The determination of God's action in history with special reference to Herbert Butterfield
- Authors: Fourie, Stephen
- Date: 1981
- Subjects: Butterfield, Herbert, 1900-1979 Christianity -- Philosophy -- History God -- History of doctrines
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BDiv
- Identifier: vital:1242 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009438
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1981
- Authors: Fourie, Stephen
- Date: 1981
- Subjects: Butterfield, Herbert, 1900-1979 Christianity -- Philosophy -- History God -- History of doctrines
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BDiv
- Identifier: vital:1242 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009438
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1981
A study of kitsch in South African suburban society
- Authors: Page, Lindsay Ann
- Date: 1984
- Subjects: Kitsch -- South Africa Decorative arts -- South Africa Popular culture -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: vital:2458 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007673
- Description: Consider the possibility of the remnants of our present day society being excavated and studied in centuries to come. Imagine the craftsmanship, the art, artifacts and architecture that will then be compared to those of the past centuries. Our entire culture will be labelled by the endless array of rubbish that has become an integral part of our lives. The increasing prevalence of kitsch in the society goes almost unnoticed where it should be causing concern. Few people are aware of its existence, or the permanent aesthetic scars induced by this prevalence. How has this cult of sheer awfulness come about and why has it become prevalent? It is impossible to pursue all the avenues of kitsch - so vast is it but it is the purpose of this study to try and answer some of the questions, in order to make people more aware of what has crept into our society, to help them become more discriminating, and not merely to level criticism at the perpetrators of kitsch.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1984
- Authors: Page, Lindsay Ann
- Date: 1984
- Subjects: Kitsch -- South Africa Decorative arts -- South Africa Popular culture -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: vital:2458 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007673
- Description: Consider the possibility of the remnants of our present day society being excavated and studied in centuries to come. Imagine the craftsmanship, the art, artifacts and architecture that will then be compared to those of the past centuries. Our entire culture will be labelled by the endless array of rubbish that has become an integral part of our lives. The increasing prevalence of kitsch in the society goes almost unnoticed where it should be causing concern. Few people are aware of its existence, or the permanent aesthetic scars induced by this prevalence. How has this cult of sheer awfulness come about and why has it become prevalent? It is impossible to pursue all the avenues of kitsch - so vast is it but it is the purpose of this study to try and answer some of the questions, in order to make people more aware of what has crept into our society, to help them become more discriminating, and not merely to level criticism at the perpetrators of kitsch.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1984
The contribution of meditative experiences to personal growth : a case study
- Authors: Knight, Zelda Gillian
- Date: 1991
- Subjects: Meditation Self-actualization (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1466 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003347
- Description: A three month meditation programme based on Joseph Goldstein's (1976) instructions and discourses given at a Vipassana meditation retreat was implemented among four 17 year old white English-speaking school girls at a private non-racial co-educational high school in South Africa. The meditation experiences of all four subjects were noted, hut only one subject's meditative experiences were documented and used as a case study to explore their use as a tool for personal growth within the framework of ego-psychology and transpersonal psychology. It is concluded that the subject, who meditated on a daily basis, experienced personal growth primarily from the ego-psychology perspective and, it is interesting to note, less so from the transpersonal perspective. Three bypotheses have been put forward for this. Firstly, the actual length of the meditation programme may have been too short, and secondly, the daily meditation sessions too brief to facilitate a process of personal growth and development from within the trans personal psychology framework. Thirdly, the subject was an adolescent school girl and thus may not have been developmentally ready in terms of reaching a level of cognitive, emotional, social and spiritual maturity necessary to experience identification to the transpersonal self.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1991
- Authors: Knight, Zelda Gillian
- Date: 1991
- Subjects: Meditation Self-actualization (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1466 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003347
- Description: A three month meditation programme based on Joseph Goldstein's (1976) instructions and discourses given at a Vipassana meditation retreat was implemented among four 17 year old white English-speaking school girls at a private non-racial co-educational high school in South Africa. The meditation experiences of all four subjects were noted, hut only one subject's meditative experiences were documented and used as a case study to explore their use as a tool for personal growth within the framework of ego-psychology and transpersonal psychology. It is concluded that the subject, who meditated on a daily basis, experienced personal growth primarily from the ego-psychology perspective and, it is interesting to note, less so from the transpersonal perspective. Three bypotheses have been put forward for this. Firstly, the actual length of the meditation programme may have been too short, and secondly, the daily meditation sessions too brief to facilitate a process of personal growth and development from within the trans personal psychology framework. Thirdly, the subject was an adolescent school girl and thus may not have been developmentally ready in terms of reaching a level of cognitive, emotional, social and spiritual maturity necessary to experience identification to the transpersonal self.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1991
