In-betweenness: a postcolonial exploration of sociocultural intergenerational learning through cattle as a medium of cultural expression in Mpembeni, KwaZulu-Natal
- Authors: Masuku, Lynette Sibongile
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Postcolonialism , Environmental education -- South Africa , Community education -- South Africa -- KwaZulu Natal , Non-formal education -- South Africa -- KwaZulu Natal , Agricultural education -- South Africa -- KwaZulu Natal , Livestock -- Handling -- South Africa -- KwaZulu Natal , Cattle -- Handling -- South Africa -- KwaZulu Natal , Cattle herding -- South Africa -- KwaZulu Natal , Life skills -- Study and teaching -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68181 , vital:29213
- Description: This case study was conducted in a small rural community called Mpembeni, in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. It was motivated by my observation of high levels of competence in ‘cattle knowledge’ amongst children coupled with a simultaneous failure at school. I view schools as integral parts of the community and consider them as being influenced by the community, which they in turn influence. This study set out to understand that which embodied informal learning in home/pasture-based contexts as well as formalised learning processes in schools. I used Sociocultural theory as the most congruent of educational theories to surface and illuminate the intergenerational learning processes that were taking place in the area. This warranted my use of research investigation methods that could, in non-intrusive ways, expose the everyday community practices that related to cattle as a particular medium of cultural expression. Ethnography, sourced from anthropology, aided by ethnomethods, was not only compatible with my study and the way in which I wanted to write out the research report, but also with my educational theory and its counterhegemonic intents. To understand the colonialities that framed the discord that embodied home and school as learning contexts, I used postcolonial theory, not only as a lens but as a counterhegemonic response. This theory also informed my research methodology as well as afforded me the reflexivity tools for an examination of my own intergenerational learning and the relational identities of myself as ‘Other’ in the lives of the research participants. It further facilitated the exploration of the potential for potential hybrid third spaces within the bubbling meeting nodes of the socio-cultural context of school and home/pasture based settings of learning. I observed cattle herding related practices, interviewed children, their parents and/or carers, dipping tank managers, livestock inspectors, community elders and members. I also analysed some of the written and unwritten content that made up the formal and informal based learning processes and reviewed some of the most recent South African Curriculum Statements and related texts on the representations of cattle. I sought views from teachers on their interactions with the people of Mpembeni, whose children they taught. I also explored axes of tension, silences and presences on anything related to cattle in schools. I argue and make a case for the development of thought by African scholars to advance Africa’s education rather than aid mimicry and the importation of theories of little congruence and relevance to the African context and Africa’s future. The study has made some contributions to new knowledge. This is in its exploration of sociocultural intergenerational methods and techniques that are employed for learning in community contexts, highlighting the importance of surfacing and understanding of children’s knowledge and experiences. The study has gone further to deliberate the in-betweenness of school and home learning environments, highlighting and unsilencing silenced, peripherised, new, old, considered irrelevant in the past, context and time congruent and liberatory knowledges. I propose that the knowledges located in these cleavages of difference be utilised to transform and create learning bridges between home and school environments. I propose that those ways of knowing that see others as nothings, be exposed and unlearned. Methods of learning that naturally unfold at home could be replicated at school with a recognition of the intergenerational methods, techniques, practices and the learning values in a critically constructive manner that narrows difference and othering.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Ecological assessment and biogeography of coastal vegetation and flora in southern Mozambique
- Authors: Massingue, Alice Obed
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Coastal plants -- Mozambique , Coastal plants Marine biodiversity -- Mozambique Coastal biodiversity -- Mozambique
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40988 , vital:36280
- Description: This study considered aspects of the vegetation of the coastal zone of southern Mozambique, an area with a rich biodiversity. The vegetation and flora were assessed in their current state including the associated anthropogenic pressures. The environmental conditions that determined the distribution of the vegetation were evaluated. A hierarchical classification, description and ecological interpretation of the vegetation and flora of the coastal zone in southern Mozambique are presented. Analysis was based on 242 sample quadrats that were distributed in a stratified manner throughout the study area. The vegetation could be grouped into six distinct types of vegetation: Dune Forest, Coastal Forest, Coastal Grassland, Coastal Miombo, Coastal Savanna and Coastal Woodland. Species diversity was high for the all the vegetation types, particularly in the woody elements. A total of 673 species in 410 genera was recorded. They represented 104 families with Fabaceae and Rubiaceae being the most common. Of these, 6.6% were endemic or near-endemic to the coastal zone of southern Mozambique with Coastal Forest being the habitat with the greatest endemism. All soils from different vegetation types had poor agricultural potential. Soil properties were the strongest defining environmental feature separating the vegetation types: e.g. pH was high in Dune Forest compared to the others. Results from Maxent modelling suggest that the distribution of endemic species is influenced by a combination of climatic and non-climatic variables. Soil type, temperature annual range and precipitation of the driest month were the most important predictor variables. Overlaying the potential distributions of the seven selected species indicated two areas of abundance of endemic species – these should be given attention for conservation. Endemic species are not well protected in southern Mozambique – their sampled and potential habitats are largely outside protected areas. Hence, additional reserves should be created to improve their protection. Most endemic and near-endemics species were found in the south, from Ponta de Ouro (Matutuine, south of Maputo Province) to Manhica district (north of the Maputo Province) forming part of the Maputaland Centre of Endemism. A second concentration of endemism was found in the Inhambane Province, specifically the Inhassoro and Vilanculos districts. This is proposed to be an Important Plants Area (IPA). Because most endemics and near-endemics are found in the Coastal Forest, their main threat is harvesting for charcoal production, although none of the endemic species are specifically targeted for charcoal production. In Inhambane they are also threatened by the tourism industry, agriculture and settlements. The impact of the habitat destruction on endemic species is expected to cause severe declines in the near future. The tourism industry and harvesting of trees for charcoal production and over-frequent fires are the main drivers of vegetation loss in this region. Shifting agriculture, harvesting for firewood and construction materials, cattle grazing (at a minor scale) are also impacts, but these were only observed in a small area of Maputo Province. Although the study was done in coastal zone of southern Mozambique, effective management of whole coastal zone of the country will be required to maintain a functioning and diverse ecosystem. Priorities for management are to ensure that forests are protected, in particular, Dune Forest. Actions are required to minimise degradation of coastal vegetation. Further research on Coastal Forest restoration should be planned, as field observations in this study confirm that forest in the coastal zone of southern Mozambique has resilience.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Perspectives on land and water politics at Mushandike Irrigation Scheme, Masvingo, Zimbabwe
- Authors: Mafukidze, Jonathan
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76479 , vital:30573
- Description: Access to, control and ownership of land and water, amongst other natural resources in Zimbabwe, shape and affect rural lives, livelihoods, social relations and social organisation. Rural poverty has been entrenched and exacerbated by, amongst other factors, highly restricted access to these scarce resources. Historically, Zimbabwe’s rural areas (such as communal areas, smallholder irrigation schemes and resettlement areas) have existed as sites of struggles where contestations and negotiations over access to, control or ownership of these resources have taken place. Resultantly, multifaceted and dynamic social relations have been weaved and contested social spaces carved out. In rural Zimbabwe, contestations have tended to be complex, nuanced and intricate, working themselves out in different ways across time and space. In their heightened and more visible state, they have been characterised by violent physical expressions which, in the history of the country, involved two wars of liberation, the First Chimurenga (1896-1897) and the Second Chimurenga (1960s to 1980). The most recent violent manifestation was through nation-wide land invasions, politically christened the Third Chimurenga, which peaked in 2000 and continued sporadically to this day. Few studies on smallholder irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe have focused on understanding how contestations for access to scarce land and water resources are framed and negotiated at the local level. Cognisant of this lacuna, this thesis uses social constructionism in examining, as a case study, Mushandike Smallholder Irrigation Scheme in Masvingo Province in order to understand and analyse how land and water politics occur at the local level. The study deploys a qualitative research methodology approach in examining local water and land politics, which involved original irrigation beneficiaries and more recent land invaders. Findings of the thesis indicate that land and water shortages have increased considerably in the past two decades at the irrigation scheme due to the influx of land invaders into the scheme. This influx has had a negative impact on agricultural production and other livelihood strategies. Both scheme members and land invaders lay claim to land and water at Mushandike. These claims are intricately constructed and contested, and they are linked to broader issues such as partisan party-politics, policy developments, and tradition, origin, indigeneity and belonging. Though the struggles over land and water at Mushandike are firmly rooted in the concrete conditions of existence and experiences of beneficiaries and land invaders, external actors such as political leaders, state bureaucrats and traditional chiefs tend to complicate and intensify the contestations.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Intersectionality and complexity in the representation of ‘queer’ sexualities and genders in African women’s short fiction
