"The word as image": survey with special reference to the twentieth century
- Authors: Edworthy, S
- Date: 1991-03
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/191247 , vital:45075
- Description: This essay is intended, firstly for those who at some time have had the urge to include words into their otherwise conventional representational images, but are deterred by the suspicion that such elements have no place in the picture plane. Secondly, it is hoped, that this dissertation will provide some understanding concerning the motivations and aims of artists, using "verbal symbols" in their visual images. At this point, I offer some explanation of the term "verbal symbols". The alphabet that we are accustomed to today differs vastly from the first writing that was invented. The naming of items nowadays is arbitrarily established and all we are left with is a name that bears no visual resemblance to the object it represents in real life. The word "house", for example, tells us nothing of the physical nature of a house. However, owing to our conditioning, the word evokes in us a mental picture of a house, even if the details of this picture will vary amongst individuals. Words then are symbols which denote, broadly speaking, objects that exist in our daily lives, without being in any way visual representations of these objects. Of course there are also words which are dependent on other words for their meaning, such as prepositions, conjunctions or suffices, but this is irrelevant to this essay. , Thesis (MFA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Fine Art, 1991
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- Date Issued: 1991-03
'Underground' hip hop and rock music scenes in East London: exploring identity and authenticity, c1994 - 2010
- Authors: Mtshemla, Sinazo https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4057-5637
- Date: 2014-01
- Subjects: Identity (Philosophical concept) , Rap (Music)
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/25195 , vital:63993
- Description: This study explores how through music discourses and representations of identity and authenticity are articulated through a reading of hip hop and rock music scenes in post-apartheid East London. I have read through interviews, spaces where performances occur and material culture associated with the artists, of musicians moving between ideas of resistance to the mainstream as well as conforming in their representations of identity. The tensions aroused by these underground music scenes in my study ran between resistance and conforming narratives in relation to how musicians express how they make sense of identity and authenticity in the changing post-apartheid landscape. Therefore the complex readings of identity derived from the study showed how contradictory music allows one to be. Further the study found that the assertions about race, ethnicity and identity were often more subtle and contradictory at times, which warranted one to pay closer attention to these music scenes. Inasmuch as musicians attempted to move out of the mainstream by placing themselves in an alternative positioning, they remained limited to ‘authentic’ articulations of identity, where race remained either ‘invisibly’ white or problematically ‘native’ as centres of authentic representation. Moreover the study was able to show the anxieties and tensions around citizenship, identity and belonging. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2014
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- Date Issued: 2014-01
: the representation of rape in Lewis Nkosi’s Mating Birds and Arthur Maimane’s Hate No More
- Authors: Yawa, Sibulele Yola
- Date: 2021-02
- Subjects: South Africa--Politics and government--1994 , Post-apartheid era--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21134 , vital:47131
- Description: The main aim of this thesis is to provide a literary study through a comparative analysis of how sexual politics are played out in the texts Mating Birds by Lewis Nkosi and Hate No More by Arthur Maimane. It seeks to determine the modalities of representation of rape in each text and also to investigate the extent to which the novels are similar or different in the way in which they represent sexual politics or the politics of rape during the apartheid era. This investigation was done using Frantz Fanon‟s postcolonial theory and, particularly, his seminal work, Black Skin, White Masks. Most importantly, for the purpose of this study, is Fanon‟s chapter on the love/sexual relationships between the man of colour and the white woman. This is helpful as Fanon touches on what he believes the attraction of the man of colour to the white woman stems from. Using Fanon‟s theory, one discovers that the motivation for Ndi Sibiya to allegedly rape Veronica stems from his anger at the system of apartheid and its oppression of black people. This is similar to Philip Mokone‟s case; the novel explicitly states that he was motivated by anger and his rape of Jean Ryan was a form of communication to the white people and the apartheid system. , Thesis (MA) (English) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-02
[iLahleko - Loss]
- Authors: Qhali, Itumeleng
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) South Africa , Xhosa poetry 21st century , South African poetry (English) 21st century , Short stories, South African (English) 21st century , Loss (Psychology) in literature , Poetry History and criticism , Bilingual authors , Bilingualism and literature , Bilingualism in literature
- Language: English , Xhosa
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/191825 , vital:45169
