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An adolescent survivor’s experience following child sexual abuse: a case study

  • Authors: Shwaye, Wandiswa
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Sexually abused teenagers -- South Africa -- Psychology , Sexually abused teenagers -- Rehabilitation -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51895 , vital:43382
  • Description: This study seeks to provide an in-depth description of the phenomenon of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) and will be an addition to the existing body of knowledge. CSA is a complex phenomenon and despite it being a criminal act, incidences continue to increase globally. It has become a huge problem all over the world and South Africa is one of the leading countries with a higher prevalence. To gain understanding of this phenomenon and its prevalence in South Africa, a review of literature and analysis of the causes, types, diversity, and its effects were conducted. The analysis further provided a comprehensive account on how the adolescent survivor was affected by the CSA experiences and how she recovered from its effects. One participant was selected for the study and the purposive sampling technique was used for the process. The study made use of the General Systems Theory but narrowed it to the Family Systems Theory also known as the Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST) as its theoretical framework. Systems theory was explored with a focus on families and communities and how each one contributes to the problem of CSA. The impacts of CSA on the survivor consisted of anger, poor scholastic performance marred future and broken relationships. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An analysis of employee retention : a study of selected local municipalities in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality

  • Authors: Maholo, Lisa
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal officials and employees -- Job satisfaction , Career development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Personnel management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal officials and employees -- Salaries, etc. -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Affiliation (Psychology)
  • Language: English
  • Type: thesis , text , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177349 , vital:42813
  • Description: The success of municipalities largely depends on the quality (skills, knowledge and experience) of individuals employed at those institutions. As key role players in the delivery of services, municipalities struggle to retain a high calibre of employees who essentially form the backbone of the public sector due to their skills, knowledge and experiences. There is a need for municipalities to create and foster an environment that encourages existing employees to remain employed. This study adopted an interpretivist research paradigm, given the study’s primary aim of gaining an in-depth understanding of employee retention as experienced by employees in the selected municipalities, together with the key influencing factors of employee retention. The qualitative research approach used a case study methodology within the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, with two category B3 and B4 municipalities selected for the study. The retention factors framework for existing employees by Munsamy and Bosch-Venter (2009) was used as the supporting theoretical structure. Respondents were selected through purposive sampling, and 16 in-depth semi-structured interviews were used to collect qualitative data. Through various content analysis techniques employed, this study identified seven employee retention factors (affiliation, career, work content, direct financial factors, external forces, work–life balance and indirect financial factors) with their associated themes. Affiliation, career and work content were identified as the three key factors which influence employee retention. Management style (relationship and interaction between employees and manager), organisational commitment and work environment were the main themes giving meaning to the affiliation factor. Training, personal growth and advancement emerged as themes related to the career factor. The work content factor was defined in terms of meaningfulness, challenges and autonomy themes. Direct and indirect financial factors, external forces, and work–life balance also emerged as factors that play a role in the retention of employees within a municipal context. Base salary and incentives were the associated themes underlying the direct financial factor. However, base salary has short-term effects on retention. Political climate and organisational reputation, municipal category and organisational structure were interrelated external forces. Flexible work arrangements, access to family, and childcare facilities give meaning to the work–life balance, while the only indirect financial factor to arise was benefits. Although some of the retention factors are clearly more influential than others, key employees attach most importance to a combination of employee retention factors that cater to their holistic needs and desires and generational differences. Therefore, the recommendations need to be implemented simultaneously. Having managers who engage employees in decisions-making and offer guidance and support, together with work environments where the physical and behavioural aspects are attended to, encourages employees to feel valued and appreciated. Municipalities should effectively communicate their mandate of ensuring adequate service delivery, which will allow employees to align their personal values to municipal objectives. Offering on-the-job training, access to career developmental programmes, evaluating job characteristics to include challenging and stimulating work and additional incentives as financial support will foster a conducive working environment for employees. Overall, municipalities face unique challenges depending on a variety of external elements such as political influence and climate. They operate in a challenging environment where they are also accountable to the community. Ultimately, municipalities must create and develop ways to acknowledge, develop and retain key employees in order to adequately deliver services. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Management, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An analysis of intrasemiotic and intersemiotic relations of textual and visual modes in Namibian school science textbooks