- Authors: Du Preez, Jenny Boźena
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Sexual minority culture , Sexual minorities' writings , African fiction -- Women authors -- History and criticism , Gender identity in literature , Short stories, South African , Feminism in literature , Political poetry , Eroticism in literature , Lesbianism in literature
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/119047 , vital:34697
- Description: This thesis sets out to contribute to the growing body of knowledge about queer sexualities and genders in Africa by examining their depiction in selected post-2000 African women’s short fiction written in English. Post-2000, the short story form has become the primary vehicle for queer representations by African women writers, and is thus an important development in the burgeoning body of queer literature by African writers. Broadly speaking, this literary formation can be defined as anti-homophobic, feminist and politically pragmatic. Using an intersectional lens, this thesis sets out to examine four significant strands in the political work these stories engage in. The chapters are structured around four main points of contention that have particular significance at the intersection of ‘queer’, ‘women’ and ‘Africa’. Firstly, I examine South African short stories that perform what I call queer conversations with history: imaginatively asserting a queer South African history, writing back against a male-dominated and heterosexist literary canon and, in doing so, contributing to the reimagination of the contemporary South African nation. Secondly, I analyse short stories from Africa that foreground the family, both as social formation and ideology. I examine how these stories ‘fracture’ this powerful and naturalised heterosexist concept by depicting the tensions and contradictions that queer characters experience in relation to family. Thirdly, I consider short stories from various African contexts that work to reconceptualise queer sexuality in relation to religious discourse in order to challenge homophobic and patriarchal religious authority. Finally, I examine queer, feminist erotic short stories by African women writers that challenges various colonialist, racist, sexist and lesbophobic discourses that have historically stifled the portrayal of sex and erotic experience between women.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Local web news as tools for framing food security: the content analysis of four selected Eastern Cape web newspapers
- Authors: Metula , Nolukhanyo Theorida
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Food security World Wide Web
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17484 , vital:41080
- Description: This study evaluates how the Eastern Cape local web newspapers frame food security in the Eastern Cape Province. A qualitative content analysis by means of textual analysis was used to evaluate the selected local web newspaper’s content on food security related stories within the period of July-December 2017. The sample was drawn from four Eastern Cape local web newspapers- Daily Dispatch Live, Herald Live, Go and Express and The Talk of the Town. The analysis sought to determine how the selected local web newspapers frame food security concerning food availability, accessibility and affordability in the Eastern Cape Province. Additionally, the study aimed to ascertain the issues about food security that are raised by the Eastern Cape local web newspapers and, to establish the extent to which these Eastern Cape local web newspapers’ framing is helpful in ensuring participation, empowerment and community mobilization for food securing purposes. The results of this study indicate that the local web newspapers frame Eastern Cape Province as untapped food basket. The framing suggests that the Province can leverage its agricultural resources for job creation which will ensure economic growth and food security. The local web newspapers framing suggests that there are numerous channels such as natural food production, livestock production, smallholder farming that can enhance availability and access to affordable food to people in the Eastern Cape Province. The findings revealed that local web newspapers frame increased agricultural production as an important issue that demand serious and urgent attention of the Provincial government as it has the potential of not only ensuring food security but also impacting positively on the income of local farmers. The local web newspapers frame farm attacks, land redistribution and reinstatement as important factors that hinder food production and, ultimately, food security in the Eastern Cape v Province. Furthermore, this study discovered that the frame of references used by the local web newspapers, especially the emphasis on local farming, land redistribution and private sector help to empower and mobilize individuals and communities to participate in food security initiatives. This study concludes that Eastern Cape Local Web Newspapers can be veritable tools to enhance food security channels in the Eastern Cape Province
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- Date Issued: 2019
Electrical, photo-thermal and mechanical degradation analysis of degraded single junction amorphous silicon solar modules
- Authors: Osayemwenre, Gilbert Omorodion
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Solar cells Amorphous semiconductors Silicon
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15211 , vital:40204
- Description: In this present era of sustainable energy development, photovoltaic modules which are based on amorphous silicon cells have immeasurable prospects of contributing meaningfully to the energy demand of the world at large. The global consciousness of environmental safety issues has birthed the rapid demand for the photovoltaic system. However, the production increase is mainly in bulk-type crystalline (c-Si) solar cells. Thus, to meet the high demand of the market, single junction amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells production must be encouraged through active research in that regard. This could also help to improve its efficiency and reliability. There has recently been a sharp decrease in the production cost of the bulk Si solar cell, but the a-Si:H solar cell still remains the most economically viable in comparison to the other PV technologies. Companies such as Sharp are currently developing large-scale a-Si:H solar modules that can produce an efficiency of 10.5% after the long-term degradation process. To date, a-Si:H is believed to be one of the most promising thin-film PV technologies (Saito et al., 1993; Hamakawa et al., 1994). The cost of a solar PV manufacturing fell by 6% in 2014 (Santa, 2014), this is in accordance with the 2008 cost production forecast; thus, the cost record stands at 0.20 per watt, as reported by the NPD Solar publisher. Amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar modules generate more kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity per kilowatt (kW) than crystalline silicon or other technologies of the same capacity of installation. Furthermore, a-Si:H modules have more functional hours per day. Single junction amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) modules can function beyond the peak sun hours, and they also have a better performance on a cloudy day. vii In other words, a 1kW PV system of a-Si:H is expected to generate more electricity per year in comparison to 1kW PV from other technologies, hence there is a low energy payback time. In this study, commercially available single junction amorphous silicon modules were bought from a local market and they were immediately deployed outdoors. The initial reading of the modules, which served as baseline reading, showed an average of 25% decrease in the modules performance, therefore, there is a need for a long term monitoring process to obtain the best and worst performing modules. Measuring the performance parameters of these PV modules under real sun light (IV) provides a better degradation assessment. This conventional assessment cannot provide an in-depth insight responsible for the variation and degradation of the performance parameters. More obscured parameters like recombination current and ideality factor were obtained from the dark IV measurements. However, this is still superficial in a way. The intrinsic parameters were obtained from scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and CV measurements. The study focuses on the degradation analysis of a-Si:H due to an increase in defect density. A rise in the defect concentration is a huge problem because it causes long-term solar cell degradation, which increases the recombination current and decreases the conversion efficiency. Furthermore, it decreases the photo-generating current and reduces the effective efficiency of the solar device. In other words, the electrical output decreases. This research investigates the reduction in a-Si:H modules’ maximum power, and correlates these with a hot spot formation. A PVPM IV tracer was used for the outdoor characterisation of the module’s temperature profile, while the IR camera was used to analyse the hot spot centre. A four probe IV/CV from NMU was used for the indoor assessment of smaller samples cleaved from both the affected and non-affected regions to characterise the electrical variations across the module viii samples. To be precise, in this study, a naturally degraded single junction amorphous silicon module was delaminated and its mechanical properties were analysed and correlated with the contact potential from a Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM).