- Description: My thesis is a collection of poems and prose that explores the disjunction of losses for women and children across the two languages I inhabit, isiXhosa and English. Ukulahlekelwa lithemba, ukudukelwa yingqondo, ukholo, ubuwena, umzimba nothando. For me, isiXhosa captures the innate musicality and deep emotions within a word or a sound that are not available in English. On the other hand, English readily produces visceral images that are more difficult for me to access in isiXhosa. Kolu phononongo ndikwasebenzisa namagama emboleko ukuze ndikhulise isigama. Ndisebenzisa amagama azibeka zinjalo iimvakalelo, angqalileyo kuncwadi lwesiXhosa. Ndisebenzisa zombini ilyric form kunye neprozi ngenxa yesingqi esiphuhliswa yilyric, nangenxa yenkululeko umbali ayifumanayo kwiprozi. As a bilingual writer ndifuthelwe sisingqi nobunzulu bentlungu obufumaneka in the translated and bilingual works of Isabella Motadinyane, noMarina Ivanovna Tsvetaeva, imibongo yeDaikwan eguqulwe nguStephen Watson ethi Song of the Broken String; iimbongi zespanish ezinjengo Antonia Machado; ngendlela abasebenzisa ngayo ulwimi lwabo ukunabisa nokugqithisa umyalezo ngeentlungu abadibana nazo, bakwanaso nesingqi somculo othuthuzelayo kwimibongo yabo. The structure of my thesis is inspired by the innovative mixed genre layout of Sindiswa Busuku-Mathese’s Loud and Yellow Laughter, and the new formats of isiXhosa writing presented in Mthunzikazi Mbugwana’s poetry. My work has also been shaped by the visceral imagery and briefly captured moments of loss in imisebenzi ka S.S Mema, Nontsizi Mgqwetho, noPascale Petit, novangile gantsho. Imisebenzi yabo ikuzobela umfanekiso ngqondweni ophilayo. Bonke abababhali bahambe indlela endinika umdla nendifuna ukuyihamba nam njengombhali omtsha obhala ngeelwimi ezimbini. , My thesis is a collection of poems and prose that explores the disjunction of losses for women and children across the two languages I inhabit, isiXhosa and English. For me, isiXhosa captures the innate musicality and deep emotions within a word or a sound that are not available to me in English. On the other hand, English readily produces visceral images that are more difficult for me to find in isiXhosa. My poems use the music and introspection of the lyric form, as well as the emotional outpouring that prose poetry allows. As a bilingual writer, I am influenced by the transference of musicality and gravity of loss conveyed in the translated and bilingual work of Isabella Motadinyane, the Russian Marina Tsvetaeva, Stephen Watson’s Song of the Broken String, as well as the Spanish poets Antonio Machado. The structure of my thesis is inspired by the innovative mixed genre layout of Sindiswa Busuku-Mathese’s Loud and Yellow Laughter, and the new formats of isiXhosa writing presented in Mthunzikazi Mbugwana’s poetry. My work has also been shaped by the visceral imagery and briefly captured moments of loss in the work of South African poets vangile gantsho, S.S. Mema, and Nontsizi Mgqwetho, as well as the English poet, Pascale Petit. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanitites, School of Languages and Literatures, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
A case study of Jeffrey Dahmer
- Authors: Freeman, Chanté F
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Serial murders -- Case studies , Personality development -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51032 , vital:43202
- Description: Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer is an infamous serial killer and cannibal. He was described as a normal, but shy little boy, yet developed into an adult who brutally murdered, engaged in necrophiliac acts, dismembered and ate parts of his victims. This study took the form of an intrinsic case study with the aim to explore and describe the personality development of Jeffrey Dahmer. This exploration examined Dahmer’s known childhood experiences through the theoretical perspective of Otto Kernberg’s (1974, 1975, 1976) Object Relations Theory, in order to understand how Dahmer’s personality was formed. Data was collected from multiple resources, including books, authoritative biographies, academic articles, and internet sources available in the public domain. It was analysed using Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña’s (2014) three-step process namely, data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. This study’s findings confirmed the formation of pathological behavioural patterns supported by primitive defence mechanisms, associated with Kernberg’s lower level pathologies. It reflected Dahmer’s pathological formation of psychic structures seen in a diffuse identity and impaired formation of the superego, that supported these patterns. Additionally, the research was valuable in enhancing the researcher’s insight into personality development according to Kernberg’s Object Relations Theory. This study may also be beneficial to practising clinicians and professionals as an example of the early identification of personality pathology. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04
A case study of lessons learned through empowering and mobilizing unemployed youth into sustainable green jobs within the SANBI – Groen Sebenza partnership programme by a Host Institution in South Africa
- Authors: Fullard, Donovan
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: South African National Biodiversity Institute , Green movement South Africa , Environmental education South Africa , Communities of practice South Africa , Social learning South Africa , Biodiversity conservation Employees , Job creation South Africa , Mentoring South Africa , Groen Sebenza
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/191964 , vital:45183
- Description: This research project constituted as a thesis of limited scope for a Masters in Education Degree (i.e. as 50% of the degree) focusses on a job creation programme named ‘Groen Sebenza’ [Green Work]. Groen Sebenza is an environmental education ‘incubator’ programme driven and implemented by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) to unlock green jobs and bridge the gap between education and job opportunities in the biodiversity sector in South Africa. The programme is a key intervention to strengthen biodiversity human capacity development in the biodiversity sector in South Africa, seeking to contribute to transformation of the biodiversity sector, and also address issues of youth unemployment in the country. The young ‘interns’ in the programme were called ‘pioneers’ at the start of the project. This research project explores how a host institution operating as a community of practice within a landscape of practice managed to implement the Groen Sebenza programme by absorbing and appointing all their pioneers into sustainable jobs beyond the pilot project. I sought to better understand the process of supporting and empowering unemployed youth into sustainable green jobs within the Groen Sebenza partnership programme. I drew on Community of Practice (CoP) theory, and its value creation framework to develop this understanding, and I under-laboured the analysis with a social realist analysis of enabling and constraining factors. The unit of analysis of a Community of Practice was a useful focus for the study, as these mentors, managers, and administrators were all involved in supporting the empowerment and retention of the young pioneers in the host institution. To develop deeper insight into the learning and knowing, and value created in and by the Groen Sebenza CoP in the Host Institution, I also sought insight into enabling and constraining factors and how these shaped and contributed to empowerment and retention of the pioneers in sustainable green jobs. The research addressed the main question of ‘How do processes of learning, knowing and value creation contribute to empowerment and retention of unemployed youth in a successful Host Institution in the Groen Sebenza programme, and what enabled or constrained the empowerment and retention processes and outcomes?’