the variables considered in the study are I(1) variables and the Johansen cointegration test justified the existence of a long run relationship among the variables. The empirical findings indicate that imports and financial development are positively related to exports whilst economic growth is negatively related to exports. The VAR Ganger causality test has shown that there is a uni-directional causality running from financial development to economic growth, exports and imports and that imports Granger cause exports. The results of this study form the basis for further investigation into the non-performance of exports and economic growth in the nexus. The research study opens up new policy insights by suggesting that financial policy can be used to be more supportive to the production of intermediate and finished products destined for both international and domestic markets.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Trade unions' attitudes and perceptions towards the Coega Industrial Development Zone
- Authors: Sikaka, Weziwe
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Labor unions -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9085 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/850 , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Labor unions -- South Africa
- Description: In an attempt to create employment opportunities and uplift economic development, government has embarked on industrial development through arms acquisition. The two major Spatial Development Initiatives namely, the Fish River SDI and the Wild Coast SDI were developed to enhance economic development in the Eastern Cape. The Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) is one of the elements of the Fish River SDI aimed at enhancing economic development through industrial development (Haines & Hosking, 2005). The Coega IDZ is one of government’s initiatives under the Industrial Participation program that has gained a lot of recognition. The Coega project has been under a lot of controversy since its conception and was highly linked to the arms deal as this project consumed most of government funds through the arms procurement program (Haines & Hosking 2005). The study therefore will attempt to address aspects premised in objectives of this study from the viewpoint of trade unions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Sikaka, Weziwe
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Labor unions -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9085 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/850 , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Labor unions -- South Africa
- Description: In an attempt to create employment opportunities and uplift economic development, government has embarked on industrial development through arms acquisition. The two major Spatial Development Initiatives namely, the Fish River SDI and the Wild Coast SDI were developed to enhance economic development in the Eastern Cape. The Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) is one of the elements of the Fish River SDI aimed at enhancing economic development through industrial development (Haines & Hosking, 2005). The Coega IDZ is one of government’s initiatives under the Industrial Participation program that has gained a lot of recognition. The Coega project has been under a lot of controversy since its conception and was highly linked to the arms deal as this project consumed most of government funds through the arms procurement program (Haines & Hosking 2005). The study therefore will attempt to address aspects premised in objectives of this study from the viewpoint of trade unions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Tracking spoor of the wild woman archetype during a university merger
- Authors: Bodisch, Anja Maria
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Wild women -- Folklore , Women -- Psychology , Archetype (Psychology) , Individuation (Philosophy)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9936 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/477 , Wild women -- Folklore , Women -- Psychology , Archetype (Psychology) , Individuation (Philosophy)
- Description: Universities in South Africa are currently undergoing mergers. Intended for commercial gain, mergers rarely accommodate the psychological milieu of staff. Similarly, the majority of studies conducted with respect to university mergers adopt a quantitative approach. This study adopts a qualitative approach and locates the researcher within the epicentre of the research, using a case study, with the researcher as unit of analysis. The lack of merger studies that focus on the experiences of minority groups, including women, prompted me, as researcher, to adopt a feminist approach to conduct this study in the context of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University merger. A Jungian gendered view, which endorses the personal experiences of minority groups, explored the connection between organisational change and concomitant opportunities for psychic growth. The primary purpose of this study was to explore the presence of the Wild Woman archetype during a university merger. The data that made up this study were contained in my field notes, research journal and a wall montage. An analysis of the qualitative data and a comparison of Jung’s archetypal theory and Pinkola Estés’ theory of the Wild Woman archetype, enabled the researcher to find evidence of the presence of the Wild Woman archetype during the university merger. The secondary purpose of the study was to document the findings which could act as a spoor which other women could follow on their journey towards connecting with their own Wild Woman archetype. The limitations of this study, and recommendations for future research are also offered.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Bodisch, Anja Maria
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Wild women -- Folklore , Women -- Psychology , Archetype (Psychology) , Individuation (Philosophy)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9936 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/477 , Wild women -- Folklore , Women -- Psychology , Archetype (Psychology) , Individuation (Philosophy)