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- Date Issued: 2019
Land rental policy and land market in Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe: implications on farmer decisions, efficiency and equity under A1 and A2 models
- Authors: Tatsvarei , Simbarashe
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Farms, Small Agricultural extension work
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15666 , vital:40501
- Description: Government promulgated the land rental policy starting in the year 2007. The policy required that A1 (market residual) and A2 (indigenous commercial) farmers pay rentals to the state. Since then, there has also been an emerging trend in which farmers have been renting in and out land, resulting in an informal market for land rentals. The study therefore assessed farmers’ perceptions of land rental policy and evaluated the possible association of this policy to farmers’ decision making on land rental markets as well as its implications on farmers’ efficiency and equity. The study was carried out in Mashonaland East Province of Zimbabwe, covering two districts, Goromonzi and Marondera. The focus was specifically on A1 and A2 farmers, as the rental policy was directed at these resettlement models only and much of the informal land rental markets were prevalent among these categories of farmers. Data collection utilised the survey approach. This was supported by key informant interviews and focus group discussions, with a final sample of 339 households selected using multi-stage sampling method. Survey data were transcribed on CsPro 6, and analysed using Stata, SPSS and Frontier 4.1. Results showed that about a third of household respondents was from Marondera and twothirds was from Goromonzi, while 79% and 21% was A1 and A2 farmers respectively. About 80% was male headed households and the remainder was female headed households. About half of the households were not participating in land rental markets while the other half was split almost equally between those renting-in and renting-out land. In general, A2 farmers were better in agricultural productivity than A1 farmers. It was concluded that farmers had a fairly good knowledge of the agricultural land rental policy enunciated in the Finance Bills. A1 farmers were more knowledgeable than A2 farmers, but no vii significant differences were observed between male and female headed households and farmers involved and not involved in land rental markets. Farmers’ attitudes in relation to policy were categorised as fair, with significant differences based on gender and land market participation. Practice scores showed a poor adherence to policy for all categories of farmers. Overall perceptions of farmers on rental policy was inferred as fair with significant differences existing between land rental market participants and non-participants (autarky). The results of a bivariate Tobit model results showed that the decision to rent-in land was significantly influenced by gender, household income, permanent labour, cultivated area, tenure certainty, irrigable land size and crop diversification. On the other hand, age, permanent labour, irrigable land size and crop diversification significantly influenced farmers’ decisions to rent-out land. The conclusion was that household characteristics, land endowments and transaction costs significantly influenced the decision to rent-in land while the former two were strong in influencing renting-out decisions. Results from the linearized Cobb Douglas model showed that economic efficiency for most farmers was above 50%. Farmers renting-out land under A1 were found to be the most economically efficient, followed by those who were renting-in and least efficient were farmers not participating in land rental markets, though the differences were marginal. For the A2 model, renting-in farmers were the most efficient, followed by those in autarky position, while renting-out farmers were the least. Overall, the most efficient farmers were those renting-in, followed by those renting-out while farmers in autarky were the least efficient. Overall efficiency was higher for A2 farmers than for A1 farmers. For farmers not participating in rental markets, the sources of inefficiency were crop type, crop area and labour. For farmers renting-in, it was proportion of irrigable land, size of irrigable land, crop type, crop area and viii labour, while inefficiency drivers for renting-out farmers were crop type and associated area. Equity analysis showed that participation in land rental markets reduced inequality for farmers in the two districts and male and female headed households. Inequality was increased among A1 farmers and remained unchanged among A2 farmers. Overall, the emerging position was that participation in land rental markets resulted in higher efficiency and reduced inequality in land holding among the sampled farmers. It is recommended that government should be consistent on land rental policy and bring into place effective administration of land rental policy. Government may also consider formal acceptance of land rental markets in light of the marginal efficiency and equity benefits shown in the study. However, formalizing land rental markets alone may not be a panacea to improved efficiency and needs to be supported by other productivity measures given the average efficiency values for farmers. Crop and livestock production based on compatibility with the natural regions and defined minimum size of land should be encouraged to improve efficiency
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- Date Issued: 2019
Physiological and mechanistic characteristics of all-out running using the critical speed concept
- Authors: Kramer, Mark
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Aerobic exercises , Physical fitness Running Exercise
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40511 , vital:36178
- Description: The studies described in this thesis, as far as could be ascertained, were the first to investigate the physiological and mechanistic characteristics of all-out running using the critical speed concept specifically applied to field-sport athletes. In the first study the oxygen uptake (𝑉̇𝑂2) kinetics of linear and shuttle all-out running were investigated. The 𝑉̇𝑂2 kinetic parameters were also related to parameters derived from a graded exercise test. No differences were observed in all 𝑉̇ 𝑂2 kinetic parameters between all-out linear and shuttle running, even though differences in all-out testing parameters were evident. The study was novel in that it was, as far as could be ascertained, the first to implement and investigate differences in 𝑉̇𝑂2 kinetics applied to all-out running. The second study investigated whether the parameters derived from all-out linear and shuttle running were representative of aerobic fitness, and the extent to which the all-out test (AOT) related to already established evaluations of aerobic fitness (e.g., graded exercise test [GXT] and the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test [YYIR1]). It was also investigated whether the parameters from the AOTs could be used to predict the time to completion (tLIM) of shuttle-based performances. The outcomes of this study showed that both the linear and 50-m AOTs were indeed valid for the aerobic assessment of fitness by showing high correlations with maximal pulmonary oxygen uptake (𝑉̇𝑂2𝑚𝑎𝑥). Both the linear and 50-m AOT could therefore be used as surrogates for the evaluation of aerobic fitness. Interestingly, in terms of the tLIM prediction, the 25-m AOT showed the greatest utility. This study was novel on several fronts in that it was the first to: (1) investigate the physiological link between linear and shuttle AOTs and the GXT, (2) investigate the difference between AOTs and the YYIR1, and (3) investigate the application of the AOT methodology to field-based athletes such as rugby players. The third study investigated the energetic cost (EC) of locomotion as well as the metabolic power (𝑃̇) required to run at given speeds. The energetic approach provides a more robust evaluation of the differences between linear and shuttle running due to the all-out nature of the tests. Conventional methods of energy assessment often fall short due to the preclusion of a physiological steady-state, hence requiring more robust mathematical models to evaluate all-out running performance. The results of this study showed that differences between linear and shuttle AOTs are more likely neuromuscular as opposed to physiological. Peak EC and 𝑃̇ were significantly greater for shuttle running compared to linear running, showing clear non-linear increases with each successive increase in running speed. However, the mean EC and 𝑃̇ were not different, showing that all-out shuttle running ‘balances’ the lower running speeds (implying a lower physiological load compared to linear running) with the higher metabolic load imposed by the intense directional changes. This study was novel as it was, as far as could be ascertained, the first to apply the energetic approach to all-out running as well as investigate the differences in energetics between linear and shuttle AOTs. The fourth study provided a means by which the speed-time characteristics of all-out running could be objectively quantified. A novel bi-exponential model was applied to both the linear and shuttle speed-time curves and allowed various mechanistic aspects of the speed-time curve to be characterized. Conventional assessment of the AOT allows for the derivation of only two key parameters, namely critical speed (CS) and the finite distance achievable at speeds exceeding CS (D’). The application of the bi-exponential model expands the number of useful parameters that can be derived from an AOT to seven. The additional useful parameters include: maximum speed [𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥], time to maximum speed [𝑡𝑐], amplitude of the difference between 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥 and CS [𝐴𝑑], curvature constant of the exponential decay [𝜏𝑑] and the asymptote of the exponential decay function [𝑆0], fatigue index showing the percent decline between 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥 and CS [FI%], and the finite capacity for running at speeds exceeding CS [D’; representing the area under the curve that is above CS]. The CS and D’ parameters derived from the bi-exponential model were not different to the CS and D’ parameters derived using the conventional method of analysis, thereby showing that the bi-exponential model is a valid means of assessing the curvature characteristics of the AOT, as well as providing additional information that cannot be gleaned from the traditional approach.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The influence of customers’ culture on sales promotions and store equity for pick n pay stores South Africa and Zimbabwe
