Evaluating the beneficiary management process in housing delivery: a case study of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape (2013)
- Authors: Matiwane, T
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11685 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1013565
- Description: The study critically analysed the problems encountered in the housing delivery in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality for the 2013 period. The purpose is to look at the factors that affect housing delivery in the area, focusing more especially at the management of the beneficiaries and the process thereof. Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality is not immune to the housing problem hence the study was initiated. Respondents were selected from among others the housing beneficiary and the predominantly the staff of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality to respond to the questionnaires related to the beneficiary management. Permission was sought from the Municipality to conduct the research, after which the questionnaires were distributed to all sampled respondents accordingly in line with the objectives of the research. The researcher distributed the questionnaires and allowed a period of three weeks for the respondents to respond to them, after which the researcher collected all the questionnaires. The study revealed the great understanding of the housing delivery process by the housing recipients. Inclusive of the administrators, i.e. Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality staff members, are fully aware of the expectations from the recipients and the process. The findings further indicates that there are serious challenges facing housing delivery in the province and the country at large. Hence the beneficiaries could not get their houses on time and the housing projects did not get completed within the scheduled period, this ends up delaying the delivery process.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Evaluating the implementation of the principles of good governance in Zimbabwe local government system : a case of Marondera local municipality
- Authors: Muswaka, Phyllis
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Local government -- Zimbabwe Public administration -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13068 , vital:39453
- Description: Participatory budgeting currently occupies centre stage in Public and Municipal financial management Acts. The principle of participatory budgeting ushers in a broader public forum in which crucial principles in Public financial management such as accountability and transparency are observed, thereby automatically ensuring effective governance. The efficacy of participatory budgeting is to improve service delivery through opening up structures that will combat the spread of mal administrative practices such as corruption and financial fraud whilst enhancing democratic participation and upholding the rule of law by fostering transparency and accountability and making the governments more responsive to the needs of the people. The main objective of this study is to explore the pernicious effects of having limited citizen participation in Public finance management. It seeks to examine whether the poor service delivery by local municipalities can be attributed to the lack of effective citizen participation. This will be done through assessing whether the seeds of participatory budgeting have led to the fruits of efficient and effective service delivery in the public sector both in theory and in practice at Nkonkobe local municipality. It has been discovered that the inability to provide effective service delivery is a complex challenge facing many municipalities in South Africa, and although such a situation has been co-determined by many other factors including financial restraints, the root cause of service delivery incapability’s can be traced back to weather the citizens are actually participating in the management of public finances through participatory budgeting or not. More often than not, the failure to accommodate the citizens in local government affairs has been the spark that has been responsible for setting alight strikes and service delivery protest marches in most of South Africa’s Provinces. However, due to this, this study aims to reveal that participatory budgeting is an ambitious issue that requires local authorities to focus on in order to improve service delivery through embracing active citizen participation. Recommendations as well as consequences of lack of citizen participation in the budget process were thereby highlighted.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Evaluation of some wastewater treatment facilities in Chris Hani and Amathole district municipalities as potential sources of Escherichia coli in the environment
- Authors: Mazwi, Sinazo Nomathamsanqa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Purification
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11285 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019804 , Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Purification
- Description: Access to clean and safe water is essential for the survival of human beings. Pollution of freshwater sources constitutes a major problem hindering access to safe water for drinking and other domestic uses. Wastewater effluent discharges often impact the microbiological qualities of surface waters with its attendant health and environmental problems. This study evaluated the microbiological qualities of the discharged effluents of four selected wastewater treatment plants in Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province over a twelve-month sampling period. Microbiological analysis (faecal coliform, Escherichia coli and Escherichia coli O157:H7) was done using standard methods and polymerase chain reaction method was used to confirm identities ofbacterial isolates. Presumptive bacteria counts ranged as follows: faecal coliforms 0 to 1.6 × 103 CFU/100 ml, E. coli 0 to 1.4 × 103 CFU/100 ml and E. coli O157:H7 0 to 9.6 × 102 CFU/100 ml. Forty eight percent (305/626) of the presumptive E. coli isolates were confirmed using species-specific uidA gene which code for β-glucuronidase enzyme in E. coli. Antibiotic susceptibility profile of the isolate using a panel of 10 antibiotics shows 100% (150/150) resistance to antibiotics rifampicin and penicillin G while 49.3% (74/150) of the isolates and 46.7% (70/150) were susceptible to streptomycin and cefotaxime respectively. Multiple antibiotic resistance phenotypes (MARP) of the isolates showed resistance to two or more test antibiotics while the calculated multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) for the tested isolated is 0.49. The detection of potentially pathogenic E. coli in the final effluents suggestspotential danger to the receiving water bodies where the effluents are discharge. The high MARI valued obtained in this study indicates that the isolates are form environment where the tested antibiotics are being used and may further lead to the spread of multiple antibiotics resistance among other pathogens that may be present in the same environment.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Evaluation of the efficacy of Carpobrotus edulis (L.) bolus leaf as a traditional treatment for the management of HIV/AIDS
- Authors: Omoruyi, Beauty Etinosa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Phytochemicals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Carpobrotus