An evaluation of the use of computers in a South African primary school
- Authors: Mostert, Orla
- Date: 1992
- Subjects: Education, Elementary -- South Africa -- Computer-assisted instruction Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa Educational technology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1528 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003410
- Description: The introduction of the computer into the educational arena is unique as pressure for its inclusion has come not from educationalists, but from public demand based on the conviction that exposure to computers is an essential ingredient of modern education. This has resulted in computers being added to school curricula before there has been careful research into its educational implications, making huge demands on teachers involved in the innovation. South African primary schools involved in computer education have followed international trends in their adoption of computers, initially perceiving computer education as a separate subject added on to the present curriculum. However, changing trends in computer use internationally are now beginning to reflect educators' changing perceptions of the nature of primary education, and educators are calling for the use of computers to be integrated into the curriculum rather than being seen as an area of study in themselves. This investigation attempts to outline general trends and perceptions of computer use in a South African primary school. Despite a high level of computer usage at the observed school, the computer was seen by teachers, in the main, as an extra subject, and has not yet led to any significant changes in teaching styles and methods. The research suggests that two main issues need to be resolved before computer education in primary schools reflects the present paradigm shift towards learner-centered educational practices. Firstly, there is a need to rethink the delivery of the curriculum towards one which promotes a greater degree of problem solving and decision making on the part of the learner. Secondly, it would appear that teachers need to be made more aware of this trend.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1992
- Authors: Mostert, Orla
- Date: 1992
- Subjects: Education, Elementary -- South Africa -- Computer-assisted instruction Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa Educational technology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1528 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003410
- Description: The introduction of the computer into the educational arena is unique as pressure for its inclusion has come not from educationalists, but from public demand based on the conviction that exposure to computers is an essential ingredient of modern education. This has resulted in computers being added to school curricula before there has been careful research into its educational implications, making huge demands on teachers involved in the innovation. South African primary schools involved in computer education have followed international trends in their adoption of computers, initially perceiving computer education as a separate subject added on to the present curriculum. However, changing trends in computer use internationally are now beginning to reflect educators' changing perceptions of the nature of primary education, and educators are calling for the use of computers to be integrated into the curriculum rather than being seen as an area of study in themselves. This investigation attempts to outline general trends and perceptions of computer use in a South African primary school. Despite a high level of computer usage at the observed school, the computer was seen by teachers, in the main, as an extra subject, and has not yet led to any significant changes in teaching styles and methods. The research suggests that two main issues need to be resolved before computer education in primary schools reflects the present paradigm shift towards learner-centered educational practices. Firstly, there is a need to rethink the delivery of the curriculum towards one which promotes a greater degree of problem solving and decision making on the part of the learner. Secondly, it would appear that teachers need to be made more aware of this trend.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1992
Graphicacy as a form of communication in the primary school
- Authors: Wilmot, Pamela Dianne
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: School children -- South Africa Visual communication Perception in children Visual literacy Pictures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1551 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003433
- Description: Children of today inhabit a multi-dimensional world, and in order to communicate effectively in it, they need the ability to utilise four forms of communication namely, oracy, literacy, numeracy and graphicacy. Communicating in graphic form requires an ability to both encode and decode spatial information using symbols, which requires the utilisation and application of spatial perceptual skills and concepts. The acquisition of graphic skills has been influenced by traditional developmental perspectives; increasingly the assumptions underpinning these have been challenged by more recent international research findings. The draft Curriculum Framework for General and Further Education and Training (1996: 18) identifies graphic literacy as one of the critical outcomes of the new South African curriculum. For graphic literacy to be an achievable outcome of the new curriculum, we need to investigate the skills and concepts underpinning this form of communication. The goal of this research is to investigate graphicacy as a form of communication in South African primary schools. However, given the scope of a research project of this nature, it was decided that rather than dealing with graphicacy per se, pictures as the most frequent and concrete type of graphic communication encountered by young learners would be focused on. In seeking to investigate pictures, the first stage of the study is concerned with diagnosing and illuminating children's graphic skill development through identifying: what skills they use; how they use and apply these when communicating through and interpreting symbols; and the difficulties they experience when, firstly, encoding spatial information through a series of practical and drawing tasks; and secondly, when reading and interpreting pictures. The second stage of the study investigates the extent to which children's early childhood experiences may or may not have impeded or enhanced the acquisition of skills necessary for understanding and communicating about space. The research findings, evaluated according to existing and emerging theoretical perspectives on graphicacy, will help to illuminate the current situation regarding the graphic literacy of South African primary school children. The study may contribute to wider international debates about graphicacy as a form of communication and the development of graphic literacy, from a South African perspective.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