. Three sub-questions were used in the study, which focussed on the mentoring, training and workplace experiences and how they contribute to the process of learning and knowing within the Groen Sebenza Community of Practice in the Host Institution? [Addressed in Chapter 4], the value creation elements that emerged in the implementation of the programme in support and empowerment of the pioneers in the Host institution’s Groen Sebenza CoP? [Addressed in Chapter 5], and the enabling and constraining factors that shaped and contributed to the uptake of the Pioneers into sustainable green jobs at the Host Institution within the Groen Sebenza Programme? [Addressed in Chapter 6]. The research was conducted as a qualitative case study, in which I used semi-structured interviews as a key data source, as well as document analysis, and a questionnaire. The study drew on inductive, abductive and retroductive modes of inference since I sought to explore an understanding of the practices and learning that occurred that contributed and led to the successful uptake of Pioneers into jobs, as well as the enabling and constraining factors. The study was interpretive at the epistemic level, and had a social realist under-labouring at the ontological level. Key findings of the study point to the development of enabling cultures of mentoring in workplaces, and the provision of a diversity of workplace learning experiences including formal training. It also points to the importance of personal emergent properties amongst mentors and pioneers that embrace a willingness to work together and build strong relationships, and to learn together. Learning in the community of practice was shown to develop identity and a sense of belonging as pioneers were given meaningful tasks to do and their training and interactions with mentors was experienced as meaningful and relevant. The contributions of the pioneers to the institutional mandate was appreciated by the mentors and therefore also well supported within an empowerment orientation. Various structural factors contributed to this enabling situation, most notably strong support from management as well as good co-operation across divisions. Constraining factors included the physical distances in the province, as well as financial and technical issues such as poor ICT communication systems. Overall, though the study showed that a strong approach to learning in communities of practice supported by empowering mentoring can lead to the integration of young pioneers into sustainable green jobs in the environmental sector. A whole institution approach to this process is, however, needed, and the organisation needs to develop a culture of social learning. As recently as September 2020 as this study was being finalised, the Presidential Employment Stimulus Plan (Office of the President, 2020) following the initial economic shocks emanating from the COVID-19 pandemic, made yet another commitment to using the Groen Sebenza model to create and support sustainable job creation for young people in South Africa today in the environmental sector. This study has been developed and designed to understand those processes and enabling conditions that can support retention and empowerment of young people to take up jobs in the environmental sector today. Its recommendations may therefore be of value to those involved in seeking to support sustainable impacts in terms of retention and employment in programmes such as the Groen Sebenza, and in the Groen Sebenza programme itself as it continues to unfold as a key job creation tool for unemployed youth. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
A content analysis of fan perceptions of the South African soap opera 7de Laan
- Authors: Tsewu, Xola
- Date: 2021-05
- Subjects: Television soap operas , Television program genres
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23226 , vital:56477
- Description: Soap operas are no longer only televised but the producers or content creators are branching out to other media, to make their content available to all kinds of audience. Increasingly, soap opera episodes can be shared not only on TV but also on the internet and this means its audience reach is extended. The focus of the study was on online audience of the South African soap opera 7de Laan, this exploratory study was conducted to assess the participation and activities of an online fan community. The study focused on a convenience sample of 10 asynchronous commentary forums attached to the 7de Laan YouTube channel. The sample included 1011 participants collectively providing 2312 comments. User names are not used in this study. The study intended to achieve the following objectives: 1. To conduct a qualitative content analysis of references to characters during the course of the ten episodes; 2. To find out what the users say about those characters and the plots in which they occur; and 3. To measure the coding in order to gain an impression of the interests and concerns of participants making up the online audience with respect to the soap opera narrative. The data set was coded and explored by means of the Qualitative data analysis programme NVivo 10. The raw material was collated into individual files for each participant, and imported into analysis programme. The analysis proceeded as three stages. The first stage revealed those characters that interested participants, ranging from those who attracted the most interest, to those who attracted the least. The second stage aimed to find out what themes coincided with these characters. The third stage aimed to find out what participants through about the soap opera 7de Laan itself. These stages correspond to three sets of appendices. The findings show a close correspondence between the relative airing of the five sub-plots that constitute the soap opera narrative, and the interest that online audience participants show through their comments. , Thesis (MSoc Sci) (Communication) --Faculty of Social Science and Humanities , 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-05
A framework to influence the behavioural intention of adults to monitor their health using gamification: a case of discovery vitality in East London, South Africa.