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Biochemistry)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/744 , vital:26493 , AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Phytochemicals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Carpobrotus
- Description: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most common and dreaded diseases of the 21th century. Today, the disease is still spreading with increasing incidence. “Since the beginning of the epidemic, almost 75 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 36 million people have died of HIV. Globally, 35.3 million [32.2–38.8 million] people were living with HIV at the end of 2012” (http://www.who.int/gho/hiv/en/). Several studies have been conducted on herbs under a multitude of ethnobotanical grounds. The use of medicinal plants for the management of HIV has become a common practice especially, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa (Wilfred Otang Mbeng, 2013 PhD thesis, UFH). At the beginning of this programme, an ethnomedicinal survey of plants used for the management of HIV infection was carried out in targeted areas of the Province and information on the names of plants, the parts and the methods of preparation were collected. The survey revealed that 18 species representing 12 families were found to be commonly used for the management of HIV, as well as other opportunistic diseases such as tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, sores, high blood pressure, etc. Carpobrotus edulis was selected for this research because it was the most frequently used in the Province. The foliar micro morphological contents of the plant, its phytochemical and antioxidant activity, in vitro antimicrobial activity, inhibitory effect against HIV-1 protease and reverse transcriptase, mechanisms of action and cytotoxicity were investigated. In terms of the foliar micro morphological contents in plants, an electron microscopy scanning (SEM) was completed. Investigation revealed that both glandular tricomes and calcium oxalate crystals (CaOX) were observed. Consequently, it is hypothesized that the bioactive therapeutic compounds secreted by C. edulis may be produced in the glandular trichomes. An investigation of phytochemical content of the plant extracts (C. edulis) was completed using four solvent extracts (hexane, acetone, ethanol and water). Results of the phytochemical analysis showed that proanthocyanidins (86.9 ± 0.005%) where highest in the aqueous extract with phenolics at 55.7 ± 0.404% in acetone extract, tannin at 48.9 ± 0.28% in ethanol extract, while the hexane extract had the highest levels of flavonoids (0.12 ± 0.05%) and flavonols (0.12 ± 0.05%). Antioxidant studies of the various extracts revealed that aqueous and ethanol extracts were found to be the best solvents for antioxidant activity in C. edulis leaves. GC-MS analysis of the essential oil from C. edulis leaves revealed that the essential oil contained at least 28 compounds. These included, in order of abundance: Oxygenated monoterpenes (36.61%); fatty acids esters (19.25%); oxygenated diterpenes (19.24%); monoterpenes (10.6%); sesquiterpenes (3.58%); and diterpenes (1.43%). Similarly, a GC-MS analysis of the crude hexane, acetone and ethanol extracts from C. edulis leaves identified a total of 59 compounds. Of the 59 compounds, 12 major phyto-metabolites that are active against infectious diseases were identified. To comfirm the potential use of C. edulis to treat infectious disease, antifungal activity of the crude essential oil extract and the four solvent extracts were tested against Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, Candida rugosa and Cryptococcus neoformans strains. The essential oil extract was found to be the most active against all the fungal strains tested and performed better than the four extracts used various solvents used to extract (hexane, acetone, ethanol and water) the C. edulis leaves were tested for antibacterial and anti HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) activity. The results indicated that both gram-positive and gram-negative isolates were inhibited by the extracts (hexane, acetone and ethanol) but antimicrobial activity was observed for the water extract. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration values were obtained for the ethanol extract, followed by acetone and hexane extracts. No inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase was observed for any of the leaf extracts, even up to concentrations of 16 mg/ml. The potential inhibitory activities of the various solvent extracts against HIV-1 protease were evaluated at four different concentrations (16, 1.6, 0.16 and 0.016 mg/ml). Results indicated that the water extract showed almost 100% inhibition of HIV-1 protease activity, with an IC50 of 0.86 mg/ml leaf extract. Other solvent extracts (hexane, acetone and ethanol) however, did not show any inhibition activity above that observed for the DMSO control. The metabolic components in the water extract were subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis, which identified at least 91 compounds present in the water extract. Further studies involving the molecular modelling need to be carried out to confirm the inhibitory potential of these compounds. The cytotoxicity of the water extract of C. edulis leaves was also screened using human Chang liver cells at concentrations ranging bewteen 0.005 mg/ml and 1 mg/ml. Results indicated that the water extracts were not toxic. In conclusion the results from this study support the use of water extracts of C. edulis leaves by traditional healers to treat HIV infections and have identified possible mechanisms of action of the water extracts of C. edulis.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Evaluation of the final effluents of some wastewater treatment plants in Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province as sources of vibrio pathogens in the aquatic environment
- Authors: Nongogo, Vuyokazi
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11287 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019813
- Description: Certain areas in the world still depend on the receiving water bodies as sources of domestic water and for recreational purposes. The discharge of poor quality effluents from wastewater treatment plants can impact negatively on these water bodies, as they can act as vehicles for pathogens to the environment, posing a threat to humans if such water is used without precaution. Vibrio species are amongst those pathogens that can survive wastewater treatment processes, ending up in the environment, hence the aim of this study was to evaluate the final effluents of some wastewater treatment plants as sources of vibrio pathogens. Five wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) located in Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities in the Eastern Cape were used in this study. Samples were collected monthly from September 2012 – August 2013 and analysed using the standard membrane filtration technique. Yellow and green colonies on TCBS agar were enumerated as presumptive Vibrio species and expressed as CFU/100ml for each plant. Colonies were later picked based on their phenotypic characteristics, sub-cultured on fresh TCBS agar to ascertain purity. These presumptive isolates were then subjected to Gram staining and Oxidase test. Gram negative and Oxidase positive isolates were selected for further confirmation using Polymerised Chain Reaction (PCR). PCR was also employed for characterisation of Vibrio into three species viz V. parahaemolyticus, V. fluvialis and V. vulnificus. Antibiogram profile of the characterised species was then determined