- Authors: Wilmot, Pamela Dianne
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: School children -- South Africa Visual communication Perception in children Visual literacy Pictures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1551 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003433
- Description: Children of today inhabit a multi-dimensional world, and in order to communicate effectively in it, they need the ability to utilise four forms of communication namely, oracy, literacy, numeracy and graphicacy. Communicating in graphic form requires an ability to both encode and decode spatial information using symbols, which requires the utilisation and application of spatial perceptual skills and concepts. The acquisition of graphic skills has been influenced by traditional developmental perspectives; increasingly the assumptions underpinning these have been challenged by more recent international research findings. The draft Curriculum Framework for General and Further Education and Training (1996: 18) identifies graphic literacy as one of the critical outcomes of the new South African curriculum. For graphic literacy to be an achievable outcome of the new curriculum, we need to investigate the skills and concepts underpinning this form of communication. The goal of this research is to investigate graphicacy as a form of communication in South African primary schools. However, given the scope of a research project of this nature, it was decided that rather than dealing with graphicacy per se, pictures as the most frequent and concrete type of graphic communication encountered by young learners would be focused on. In seeking to investigate pictures, the first stage of the study is concerned with diagnosing and illuminating children's graphic skill development through identifying: what skills they use; how they use and apply these when communicating through and interpreting symbols; and the difficulties they experience when, firstly, encoding spatial information through a series of practical and drawing tasks; and secondly, when reading and interpreting pictures. The second stage of the study investigates the extent to which children's early childhood experiences may or may not have impeded or enhanced the acquisition of skills necessary for understanding and communicating about space. The research findings, evaluated according to existing and emerging theoretical perspectives on graphicacy, will help to illuminate the current situation regarding the graphic literacy of South African primary school children. The study may contribute to wider international debates about graphicacy as a form of communication and the development of graphic literacy, from a South African perspective.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
An exploration of environmental understanding among primary health care providers in an Eastern Cape community
- Authors: Hepburn, Mary Patricia
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: Medical care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Medical care -- Rural areas Environmental education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Community health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1533 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003415
- Description: This study explores environmental understanding among the health care practitioners serving a rural community in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. During the preliminary phases of the research, the decision was made to adopt a participatory approach to the inquiry as far as was possible. Semi-structured interviews, participant observation and focus group discussions were the techniques chosen to focus the participants' thinking about: the meaning of environment, environmental issues and problems which impact on health, and, environmental education in practice. Comparisons between the recently transformed health education idea proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), known as "health promotion", and a popular environmental education model are made. It is argued that many of the obstacles to effective health education described by the participants in the study can be overcome by using environmental educationlhealth promotion approaches. The findings show that the health practitioners studied relate to a wide range of environmental issues with varying levels of engagement. They are influenced by changing values, their feelings about indigenous knowledge, and their notions about how people should respond to the environment. An urgent need for more and better communication among the different levels of health practitioners is identified. Finally, it is recommended that health care practitioners be supported with opportunities for professional development which can lead to a confident, seIfreflective approach to health education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
- Authors: Hepburn, Mary Patricia
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: Medical care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Medical care -- Rural areas Environmental education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Community health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1533 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003415
- Description: This study explores environmental understanding among the health care practitioners serving a rural community in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. During the preliminary phases of the research, the decision was made to adopt a participatory approach to the inquiry as far as was possible. Semi-structured interviews, participant observation and focus group discussions were the techniques chosen to focus the participants' thinking about: the meaning of environment, environmental issues and problems which impact on health, and, environmental education in practice. Comparisons between the recently transformed health education idea proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), known as "health promotion", and a popular environmental education model are made. It is argued that many of the obstacles to effective health education described by the participants in the study can be overcome by using environmental educationlhealth promotion approaches. The findings show that the health practitioners studied relate to a wide range of environmental issues with varying levels of engagement. They are influenced by changing values, their feelings about indigenous knowledge, and their notions about how people should respond to the environment. An urgent need for more and better communication among the different levels of health practitioners is identified. Finally, it is recommended that health care practitioners be supported with opportunities for professional development which can lead to a confident, seIfreflective approach to health education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