- Authors: Musekiwa, Albert
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Consumer behaviour
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44565 , vital:38144
- Description: The store industry is globally the main distribution channel for grocery items to reach final consumers. Specifically for South Africa and Zimbabwe the store industry greatly contributes to the countrys economic growth. However, increasing competition in developed countries has forced store chains with a competitive edge in terms of promoting their brands and building market share such as Walmart and Spar to expand into the growing African market. Concomitantly, growing African store chains such as Choppies of Botswana are moving into new African markets such as South Africa and Zimbabwe. Following this increasing competition, Pick n Pay a leading store chain in South Africa has responded by opening stores in African townships and other African countries such as Zimbabwe. This has resulted in Pick n Pay customers’ cultural diversity, and how to build and maintain market share through effective promotional and brand building strategies being areas of concern. Therefore the primary objective of this study is to determine the influence of Pick n Pay customers’ cultural orientations on their buying behaviour towards monetary- and non-monetary sales promotions and store equity in South Africa and Zimbabwe. From a comprehensive literature review, a hypothesised model was developed to determine the customers’ cultural orientations that might influence the buying behaviour towards monetary- and non-monetary sales promotions and Pick n Pays store equity in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Four customers cultural orientations were investigated namely, ubuntu/unhu, power distance, uncertainty avoidance and status consumption. This quantitative research approach study sought the perceptions of Pick n Pays customers on their cultural orientations, buying behaviour towards monetary- and non-monetary sales promotions and on store equity in South Africa and Zimbabwe. A survey was conducted with the aid of a structured hardcopy questionnaire, distributed via fieldworkers in both countries using a combination of convenience- and snowball sampling. A final usable sample of 500 respondents was obtained. The items in the questionnaire were validated by conducting exploratory factor analysis, where after the Cronbachs alpha values were calculated for each of the valid constructs to confirm inter-item reliability. Descriptive statistics in the form of frequency distributions was used to summarise the demographic profiles of the respondents and to describe the means and standard deviations of the valid constructs. The Pearsons product moment correlations revealed moderate correlations between monetary- and non-monetary sales promotions as well as non-monetary sales promotions and store equity in the full sample, and for the South African and Zimbabwean samples. Moderate correlation was also found in South African sample between Ubuntu ubuntu/unhu cultural orientation and non-monetary sales promotions. Multi-collinearity diagnostics testing was conducted prior to multiple regression analysis to confirm that there is no evidence of collinearity between the independent-, mediating- and dependent variables. The multiple regression analysis revealed eight statistical significant relationships between the independent-, mediating- and dependent variables for the full sample while for the South African and Zimbabwean samples four and nine were found respectively. Although the full sample and Zimbabwean sample had similar statistically significant relationships, the relationship between an uncertainty avoidance cultural orientation and store equity was unique to the Zimbabwean sample only. There was only a statistically significant relationship between a power distance cultural orientation and store equity for the South African sample. Structural equation modelling was used as the main statistical procedure to test for mediation in the study. Only two relationships found in the multiple regression analysis were not confirmed in the structural equation modelling results, namely the relationships between an confirmed in the structural equation modelling results, namely the relationships between an uncertainty avoidance cultural orientation and monetary sales promotions, as well as with non-monetary sales promotions. Six path relationships were confirmed in the structured equation modelling. These statistical significant path relationships were between an ubuntu/unhu- cultural orientation with monetary- and non-monetary sales promotions, as well as with store equity. A statistical significant path relationships were also found between a status consumption cultural orientation with non-monetary sales promotions and store equity. The sixth statistical significant path relationship was between non-monetary sales promotions and store equity. Furthermore, SEM confirmed full mediation of monetary sales promotions in the relationship between a status consumption cultural orientation and store equity. On the other hand, there were partial mediations of non-monetary sales promotions in the relationships between an ubuntu/unhu and status consumption cultural orientations with store equity. The SEM results also confirmed that the data fits the complete model. Multi-variant analysis of variance was carried out to determine if respondents’ demographic profiles influenced their cultural orientations and buying behaviour towards monetary-and non-monetary sales promotions. Post-hoc Scheffe tests identified sixteen statistically significant mean differences between the demographic data groups and the cultural orientation and sales promotions variables. Subsequently, the Cohens d analysis confirmed thirteen practical significant relationships, of which only three had large practical significance. Based on the MRA and SEM confirmed relationships, several suggestions are made. Ubuntu/Unhu and status consumption cultural orientations influenced buying behaviour towards non-monetary sales promotions. For ubuntu/unhu orientated customers, it is suggested that Pick n Pay keeps its non-monetary sales promotions open and accessible to most customers and sponsor more popular events such as competitions for baking, cooking and soccer. To target status consumption orientated customers, Pick n Pay should position its non-monetary sales promotions in line with their expectations such as promoting healthy living to appeal to its healthy conscious customers. Pick n Pay should also avoid making price the focal point when communicating to status consumption orientated consumers but rather focus on image building selling points such as store service. For ubuntu/unhu orientated customers, Pick n Pay should underscore the interdependence value in its communication of monetary sales promotions by offering monetary promotions with benefits for all family members. To entrench brand equity, Pick n Pay should engage ubuntu/unhu brand ambassadors from influential family members, friends and community groups such as church groups and provide after-sales service using 24hr customer service hotlines and social media to promote customer interaction any time of the day. Pick n Pay must consider entrenching the status consumption health conscious customers into interaction between themselves or the store through chatrooms or clubs to make sure they remain loyal to the store. It is recommended that Pick n Pay conduct non-monetary sales promotion by creating awareness campaigns for its organic and finest private brands in their Fresh Living Magazine so that customers have product knowledge and encourage them to become regular buyers. In-store distribution of product samples can also help build interest in the brands. Furthermore, employing data mining techniques on customer databases provided in Smartshopper and Rich Rewards loyalty programmes can help understanding specific target customer groups and developing target marketing campaigns. For status consumption orientated customers, Pick n Pay can incentivise the adoption of online shopping through sales promotions such as free delivery for first time shoppers. The store can also have personalised free rewards for its most loyal customers. For ubuntu/unhu orientated customers, it is recommended that Pick n Pay engage in corporate social responsibility that target the needy in the society such as donating to elderly and orphanages and request their customers to donate their loyalty points to charities of their own choices. It is suggested that Pick n Pay promote excellent service and a wide variety of quality products to ensure their status consumption orientated customers remain loyal to the store. They can also offer a suggestions box for these customers to make them feel heard. Their employees should be selected based on contemporary skills such as digital- and green marketing and healthy living product knowledge and they should train their current employees on these areas to enable addressing customers’ queries confidently. This study has added to scarce academic literature on customers’ cultural orientations, sales promotion buying behaviour and store equity in Africa in general. From the hypothesised model developed in this study, a significant contribution has been made in the body of knowledge on the influence of customers’ culture on buying behaviour towards sales promotions and store equity, especially in the retail field for stores such as Pick n Pay. This study was also the first to identify the major role demographics can play in customers’ cultural orientations and sales promotion buying behaviour. The recommendations can be useful to assist with developing marketing strategies suitable for any retail store such as Pick n Pay which wants to venture into African markets.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Pyramidal deliberative democracy
- Authors: Danielsen, James
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Democracy , Information technology -- Political aspects , Internet in public administration , Political participation -- Computer network resources , World politics
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/74502 , vital:30309