together with the presence of relevant antibiotic resistance genes Vibrio densities for the twelve month period ranged between 0 - 1.48×104 CFU/100ml with two of the plants located in East bank and Queenstown characterized by extremely high counts and one plant( Reeston) with very low counts.Three hundred presumptive Vibrio isolates were screened for identity confirmation. Of these, the dominating species found was V. fluvialis (28.6%) followed by V. vulnificus (28%) and the least was found to be V. parahaemolyticus (11.6%). The remaining unidentified 31.6% were suspected to belong to other Vibrio species not covered within the scope of this study. All the confirmed isolates i.e., V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus and V. fluvialis were susceptible to imipenem, gentamicin and meropenem and resistant to only tetracycline. Between 60-100% of the V. parahaemolyticus isolates, 7.1% to 100 % V. vulnificus isolates and 2.5 to 100 % V. fluvialis showed resistances to polymixin B, sulfamethazole, erythromycin, penicillin G, chloramphenicol, trimethroprim and trimethroprim & sulfamethazole. Antibiotic Resistance Genes that were assessed included dfRA, SXT, floR and Sul2 varying in proportion with each species showing diversity in the Vibrio community. The dfR A gene was detected in all the V. parahaemolyticus isolates while floR gene was not detected in any of the isolates belonging to the three species. The distribution of sul2 gene cut across the species being 1% (1) in V. fluvialis, 3% (1) in V. parahaemolyticus and 4% (3) in V. vulnificus. The SXT gene was only determined in V. parahaemolyticus. It is clear that the final effluents of the selected plants are reservoirs for Vibrio pathogens as well as antibiotic resistance genes in the environment. The isolation of Vibrio from WWTP shows that this pathogen is in circulation in some pockets of the population. Therefore, wastewater treatment plants need to be properly monitored to ensure that they comply with set guidelines.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Exchange rate misalignment and economic growth: a case study of South Africa
- Authors: Rudd, Bernice Nicolette
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/894 , vital:26507
- Description: The relationship between a country’s real exchange rate (RER) misalignment and economic growth has attracted much attention from both academic and policy perspective. This study examines the relationship between the exchange rate misalignment and economic growth in South Africa, by specifically looking at the fundamental determinants of the real exchange rate and the impact of the misalignment on economic growth for the period 1980 to 2012. This study employs the Johansen cointegration technique and the Vector Error Correction Model. The empirical results revealed that terms of trade, government consumption expenditure, net foreign assets, broad money supply and technological productivity are important factors in determining the RER in South Africa. In addition to the misalignment variable, terms of trade, government spending, private business investment and broad money supply were also found to influence economic growth in South Africa. This suggest that authorities can influence the behaviour of the exchange rate in South Africa through altering one of its fundaments. The results suggest that a RER misalignment has a negative effect on economic growth in South Africa. Thus policies aimed at maintaining an equilibrium RER should be pursued.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Expenditure analysis and planning in a changed economy: a case study approach of Gweru City Council, Zimbabwe
- Authors: Kuhudzai, Anesu G
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Economic development -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Regression analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Mathematical Statistics)
- Identifier: vital:11786 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019780 , Economic development -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Regression analysis
- Description: The purpose of this study is to analyse Gweru City Council`s spending pattern and behaviour and to determine if this spending pattern is directed towards poverty reduction and economic development or not. Furthermore, to fit a log-differenced regression model to a historical financial dataset obtained from Gweru City Council Finance Department for the time period July 2009 to September 2012. Regression techniques were used to determine how Gweru City Council`s total income (dependent variable) is affected by its expenditure (independent variables). Econometric modeling techniques were employed for the evaluation of estimate tests, conducted to determine the reliability of the estimated model. The study concludes by providing some recommendations for possible financial plans which could be adopted by Gweru City Council and other local authorities in Zimbabwe for the well-being of Zimbabweans and economic development.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Experiences of agency nurses regarding their placement in private hospitals in East London, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Muller, Jennifer
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11911 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016054
- Description: The general Australian workforce is becoming increasingly reliant on agency staff due to the diminishing of full-time jobs and the rise in part-time jobs since the recession of 1991-1992. This pattern is also seen in Western countries such as America and the United Kingdom (Peerson et al., 2002:505). The excessive costs of health service adopting a 100% staffing model has created the use of agency nursing to help meet fluctuating and unpredictable health care demands in Australia and overseas; agency staff are used to meet the shortfalls in staff-patient ratios (Peerson et al., 2002:505). Hurst & Smith (2011:287) agree that agency nurse staffing form a large part of the health service in the UK and state that this was unlikely to change because of recruitment and retention problems, high absenteeism, and staff wanting to work casually. In their study, they identified three types of agency nurses: A bank nurse – the hospital’s own employees or those supplied by NHS Professionals, who work when required, usually at short notice; agency nurses provided by commercial organisations, who are equally flexible but less familiar with the ward patients and procedures; and permanent ward staff working paid overtime. In South Africa, this also remains a problem in public and private institutions. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the minimum ratio for nurses to population is 200:100 000 or 500 people per nurse. According to South African Nursing Council statistics of nursing manpower as at the end of 2008, South Africa has 437 nurses for every 100 000 people. This assumed that all nurses registered with SANC are working in South Africa at the time. Therefore, if the assumed number of staff not working in South Africa is subtracted, the ratio can increase to between 600 and 678 people per nurse (WHO, 2006). Joubert (2009:2) shows that a shortage of nurses contributes to deaths in hospitals in South Africa that would otherwise have been avoidable. The use of agency staff is becoming an appropriate means of providing cost-effectiveness and flexibility to staffing needs.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Experiences of college students, regarding the mentoring role of registered nurses in the public services of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Lundall, Kasthuri