  • Authors: Mateus, Venasius
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Semiotics , Force and energy , Visual learning , Verbal learning , Functionalism (Linguistics) , Science -- Textbooks
  • Language: English
  • Type: thesis , text , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177203 , vital:42799
  • Description: Although science education in Namibia receives much attention, learners’ performance is low in subjects such as Physical Sciences. The topic of Forces is among the topics in Physical Sciences where learners perform poorly. The provision of basic education in Namibia faces many challenges. One of these is that many teachers are not fully qualified for teaching the subjects they currently teach. Another (possibly related) challenge is that the majority of teachers in Namibian schools rely heavily on school textbooks when planning their lessons. In addition, learners use school textbooks as learning aids. The textbooks are developed and published in the private sector and based on the national curriculum statements. Quality of education has been amongst the major goals of education in Namibia. For quality assurance purposes, school science textbooks have to undergo a formal evaluation process. School textbooks, especially science textbooks, are multimodal. This means that they are designed with various modes, such as the textual and visual, often used in expressing scientific meanings. Literature reveals the textual and visual as individual modes having their own affordances, however, when integrated in school science textbooks contribute to strengthened meanings. No study published was found in Namibia or elsewhere that focused on analysing the intrasemiotic and intersemiotic sense relations of the textual and visual modes in Namibian school Physical Sciences textbooks. This study therefore aimed at contributing to filling this knowledge gap. The research is a qualitative case study and employed the interpretive paradigm. The selected Physical Sciences textbooks that constitute the data in this study were explored in depth via document analysis. Related textual and visual modes in the Physical Sciences textbooks were analysed in order to help answer the research questions of the study. Systemic Functional Linguistics was employed as the theoretical underpinning for this study. In this study, the sense relations were explored in terms of the sense relation themes which were coded and developed from common features of scientific discourse. The results reveal that scientific knowledge within the textual mode in the topic of Forces is communicated mostly through synonymy and repetition while within the visual mode it is mostly through antonymy, collocation, and synonymy. This contributed to meaning potential in the topic of Forces for the three Physical Sciences textbooks. The results further indicated that the overall cohesion within the textual and visual modes in the topic of Forces is achieved since repetition, which is the most direct form of lexical cohesion together with synonymy, collocation, and antonymy which are aspects of cohesion, occurred most frequently within these modes. This result further indicates that meaning potential in the topic of Forces in the three Physical Sciences textbooks were strengthened. While some sense relations occurred most frequently within individual modes, they were less frequent in other modes and vice versa. This indicates that different modes have different affordances. Finally, it was found that combining the textual and visual modes in the topic of Forces contributes to intersemiotic complementarity being achieved through the sense relations of collocation, hyponymy, and meronymy. , Thesis (MEd) -- Education, Education, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An analysis of supply chain management procedures within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

  • Authors: Zizipho, Goniwe
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Business logistics -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Industrial procurement -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52524 , vital:43683
  • Description: This study has analysed the Supply Chain Management (SCM) procedures in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Moreover, subsequent the research study provided a brief background on the local government SCM and the significance of the study which lies on its contribution in the improvement of SCM policies and procedures within the NMBMM. The problem that driven this study is the lack and inadequate use of SCM policies, procedures, practices, and systems in municipalities which that may lead to the misuse of public funds as well as poor service delivery. To address SCM issues in local government, SCM policy was adopted by the Cabinet of Republic of South Africa in 2003 as a way to address noted deficiencies in its public procurement processes within the SCM. This is in conjunction with the number of legislative frameworks were set to guide processes and procedures in this department. This research adopted the use of qualitative approach, for the purpose of this study it is the suitable approach due to time and resources efficiency, as it used desktop analysis and the secondary data which entails internet sources. Based on the literature review findings the study shows the application of six SCM elements, as outlined in the NMBMM SCM Policy. The recommendations of the study setting more emphasis on online tender application procedure. The effective employment of these recommendations can improve the processes and procedures in local government SCM, specifically NMBMM, and this can address the problem of lack of and inadequate use of SCM policies. Transforming NMBMM to the most effective, accountable, responsive local government prioritising the needs of public. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Humanities, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An analysis of the countervailing measures used to address the anti-competitive effects of Government subsidies in the African Continental Free Trade Area

  • Authors: Matsimbi, Rhulani Shaun
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Subsidies -- Law and legislation -- Africa , Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (1994 April 15) , Trade regulation -- Africa , World Trade Organization , Antitrust law -- Africa , Restraint of trade -- Africa , African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) Agreement
  • Language: English
  • Type: thesis , text , Masters , LLM
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178330 , vital:42930
  • Description: Government subsidies are becoming more prevalent on the African continent. Subsidies allow the government to intervene in markets to incentivise more investment into nascent and struggling industries by improving the efficiency of firms in such industries. As such, subsidies form an essential part of some African countries’ industrialisation policies. However, the use of subsidies faces a challenge because of the prohibition contained in the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement). The SCM Agreement prohibits the granting of subsidies that are contingent on export performance or the use of domestic over imported content. While African countries have not faced challenges in the WTO for their use of these subsidies, this may change with the operation of the African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) Agreement. This is because the AfCFTA Agreement localises the WTO’s rules on subsidisation. This study critically examines the provisions in the AfCFTA Guidelines on the Implementation of Trade Remedies that regulate the use of export subsidies and subsidies contingent on the use of domestic content. It discusses how the absolute prohibition of these subsidies in the AfCFTA Agreement is not the most effective way to regulate their anti-competitive effects in the African continent. Specifically, this study discusses the role that competition policy might play in ensuring that export subsidies and local content subsidies are regulated in a manner that suits Africa’s context. Ultimately, this study concludes and recommends that the AfCFTA must develop unique rules to regulate subsidies in a way that caters to the needs of the continent. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, Law, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An analysis of the employability of civil engineering graduate technicians