- Description: This dissertation has two main objectives. First, to outline an ICT-facilitated model of democracy called ‘pyramidal democracy’ that reconciles deliberative democracy with mass engagement. Second, to suggest how this model of democracy might engender the democratisation of the global economy and thus the provision of a basic level of economic security for all global citizens. At the core of the model is the pyramidal deliberative network, a means of organising citizens into small online deliberative groups and linking these groups together by means of an iterative process of delegate-selection and group-formation. The pyramidal network enables citizens to aggregate their preferences in a deliberative manner, and then project social power by authorizing the delegates at the top-tier of the pyramidal network to communicate their social demands to elected officials or to other points of authority. The envisioned outcome is the democratisation of the public sphere by means of the proliferation of deliberative networks in the government, market, and civil society spheres. Transnational pyramidal networks may make it feasible to instantiate a new citizen-based schema of global governance and, thereby, facilitate the reform of the United Nations and enable a transition towards global peace, sustainability, and distributive justice. Distributive justice might be achieved by means of implementing the six components of a democratised economy: participatory budgeting, fee-and-dividend taxes, a basic income, monetary reform, workplace democracy, and the sharing economy. Taken together, these components might enable the universal provision of a social minimum – a universal basic income sufficient for basic security and real freedom. Taken to its logical conclusion, a democratised economy may also enable a transition towards a post-scarcity economic order characterised by a maximal stock of humanmade and natural capital that would not exceed the sustainable carrying capacity of the earth.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A critical realist exploration of the culture of resistance in educational technology integration practices at a South African university
- Authors: Tshuma, Nompilo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Critical realism , Educational technology -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- Effect of technological innovations on -- South Africa , College teachers -- South Africa , College teaching -- Sociological aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72318 , vital:30033
- Description: This thesis seeks to address a number of troubling concerns related to research and practice in the field of educational technology in South African higher education. Firstly, educational technology research has been criticised for a lack of theoretical rigour resulting in perspectives that are tightly focused mostly on practice but fail to adequately interrogate the socio-political complexities of integrating educational technology. Secondly, while research in the field has been criticised for failing to adequately contextualise the study of educational technology, it also fails to interrogate the impact of colonial legacies and Western-developed technologies on integration practices. Thirdly, there seems to be a disconnect between academics’ practices and choices with educational technology, and the expectations and assumptions of educational technologists. As such, this thesis predominantly follows inductive reasoning where literature and theory are applied to the empirical situation retrospectively in order to avoid the potential influences and biases of mostly Western-driven discourses on educational technology integration practices. Critical realism is used to ‘underlabour’ this study. This meta-theory asserts that there are multiple perspectives of an independent reality, and the work of research is to use these perspectives to draw closer to an understanding of that reality. As such, it allows me to interrogate my perspectives firstly, and secondly those of my research participants, about factors that constrain educational technology integration in the South African context through the use of theory (abstract concepts) and data (research participants’ multiple perspectives). However, critical realism is somewhat cautious in how to access this reality. Therefore, a critical ethnographic epistemology is employed to strengthen critical realism’s aim of accessing knowledge. A critical epistemology emphasises exposing hidden power structures, value judgements as well as self-knowledge and reflexivity. The thesis thus shows how a critical realist ontology could be complemented by a critical ethnographic methodology, particularly in critically-orientated research that has an emancipatory focus which seeks to uncover the socio-political context within which educational technology practices take place. A key argument is that critical realism can be employed as an ontological underlabourer for critical research because of: 1) its immanent critique of traditionally-accepted philosophies, 2) its emphasis on critique of our knowledge claims and value judgements, 3) its insistence that knowledge of the social world necessarily precedes emancipation, and 4) its different conceptions of power (oppressive power and transformatory power). This critical ethnographic research is conducted in a South African university with eight female academics. Data collection is in the form of interviews, observations and reflections, as well as informal and work-related interactions. At each data collection moment, I have had to be reflexively aware of my positionality as an educational technologist, the impact of a colonially-motivated methodology and an ethically-aware approach that seeks to put the needs of the research participants first. Critical ethnography’s meaning-making and critical realism’s abduction and retroduction are used to analyse and make sense of the data. In my attempt to contextualise the study’s findings, I first uncover structural forces and their impact on the academic role before attempting to correlate this with educational technology practices. The study’s findings point to two main structural forces in the socio-political context of South African higher education: the teaching/research tension and the elevation of one dominant culture. In terms of the teaching/research tension, the female academics in this study have to balance the urgent teaching function with the valued research function. They struggle to find this balance because of ambiguous messages from different structures, their passion for teaching, oppressive departmental dynamics and the pressures of their career trajectory. The elevation of one dominant culture is demonstrated through both oppressive cultural practices and untransformed curricula. The study shows that academics mitigate these structural constraints mostly through subtle every day resistance that seeks to mitigate their effect on both the academics and, where applicable, their students. Archer’s morphogenetic/morphostatic cycle is used retrospectively, in response to fieldwork, to conceptualise why this resistance comes about. A resistance framework developed using Archer is then used to understand educational technology choices and practices. The results of the research show that while academics are often pictured as resistant to technology as a response to different barriers, they actually often employ technology to resist structural forces. That is, with this thesis I show that there is a focus on resistance with technology rather than resistance to technology. The study shows how the research participants resist structural forces (teaching tension and dominant culture) by using technology to create safe and responsive learning spaces. As such, this thesis challenges educational technologists to re-think the way they support academics by recommending support strategies that acknowledge both the structural forces in the South African higher education context, as well as the culture of resistance, both of which impact academics’ educational technology choices and practices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Using a multi-method approach to understand the movement patterns and the associated environmental correlates of an iconic West African recreational fish
- Authors: Winkler, Alexander Claus
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Carangidae fishing , Carangidae -- Migration , Carangidae -- Namibia , Carangidae -- Angola , Fish tagging , Carangidae -- Benguela Current , Underwater acoustic telemetry , Ocean temperature -- Physiological effect , Fishes -- Effect of temperature on
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76530 , vital:30597
- Description: The leerfish (Lichia amia), is a large, primarily coastal recreational fish species with a distribution extending from Portugal down the west coast of African to southern Mozambique. Owing to its large size (30 kg), strong fighting abilities and habit of taking surface artificial lures, this species has taken on an iconic stature among shore-based recreational anglers. Its reputation has made it an important angling tourism species that makes an important contribution to the economy of developing countries. For example, the species brought US$243 per harvested kilogramme into the local southern Angola economy. Despite its high value, little is known about its movement patterns in the northern Benguela coastal region, a region which includes southern Angola and northern Namibia. While much is known about the migratory patterns of the South African stock of L. amia, recent molecular studies have shown that the northern Benguela stock of L. amia has been isolated from the South African population for at least two million years, a consequence of the development of the cold Lüderitz upwelling cell in southern Namibia. Although the global population of L. amia is considered a single species, prominent biogeographic barriers within its distribution and subtle morphological differences between specimens captured within its tropical versus warm-temperate distribution suggest otherwise. A multi-method approach incorporating passive acoustic telemetry (PAT), recreational catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) and conventional tagging (CT) in southern Angola, as well as recreational fisher-ecological knowledge (FEK) from Namibia, was used to investigate the large-scale movement patterns of L. amia within the northern Benguela coastal region. While each method had its own associated limitations, the combination provided a holistic picture of the population's seasonal migratory patterns. Furthermore, PAT successfully identified partial migration with 25% vs 75% of monitored fish exhibiting resident (movements < 100 km) or migratory (movements > 100 km) behaviour, respectively. Further behavioural diversity was observed with ‘resident’, ‘roaming’ and ‘embayment’ contingents identified based on varying levels of affinity to certain habitats. The presence of