- Authors: Ntshona, Linda
- Date: 2021-09
- Subjects: Autonomy (Psychology) , Medical telematics. , Patient self-monitoring.
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22242 , vital:52005
- Description: The epidemic of overweight or obesity conditions has become a public health concern in South Africa, and signifies major challenges of chronic diseases affecting the healthcare sector. Recent years have noted the increasing prevalence of gamification and development across all age groups. The rapid adoption and use of gamification as a tool to improve adult motivation and engagement when monitoring their health and wellness is an essential form of health intervention. Gamification allows its users to keep track of their health in real time and encourages an active healthy lifestyle behaviour. Research has found that there are factors that may inhibit the behavioural intention of adults to use gamification for health monitoring in the long term. These factors include cost or membership fees associated with gamification that uses Discovery Vitality and privacy concerns. The main aim of this research study was to develop a framework to influence the behavioural intention of adults to monitor their health through gamification making use of Discovery Vitality as the case study. The self-determination theory was used as the theoretical framework to ensure continuance usage of gamification for sustained health monitoring. A qualitative research approach was chosen for this study. The purposive sampling technique was selected to identify 20 adults between the ages of 18-59 years that are members of Discovery Vitality in East London, South Africa. Interviews were conducted with the 20 participants to identify the factors that will influence their behavioural intention to make use of gamification to monitor their health. After data collection, thematic analysis was used to analyse the data and the data provided by the participants was organised and summarised into relevant themes to answer the main research question. The study developed a framework which incorporated the four constructs of the self-determination theory, namely perceived autonomy, competence, relatedness and satisfaction of basic psychological needs for sustained health monitoring. The study also developed the five factors influencing the behavioural intention of adults to continue using gamification for sustained health monitoring. These factors are known as: broad appeal, applicability and accessibility through mobile technology and pervasive sensors, development and accomplishment, employment of creativity and feedback, and lastly social influence and relatedness. The recognition of weight loss, tracking and monitoring of physical activities and medication adherence was found to positively influence the behavioural intention of adults to continuosly use gamification to monitor their health. , Thesis (MCom) (Information Systems) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-09
A model for integrating user experience into Agile software development
- Authors: Manakaza, Mpile
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Customer satisfaction , Agile development (Computer science) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60949 , vital:69295
- Description: The Agile software development methodology has progressed over time and has become the most popularly used methodology for many projects owing to its adaptable and advanced nature. Agile is an iterative and incremental method that supports project teams to maintain the growing demands of present-day organisations. In software development, it is imperative to build software that ensures a holistic user experience and meets requirements. Software Developers and User Experience Designers focus on users’ preferences and requirements while navigating an application through an approach called user-centred design (UCD). The purpose of Agile user-experience (UX) methods is to build user-centric software solutions using the Agile methodology. Literature indicates a scarcity of Agile-UX models to integrate user experience design processes effectively within Agile software development. Hence, the motivation for this study was to create a practical model for integrating user experience design processes into Agile software development for implementation by software development teams. Initially, the study defines the problem that formed the basis for the initiation of this research, followed by the research questions and objectives that are the fundamental portion of the development of this study. This study highlights the benefits and challenges of Agile-UX methods through a case study of Agile software development teams in South Africa. Furthermore, additional best practices are recommended. A survey questionnaire was distributed to software development teams to identify the various factors that lead to implementing Agile-UX methods. The distribution of the survey questionnaire supported the theoretical perspective of this study. Furthermore, Agile development (AD) and UCD are not easy to combine as UCD aims to understand users before software product development, and no activities are performed before development starts in AD. Lastly, a significant benefit is that user-centred software systems create and promote team collaboration and communication and, ultimately, successful software projects. , Thesis (MIT) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Information and Communication Technology, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2023-04
A narrative biography of sexual trauma and subsequent substance abuse
- Authors: Jansen, Tazminne
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Sexual abuse victims -- South Africa -- Biography , Substance abuse -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51231 , vital:43234