The impact of exchange rate volatility on manufacturing production : a case study of South Africa
- Authors: Dube, Ziphozethu
- Date: 20
- Subjects: Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa Manufacturing industries -- South Africa Industrial productivity
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8294 , vital:32193
- Description: The study examined the impact of exchange rate volatility on manufacturing production for the period of 1994 - 2015 in South Africa. The study evaluated the literature on exchange rate volatility and manufacturing production which was conducted and resulted into specification of an empirical model. The Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) was employed towards deducing the relationship of exchange rate volatility and manufacturing production. This study made use of monthly data to examine the relationship of exchange rate volatility and manufacturing production. However, the data frequency selected, ensured an adequate number of observations and results revealed that exchange rate volatility has a negative relationship with manufacturing production in the long run, nonetheless considering South Africa as an export economy the results were consistent with Ayinde (2014) who found that this relationship is seen to exist. A positive relationship was noted within the short run period. The unstable business environment in South Africa has been worsened by the political climate and unstable policies that has a ripple effect. Due to this aspect the study recommended the need for stabilizer policies for monetary, fiscal, trade and exchange rate management. The government should properly manage the exchange rate and design suitable policies that will reduce the deviation of the exchange rate thereby encourage production. Exchange rate stability is viewed to be key for export-oriented manufacturing sectors in a macroeconomic environment. The South African economy has felt such heaviness of political unrest and polices that do not result in stability. It would be key for policymakers to be vigilant and implement such measures to get the economy ticking in the right direction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 20
- Authors: Dube, Ziphozethu
- Date: 20
- Subjects: Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa Manufacturing industries -- South Africa Industrial productivity
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8294 , vital:32193
- Description: The study examined the impact of exchange rate volatility on manufacturing production for the period of 1994 - 2015 in South Africa. The study evaluated the literature on exchange rate volatility and manufacturing production which was conducted and resulted into specification of an empirical model. The Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) was employed towards deducing the relationship of exchange rate volatility and manufacturing production. This study made use of monthly data to examine the relationship of exchange rate volatility and manufacturing production. However, the data frequency selected, ensured an adequate number of observations and results revealed that exchange rate volatility has a negative relationship with manufacturing production in the long run, nonetheless considering South Africa as an export economy the results were consistent with Ayinde (2014) who found that this relationship is seen to exist. A positive relationship was noted within the short run period. The unstable business environment in South Africa has been worsened by the political climate and unstable policies that has a ripple effect. Due to this aspect the study recommended the need for stabilizer policies for monetary, fiscal, trade and exchange rate management. The government should properly manage the exchange rate and design suitable policies that will reduce the deviation of the exchange rate thereby encourage production. Exchange rate stability is viewed to be key for export-oriented manufacturing sectors in a macroeconomic environment. The South African economy has felt such heaviness of political unrest and polices that do not result in stability. It would be key for policymakers to be vigilant and implement such measures to get the economy ticking in the right direction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 20
Dynamic compensation for performance characteristic differences of wind generator coupled pumps
- Swanepoel, Pieter Frederick Renier
- Authors: Swanepoel, Pieter Frederick Renier
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Wind pumps
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10806 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/25 , Wind pumps
- Description: The lack of services such as electricity in the rural areas of South Africa has given rise to the use of pump water and the windmills. The ones in use currently are maintenance intensive. There is a corrosive element in water and this sometimes requires plastic or other non-corrosive materials to be used for pump components and pipes. Solar panels are expensive and have low efficiencies. Alternative energy systems such as diesel engine driven- mono pumps or -turbines or windmills are costly, which means that the overall efficiency must be maximized to reduce these costs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2000
- Authors: Swanepoel, Pieter Frederick Renier
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Wind pumps
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10806 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/25 , Wind pumps
- Description: The lack of services such as electricity in the rural areas of South Africa has given rise to the use of pump water and the windmills. The ones in use currently are maintenance intensive. There is a corrosive element in water and this sometimes requires plastic or other non-corrosive materials to be used for pump components and pipes. Solar panels are expensive and have low efficiencies. Alternative energy systems such as diesel engine driven- mono pumps or -turbines or windmills are costly, which means that the overall efficiency must be maximized to reduce these costs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2000