  • Authors: Ikudayisi, Akinola Mayowa
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Job hunting , Career development , Labor market
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51578 , vital:43312
  • Description: In South Africa, a severe shortage of professional engineers exists compared to the international benchmark of an average population per engineer. This shortage is one of the major causes of poor service and utility delivery at the municipal level. In addition, there is an insufficient number of competent engineers available for ongoing projects. Hence, there is a critical shortage of experienced, engineering professionals, particularly mid-career engineers to be responsible for production works. As a result, Universities of Technology (UoT) were tasked and authorised to train engineering professionals. From research, it was discovered that most of the Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians (CEGT) failed to acquire and develop relevant and essential industry skills during their engineering programme. This makes it difficult for them to be employed in the engineering workplaces. The departments of civil engineering in some South African universities have not evaluated the quality of the education of their CEGT and their employability to work in the engineering industry. This research therefore aims to measure the employability and quality of education of Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians from some South African universities by investigating the experiences of civil engineering alumni and employers of graduates in the engineering industry. This is to determine if the graduate technicians are provided and equipped with relevant industry competencies and skills set to meet the industry’s expectation. An online survey which contains 89 closed-ended questions was designed to allow alumni and their employers assess the standard of education of graduates and industry competence acquired during their engineering programmes. The Universal Resource Link (URL) to the online questionnaire was sent to a sample of 600 respondents using a web-based survey approach. Only seventeen percent of the targeted population completed the survey and that makes 102 respondents in this study. A conceptual model that measures the employability of Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians was also developed. The data gathered was statistically analysed. Varying descriptive and inferential statistics were explored, such as frequency distributions, central measure, dispersion measure, the Cronbach alpha coefficient test, one-sample t-tests, Cohen’s d, Pearson’s product moment correlation, ANOVA, MANOVA, ranking indices and lastly, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The EFA was employed to ensure the construct validity of the instrument and to identify items which should be removed. Each of these statistics cumulatively performs an empirical evaluation of the Civil Engineering Graduate Technician employability model. From the result of the data analysis, the hypothesised model identified the following factors as having an influence on the employability of Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians: Knowledge Gained, Academic Staff Teaching, Engineering Design Ability, Individual and Teamwork Ability, Participation of each Student, Infrastructure Provided, Problem Solving Skills, Professional and Technical Communication Skills, Workplace Practices, Encouragement in School and Essentiality of Creativity and Innovation. These eleven independent factors from Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient were all found to possess good internal reliability. They all exert a significant positive effect on employability. Additionally, managerial recommendations, limitations to the study and a call for future research were discussed. If these recommendations are implemented, UoTs and employers in the civil engineering industry should be successful in producing work-ready civil engineering technicians. Having these recommendations implemented is fundamental to creating innovative and skilled technicians and engineers in the engineering industry, who can adapt to market changes. Of the competencies assessed, “Individual and Teamwork ability” received the highest and “Infrastructure provided” the lowest rating. Overall, the results indicate that employers are reasonably satisfied with the competencies of Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians but point to the need for the strengthening of “Engineering design ability”, “Professional and technical communication skills” and “Infrastructure provided” competencies within the curriculum of the Diploma programme. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An analysis of ways in which the South African tax system could be simplified

  • Authors: Young, Gail Jeni
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Taxation -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Income tax -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , South African Revenue Service , Tax administration and procedure -- South Africa , Tax accounting -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: thesis , text , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178235 , vital:42923
  • Description: It has been said that the fundamental paradox of tax simplification is that, despite consensus, almost every year tax rules become more complex. This thesis considers tax simplification measures which have been implemented internationally, in order to provide a basis for an analysis of ways in which the South African tax system could be simplified. A doctrinal methodology is applied, and an analysis is carried out of possible tax simplification measures, based on the commentary of experts in the field of tax law. Simplification measures adopted in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States of America, Egypt, and certain European countries are discussed, together with their possible adoption in South Africa. Tax simplification has a broad scope. This research identifies four areas in which the South African tax system could simplified: the simplification of tax legislation, addressing the role of accounting in the simplification process, reducing the number of taxes currently levied, and finally addressing the complexities evident in the SARS e-filing system. This thesis illustrates several measures which could be used to address the current areas of complexity. Re-writing tax legislation to assist the understanding of taxpayers is suggested. An increase in the inclusion rate for individuals of capital gains in taxable income from 40% to 60% is suggested, to compensate for the loss of revenue due to the recommended repeal of donations tax and estate duty. Aligning tax legislation with accounting standards is identified as a possible area for simplification, as there are many similarities between the two systems. To address the usability of SARS’ e-filing platform, suggestions are made regarding the further pre-population of returns, introducing e-invoicing and providing a “sandbox” function that taxpayers could use to familiarise themselves with how e-filing works. This research highlights tax simplification as a process that needs to be prioritized in order to achieve the associated benefits. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Accounting, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An anthropological enquiry on the perceptions of adults on female sterilisation: a case of Gunguluza township