- Description: In South Africa, substance abuse and sexual assault and/or abuse are major concerns. Society has become desensitised to these topics because of its high prevalence rate. Substance abuse is often greeted with stereotypes and prejudices that view individuals as a problem to society. The proposed research employed a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive strategy of inquiry, guided by narrative biographical research design. Social constructionism was employed as a theoretical framework to explore how an individual had constructed her life story, with a specific focus on her experience of sexual trauma and subsequent substance abuse. A non-probability purposive sampling method was used to recruit a research participant who was in the public domain as a motivational speaker in an attempt to guard against retraumatisation. Two data collection methods were employed, namely one-on-one semi-structured interviews and an invitation to the participant to journal about her experience, guided by specific stimulus questions. Thematic narrative analysis was employed as a method of data analysis. The outcome of the investigation had provided a narrative account of the research question at hand with the following themes coming to the forefront:- Early childhood experiences ( pre-sexual abuse), sexual trauma, recovery and meaning making. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04
A nasty chamber
- Authors: Jwara, Fortunate
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) South Africa , South African fiction (English) 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406262 , vital:70253
- Description: Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
A psychobiographical study of Gavin Maxwell: a Kernberg object relations approach
- Authors: Walters, Jacqueline
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Personality development -- Psychological aspects , Psychology -- Biographical methods
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52363 , vital:43619
- Description: Gavin Maxwell was an author and naturalist. He published a memoir called A Ring of Bright Water, which shaped the way millions of readers viewed nature. Maxwell wrote simple prose which paints an idyllic and moving picture of his time spent in his “lost paradise”, alongside his beloved animals, most notably his otters. However, in reality Maxwell was a man in conflict, seen in volatile relationships, financial recklessness, and the preference for the company of animals over people. The aim of this study was to explore Maxwell’s life to gain insight into his personality development. This was achieved by applying Otto Kernberg’s Object Relations Theory to his life experiences. In doing so the author hoped to gain an understanding of the personality dynamics that led to Maxwell’s relational difficulties and eccentricities. Data was collected by triangulating multiple sources of information on his life. Miles and Huberman’s (1994) three step approach was used to analyse data collected. These steps are: data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. The research study found that Maxwell’s personality development was likely arrested at the third stage of Kernberg’s model. Maxwell relied primarily on immature defence mechanisms based in splitting and possessed a fragile ego structure which he protected through grandiosity. The findings indicated that Maxwell’s personality falls in the borderline level of functioning with a strong likelihood of pathological narcissism. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04
A sea is brewing
- Authors: Mama, Sibongakonke
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) South Africa , Xhosa poetry 21st century , South African poetry (English) 21st century , Psychic trauma in literature , Women in literature , Diaries -- Authorship , Books Reviews
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406281 , vital:70255
- Description: My thesis is a collection of poems that draws on the complexity of not belonging in places, with people, or within families. I engage my own alienation as well as that of my parents, black people generally, and women in particular. I take inspiration from Uruguayan poet Fabián Severo’s autobiographical long poem, Night in the North, which chronicles the poet’s experience of growing up in linguistic and cultural borderlands. I am also influenced by Chilean poet Carmen García’s ability to move between the concrete and the abstract in translations of her poems from the collection Gotas sobre loza fría. As much as my poems traverse a metaphysical space, they are also set in concrete places – Tutura, Gcuwa, Johannesburg, and Cape Town. Like Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuña’s Spit Temple, I move between the physical and spiritual realms for a better understanding of my estrangement. I also draw on South African poet Mangaliso Buzani’s book, a naked bone, for its fluid combination of line and prose poetry. I write in isiXhosa and English as a reflection of my mixed cultural and linguistic existence. I seek to harness rhythm and harmony, as well as the quiet, between words. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
A study of the airflow on the windward slope of a transverse dune in the Alexandria coastal dunefield
- Authors: Burkinshaw, Jennifer Ruth
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52734 , vital:43883
- Description: Our understanding of the evolution of dune morphology has been hampered by a lack of empirical observations of airflow behaviour over dune forms. Sand dunes intrude into the atmospheric boundary layer and convergence of streamlines results in an acceleration of airflow up the windward slopes of dunes. This study examines the airflow structure and corresponding bedform development on the windward slope of a 7 m high transverse dune on the edge of the Alexandria coastal dunefield, Algoa Bay, South Africa. The Alexandria dunefield is subjected to a trimodal wind regime, consisting of the dominant south-westerly which blows all year round, summer easterlies and winter northwesterlies. The morphology of the study dune, Dune13, is controlled by the easterlies and north-westerlies, and reverses seasonally with respect to these two winds. Seven section lines 30 m apart and normal to the dune crest were surveyed regularly over the period of a year to monitor the reversal process. Three detailed topographic surveys were also done during this period. Airflow behaviour was monitored during the year. Wind speed profiles on the windward slope of the dune were measured using 4 to 5 vertical arrays of anemometers positioned from the base of the dune to the crest on a 1 selected section line. Usually 4 to 5 anemometers were deployed in each vertical array, from a height of 6 to 10 cm above the surface, up to a height of 150 cm above the surface. Initially 8 microanemometers were available; ultimately 