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11918 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016159
- Description: Fifty percent of the learning of student nurses takes place within the clinical learning environment. It is in this environment that nursing students are expected to apply their knowledge, learn new skills, and achieve the required learning outcomes and proficiencies. Nursing program Me s differ significantly, so students ‟practice will vary depending on where they are studying and their practice will develop as the level of proficiency increases, and may also vary depending on the context of placement. Gopee (2008:7) elaborates on the fact that mentoring enables student nurses to gain clinical skills during placements and serves a formal role whereby teaching and practice facilitate professional learning within the healthcare system. The study was undertaken with the aim to describe experiences of college students regarding the mentoring role by registered nurses in the Public Services of the Eastern Cape. The objectives of the study were to explore and describe experiences of college students, regarding the mentoring role of registered nurses in Public Services of the Eastern Cape, to analyse the results and to make suggestions from findings that were obtained. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was used for this study to explore and describe the experiences of the college students regarding the mentoring role of registered nurses in the Public Services of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The researcher studied the population of student nurses in the public nursing college in the Eastern Cape at the East London Campus. Purposive sampling which is referred to as a judgmental approach was used. Data were collected by means of focus group interviews. An interview schedule with an unstructured questionnaire was used to investigate and explore information gained from the participants. This study consisted of a total of five focus groups that were recruited from fourth-year nursing students at the East London campus who volunteered to be part of the study. The total number of participants was 31. Data were analysed using v Tesch‟s method of analysis for qualitative research. Two major themes emerged, revealing positive experiences of students with regard to mentoring and negative experiences of students regarding mentoring. After exploring and describing the experiences of college students regarding the mentoring role played by registered nurses in the Public Services of the Eastern Cape, it was concluded that that there is a lack of mentoring, coupled with negativity, by registered nurses which results in many challenges. Recommendations included: Motivation for integration and collaboration; interactive working relationships; introducing a well-established orientation programme; a well-structured clinical teaching programme and procedure manuals; reinstatement of clinical preceptors, clinical objectives and time frames; identify in clinical staff who will mentor student nurses; instituting in-service training programmes and workshops; introduction of peer mentoring; and establishment of set times for routine clinical ward rounds.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Exploration of indigenous knowledge and practices of the relatives of mental health care users regarding management of mental disorders in Malawi
- Authors: Kavalo, Yasinta
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11933 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021333 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1020173
- Description: Exploration of indigenous knowledge and practices of the relatives of mental health care users regarding the management of mental disorders. This study was conducted to explore the management of mental disorders amongst the indigenous people of the Dedza District in Malawi. The government of Malawi declared public mental health services to be free of charge, as a strategy to reduce the burden of disease to the country. Yet despite the free health care services, the indigenous people of Malawi did not take advantage of these free mental health care services, as they regarded them to be culturally incongruent. Instead they used traditional healing systems for mental disorders and consulted the Western health systems only when the traditional systems had failed, the mental health condition had become worse and the mental health care user had become unmanageable. This study was then conducted to explore what the Malawians regarded as culturally sensitive public mental health services. Method: A qualitative phenomenological research approach was adopted to explore the views of the relatives of mental health care users about culturally sensitive public mental health care services. A purposeful sampling method was used to select information rich participants amongst the relatives of mental health care users of indigenous Malawian origin. An unstructured interview guide was used to gather data through face to face interviews. Saturation of data was reached after interviewing fifteen (15) relatives. The verbatim transcribed data from the participants were content analyzed to identify the themes, categories and subcategories. Themes that emerged were: community beliefs; perceived causes, delayed decision making and health system factors. viii Findings: The community beliefs about the management of mental disorders were on traditional and religious health systems. The traditional healers were consulted in cases where mental illness was believed to be caused by witchcraft and spiritual healers were consulted where mental illness was believed to be caused by ancestral wrath. Even such consultations were delayed as the decisions on the type of healer to be used to manage the mental health care user, had to come from the extended family members. These processes took place during the acute phase of the mental illness and thus explain the delays in consulting with the Western mental health care systems. Such delays had a potential to contribute to the chronicity and the related complications of the illness. The Western health care services were only consulted when the indigenous healing systems were unsuccessful. Yet even the western healing systems were not the best option due to the negative and disrespectful attitudes of health care professionals, the impersonal nature of services, the use of foreign language and delays in service delivery. The recommendations were that the results of this study should be used as guidelines to develop strategies for culturally congruent mental health care services to the indigenous Malawians as the development of the strategies was beyond the scope of this study. The focus of the guidelines to ensure the development of evidence-based nursing practices in rendering culturally congruent mental health services to the indigenous Malawians. Firstly, there should be an integration of both the Western and the traditional healing systems to ensure a holistic patient centered approach to the care of the indigenous people of Malawi; secondly to use the nursing process phases, starting with the assessment, the formulation of the nursing diagnosis, the expected outcomes, the development and implementation of the nursing interventions and the discharge ix plans to incorporate the belief systems of the indigenous Malawians as identified in this study.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Exploration of nursing students’ experiences of learning in a tertiary institution in East London in the Province of Eastern Cape