  • Authors: Mbanjwa, Mpho
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54859 , vital:48085
  • Description: The purpose of the study was to make an enquiry on the perceptions on female sterilisation adult participants, residing in Gunguluza Township, Uitenhage had. A qualitative research approach was used to collect the responses of 10 participants. These included eight women, one man and one traditional healer registered within the Traditional Healers Association of South Africa. The interviews had been semistructured with open-ended questions pre-set to help the researcher guide the conversation. Conversation analysis was the technique used to transform the information into research data that would attempt to answer the research question. The question this research attempted to answer was to form an understanding of how information and education resources provided by both Western and Traditional sources, including their availability and accessibility with regards to female sterilisation, as a form of contraception, have been understood, received and interpreted by adults residing in the research area of Gunguluza township. Gunguluza forms part of the area formally known as the Kwanobuhle 10 and Kwanobuhle 11 respectively. Some limitations, including limiting resources that resulted in only 10 participants being interviewed. The results had shown that participants had shown interest in acquiring more knowledge about female sterilisation and other reproductive health issues, in order to make informed decisions about their bodies, with contraceptive choice and use in particular. Most felt the need to engage with their partners about the choice of sterilisation largely due to the support they would need. With regard to traditional health as an alternative or interchangeable method of contraception, participants had very little knowledge of, with some expressing some importance and relevance in acquiring such knowledge, in a modern context. These findings came with sets of recommendations which placed an emphasis on the building of indigenous knowledge and its inclusion in formal spaces for open engagement and discussion. Traditional knowledge needed to be transferred from an oral to being documented into literature for future preservation and to eliminate any distortion. There was a gap for formal western medicine to collaborate or accommodate traditional medicine. The study made use of female sterilisation as a conceptual framework, with time and more future research could build and produce new theoretical understandings of the concept, from an Afrocentric context in particular. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An anthropological investigation on academic performance of grade 12 learners: selected schools in King William’s Town, Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Stuart, Sinaed
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54816 , vital:47910
  • Description: The Eastern Cape is one of the poorest provinces in South Africa. The level of poverty, and lack of basic resources has given way to inadequacies in many of the services available to communities. From improper infrastructure, to a flawed or lacking public education system. Past and future research into the inadequacies and inequity that exists in the public education system need to act as a catalyst to policy changes, and intervention implementations to solve the issues that continue to persist. This study focuses on the factors that influence the academic performance of learners in matric in King Williams Town. The importance of this research is to investigate the issues that negatively impact on the performance of Grade 12 learners at Breidbach High School. Further, the importance of this study is to share the findings of the research with community members as well as the Department of Basic Education with the view and hope that they will address these issues. The research question is: What are the factors influencing academic performance of Grade 12 learners at Breidbach High School in Breidbach outside King Williams Town? The research objectives are as follows: to investigate and highlight factors associated with poor academic performance in the participating high school at Breidbach in King Williams Town, to contribute within the anthropology of education, adding to an already existing body of knowledge, with specific reference to the participating high school in King William’s Town and to come up with the recommendations with the view of addressing some of the challenges faced by the participating high school in King Williams Town. The study followed a qualitative approach which included various techniques and ethical compliance was adhered to. For the proposed study, the researcher will use ‘academic performance’ as a guideline for the conceptual framework. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An Archive of Upset : the Shift from Commissioning to Curating through South Africa’s Representations at the Bienal de São Paulo and the Interstitial Nexus of Leonard Tshehla Mohapi Matsoso

  • Authors: Dantas, Nancy Isabel
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Bienal Internacional de São Paulo , Curatorship , Art -- Commissioning , Art -- Political aspects , Matsoso, Leonard Tshehla Mohapi
  • Language: English
  • Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174492 , vital:42482 , https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/174492
  • Description: This thesis explores the distinction between commissioning and curating, adopting the Bienal de São Paulo (or Bienal) as its conceptual propeller and point of departure. The thesis regards exhibitions as palimpsests, in other words, platforms built on previous conscious or sublimated models, beyond the Venetian model inaugurated in 1895. By looking at world expositions, particularly the Cape presence at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886, this project traces a lineage of commissioners, from Sir Henry Cole to Sydney Cowper through to the Director of the Pretoria Art Museum, Albert Werth. It distinguishes these men, their vision and allegiances from the curatorial model instantiated in South Africa by the late Okwui Enwezor as a consequence of the Second Johannesburg Biennale, held in 1997. The aim of this research has been to provide a partial but crucial account of this shift, and to remain attentive to the silences and deletions, to what happens in the interstice, at transitionary moments of ‘betweenness.’ I ask that readers consider the 1979 Bienal as an instance of an interstice where the occluded and silenced ghost of modernist artist Leonard Tshehla Mohapi Matsoso, who represented South Africa at the 1973 edition of the Bienal, garnering a substantial award for his work in drawing, resides. Matsoso was the first and only Black South African artist to receive this accolade. This thesis posits that Matsoso’s absence from the exhibition in 1979, an exhibition where he would rightly have featured, constitutes a curatorial haunting, wedged in the archive of the Bienal’s history, and an opportunity for revision and evaluation of commissioning vis-àvis curating. In reading the exhibition histories’ archive “along the grain” (Stoler 2002), the commissioner emerges as a man of letters, a privileged social category found in the archive; a colonial authority whose status was founded as much on his display of European learning as on his studied ignorance of local knowledge; an implementer of the taxonomic state and modernist art historical canon (in the case of Werth); a cultivator of the fine arts of deference, dissemblance and persuasion. At a later stage and moment of dissonance and disruption, the independent curator emerges to reconsider, question and expand the canon, distancing him/herself from the (South African) State to serve the artist or artists and a wider community. This research aims to contribute, albeit in a small way, to a reappraisal of the position of Leonard Tshehla Mohapi Matsoso in South African modernism, and the distinction between commissioning and curating. , Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Fine Art, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An assessment of different methods for measuring mammal diversity in two Southern African arid ecosystems.