- Description: Universities in South Africa are currently undergoing mergers. Intended for commercial gain, mergers rarely accommodate the psychological milieu of staff. Similarly, the majority of studies conducted with respect to university mergers adopt a quantitative approach. This study adopts a qualitative approach and locates the researcher within the epicentre of the research, using a case study, with the researcher as unit of analysis. The lack of merger studies that focus on the experiences of minority groups, including women, prompted me, as researcher, to adopt a feminist approach to conduct this study in the context of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University merger. A Jungian gendered view, which endorses the personal experiences of minority groups, explored the connection between organisational change and concomitant opportunities for psychic growth. The primary purpose of this study was to explore the presence of the Wild Woman archetype during a university merger. The data that made up this study were contained in my field notes, research journal and a wall montage. An analysis of the qualitative data and a comparison of Jung’s archetypal theory and Pinkola Estés’ theory of the Wild Woman archetype, enabled the researcher to find evidence of the presence of the Wild Woman archetype during the university merger. The secondary purpose of the study was to document the findings which could act as a spoor which other women could follow on their journey towards connecting with their own Wild Woman archetype. The limitations of this study, and recommendations for future research are also offered.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
Track-one diplomacy and post-conflict reconstruction : Kenya's mediation of Somali conflict and strategic intervention avenues
- Mwanika, Philip Arthur Njuguna
- Authors: Mwanika, Philip Arthur Njuguna
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Mediation -- Somalia , Mediation -- Kenya , Diplomacy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8338 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020628
- Description: This study focuses on the Kenyan mediation of the Somali conflict and strategic intervention engagement between 2002 and 2012. The core aim of the study was to establish and evaluate the role and effects of track-one diplomacy on conflict management and post-conflict reconstruction as pertains to the Somali conflict and on the basis of the Kenyan experience. A qualitative approach was followed in this study. It employed a descriptive, explanatory and analytical case-study method. The data were collected through interviews and documentary analysis. The twenty-two participants in the study were drawn from the Kenyan Foreign Ministry, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA), the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC), the East African Standby Force Co-ordination Mechanism (EASFCOM), the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), the African Peace Forum Organization (APFO), and selected respondents representing the Somali people. The documents comprised policy treatises, protocols, treaties, and communiqués highlighting the actions of the Kenyan government and other track-one actors in the Somali peace endeavour. Other scholarly research on official diplomacy, soft-power and conflict management by small States – in particular African case studies – were also utilised. The study revealed that Kenya’s diplomatic and stabilisation efforts had their own dynamics and challenges. This is especially so with regard to the preferred policy option of exercising diplomacy that utilises soft-power resources. This diplomacy had to contend with the challenges of dealing with sensitive aspects of the process. These sensitive aspects involved a recognition of and complicated engagement with the Somali conflict-constituencies, and a complex mapping of various actors and their respective interests. Contrary to the expected outcomes, interests and issues 17 proliferated, and the original peace-making agenda was consistently slowed down and complicated. The study also revealed that Kenya ought to have exercised a non-directive role in dealing with the different Somali conflict players. This role provides that such an “interested mediator” ought to exercise some considerable influence over the mediation environment. It also emerged from the study that as pertains to the current peace-making developments in Somalia that began in 2005 onwards to 2012, it is important that different intermediary co-operative roles be recognized and utilised. Towards this end, the study recommends that Kenya’s diplomacy should adopt a strategy of co-operation with those regional regimes that it helped to establish. A case in reference is the diplomatic opportunity of utilising regional arms control and disarmament diplomacy. This is Kenya’s intermediary co-operative role with RECSA, which is mandated to support arms control and disarmament implementation efforts in the East African region. The study also recommends that strategic foreign policy and regional actions by Kenya should be taken up given its new lease of engagement, noting that it was officially integrated into AMISOM in 2012. The study posited that in the ongoing engagement environment there would be a ‘revisiting’ of the experiences and complexities of the first phase of engagement (2002-2004). It is, therefore, recommended that Kenya should seize this opportunity and continue with its ‘facilitative and enabling role’ in its peace diplomacy, while utilising the lessons learnt in past engagements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mwanika, Philip Arthur Njuguna
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Mediation -- Somalia , Mediation -- Kenya , Diplomacy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8338 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020628
- Description: This study focuses on the Kenyan mediation of the Somali conflict and strategic intervention engagement between 2002 and 2012. The core aim of the study was to establish and evaluate the role and effects of track-one diplomacy on conflict management and post-conflict reconstruction as pertains to the Somali conflict and on the basis of the Kenyan experience. A qualitative approach was followed in this study. It employed a descriptive, explanatory and analytical case-study method. The data were collected through interviews and documentary analysis. The twenty-two participants in the study were drawn from the Kenyan Foreign Ministry, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA), the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC), the East African Standby Force Co-ordination Mechanism (EASFCOM), the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), the African Peace Forum Organization (APFO), and selected respondents representing the Somali people. The documents comprised policy treatises, protocols, treaties, and communiqués