- Authors: Bulelwa, Cynthia James
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11909 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015526
- Description: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of nursing students learning in a tertiary institution in East London in the Province of the Eastern Cape. Reviewed literature has revealed that the transition from high school to university is a major concern globally and that students start tertiary education with a number of pre-existing problems which influence their experience of learning and their academic performance. A qualitative, contextual approach and phenomenology design was seen as most appropriate to guide this research process in this study. Purposive, non-probability sampling was used to select the 12 participants. The participants included nursing students from the University of Fort Hare in East London in the Eastern Cape Province who are enrolled in the course leading to registration as a Nurse (General, Psychiatry and Community) and Midwifery. A pilot study was conducted at the University of Fort Hare involving respondents with similar characteristics to the study population.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Exploring Community Participation in Decision-Making Processes in Lainya County, South Sudan
- Authors: John, Awate Esther
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11707 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015206
- Description: Community participation has no single definition, but in simple terms it can be defined as a process of empowering the community or citizens by involving them in decision-making processes at all levels of government being from County, Payam and Bomas on all issues of concern that affect them politically, socially and economically. The main aim of this study is to investigate and identify the nature of and extent to which communities are given opportunities to participate in decision-making processes for effective service delivery in Lainya County. The main objectives of the study were to identify the obstacles to community participation in decision-making processes and how communities can be encouraged to participate effectively in decision-making, to meet their needs and interests. It further examines the extent to which communities play a role in promoting effective service delivery through participating in decision-making processes in Lainya County South Sudan. In this study, interviews, focus group discussions and observations were used as the main instruments for data collection on the issue of community participation as a tool for effective service delivery in Lainya County. These instruments are used to determine the extent to which communities are involved in decision-making processes to meet their needs and interests for effective service delivery. Data was collected from County officials comprising of Administrators, Chiefs, Women Associations Youth Associations and opinion leaders using both structured and unstructured interviews, focus group discussions and observations. Emerging from the study is that community participation is an integral part of the County developmental planning process. The study findings suggest that, public meetings, hearings, community workshops and seminars were the main mechanisms for community participation being used by the administrators. The study therefore, recommended among other things that; community participation be encouraged to promote community involvement in decision-making processes for effective service delivery. It also recommended that community participation and involvement be encouraged to initiate community development as it enhances program sustainability and ownership. The study further recommended that the top-down approach to decision making be replaced by bottom-up approaches, which emphasizes seeking communities’ ideas first before any developmental plans take place or are implemented. This study will significantly contribute to effective service delivery in Lainya County in the Republic of South Sudan.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Exploring the role of job satisfaction and organizational justice in determining employee motivation among nurses at Frontier Hospital, Queenstown
- Authors: Soga, Thabile
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Job satisfaction -- Organizational justice , Employee motivation -- Distributive justice
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: vital:11562 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015062 , Job satisfaction -- Organizational justice , Employee motivation -- Distributive justice
- Description: The aim of this study was to explore the role of job satisfaction and organizational justice in determining employee motivation among nurses at Frontier Hospital, Queenstown. For this purpose data was collected from the nurses at Frontier Hospital in Queenstown, in the Eastern Cape. A sample of 75 nurses was drawn from the population. Results of the study indicated that the study variables are significantly and positively correlated with one another. Job satisfaction was found to be significantly and positively correlated with employee motivation. Organizational justice was also found to be significantly positively correlated with employee motivation. Moreover, a positive and significant relationship between job satisfaction and organizational justice was found. The findings of this study are helpful in the health industry in order to design human resources policies, which will reduce the turnover of nurses by increasing their motivation through increasing job satisfaction and organizational justice.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Factors contributing to non adherence among pregnant women on antiretroviral treatment at Amathole District, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Dekeda, Kolelwa Felicia
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11921 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019773
- Description: During the beginning of the HIV epidemic in 1981 25 million people have died. The introduction of ART therefore has promising developments to reduce mortality rates and new infections. Nevertheless there is still a challenge with adherence to ART worldwide and in South Africa. The purpose of the study was to determine the factors contributing to non-adherence to ART among HIV positive pregnant women. The study involved a non- probability sample of 70 HIV pregnant women on ART attending antenatal care clinics at the tertiary hospital and two community health centres,in Buffalo City, Amathole District, Eastern Cape. A coded questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection. Ethical procedure was followed and a consent form was signed by each participant. Data was collected for a period of two months The demographic data reveals that the majority of the participants were knowledgeable about ART and employed. That is evident in the adherence to ART in all age groups except age 40 and above. The majority of HIV positive pregnant women on ART who participated in the study were single 50% (n=35) which suggests that they may lack emotional support from partners and may have difficulty in disclosing their status. Level of adherence revealed that 27% (n=19) of participants missed ART because of forgetfulness, and 16% (n=12) and others were feeling healthy due to frequent follow ups and complying with the ART. Poor follow up, too sick, side effects pill burden, fear of stigma, lack of finances and taking alcohol hinders the proper management of HIV positive pregnant women and is risky to the unborn baby. HIV positive pregnant women on ART exhibited a good knowledge and use of ART. This is encouraging and should be sustained by continuous community awareness campaigns to empower the communities about HIV/AIDS, PMTCT programme and ART and extensive training of health care providers.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Factors influencing the choice of religion studies as a subject in the further education and training band: a case study of two schools within the Uitenhage District of the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Chetty, P K