both resident and migratory individuals within the northernmost study during June and July, combined with available biological information, suggested that area-specific spawning may take place. While PAT, CPUE and CT largely aligned in determining area specific high-area use, results from network analyses and mixed effects models conducted on the PAT data supported the spawning hypothesis, with anomalous behaviour around specific receivers during the spawning season. All fish, regardless of behavioural contingent, displayed similar movement behaviour during the spawning season and this was driven by factors generally associated with reproduction, such as lunar illumination. Interestingly, these drivers were different from those that determined the area specific use of individuals outside of the spawning season. The environmental drivers of longshore migration into the northern study site were identified as a decline in water temperature and shorter day lengths. The results of this study highlight the importance of using a multi-method approach in determining migratory movement behaviour, area specific area use, and stock structure of key fisheries species. The identification of different behavioural contingents highlights the importance of acknowledging individual variation in movement and habitat-use patterns. This is particularly relevant as future climate change and spatiotemporal variation in fishing effort may artificially skew natural selection processes to favour certain behavioural groups. This study also highlighted the importance of scientists forming relationships with resource-users, such as recreational angling lodges in areas where limited research has been conducted. This is particularly relevant within the West African context where little is known about many of the fish species that are being increasingly targeted by tourism angling ventures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Towards a norm of compliance in recreational fisheries
- Authors: Bova, Christopher S
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Fishing -- Management -- South Africa , Fishery law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/95909 , vital:31213
- Description: The activity of fishing can be traced back to prehistoric times. However, only in the last century has there been a focus on the management of fisheries. Fishery regulations are tools used by resource managers with the aim of protecting the long-term sustainability of fishery resources. Although there is an overwhelming amount of evidence demonstrating the decline of fisheries, non-compliance with these regulations by fishers continues to manifest, which can exacerbate the negative ecological impacts of fisheries. Popular methods towards the measurement of noncompliance in fisheries derived from previous human dimensions literature may be flawed. Theories on improving compliance behaviour have typically relied on theory, which has at times proved paradoxical. Addressing the issues of non-compliance within a fishery of interest requires measuring the levels of non-compliance within the fishery and determining the relevant sociopsychological drivers behind the non-compliant behaviour. The data collection methods used during these assessments are limited in human dimensions research and are often case and context specific, requiring researchers to identify which approach is most practical for the specific fishery of interest. By identifying relevant behavioural drivers of non-compliance, a more effective approach aimed at improving compliance can be tailored. The recreational marine-based shore fishery (MBSF) in South Africa is not impervious to noncomplaint behaviour. In fact, it has been estimated to have relatively high rates of non-compliance. This high level of non-compliance makes the South African MBSF a unique and optimal context in which to undertake research that aims to formulate a framework towards compliance assessments and that develops a suitable approach for improving compliance rates. Using surveys to obtain compliance data can provide a range of details about violators, however they are susceptible to social desirability bias (SDB). Choosing the best method for controlling SDB required an assessment of existing methods for doing so. In this first part of the study, only fishers who were covertly observed breaking the rules were surveyed, using one of three methods for reducing SDB, to ground-truth the responses. Ground-truthing was done to determine which method would be most effective for a large-scale study within the same fishery. Of the methods used, which include the direct questioning method (DQM), the random response technique (RRT) and the ballot box method (BBM), all contained some level of SDB. However, the BBM provided a significantly higher level of response accuracy (79.6% ± 11.9) than the DQM (46.5% ± 14.9) and the RRT (44.3% ± 12.5). Random-stratified roving creel compliance surveys that employed the BBM were then undertaken at various locations along South Africa’s coastline to estimate current rates of non-compliance, and the face-to-face results were compared to results from an identical online survey to determine the suitability of online surveys as a replacement. The results indicated that online surveys only represent a subgroup of the fisher population within the MBSF, suggesting that face-to-face survey methods are required to obtain a more comprehensive sample and a more robust estimate of noncompliance. The results, based on 453 face-to-face surveys, showed a high level of overall self-reported noncompliance (48.3%) within the fishery. Responses to Likert scale survey questions on various aspects of the fishery, including angler motivations for fishing, were then modelled to test the relationship between the anglers’ responses and their compliance behaviour. In the South African MBSF context, the most significant behavioural drivers behind non-compliance related to normative concepts. Specifically, the poor perceptions of management and value-based legitimacy as well as low levels of moral obligation to adhere to the regulations appeared to contribute most to the observed non-compliant behaviour. Angler motivations for fishing also played a significant role in determining the compliance behaviour of anglers, with those fishing for food being more likely to violate regulations. In most countries, regardless of economic context, interventions to improve recreational fishery compliance have been developed around the instrumental concept. However, these findings suggest that for recreational fisheries, managers would do well to evaluate the impact of normative concepts on compliance and to design interventions aimed at addressing these. In the case of the South African MBSF, interventions that address angler perceptions of legitimacy and aim to correct misperceptions about social norms of compliance may provide a more practical and cost- effective method for improving poor compliance behaviour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Nonlinear optical responses of targeted phthalocyanines when conjugated with nanomaterials or fabricated into polymer thin films
- Authors: Nwaji, Njemuwa Njoku
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Electrochemistry , Phthalocyanines , Nanoparticles , Bioconjugates , Thin films , Polymers , Nonlinear optics , Nonlinear optical spectroscopy , Nanostructured materials , Raman effect
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71625 , vital:29926
- Description: A number of zinc, gallium and indium metallophthalocyanines (MPcs) with diverse substituents have been synthesized and characterized using various characterization tools such as proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR), matrix assisted laser desorption time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, Fourier-transformed infra-red (FT-IR), Ultraviolet-visible (Uv-vis) spectrophotometry, magnetic circular dichroism and CHNS elemental analysis. The time dependent density functional theory was employed to probe the origin of spectroscopic information in these complexes. Complexes with gallium and indium as central metal showed higher triplet quantum yield compared to the zinc derivatives. Some of the MPcs were covalently linked to nanomaterials such as CdTe, CdTeSe, CdTeSe/ZnO, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) as well as metallic gold (AuNPs) and silver (AgNPs) nanoparticles. Others were either surface assembled onto AuNPs and AgNPs or embedded into polystyrene as polymer source. The phthalocyanine-nanomaterial composites (Pc-NMCs) were characterized with FT-IR, UV-visible spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The thickness of the thin films was determined by utilization of the knife edge attachment of the A Bruker D8 Discover X-ray diffraction. The optical limiting properties (using the open-aperture Z-scan technique) of the MPcs and the Pc-NMCs were investigated. The investigated MPcs complexes generally showed good optical limiting properties. The nonlinear optical response of the MPcs were improved in the presence of nanomaterials such as the semiconductor quantum dots (SQDs), graphene quantum dots (GQDs) as well as metallic AuNPs and AgNPs with MPc-QDs showing the best optical limiting behavior. The optical limiting properties of the MPcs were greatly enhanced in the presence of polymer thin films.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Culturally-informed coping strategies of posttraumatic stress disorders among the black Africans in the greater Accra region of Ghana and black Africans in the eastern cape of South Africa
- Authors: Thompson, Sandra
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Posttraumatic stress disorder
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44625 , vital:38154