  • Authors: Burt, Chloe
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Biodiversity -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52338 , vital:43591
  • Description: A current critical environmental problem is the loss of biodiversity. To allow for adaptive management and effective conservation interventions, reliable data needs to be readily available and effectively collected. To gather reliable data, the most appropriate method must be used. The aim of this thesis was to compare the effectiveness and efficiency of different mammal diversity sampling techniques, including discussing specificities and complementarity of each. I also assessed the limitation of methods in terms of the influence of species traits on detectability. I used standard mammal field methods such as block transects, camera traps, track plates, spotlight surveys, mist nets, acoustic surveys, and live traps for a wide range of mammal taxa, and also included the use of local knowledge in the comparison. I assessed the cost-efficiency of each method by determining the cost per species. The efficiency of each method was assessed by observing when the species accumulation curve reached an asymptote. The effectiveness was determined by the species richness and the taxonomic groups the method detected. My results indicated that block transects were the most efficient and effective method to assess species richness. However, a combination of methods allowed for a more comprehensive survey and my results indicate that block transects and live traps were the best combination. It is important to note, not only the effectiveness and efficiency of methods be assessed, but also their limitations. I therefore also assessed the influence of species traits on the detectability of five methods. The species traits that I tested were body size, diet, activity, and if they lived in groups. On both study areas, body size was the main trait that influenced detectability with most field methods. Diet and activity had varying influence on detectability depending on the method. Group living did not significantly influence detectability. Based on my results, I provide guidelines for choosing the most appropriate survey method for targeted studies on mammals in arid ecosystems as well as guidelines for choosing the most appropriate methods for a terrestrial mammal inventory. Survey methods selection and guidelines provided here can allow for effective monitoring and therefore effective and adaptive management and having reliable and repeatable outcomes from surveys. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An assessment of risk management in a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE): a case of Transnet engineering

  • Authors: Mnyiphika, Aphiwe
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53009 , vital:44868
  • Description: State-owned enterprises are facing several challenges. The challenges are associated with several risks in the business environment. Risk management has become increasingly important in the day to operations of any enterprise. This study is conducted to assess risk management implementation and execution within a state-owned enterprise (SOE). The main reason behind this research is that very little is known about risk management in the SOE sector in South Africa, as can be seen by the perpetual failure of these organisations. Therefore, this research focused on assessing the implementation and execution of risk management at Transnet Engineering because it continues to suffer losses as a result of “state capture”. The study sought to find out the role of organisational culture on the adoption of risk management in a state-owned enterprise. the main objectives of the research focused on the impact of commitment on the adoption of risk management in a state-owned enterprise; the function of implementation on the adoption of risk management in a state-owned enterprise; and the impact of monitoring on the adoption of risk management in a state-owned enterprise. A qualitative research methodology was utilised to attain results for these research objectives.The areas focused on Transnet Engineering with it regions and excluded other subdivisions of Transnet such as Transnet National Ports Authority, Freight rail, Port Terminals Pipelines and Properties. Convenience sampling was used to select 10 appropriate participants who were willing to provide the needed information to furnish the study’s findings. Interviews were utilised to collect data for this study. The data that was collected in this study was analysed using thematic analysis. The main findings of this study show that the organisational culture of Transnet Engineering is not enhancing the adoption and implementation of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM). , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, NMMU Business School, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An assessment of the key factors that may impact the future demand for red meat in South Africa

  • Authors: Pearce, Nathan
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53019 , vital:44887
  • Description: The global human population is estimated to be in excess of nine billion by the year 2050, and the added population is expected to put further pressure on already over- extended resources such as food and water. Increased demand, positive growth and record high prices should be encouraging for the red meat industry. Despite all the positives such as the growth in the world population and the consumer’s ability to spend, the popularity of red meat around the world and in South Africa is continually declining in favour of white meat and other non-meat proteins. Although red meat will often be the most expensive component of any diet, the nutritional value that red meat offers as part of a healthy and balanced eating plan, should not be understated. This study intends to identify and assess factors that may impact on the future sustainable demand for red meat. Sixty-two adults were surveyed through an electronic questionnaire to assess their views on red meat consumption in South Africa. A set of 52 questions were deduced from the main focus and objectives. The data was analysed and conclusions derived from it. The results show that the demand for red meat is sustainable if outlets selling red meat are accessible and the preference for red meat remains, even with stiff competition from substitutes like pork, chicken and vegetables. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, NMU Business School, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An assessment of the wild cyclopia subternata (vleitee) resource