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Religion -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Education -- Curricula -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Curriculum evaluation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
- Identifier: vital:16205 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016087 , Religion -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Education -- Curricula -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Curriculum evaluation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: In 2006, a new subject, Religion Studies (RS), was introduced in Grade 10 as an optional subject. It represents a major paradigm shift in education of religion at the public school level. Minimal research has been conducted on the factors influencing the choice of RS in Grade 10 by the learners, subject advisors, principal and educators. This subject might constitute an “easy option” to boost the learner’s performance. Former or “recycled Biblical Studies” educators may be available or even volunteer to teach this subject or they may have to be absorbed within the system. Ethics, morals, cross cultural respect and non-discrimination are critical for the development of the South African democracy. While RS is optional, it could play a critical role towards achieving these outcomes. This study restricted its focus to the Uitenhage District of the Province of the Eastern Cape. After careful consideration, the interpretive approach seemed to offer the best access to the kind of knowledge the researcher desired. A theoretical framework, that narrowly links rational choice with cultural reproduction theory, can prove to be inadequate. This study would be deficient if it was restricted to the family or home factors. Peer influence, self-efficacy or ability, utility value, motivation and teacher or school factors have to be included. The case study approach was used for this research.Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain qualitative responses from learners, from principals and educators whose schools are offering Religion Studies, and from subject advisors with oversight of this subject. This study discovered, inter alia, that learners did not have a real choice but were led to believe that RS was compulsory. The school has an influential role on a learner’s subject choice. Parental participation fluctuated from active to passive guidance. Learners saw RS as an easy subject and an aggregate booster. The school community both informs and influences the subject choice of learners. The peer influence of friends and fellow learners also featured in subject choice. RS teaches about religion and culture, respect, catalyses moral development, is enjoyable and easy to study but requires extensive reading. The limited diversity in RS classes did not allow for this respect to be tested. RS can catalyse the development of moral values. Despite this subject being an aggregate booster, learners enjoyed RS and therefore do well. After balancing the “costs and benefits,” according to rational choice theory, learners choose subjects with a utility value for their future career. RS opens the possibilities directly and indirectly. The majority of learners said that RS will assist them in their career path, not only narrowly in religious and pedagogical vocations but also more widely. RS could assist in careers with constituencies of religious diversity, in the medical field, human resources and journalism. RS fosters citizenship, non-discrimination and the rounded development of the learner and these objectives have attracted educators to teach RS. Learners enjoy RS, have self-efficacy, their performance ranges from good to well. Educators have a positive view of RS and contend that RS fosters respect, analytical, critical, constructive and lateral thinking. Principals were introduced to RS when it replaced Biblical Studies and much confusion between the two has ensued. RS is inclusive and also catalyses the development of morals. Principals emphasised the ongoing need for retraining of teachers through refresher courses, workshops and seminars and an involved role of the Department. Retraining would prevent the RS educator from being an “ad hoc teacher.” The Department has failed to act proactively in the introduction of RS as a new subject. Challenges lie in the integration of learning, essay writing skills and developing good model assessment tasks. Understanding RS terminology, confusion of RS with Biblical Studies, a shortage of resources, the vast content and the subject related methodology of RS are other concerns. All the stakeholder groups confirm this misperception. Researchers also concur with this finding. Biblical Studies educators have no advantage in RS but rather also necessitate retraining. RS, as a new subject with low intake, was not afforded all the requisite support. The number of schools offering RS is static. Provincial officials also reflect confusion of RS and Biblical Studies. The lack of staffing of the subject specialist at the National or Provincial level office is perturbing. Based on this study of the factors influencing the choice of Religious Studies in the FET Band, the following recommendations were made: Steps should be taken to ensure that learners be given a real choice Sharing of detailed information about the unique nature and outcomes of RS including its critical engagement Informed stakeholder groupings e.g. parents, educators, principal, SGB, community, Provincial and National Department of Education should not abuse their influential role of support by overt or covert compulsion Clarity between spiritual formation and catalysing moral development Educators should continue to foster enjoyment of RS Steps to be taken to facilitate integration of learning, developing essay writing skills and encourage good assessment tasks Increase diversity in class so that respect can be tested More information be given about direct and indirect career pathing Need for continual re-training through refresher courses, workshops and seminars Steps to be taken to address inadequate resources of RS Despite the “flattering” results for RS, efforts need to be taken by all the stakeholder groupings to ensure that learner’s competencies become a means in which RS markets itself Concerted on-going effort be made to clarify the confusion between RS and Biblical Studies That the Department assumes a more engaged role in RS Steps be taken by all the stakeholder groupings to encourage religious diversity in the RS class The National Department of Education has to staff both the National and Provincial Offices with well-equipped and highly motivated leaders.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Farmers’ awareness of climate change and variability and it’s effects on agricultural productivity: (the case of King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipalty in Eastern Cape)