- Description: The influence of culture in coping with Posttraumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) has been highlighted in literature. However, these culture specific coping strategies are not as yet, extensively explored. The research sought to explore and describe the culturally - informed coping strategies of PTS D among the black Africans in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana and black Africans in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. A qualitative methodological approach was used to explore the phenomenon under study. Purposive non - probability sampling was employed to obtain access to participants who could inform the objectives of the study. Data was collected using semi - structured interviews with traumatised individuals and focus group discussions with cultural leaders. All interviews were audio - recorded, transcribed, translated and analysed using thematic content analysis to facilitate the description and comparison of the similarities and distinctive features emerging from the two African communities. The findings indicated that a number of cultural factors influence interpretation of symptoms of PTSD and the adopted coping strategies. Participants’ understanding of symptoms of PTSD relied heavily on Christian Religious and African cultural understandings. It was evident that almost all explanations were purely spiritual and minimal knowledge was expressed on cognitive interpretations. A great deal of emphasis by the Ghanaians and isiXhosa of South Africa, was on dreams and such interpretations were deferred to an authoritative individual (especially the traditional healer). An obvious hierarchy for coping emerged with the traditional healer playing a major role for the Ghanaian and isiXhosa participants. Performing rites and the use of plants were essential to healing for these group of individuals. Whereas, the Coloured - Afrikaans made reference to a higher power “God”. An outstanding observation was the extent to which Ghanaian and isiXhosa participants have incorporated Christian and traditional practices (i.e. praying to God, performing rites and using herbs or plants). Even where an individual did not wish to mix practice because of upbringing, they acknowledged the existence and effectiveness of these practices. Colonisation was drawn on as an explanation for such mixed practices. The advent of Christianity was explained as having established Western culture (specifically Christianity) that is incorporated by participants. The Coloured - Afrikaans on the other hand, were consistent with the Christian practices “prayers to God”. A great deal of consistency however existed among all participants. Social support was considered very important. Talking with family and friends were relevant to the healing process as it gets rid of distorted thought patterns and avoids isolation considered as a serious current threat to healing. While there was an element of cognitive understanding, Western based treatment using cognitive restructuring was not a treatment option. Clinical practitioners or Psychologists that come into contact with the black Ghanaians and black South Africans should consider collaborative treatment strategies using the draft checklist as a guide.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Application of computational methods in elucidating the isomerization step in the biosynthesis of coumarins
- Authors: Tshiwawa, Tendamudzimu
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Coumarins , Isomerization , Biosynthesis , Organic compounds -- Synthesis , Cinnamic acid
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67646 , vital:29124
- Description: The identity of the enzyme(s) responsible for the biosynthetic transformation of cinnamic acid derivatives to important, naturally occurring coumarins has yet to be established. This study constitutes a high-level theoretical analysis of the possibility that a recently reported molecular mechanism of the synthesis of coumarins from Baylis-Hillman adducts, may provide a viable model for three critical phases in the biosynthetic pathway Particular attention has been given to the first of these phases: i) E→Z isomerisation of the cinnamic acid precursor; ii) Cyclisation (lactonisation) to the hemi-acetal intermediate; and ii) Dehydration to afford the coumarin derivative. In order to accomplish this analysis, an enzyme capable, theoretically, of effecting this E→Z isomerisation required identification, and its potential involvement in the transformation mechanism explored. Combined Molecular Mechanics and high-level Quantum Mechanical/DFT calculations were used to access complementary models of appropriate complexes and relevant processes within the enzyme active sites of a range of eleven Chalcone Isomerase (CHI) enzyme candidates, the structures of which were downloaded from the Protein Data Bank. Detailed B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) calculations have provided pictures of the relative populations of conformations within the ensemble of conformations available at normal temperatures. Conformations of several protonation states of cinnamic acid derivatives have been studied in this way, and the results obtained showed that coupled protonation and deprotonation of (E)-o-coumaric acid provides a viable approach to achieve the E→Z isomerization. In silico docking of the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) optimized (E)-o-coumaric acid derivatives in the active sites of each of the candidate CHI enzymes (CHI) revealed that (E)-o-coumaric acid fits well within the active sites of Medicago Sativa CHI crystallographic structures with 1FM8 showing best potential for not only accommodating (E)-o-coumaric acid , but also providing appropriate protein active site residues to effect the simultaneous protonation and deprotonation of the substrate , two residues being optimally placed to facilitate these critical processes. Further exploration of the chemical properties and qualities of selected CHI enzymes, undertaken using High Throughput Virtual Screening (HTVS), confirmed 1FM8 as a viable choice for further studies of the enzyme-catalysed E→Z isomerization of (E)-o-coumaric acid. A molecular dynamics study, performed to further evaluate the evolution of (E)-o-coumaric acid in the CHI active site over time, showed that the ligand in the 1FM8 active site is not only stable, but also that the desired protein-ligand interactions persist throughout the simulation period to facilitate the E→Z isomerization. An integrated molecular orbital and molecular mechanics (ONIOM) study of the 1FM8-(E)-o-coumaric acid complex, involving the direct protonation and deprotonation of the ligand by protein residues; has provided a plausible mechanism for the E → Z isomerization of (E)-o-coumaric acid within the 1FM8 active site; a transition state complex (with an activation energy of ca. 50 kCal.mol-1) has been located and its connection with both the (E)- and (Z)-o-coumaric acid isomer has been confirmed by Intrinsic Reaction Coordinate (IRC) calculations. More realistic models of the 1FM8-(E)-o-coumaric acid complex, with the inclusion of water solvent molecules, have been obtained at both the QM/MM and adaptive QM/MM levels which simulate the dynamic active site at the QM level. The results indicate that the simultaneous protonation and deprotonation of (E)-o-coumaric acid within the CHI enzyme is a water-mediated process – a conclusion consistent with similar reported processes. Visual inspection of the 1FM8-(Z)-o-coumaric acid complex reveals both the necessary orientation of the phenolic and carboxylic acid moieties of the (Z)-o-coumaric acid and the presence of appropriate, proximal active site residues with the potential to permit catalysis of the subsequent lactonisation and dehydration steps required to generate coumarin.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The impact of policies on development-induced resettlement processes and outcomes: a Lesotho-India comparative study
- Authors: Tsietsi, Teboho Priscilla Mosuoe
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Forced migration -- Lesotho , Forced migration -- India , Dams -- Social aspects -- Lesotho , Dams -- Social aspects -- India , Irrigation projects -- Economic aspects -- Lesotho , Irrigation projects -- Economic aspects -- India , Land settlement -- Government policy -- Lesotho , Land settlement -- Government policy -- India
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72307 , vital:30032
- Description: The practice of Development-Induced Displacement and Resettlement (DIDR), historically, has often led to negative consequences for those affected by development projects, including but not limited to, the construction of large dams. Although DIDR arises from the need to provide goods and services that characterise development, it often leaves those who are forced to give up their assets, resources, and long standing social networks in dire socio-economic conditions as a result of resettlement. In many such cases, the provision for losses suffered by those primarily affected is often insufficient, leading to further losses experienced as a result of the complete life change experienced by those affected by resettlement. Research has shown that the insufficiency of such provisions for losses is attributable to not only the value of the provision itself, but also the manner in which resettlement processes are implemented. While early on, researchers believed that the development of policies would have a significant, positive impact on the practice of resettlement and its outcomes, evidence would later show that the development of policies alone is not a panacea for all challenges associated with forced resettlement. Further research revealed that resettlement is characterised by inherent and active complexities which are often at play, and may impede effective implementation. Hence, while the development of policies is essential, both the development and implementation of policies must be undertaken in a manner that seeks to actively address the inherent complexities of resettlement. This thesis aims to explore the implementation of resettlement policies in two case studies, where in one case, resettlement was informed by national policy, and in the other, by policies developed by a parastatal tasked with the responsibility of executing resettlement. The study makes a comparative analysis between the two cases, and explores the factors at play in the implementation of resettlement policies – whether such factors serve to facilitate or impede effective implementation – as well as the nature of the outcomes on the ground. As an overarching goal, the research aims to provide a basis upon which a framework for the development of a national level policy of resettlement may be developed. In this regard, the thesis undertakes a comparison of the Indian resettlement case with the Lesotho case. The former, in addition to having developed a resettlement policy at the national level, has a long history of experience in forced resettlement and displacement, from which invaluable lessons have been learned. The latter, on the other hand, has no resettlement policy at the national level, although the country has also experienced forced resettlement dating back to nearly three decades ago. Although India and Lesotho have distinct social, cultural, economic and demographic characteristics, research has shown that the complexities of forced resettlement, and their outcomes on affected people, are largely applicable across the different contexts. Hence, certain dimensions and lessons can be transferable from the Indian case to the Lesotho case, and vice versa. However, for the purpose of this thesis, the focus is on providing a basis for national policy development in Lesotho, in light of Indian policies and practice. The empirical basis of the thesis is an ethnographic study undertaken in relation to the Chandil Dam resettlement case in Jharkhand, India and the Mohale Dam resettlement case in Maseru, Lesotho. The thesis engaged both qualitative and quantitative research methods, as well as four, complementary theoretical tools that analyse the effects of forced resettlement on affected people. The thesis reveals that the negative consequences of forced resettlement resulting from its inherent complexities continue to manifest with concerning effects on the lives of those affected. It shows that the implementation of policies is a complex process that requires collaborative effort from a wide range of stakeholders in a given context. National policies of resettlement are, thus, instrumental in this regard, as they can create an enabling environment for the facilitation of collaborative efforts towards sustainable livelihood re-establishment for those who involuntarily suffer losses to resettlement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Genetic diversity, resistance profile of hiv and risk assessment of mother-to-child transmission in pregnant women on antiretroviral therapy in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Adeniyi, Oladele Vincent