28 anemometers were run simultaneously. An independent weather station at an elevation of 6 m recorded the unaccelerated flow. Local gradient measurements and erosion and deposition rates were recorded along selected section lines. Strong summer easterly winds (14 m/sec at 1.4 m above the dune crest) were measured on a dune slope in the process of being transformed from a slipface to a stoss slope. The following winter, light north-westerly winds (typically B m/sec at 1.6 m above the dune crest) were measured on the new windward slope already reversed by the prevailing winter wind. Airflow data confirm the compression of airflow against the windward slope resulting in a non-logarithmic wind speed profile. Compression results in an increased shear velocity within 30 cm of the dune surface, and the dune slope is eroded. Higher up in the wind speed profile, shear velocity decreases to 0.1 m/sec. It is not known at what height the wind speed profile recovers from the intrusion of the dune into the boundary layer. High values of shear velocity (1.6 m/sec) above the rounded crestal area of the dune record the recovery of the wind speed profile from flow divergence, which is a response to the rapid reduction of dune gradient and is accompanied by deposition of sand in this region. 2 The erosion pin data act as a simple and sensitive test for changes in gradient, reflecting the dune's response to changes in the airflow regime. The shape of the dune plays a major role in determining the extent of the compression and the distribution of shear velocity up the slope. Increased shear velocity is experienced on that part of the slope which is nonaerodynamic with respect to the prevailing wind. Under unidirectional conditions, feedback between flow and form results ultimately in a slope with a curvature such that shear velocity increases systematically upslope. The survey data and erosion pin data record the reversal process as the dune achieves a new steady state during each wind season. The existence of a non-logarithmic wind speed profile makes it difficult to know what relevant measure of shear velocity is to be used in sand transport equations. Future work should include wind speed measurements within 10 cm of the surface. An ideal study modelling aeolian bedform development would utilise wind tunnel measurements, combined with field measurements such as obtained in this study, for comparison with numerical modelling. The study needs to be extended to 3-dimensional airflow measurements. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04
A Talent Retention Framework for the South African Information Technology Sector
- Authors: Swart, Jean-pierre
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Information Technology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58212 , vital:58728
- Description: The South African Information Technology (IT) sector is experiencing a chronic skills shortage, and the skills gap is widening. South African organisations try to retain existing skilled IT professionals in order to compete on a global platform, whilst simultaneously competing against international organisations who poach IT professionals from South Africa in what is referred to as “brain drain”. The South African IT sector is an increasingly important contributor to South Africa’s GDP, with several international corporates investing and creating opportunities in South Arica, including IBM, Dell, Microsoft and Intel. The retention of skilled IT professionals in South Africa is complex and costly due to the high demand for these professionals. An overview of the literature was provided that commenced with a broad analysis of strategic talent management frameworks in order to present a holistic view of talent management. From this broad analysis, the literature review narrowed the focus to the retention of talent. This section focused on the impact of organisational culture and employee engagement, whilst considering the critical roles that managers and leaders play in culture and employee engagement pertinent to the South African IT sector. The research paradigm adopted for this research was interpretivist and the methodology was qualitative research. The empirical data was collected through conducting semi-structured interviews with six IT professionals with extensive experience in the sector, and who directly play a role in the management and retention of skilled IT professionals. Various themes were developed from the interviews, with a focus on the extent of the skills gap and considerations regarding organisational culture, employee engagement and expectations from leaders and managers detailed in the themes. Finally, a talent retention framework for the South African IT sector was developed from the emerging themes. The themes included culture and the work environment, remuneration and benefits, continuous growth and employee engagement. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04
Adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights in the Alice area, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Moko, Zukhanye
- Date: 2021-02
- Subjects: Reproductive health , Right to health , HIV infections
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20676 , vital:46423
- Description: Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) is a significant aspect of adolescent’s growth. Adolescents particularly girls face the risk of exposure to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), child marriages, high rates of unwanted pregnancy and the risk of those pregnancies can lead to unsafe abortion. In South Africa, considerable progress has been made in achieving improved access to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) among the general population, however, some factors influencing SRHR of adolescents and young people have been slow to achieve. The study aims to investigate factors influencing Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights of adolescents in Alice, which is located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The Social-Ecological Model was considered appropriate for this study as it provides a comprehensive understanding of the multiple and interacting determinants of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. A qualitative methodology was adopted, involving focus groups with high school learners, in-depth interviews with institutional actors (Department of Health, Basic Education and Social Development), and participant observations. The study reveals that adolescents’ have access to Sexual Reproductive Health services from healthcare centres but only a few utilize or access them due to barriers such as the geographical location, denial and judgement about young people's sexuality limits their access to comprehensive knowledge to protect and promote their Sexual and Reproductive Health. The findings show that the adolescents who were most affected by Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights challenges were those from deep rural areas. They had minimal information/education compared to those residing in areas close to the town of Alice and major roads. Multi-sectoral interventions empowering adolescents and young people to exercise their rights to optimize SRHR service yield better results. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science & Agriculture, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-02
African narratives of customary marriage, marital stressors, strengths and the value of indigenous marital counselling
- Authors: Phakane, Tankiso Maxwell
- Date: 2020-12
- Subjects: Marriage counseling -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53522 , vital:45275
- Description: The knowledge base of the social sciences and helping professions is characterised by paradigms and theories that have stemmed from a Western intellectual perspective. This has produced many challenges; the main one being that the people of African origin unconsciously embrace the Western worldview leading to the marginalisation of their own view of the world which was a motivation for this study. A further motivation for the study emerged from the divorce rate in customary marriages that is higher than that of statutory marriage in the Makhoaseng Village (Elundini Local Municipality Integrated Development Plan Report, 2015-2016). Employing social constructionism as its theoretical framework, this study, which was located in a rural village in the Eastern Cape, sought to enhance understanding of the stressors and strengths of customary marriage, as well the value of indigenous marital counselling. This qualitative research study was guided by a narrative research design that involved the recruiting of a sample of twenty research participants through the nonprobability purpose sampling, with the local chief serving as a gatekeeper. The data were collected through two separate focus group interviews for males and females, respectively, each of whom were in customary marriages for a period of twenty years and more. As per cultural tradition, the focus group interview for females was conducted by a female colleague, whilst the researcher recorded the observations and the fieldwork notes. The thematic analysis generated four main themes around the participants’ perceptions and experiences of customary marriage, marital stressors, marital strengths and the value of indigenous counselling. The findings make a valuable contribution to the generation of guidelines for marriage counselling from an African worldview. , Thesis (MSW) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2020
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- Date Issued: 2020-12
African wildcats on unprotected land in the Northern Cape, South Africa: potential prey and conflict status
- Authors: Stadler, Cindy
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: African wildcat South Africa Northern Cape , African wildcat Effect of human beings on South Africa Northern Cape , Predation (Biology) South Africa Northern Cape , Livestock Predators of South Africa Northern Cape , Human-animal relationships South Africa Northern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/191012 , vital:45049
- Description: The African wildcat (Felis lybica cafra) is the most common and widely distributed of all wildcats. The southern Kalahari in South Africa offers favourable conditions for African wildcats and supports high wildcat densities on protected and unprotected land. African wildcats have been reported as livestock predators on South African farms, however wildcat-livestock predation is usually reported as infrequent and to have a low financial impact on the farmer. The aim of this study was, firstly, to determine what natural prey species were available for African wildcats on unprotected land and, secondly, to determine the extent of human-wildcat conflict on unprotected land in the southern Kalahari. The frequency of occurrence of potential African wildcat prey was determined through small mammal trapping, camera trap surveys and direct observations. The results indicated that a variety of the African wildcat’s natural prey species occurred on unprotected land and that the dune and adjacent ‘street' habitats most likely supported the majority of small mammals which are preferred prey for African wildcats. The African wildcat’s human-predator conflict status was determined through interview questionnaires (n = 22) with participants who owned or managed farms in the southern Kalahari. African wildcats were perceived to occur on 100% of farms, to be common in the region, to be the top livestock predator on 68% of farms and to be responsible for 46% (n = 1542 newborn lambs) of all livestock deaths in 2020. African wildcats were, however, not viewed in the same negative light as black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) and caracals (Caracal caracal), who received more negativity from participants and who had the highest persecution rates in my study area. This result could potentially be explained by a combination of generationally taught hatred towards certain species and due to the perceived livestock loss (e.g. livestock size and species) caused by each predator species. It is important to research and monitor wildcats outside protected areas to obtain a deeper knowledge of wildcat behaviour, abundance, population dynamics and other aspects of their ecology. By doing this, specific conservation and management questions can be addressed and through the knowledge of the natural history of a species, conservation failures can be avoided. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
Aloe
- Authors: Sauls, Aloysius Albeus