- Authors: Mdoda, Lelethu
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Agricultural productivity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops and climate -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops and water -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural assistance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11234 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021294 , Agricultural productivity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops and climate -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops and water -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural assistance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Climate is an important factor of agricultural productivity and many rural dwellers in developing countries depend on agriculture and are highly affected by climate change and variability. The world is currently experiencing climatic changes and variability conditions which results in high temperatures, low rainfall patterns, shortage of water and drought persistence. Climate change and variability is affecting weather patterns and shifting seasons which results in serious repercussions on smallholder farmers. Smallholder farmers are extremely vulnerable to climate change and variability because their farming and production systems are climate sensitive and are not rebound to climate stresses. These adverse effects in developing countries arise from different climate change and variability-related causes, notable extreme weather events, food security, increased health risks in agriculture from vector home diseases, and temperature-related morbidity in environments. The study was carried in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. This study examines farmers’ awareness of climate change and variability and its effects on agricultural productivity in King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality using a Descriptive Statistics, Binary and Ricardian Model fitted to data from a cross-sectional survey of 200 farmers in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality. Both primary and secondary data was used. This research study estimates the effects of climate change and variability on King Sabata Dalindyebo agricultural productivity using a continental dimension of Ricardian analysis. Results revealed that local farmers were aware of climate change and variability and perceived changes in average temperatures and rainfall. The changes in average temperatures and rainfall had adverse effects on crop and livestock production. However, farmers’ awareness of climate change is not to an extent that they presume adaptation to climate change as a necessity and crucial. The results show that climate change and variability affects farm income and there is a non-linear relationship existing between climatic variables (temperature and precipitation) and farm income which depicts U-shaped. The study results indicated that climate change and variability affect agricultural productivity and have an effect on agricultural productivity in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality. In view of the research findings, several policy proposals are suggested. The study findings suggest that climate change and variability must be taken seriously and monitored. Policy makers and government officials must support farmers with information distribution,education, market access, well trained extension agents, credit and information about mitigation strategies to climate change and variability which includes institutional and technological methods, particularly smallholder farmers.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Frontiers of exclusion and enclusion: post-apartheid suburban social dynamics in East London, Beacon Bay
- Authors: Buku, Luzuko
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Apartheid -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1316 , vital:26545
- Description: This dissertation deals with the nature of the black middle-class assimilation in the South African suburban space, a space that was the sole preserve of the white middle-class during apartheid. It explores the relationship between these races as they come to meet in this space and what new identities are being formed. It also explores the relationship between both the black and white suburbanites and the urban poor who stay in an adjacent area to the suburb. The study uses the Beacon Bay area, which is constituted by one of East London’s most affluent suburbs and a poor township, Nompumelelo, to show how the emergent black middle-class has managed to enter this space in the post-apartheid era. Previous studies by Richard Ballard (2004) and Grant Saff (2001) have shown how the white middle-class has always been against any form of race or class mixing. Within the suburb, the new black suburbanites in Beacon Bay appear to have been welcomed but with conditions by their fellow white counterparts. The relationship between these two races does not stretch beyond meet and greets and it is only in the second generation black middle-class that you find better and non-superficial relations with fellow white suburbanites. In the older generation, the generation that experienced apartheid, the relationship between these two races has been that of tolerance and serious escape of contact unless when necessary. The children of both white and black families, though, have a far better relationship in school and in sport than their parents. This has created another area of contact for both these races and it bears potential for meaningful integration in the suburban space. Externally as it relates to relations between the black middle-class and the urban poor, the findings show that these new black suburbanites express a similar discomfort as the white suburbanites about the urban poor’s presence in the area. This shows that the evolution of the Beacon Bay suburb, with its deep-rooted discourse of white middle-class exclusivity, has not been entirely about hatred of the urban poor necessarily but about an identity ascription of what it means to live in a suburb. Despite these realities traditional ceremonies organised by the black middle-class in the suburbs and the church appear to be playing a role in creating relations between these suburbanites and the Nompumelelo residents. This is why we have decided to use the conceptualisation of the 18th century frontier zone as the borders of segregation within the suburb and between the suburban residents and those of the township can be crossed and re-crossed.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Genetic and phenotypic characterisation of foodborne bacteria isolated from ready-to-eat foods in Alice, South Africa
- Authors: Nyenje, Mirriam E
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Foodborne diseases -- Microbiology , Pathogenic bacteria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11279 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016109 , Foodborne diseases -- Microbiology , Pathogenic bacteria