  • Authors: Van der Walt, Wouter
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Legumes -- South Africa , Fynbos -- South Africa , Fynbos ecology -- South Africa , Fynbos -- Harvesting -- South Africa , Biodiversity conservation -- South Africa , Traditional ecological knowledge -- South Africa , Wild Cyclopia Subternata (Vleitee) , Honeybush tea industry
  • Language: English
  • Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176874 , vital:42767
  • Description: Cyclopia spp. is used for the production of Honeybush tea, an herbal tea which is used in many cases as a substitute for rooibos tea. The wild harvesting of this fynbos plant still brings in up to 85% of the annual crop and as such needs to be carefully monitored in order to avoid over harvesting and the destruction of biodiversity within the Eastern and Western Cape mountain regions of Southern Africa. Due to the concerns of overharvesting and unsuitable use of the wild resource issues of supply security have been raised. There is a lack of formal knowledge relating to the plant, its harvesting, the industry and its economic potential. This study aimed to amend this scarcity by contributing to the knowledge of C. subternata as a wild harvested plant, the physical environment favoured by C. subternata, sustainable use through harvesting of the wild plant and harvesting methods specific to this honeybush species. The research concludes by presenting a guideline for best harvest practices of the wild C. subternata plant. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An educational intervention on the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections in haemodialysis patients in Eswatini

  • Authors: Simelane, Delisile
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Grahamstown (South Africa) , Catheterization -- Complications -- Eswatini , Infection Control
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51906 , vital:43383
  • Description: Nurses are health care professionals whose duty it is to protect patients from acquiring infections while hospitalised in a health care setup. By maintaining an infection-free environment, it is expected that the patient's recovery will be promoted, and high-quality nursing care will be delivered. This also applies to the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) in haemodialysis patients. As nurses spend most of their nursing time with patients, they should have a good level of understanding of infection prevention and control in health care setups. In Eswatini, central venous catheters (CVCs) are commonly used for vascular access in patients who require haemodialysis. From the latest data available in the country's three largest regional hospitals, the proportion of haemodialysis patients with CVCs hospitalised for CRBSIs was 27% (64/239) January to December 2020. Further, it is unclear whether professional nurses have knowledge on the prevention of CRBSIs. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an educational intervention, based on the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Guidelines, on professional nurses' knowledge regarding the prevention of CRBSIs in haemodialysis patients in hospitals in Eswatini (previously known as Swaziland). The study used a convenience sample including all professional nurses and nurse managers (N=99) employed at the renal and intensive care units (ICUs) at the five hospitals (Hospitals A-E) in Eswatini where haemolysis is conducted. The study is underpinned by Florence Nightingale's Theory and the Knowledge-to-Action Framework. The research study followed a positivistic, quantitative research paradigm, using a quasi-experimental, one-group, pre-post-test design with an interventional research approach, to be conducted in three phases. The first phase was the distribution of a pre-test questionnaire to all professional nurses and nurse managers working in renal units and those in ICUs that are also managing CVCs in order to assess their knowledge regarding the prevention of CRBSIs in haemodialysis patients. The second phase included the educational intervention, which was developed, reviewed and presented by the researcher to professional nurses. The third phase included the distribution of a post-test questionnaire to the professional nurses to assess the effect of the educational intervention on their knowledge.The pre-and post-test questionnaires were developed by the researcher, in line with the educational intervention (and informed based on the pre-test findings), reviewed by six experts and pilot tested to ascertain its validity and reliability. The researcher captured the data using Microsoft Excel and, with the assistance of a statistician, who performed statistical analyses using Cronbach's alpha, One-sample t-tests, Cohen's Kappa, Cohen's D, and Chi-square test. Ethical principles, according to the Belmont Report, including autonomy, beneficence and justice, and appropriate standards of rigour were maintained throughout the research study. In this study the overall knowledge was good with a mean score of 75.05 ±8.74 for the pre-test and 77.75±9.55 for the post-test. The knowledge scores for the factor infection prevention was higher (pre-test: 83.33±9.28 versus post-test: 85.14±8.28) compared to the factor catheter care (pre-test: 66.76±13.13 versus post-test: 70.38±14.27). The factor catheter care and age was significantly related in the pre-test with a p-value of .043 between groups. The factor infection prevention and how long practising in the unit were significantly related in the pre-test, with a p-value of .029 between groups. The factor infection prevention in the pre-test had a medium significant difference between >1 year and >5 years practicing in the unit (Scheffé p .048 and Cohen's d 0.77). The study is the first in the field of nursing in Eswatini. The educational intervention can be used by nurses in renal units and ICUs to close knowledge-practice gaps that can put patients at higher risk for CRBSIs, but requires further development and testing. , Thesis (MN) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An evaluation of a bank’s clients’ preference for particular communication channels