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) South Africa , Nama language , Nama poetry 21st century , Lyric poetry 21st century , Diaries Authorship , Lyric poetry History and criticism , Fiction History and criticism
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/190673 , vital:45017
- Description: My thesis, ‘Aloe’, isse poetry collection, wat focus op modern Khoekhoegowab. Die opgittiekkinne wēke van my Ancestry se mēnse van mēnse, |xam-poets: Diä!kwain, Kweiten-ta-ǁken, |a!kúnta, |Hanǂkass’o, en oek ǁKabbo, deērie Dytse filoloog, Wilhelm Bleek, dien asse guide, moerrie vēse gisoak in combinations van Ancient Indigenous, en modern Goema-klangke. Die purpose vannie collection is ommie use van Khoekhoegowab innie Afrikaans literature asse integral component te view, ennie iets foreign nie, diessèlle way wat Arabic, Indonesian, Malay en Dutch languages, die culture ennie language gishape en givorrim-it. Deēl vannie skryf-style wat ek employ in my thesis isse fusion vannie lyric poetry van Linton Kwesi Johnson, Gill Scott Heron ennie praāt-poems van Peter Snyders, oa. Music, assie primal connection toerrie past, speēlle central rōl in my wēk asse 21st-century Indigenous writer. Die thesis reference die works van veteran cultural en linguistic aātisse en lyrical poets; in echoes van marginalised en displaced creatives soes Tinariwen, wattie stōrie vannie Tuareg vocalise in woōdt en klang, ennie Chamorro poet, Craig Santos Perez van Guam, innie Western Pacific Ocean, wierrie indigenizing mandate se vlag lat wappe, bínne innie gisig vannie American presence daā. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
An analysis of special needs in a.a. milne’s children’s series, winnie the pooh, and the updated pooh series authored by david benedictus
- Authors: van Tonder, Tarryn
- Date: 2020-09
- Subjects: children’s literature , Children with disabilities--Education , Special education
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21189 , vital:47393
- Description: A. A. Milne was an author that made an impact on the development of children’s literature that continues today. His collection of books, inspired by his own life experiences, has paved the way for the development of recognising individuals that behave in ways that are contrary to societal norms, a topic that had been given little attention before the Winnie the Pooh books were written. These little children’s books were a front runner in the discussion of disabilities and special needs characters in children’s literature and revealed to children that they did not need to be fearful of individuals who were unlike them. Winnie the Pooh books encouraged sensitivity toward those with disabilities and special needs and illustrated how one could show acceptance in a loving and safe environment. The Winnie the Pooh series incorporates captivating and endearing characters with physical or mental aberrations, thus, educating society, enlightening readers and paving the way for literature to incorporate novel characters that have physical barriers or deformities. Each character in the Winnie the Pooh books is unique in his or her own way, displaying various special needs, character ‘flaws’, personalities and disabilities. These special needs characters are depicted honestly and with a wry sense of humour wherein each is accepted despite his or her foibles. This collection of books opposed the norm in children’s literature of shunning differences and disabilities, but addressed this topic in an open, tolerant manner, enabling children around the globe to embrace the characters because of their uniqueness. A. A Milne defied society’s rules and norms and paved the way for child readers to be introduced to individuals with special needs in a fresh, inviting way, encouraging these young readers to envision affirming experiences in their interactions with special needs individuals. These books endeavoured to positively change perceptions concerning special needs and disabilities. As a result, the Winnie the Pooh books have altered mind-sets and inspired this topic to be brought to the forefront. This project seeks to provide an exploration of special needs within the characters of the Winnie the Pooh collection of books authored by A.A Milne, as well as the contemporary renditions of these books authored by David Benedictus, by analysing the characters through a psychoanalytical lens, as well as providing an extensive examination through the medical and social theories of disability. Thus, the study will provide a thorough, text-based literary analysis by discussing three main areas regarding the topic of special needs in Winnie the Pooh. The three focal areas in this study are as follows: firstly, to analyse the manner in which special needs or disabilities had been previously addressed and depicted in children’s literature; secondly, to identify the special needs traits in each of the Winnie the Pooh characters and examine how each of them are depicted or portrayed in the books written by A. A. Milne and David Benedictus; and thirdly, to examine what the other characters do to illustrate their acceptance of the special needs characters and consider how these books can be used as a tool in bibliotherapy. The analysis of The Winnie the Pooh books is important due to the way they address the topics of acceptance, friendship and love for individuals with special needs and disabilities. This study significantly contributes to the literary debates on the topics of special needs characters and their portrayal in children’s literature. The topic of special needs is on the rise in political and social debates and more efforts are made to create inclusion in society. Literature plays a fundamental role in shaping children’s perspectives on acceptance or fear regarding individuals who differ from them, including those that have special needs or a disability. Characters with special needs or disabilities have constantly been identified as villains, malevolent and rejected by society. A.A. Milne’s portrayal of characters with special needs in a friendly, loving and accepting way has made children from around the world fall in love with these characters. This study will contribute to the growing understanding of special needs and disabilities as represented in literature and contribute to the breadth of research on A.A. Milne’s, Winnie the Pooh books. , Thesis (MA) (English) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2020-09