- Description: Foodborne illnesses following the ingestion of contaminated food are a major public health problem worldwide. They include a broad group of illnesses ranging from mild to chronic or life-threatening; caused by either toxins released from the disease-causing microbes, or by the microbes themselves. Antimicrobial susceptibility data shows an alarming increase in the frequency of antimicrobial resistance of foodborne pathogens, a situation which is worrisome as it decreases the effectiveness of drugs employed to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with serious and life-threatening infections and thus, compromising human health. This study was therefore designed to assess the occurrence and characterization of bacterial foodborne pathogens in various foods sold in Alice, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa in an effort to throw more light on the inherent risk associated with such foods. The study was conducted during the period of 2011 - 2013. Two university restaurants and eight ready-to-eat food vending sites in Alice Town were selected based on their prominence to the students, workers and rest of the community. Microbiological analysis was conducted on 252 samples which included vegetables, potatoes, rice, pies, beef and chicken stew. The isolates were identified using biochemical tests and confirmation of the two most prevalent organisms (Listeria ivanovii and Enterobacter cloacae) was done using PCR techniques. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Listeria ivanovii and Enterobacter cloacae strains were identified using the disc diffusion technique; minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by the broth dilution method and M.I.C. Evaluator test strips. The microtiter plate adherence assay was employed to ascertain the ability of these isolates to adhere to a surface whereas the role of cell surface properties in biofilm formation was assessed using the coaggregation and autoaggregation assays. The architecture of the formed biofilms was examined under the scanning electron microscope. The virulence and resistant genes were also detected and characterised by sequencing the PCR products. Bacterial growth was present in all the food types tested; organisms isolated included: Listeria spp. (22%), Enterobacter spp. (18%), Aeromonas hydrophila (12%), Klebsiella oxytoca (8%), Proteus mirabilis (6.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (3.2%) and Pseudomonas luteola (2.4%). PCR confirmed 30 (97%) isolates as E. cloacae complex while 44% (22/50) tested positive for L. ivanovii. All the strains of E. cloacae (100%) and 96% of L. ivanovii isolates (based on phenotypic identification) were resistant to at least four or more of the antibiotics. In this study, bla-TEM was also detected from 48 (96%) of L. ivanovii and 30 (100%) of E. cloacae strains; further analysis of the bla-TEM demonstrated the occurrence of bla-TEM-1. Of the 56 bla-TEM-1 positive isolates sequenced, 7% (4/56) had mutation of either insertion or substitution of a nucleotide. Two virulence genes (ucaA and hlyA) were detected in E. cloacae isolates and none in L. ivanovii using PCR. Sequence analysis of the hsp60 gene reported the presence of two sub-species for E. cloacae; E. cloacae cluster III (75%) and E. cloacae cluster IV (25%); while analysis of the iap60 gene demonstrated that 55.8% (19/34) were L. ivanovii, 44% (15/34) L. seeligeri and 14.7% (5/34) L. welshemeri. A total of 90% L. ivanovii and 88% E. cloacae strains demonstrated the ability to form biofilms; the coaggregation index ranged from 12 to 77% while the autoaggregation index varied from 11 to 55% for L. ivanovii and 27% to 98% for E. cloacae. The findings of this study indicate that most of the ready-to-eat food samples examined did not meet bacteriological quality standards, thus posing potential risks to consumers. This should draw the attention of the relevant authorities to certify that hygienic standards are improved to curtain foodborne infections. Furthermore, the presence of multi-resistant strains is of major concern as these foods could serve as important vehicles transmitting multi-resistant bacteria and genes to humans. In addition the ability of these pathogens to form biofilms may lead to adherence of these organisms to kitchen utensils and other environments leading to cross-contamination of food processed in these areas and increase resistance of organisms to antimicrobial agents.
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- Date Issued: 2014
GIS and remote sensing as a potential tool to support digital soil mapping in the Eastern Cape province in South Africa
- Authors: Mathe, Tumelo
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geographic Information System)
- Identifier: vital:11533 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019858
- Description: This study is based on assessing the potential use of GIS and Remote Sensing in trying to fill the various soil maps of selected regions at different scales with spatial soil data. A variety of processes are available for use. These include band ratios, principal component analysis as well as use of a digital elevation model (DEM). With the advent of GIS and Remote Sensing, these principles in the new niche of study are investigated to check if they can be used to augment the current processes available in soil mapping techniques. Such processes as band ratioing, principal component analysis and use of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are investigated to check if they can be used in soil mapping techniques. From the results produced it is evident that these processes have the potential to be used in the Digital Soil Mapping process. Despite the limitation of remote sensing to a few centimetres of the topsoil these processes can be used together with the soil mapping techniques currently being used to come up with soil maps.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Grade 3 teachers’ strategies to help English second language learners overcome interlingual spelling errors
- Authors: Rululu, Nomfusi Gladys
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Interlingual -- Spelling errors , Teacher`s strategies -- Grade 3
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1349 , vital:26548 , Interlingual -- Spelling errors , Teacher`s strategies -- Grade 3
- Description: Spelling is one of the most important components of writing at single-word level and is regarded as a vital part of written communication. Also spelling is seen as an important tool in writing. Without the ability to spell as a broader aspect of writing, a person could not be called literate in the conventional sense of the word. Although the spelling is so important, learners in the foundation phase especially in grade three commit interlingual spelling errors. This means that at this stage learners transfer patterns of the mother tongue to the second language. By so doing that they write English words as the way they are pronounced in their mother tongue. Hence this study investigated grade three teachers’ strategies to help English second language learners overcome interlingual spelling errors. In exploring these strategies this study adopted a qualitative approach in order to ensure reliability and validity of the study. The data gathering instruments used included semi-structured interviews, classroom observations and document analysis. One primary school in Mdantsane a township in East London District was purposively selected to form the context of the study. The medium of instruction in this school is isiXhosa in the foundation phase and English is taught as a subject. Two teachers and their classes participated in this study. The findings of the study revealed that different factors contribute to interlingual spelling errors. These factors are status of the parent (they were illiterate), pronunciation, language borrowing and language transfer. It is also revealed that teachers have a limited number of strategies to teach learners overcome interlingual spelling errors instead they use strategies to teach spelling generally.
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- Date Issued: 2014