  • Authors: Chapwanya, Marvelous
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Communication , Mass media
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26615 , vital:65663
  • Description: This study aims to establish clients’ preference for particular communication channels of a particular bank in Alice. The study, focusing on marketing communication, was guided by the tenets of media richness theory. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods. This particular bank is one of the biggest banks in South Africa and it has many branches across the country and abroad. However, this study only focused on clients in the small town of Alice in the Eastern Cape. Alice has three major groups of clients: those who are highly educated, those who are illiterate and those who fall in between. This diversity in the demographics of the clients affects the way people react to the communication channels used by this bank including modern communication channels and traditional channels. It was discovered that education level, age (as related to literacy level), language, geographical location and access to computers and the internet have an impact on the way the clients evaluate the preference for particular communication channels of this bank. The results of the study show that the majority of the clients prefer communication channels that are interactive like face-to-face communication and cell phone calls. The other channels at the clients’ disposal are television, radio, newspapers, printed mail, internet and emails. However, some of these channels are not regarded as very effective by the clients in Alice for several reasons such as the rural nature of Alice, lack of access and resources, being illiterate, and a lack of education. The clients suggested that the bank make use of other communication channels that suit a rural and less developed area in order to effectively communicate with the clients. The study also brought to light that the use of the new ICTs in Alice is still lagging, resulting in many customers experiencing problems when they want to use some of the communication channels offered by the bank. , Thesis (MSoc ) -- Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An evaluation of synergistic interactions between feruloyl esterases and xylanases during the hydrolysis of various pre-treated agricultural residues

  • Authors: Mkabayi, Lithalethu
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Esterases , Xylanases , Hydrolysis , Agricultural wastes -- Recycling , Enzymes , Lignocellulose -- Biodegradation , Escherichia coli , Oligosaccharides , Hydroxycinnamic acids
  • Language: English
  • Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178224 , vital:42922 , 10.21504/10962/178224
  • Description: Agricultural residues are readily available and inexpensive renewable resources that can be used as raw materials for the production of value-added chemicals. The application of enzymes to facilitate the degradation of agricultural residues has long been considered the most environmentally friendly strategy for converting this material into good quality value-added chemicals. However, agricultural residues are typically lignocellulosic in composition and recalcitrant to enzymatic hydrolysis. Due to this recalcitrant nature, the complete degradation of biomass residues requires the synergistic action of a broad range of enzymes. The development and optimisation of synergistic enzyme cocktails is an effective approach for achieving high hydrolysis efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the synergistic interactions between two termite metagenome-derived feruloyl esterases (FAE6 and FAE5) and endo-xylanases for the production of hydroxycinnamic acids and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) from model substrates, and untreated and pre-treated agricultural residues. Firstly, the two fae genes were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant enzymes were purified to homogeneity. The biochemical properties of the purified recombinant FAEs and xylanases (XT6 and Xyn11) were then assessed to determine the factors which influenced their activities and to select suitable operating conditions for synergy studies. An optimal protein loading ratio of xylanases to FAEs required to maximise the release of both reducing sugar and ferulic acid (FA) was established using 0.5% (w/v) insoluble wheat arabinoxylan (a model substrate). The enzyme combination of 66% xylanase and 33% FAE (on a protein loading basis) produced the highest amounts of reducing sugars and FA. The enzyme combination of XT6 (GH10 xylanase) and FAE5 or FAE6 liberated the highest amount of FA while a combination of Xyn11 (GH11 xylanase) and FAE5 or FAE6 produced the highest reducing sugar content. The synergistic interactions which were established between the xylanases and FAEs were further investigated using agricultural residues (corn cobs, rice straw and sugarcane bagasse). The three substrates were subjected to hydrothermal and dilute acid pre-treatment prior to synergy studies. It is generally known that, during pre-treatment, many compounds can be produced which may influence enzymatic hydrolysis. The effects of these by-products were assessed and it was found that lignin and its degradation products were the most inhibitory to the FAEs. The optimised enzyme cocktail was then applied to 1% (w/v) of untreated and pre-treated substrates for the efficient production of XOS and hydroxycinnamic acids. A significant improvement in xylanase substrate degradation was observed, especially with the combination of 66% Xyn11 and 33% FAE6 which displayed an improvement in reducing sugars of approximately 1.9-fold and 3.4-fold for hydrothermal and acid pre-treated corn cobs (compared to when Xyn11 was used alone), respectively. The study demonstrated that pre-treatment substantially enhanced the enzymatic hydrolysis of corn cobs and rice straw. Analysis of the hydrolysate product profiles revealed that the optimised enzyme cocktail displayed great potential for releasing XOS with a low degree of polymerisation. In conclusion, this study provided significant insights into the mechanism of synergistic interactions between xylanases and metagenome-derived FAEs during the hydrolysis of various substrates. The study also demonstrated that optimised enzyme cocktails combined with low severity pre-treatment can facilitate the potential use of xylan-rich lignocellulosic biomass for the production of valuable products in the future. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An exploration into an ESD-based teaching strategy to improve the critical thinking and problem-solving skills amongst development studies students at Nelson Mandela University