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Antiretroviral agents HIV infections -- Treatment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15120 , vital:40183
- Description: Despite the initiation of life-long ART in HIV-infected pregnant women, the rate and determinants of infant HIV transmission are not known, especially in the poor resource settings of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Maternal anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is crucial for elimination of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. However, the inevitable risks of emergence of HIV drug resistance poses significant threat to achieving this goal of HIV-free generation and keeping mothers alive. Also, it is unclear if women with high viral load at delivery have acquired clinically relevant mutations, which could confer resistance to the ART, thus, further increasing the risks of motherto-child transmission of HIV-drug resistance strains. In addition to the gaps identified in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) context, the understanding of regional epidemics is crucial to the broader epidemiological profiling of HIV infections in the country. Despite the rapid influx of foreign nationals to South African and Eastern Cape Province, there has not been any molecular epidemiological studies profiling the HIV diversity in the Eastern Cape.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The development of a socio-economic model to promote women empowerment initiatives in the renewable energy sector of South Africa
- Authors: Keown, Harvey
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Women -- Employment -- South Africa , Women in development -- South Africa Equality -- South Africa Economic development -- South Africa South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 2000-
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40621 , vital:36199
- Description: The objective of this research was, therefore, to evaluate and recommend new approaches to mainstream gender in the renewable energy sector. This objective would be achieved by introducing a model of the factors that contribute to the perceived success of the socio-economic empowerment of women within the renewable energy sector of the RSA. This study is equally beneficial to any Country that might be embarking on a Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program. Also, the research findings and recommendations are equally relevant to the mining, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors who wish to mainstream gender in their sectors. From the empirical evidence, Executive Leadership (ethical leadership) positively influences Good Governance and Successful Women’s Empowerment. Therefore, the inference can be made that the respondents deemed Executive Leadership to be a primary contributing factor to both Good Governance and Successful Women’s Empowerment. According to the empirical results, Social Investment (funding) and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (policy) positively influence Successful Women’s Empowerment. Finally, the empirical results indicate that Sustainable Programmes are a positive contributing factor to Good Governance. The respondents did not consider Stakeholder Engagement statistically significant in relation to Good Governance or Successful Women’s Empowerment. This could be a case of misinterpretation, or lack of experience regarding the importance of Stakeholder Engagement. However, the literature indicates the criticality of Stakeholder Engagement, as well as Change Management. Further research should be conducted to establish the lack of appreciation by respondents for the importance of Stakeholder Engagement and Change Management. These findings shed light on the opportunities for the socio-economic empowerment of women in the renewable energy sector of the RSA, by developing women-led Independent Power Producers.The South African Constitution is lauded as one of the most progressive in the world, and in some respects considered better than the Constitution of the United States of America with regards to Human and Socio-Economic Rights. Yet, South Africa exhibits the highest incidence of recorded rape in the world, with an increase in femicides, violence against women and children, and even more barbaric acts of burning their victims, and cannibalism in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. This research argues that if women were economically empowered, they would be able to extricate themselves from these perilous situations. The paradox between the South African Constitution and the reality, is indicative of deep structural challenges that will require exceptional solutions that will address the systemic issues that this study will discuss. The renewable energy sector, which is one of the fastest growing business sectors in South Africa, could be that catalyst for this change, and, more importantly, change the stereotypical paradigm of women entrepreneurs as owners of ‘chicken coops’ and ‘veggie patches’, to become owner-operators of their own power generation facilities, thereby making a meaningful contribution to women-led Independent Power Producers. However, it would be a lost opportunity if the renewable energy sector were to follow a similar trajectory to the mining sector in failing to mainstream gender, or if the renewable energy sector were to repeat the errors of the mining sector in attempting to empower women. Based on the literature review, guidance from subject matter experts, survey data, and personal field experience, I examine the primary research question: What are the main contributors and variables which can positively influence the socioeconomic empowerment of women initiatives in the renewable energy sector in the Republic of South Africa? In order to respond to this primary research question, a theoretical model was developed, which was informed by the academic literature, reports and studies from the public and private sectors, data garnered through a questionnaire, as well as face-to-face dialogue sessions. In order to address the primary objective of developing the theoretical model, several secondary goals were established by developing a conceptual model that comprised of variables determined through a detailed review of the related gender and renewable energy literature.
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- Date Issued: 2019
"A lean-led-evaluation" of infrastructure development improvement programme in South Africa
- Authors: Monyane, Thabiso Godfrey
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Construction industry -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44535 , vital:38131
- Description: A doctoral study was embarked upon with the intentions of addressing cost management problems encountered on Infrastructure Delivery Projects in South Africa. Given that poor cost performance constitute hindrance to the realization of project goals, it is imperative to eliminate it from project delivery. The prevalence of cost overrun in public sector projects is a call to all stakeholders to address cost management issues in the construction industry. The predominance of cost overruns in public sector construction projects in South Africa has been observed. With the decline of the current economic conditions in South Africa, project performance is a great concern that needs attention. In addition, ineffective initiatives to curb the abuse of the procurement processes are directly affecting the outcomes of construction projects, and if these status quo remains, the sector will continue to have a bad image and continued waste of taxpayers’ money will not cease until the public sector remove non-value adding activities in their operations. Study adopted a mixed methods designed that collected both textual and statistical data. Semistructured interviews were undertaken to determine the outcomes of current project management practices in South Africa. In terms of performance of projects, the status quo paints a disconsolate picture. Findings reveal protracted processes, and the use of unqualified and inexperienced contribute to poor performance of public sector projects. Poor performance continues to dominate the construction sector, especially in the public sector. Interviews data were contrasted with evidence from project-related documents. Based on the data, the study produces a vignette of existing cost management frameworks applied to such projects. Encompassing various stages of the project delivery lifecycle, this vignette will enable an identification of the challenges afflicting cost management on projects. Accordingly, this study identified Lean opportunities from existing cost management practices. Such opportunities will enable identification of effective cost management during project delivery. There appears a need for collaborative cost management practices. Lean tools mentioned for improvement include the 5Whys, the big room, target value design, and the integration of design and construction. A collaborative cost management framework was developed through relevant theories to improve the cost management process of public sector projects.
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- Date Issued: 2019