highlighting the actions of the Kenyan government and other track-one actors in the Somali peace endeavour. Other scholarly research on official diplomacy, soft-power and conflict management by small States – in particular African case studies – were also utilised. The study revealed that Kenya’s diplomatic and stabilisation efforts had their own dynamics and challenges. This is especially so with regard to the preferred policy option of exercising diplomacy that utilises soft-power resources. This diplomacy had to contend with the challenges of dealing with sensitive aspects of the process. These sensitive aspects involved a recognition of and complicated engagement with the Somali conflict-constituencies, and a complex mapping of various actors and their respective interests. Contrary to the expected outcomes, interests and issues 17 proliferated, and the original peace-making agenda was consistently slowed down and complicated. The study also revealed that Kenya ought to have exercised a non-directive role in dealing with the different Somali conflict players. This role provides that such an “interested mediator” ought to exercise some considerable influence over the mediation environment. It also emerged from the study that as pertains to the current peace-making developments in Somalia that began in 2005 onwards to 2012, it is important that different intermediary co-operative roles be recognized and utilised. Towards this end, the study recommends that Kenya’s diplomacy should adopt a strategy of co-operation with those regional regimes that it helped to establish. A case in reference is the diplomatic opportunity of utilising regional arms control and disarmament diplomacy. This is Kenya’s intermediary co-operative role with RECSA, which is mandated to support arms control and disarmament implementation efforts in the East African region. The study also recommends that strategic foreign policy and regional actions by Kenya should be taken up given its new lease of engagement, noting that it was officially integrated into AMISOM in 2012. The study posited that in the ongoing engagement environment there would be a ‘revisiting’ of the experiences and complexities of the first phase of engagement (2002-2004). It is, therefore, recommended that Kenya should seize this opportunity and continue with its ‘facilitative and enabling role’ in its peace diplomacy, while utilising the lessons learnt in past engagements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Towards user experience principles for Electronic Tax in South Africa
- Authors: Mzili, Xolelwa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Electronic filing systems -- South Africa Tax returns -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MIT
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49529 , vital:41733
- Description: Electronic Tax is a convenient system that enables taxpayers to submit their tax returns electronically, from home or from the office at any time of the day during the tax filing season. However, the electronic tax system has faced challenges over the years and to date. Thus, the reason for this study was to recommend user experience and usability principles for the electronic tax system to enhance the experience of taxpayers when using the electronic tax submission system. These principles contributed to improving the electronic tax system and increasing the adoption of the system among taxpayers who still submit their tax returns, manually. The study firstly described the problem, which forms part of the foundation for this research, namely development, which then led to the research questions and objectives, forming the core for the development of this study. User experience and usability principles are available for an online system, but there are limited studies on these factors regarding the electronic tax system. This study emphasized the importance of applying the user experience and usability principles to the electronic tax system. The various factors that affect the South African electronic tax system as a case study, have also been identified, including those that prompt other taxpayers to file at the SARS branch. As a result, to prove this theory, a questionnaire was sent only to electronic taxpayers to investigate how they perceive the electronic tax system. It can be concluded that the system has both advantages and disadvantages. An advantage is that the electronic tax system enables taxpayers to submit returns online from home or the office, instead of waiting in queues at the SARS branch. Disadvantages include that some taxpayers are concerned that their information is not safe and some encounter error messages and solutions while interacting with the system and these are not in a simple language for them to understand and recover. The user experience and usability principles have been recommended based on the responses obtained from the questionnaire.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mzili, Xolelwa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Electronic filing systems -- South Africa Tax returns -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MIT
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49529 , vital:41733
- Description: Electronic Tax is a convenient system that enables taxpayers to submit their tax returns electronically, from home or from the office at any time of the day during the tax filing season. However, the electronic tax system has faced challenges over the years and to date. Thus, the reason for this study was to recommend user experience and usability principles for the electronic tax system to enhance the experience of taxpayers when using the electronic tax submission system. These principles contributed to improving the electronic tax system and increasing the adoption of the system among taxpayers who still submit their tax returns, manually. The study firstly described the problem, which forms part of the foundation for this research, namely development, which then led to the research questions and objectives, forming the core for the development of this study. User experience and usability principles are available for an online system, but there are limited studies on these factors regarding the electronic tax system. This study emphasized the importance of applying the user experience and usability principles to the electronic tax system. The various factors that affect the South African electronic tax system as a case study, have also been identified, including those that prompt other taxpayers to file at the SARS branch. As a result, to prove this theory, a questionnaire was sent only to electronic taxpayers to investigate how they perceive the electronic tax system. It can be concluded that the system has both advantages and disadvantages. An advantage is that the electronic tax system enables taxpayers to submit returns online from home or the office, instead of waiting in queues at the SARS branch. Disadvantages include that some taxpayers are concerned that their information is not safe and some encounter error messages and solutions while interacting with the system and these are not in a simple language for them to understand and recover. The user experience and usability principles have been recommended based on the responses obtained from the questionnaire.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Towards theorizing human resource development in South Africa: a critical analysis and the development of a tool to facilitate improved understanding and practice