  • Authors: Abrahams, André John
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Problem solving -- Study and teaching , Divergent thinking -- Study and teaching , Sustainable development -- Study and teaching , Environmental education
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50907 , vital:43148
  • Description: In recent years, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has been a significant focus for research pertaining to teacher education and transformative approaches to teaching and learning. However, there has been less specific focus on the implementation of ESD in the context of higher education. This study, therefore, explored the use of an ESD-based teaching and learning approach in an undergraduate Development Studies programme. The focus was on developing a teaching approach that was informed by the principles of ESD and which could assist Development Studies lecturers in creating a more transformative, student-centred environment. This study was a qualitative undertaking, conducted at the Nelson Mandela University’s (NMU) Development Studies undergraduate programme. The ESD-based approach was implemented by two participating lecturers who utilised the approach across four undergraduate classes. Qualitative data were generated through a systematic literature analysis (SLA), exploratory interviews, student exercises and assessments, focus group discussions, and reflective journal entries. The gathered data were then analysed using a framework analysis rubric adapted from the theoretical framework utilised in the study. In addition, the data were coded using the six coding techniques promoted by Saldaña (2013). The findings suggest that the ESD-based approach developed in the study could effectively contribute towards promoting ESD in the Development Studies programme. The findings also suggest that, when properly implemented, the ESD-based approach could assist lecturers in creating a more transformative learning environment where students have greater control over their learning experience. In addition, this study found that students in the selected Development Studies undergraduate programme could benefit from continued exposure to the teaching methods and techniques adopted in the approach. The implementation of the approach also uncovered some of the inhibiting factors that may prevent an ESD-based approach being mainstreamed into the context of higher education. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Development Studies, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An exploration into an ESD-based teaching strategy to improve the critical thinking and problem-solving skills amongst development studies students at Nelson Mandela University

  • Authors: Abrahams, Andre John
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Sustainable development -- Study and teaching , Universities and colleges -- South Africa , Critical thinking
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50906 , vital:43149
  • Description: In recent years, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has been a significant focus for research pertaining to teacher education and transformative approaches to teaching and learning. However, there has been less specific focus on the implementation of ESD in the context of higher education. This study, therefore, explored the use of an ESD-based teaching and learning approach in an undergraduate Development Studies programme. The focus was on developing a teaching approach that was informed by the principles of ESD and which could assist Development Studies lecturers in creating a more transformative, student-centred environment. This study was a qualitative undertaking, conducted at the Nelson Mandela University’s (NMU) Development Studies undergraduate programme. The ESD-based approach was implemented by two participating lecturers who utilised the approach across four undergraduate classes. Qualitative data were generated through a systematic literature analysis (SLA), exploratory interviews, student exercises and assessments, focus group discussions, and reflective journal entries. The gathered data were then analysed using a framework analysis rubric adapted from the theoretical framework utilised in the study. In addition, the data were coded using the six coding techniques promoted by Saldaña (2013). The findings suggest that the ESD-based approach developed in the study could effectively contribute towards promoting ESD in the Development Studies programme. The findings also suggest that, when properly implemented, the ESD-based approach could assist lecturers in creating a more transformative learning environment where students have greater control over their learning experience. In addition, this study found that students in the selected Development Studies undergraduate programme could benefit from continued exposure to the teaching methods and techniques adopted in the approach. The implementation of the approach also uncovered some of the inhibiting factors that may prevent an ESD-based approach being mainstreamed into the context of higher education. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Development Studies, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04

An exploration of attrition of sexual crime cases of child victims from the perspectives of the police officers, prosecutors and advocates in Kouga District, Eastern Cape (SA)

  • Authors: Calitz, Karen
  • Date: 2021-04
  • Subjects: Sex crimes -- Investigation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Criminal justice, Administration of -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51010 , vital:43200
  • Description: The successful prosecution of a sex crime case is dependent on the testimony of the victim. Due to the concealed nature of a sexual crime, it is notoriously difficult to prosecute effectively. With child victims, a number of additional obstacles present themselves when it comes to children giving evidence. Attrition is the rate at which cases do not proceed to court. Statistics in South Africa has revealed that rape has one of the lowest conviction rates of all serious crimes. This study is aimed at analysing the factors that cause attrition during the investigation stage in cases where children were victims of any form of sexual crime. In order to obtain the unscripted view of the investigation process, the qualitative study comprises of interviews with investigating officers who investigate these cases and the prosecutors who present these cases to court. The multi-disciplinary team-approach during investigation and its varying limits and challenges, were the main focus. A purposive non-probability sampling technique was utilised, focusing on the Kouga district municipality of the Eastern Cape. Through this study, the factors causing attrition were analysed and presented in such a manner so that change can be conceptualised in order to strive for the rights of children to receive justice for crimes committed against them. Key findings of the study yielded three significant factors which plague the progress of these cases. A significant finding illuminated the lack of required capacity professionals have in working and understanding children throughout the criminal justice process. A further vital finding is the complexities of inter-departmental functioning on implementation level, indicating challenges in collaboration. An integral finding is the measure of time taken to investigate cases of child victims, which the criminal process flow is delayed to its own detriment in aiming for convictions. In general it was found that services to child victims are neglected. Collaborative approaches which are already in place are to be strengthened through capacity building and collaborative knowledge integration in all sectors of professionals. Victim services legislation must include specialized services for the child victim. , Thesis (MSW) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
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  • Date Issued: 2021-04
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