- Authors: Anderson, Amber Cristal
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Manpower planning -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:16130 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/469 , Manpower planning -- South Africa
- Description: The primary objective of this study is to generate pathways to understanding Human Resources Development (HRD) by developing a tool which enables and enhances a shared and common understanding of HRD in South Africa (SA). To achieve this objective, this research explores the nature and importance of HRD and articulates and aggregates these thoughts and practices into a tool which facilitates an understanding of HRD with the overarching aim of improving HRD thoughts and practices in South Africa. While there is substantial international and local literature on HRD, the existing body of research on the nature and importance of HRD in South Africa is skeletal. National HRD concepts and practices are fragmented, and are as diverse as the number of stakeholders and partners that it serves. In addition, theory-building in HRD is disconnected and removed from practice. In order to address this problem, a qualitative, interpretive, theory-building social constructionist research strategy was embarked upon. The research strategy was executed in an iterative, cyclical manner, using theoretical sampling and content analysis rigorously executed within a coding paradigm informed by open, axial and selective coding techniques with local and international literature and informal reviews as the units of analysis. Qualitative and quantitative findings of the South African Qualifications Authority ground-breaking, world-first longitudinal study was analyzed and used to find relevance and corroborate the international literature available on HRD. Informal reviews were conducted with 7 human resources (HR) practitioners and 54 internationally-based HR colleagues of the researcher in order to ensure as appropriate a degree of integration between theory and practice as was possible. This process culminated in the most significant contribution of this research, which is a tool consisting of six pathways, that facilitates an understanding of the nature and importance of HRD in South Africa. The development of the tool enabled the articulation and aggregation of a thorough and coherent description, explanation and representation of HRD. The research highlights the need for HRD scholars and practitioners to channel their energies and effort on all the catalytic aspects of organizational life, namely uniqueness, social complexity, knowledge, and path dependency, by acquiring critical insight into the profound value of HRD which will allow the realization and sustainability of competitive advantage in a rich and dynamic global economy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Anderson, Amber Cristal
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Manpower planning -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:16130 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/469 , Manpower planning -- South Africa
- Description: The primary objective of this study is to generate pathways to understanding Human Resources Development (HRD) by developing a tool which enables and enhances a shared and common understanding of HRD in South Africa (SA). To achieve this objective, this research explores the nature and importance of HRD and articulates and aggregates these thoughts and practices into a tool which facilitates an understanding of HRD with the overarching aim of improving HRD thoughts and practices in South Africa. While there is substantial international and local literature on HRD, the existing body of research on the nature and importance of HRD in South Africa is skeletal. National HRD concepts and practices are fragmented, and are as diverse as the number of stakeholders and partners that it serves. In addition, theory-building in HRD is disconnected and removed from practice. In order to address this problem, a qualitative, interpretive, theory-building social constructionist research strategy was embarked upon. The research strategy was executed in an iterative, cyclical manner, using theoretical sampling and content analysis rigorously executed within a coding paradigm informed by open, axial and selective coding techniques with local and international literature and informal reviews as the units of analysis. Qualitative and quantitative findings of the South African Qualifications Authority ground-breaking, world-first longitudinal study was analyzed and used to find relevance and corroborate the international literature available on HRD. Informal reviews were conducted with 7 human resources (HR) practitioners and 54 internationally-based HR colleagues of the researcher in order to ensure as appropriate a degree of integration between theory and practice as was possible. This process culminated in the most significant contribution of this research, which is a tool consisting of six pathways, that facilitates an understanding of the nature and importance of HRD in South Africa. The development of the tool enabled the articulation and aggregation of a thorough and coherent description, explanation and representation of HRD. The research highlights the need for HRD scholars and practitioners to channel their energies and effort on all the catalytic aspects of organizational life, namely uniqueness, social complexity, knowledge, and path dependency, by acquiring critical insight into the profound value of HRD which will allow the realization and sustainability of competitive advantage in a rich and dynamic global economy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006