An assessment of density estimation methods for forest ungulates
- Authors: Ellis, Amanda Morgan
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Wildlife management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Animal populations -- Estimates Wildlife conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Game farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Ungulates -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5829 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007830
- Description: The development of conservation and management programs for an animal population relies on a knowledge of the number of individuals in an area. In order to achieve reliable estimates, precise and accurate techniques for estimating population densities are needed. This study compared the use of direct and indirect methods of estimating kudu (Trage/aphus strepsiceras), bush buck (Trage/aphus scriptus), common duiker (Sy/vicapra grimmia), and blue duiker (Philantamba manticala) densities on Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. These species prefer habitats of dense forest and bush for concealment and are therefore not easily counted in open areas. Herein direct observation counts were compared to indirect sampling via pellet group counts (clearance plots, line transects, variable-width transects, and strip transects). Clearance plots were examined every 2 weeks, while all other methods were conducted seasonally, from August 2002 until August 2003. The strip transect method provided the lowest density estimates (animals per hal ranging from 0.001 for bushbuck to 0.025 for common duiker, while direct observations yielded the highest estimates, ranging from 0.804 for bush buck to 4.692 for kudu. Also, a validation of methods was performed against a known population of kudu during which the DISTANCE method yielded the most accurate results, with an estimated density of 0.261 that was within the actual density of 0.246 to 0.282. In addition, the DISTANCE method was compared to helicopter counts ofkudu and its estimates were found to be approximately 2.6 times greater than the helicopter count results. When the assessment of the methods was made, the cost, manpower and effort requirements, coefficient of variation, and performance against a known population for each method were taken into consideration. Overall, the DISTANCE method performed the best with low cost, minimal manpower and effort requirements, and low coefficient of variation. On Shamwari Game Reserve, the DISTANCE method estimated 0.300 kudu, 0.108 bushbuck, 0.387 common duiker, and 0.028 blue duiker per ha, which, when extrapolated to the total number of animals present within subtropical thicket habitat, estimated 1973 kudu, 710 bush buck, 2545 common duiker, and 184 blue duiker.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
- Authors: Ellis, Amanda Morgan
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Wildlife management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Animal populations -- Estimates Wildlife conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Game farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Ungulates -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5829 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007830
- Description: The development of conservation and management programs for an animal population relies on a knowledge of the number of individuals in an area. In order to achieve reliable estimates, precise and accurate techniques for estimating population densities are needed. This study compared the use of direct and indirect methods of estimating kudu (Trage/aphus strepsiceras), bush buck (Trage/aphus scriptus), common duiker (Sy/vicapra grimmia), and blue duiker (Philantamba manticala) densities on Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. These species prefer habitats of dense forest and bush for concealment and are therefore not easily counted in open areas. Herein direct observation counts were compared to indirect sampling via pellet group counts (clearance plots, line transects, variable-width transects, and strip transects). Clearance plots were examined every 2 weeks, while all other methods were conducted seasonally, from August 2002 until August 2003. The strip transect method provided the lowest density estimates (animals per hal ranging from 0.001 for bushbuck to 0.025 for common duiker, while direct observations yielded the highest estimates, ranging from 0.804 for bush buck to 4.692 for kudu. Also, a validation of methods was performed against a known population of kudu during which the DISTANCE method yielded the most accurate results, with an estimated density of 0.261 that was within the actual density of 0.246 to 0.282. In addition, the DISTANCE method was compared to helicopter counts ofkudu and its estimates were found to be approximately 2.6 times greater than the helicopter count results. When the assessment of the methods was made, the cost, manpower and effort requirements, coefficient of variation, and performance against a known population for each method were taken into consideration. Overall, the DISTANCE method performed the best with low cost, minimal manpower and effort requirements, and low coefficient of variation. On Shamwari Game Reserve, the DISTANCE method estimated 0.300 kudu, 0.108 bushbuck, 0.387 common duiker, and 0.028 blue duiker per ha, which, when extrapolated to the total number of animals present within subtropical thicket habitat, estimated 1973 kudu, 710 bush buck, 2545 common duiker, and 184 blue duiker.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
Against supererogationism
- Authors: Van Niekerk, Jason Bradley
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Supererogation , Supererogation -- History , Values , Ethics -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2731 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004268 , Supererogation , Supererogation -- History , Values , Ethics -- History
- Description: In this thesis, I argue that we have no reason to accept the existence of a category of supererogatory moral goods: that is, good acts that carry no pressure to bring them about. Despite the counterintuitive nature and suspicious provenance of the concept, Supererogationism is the orthodoxy in Ethics, and I examine promising but unsuccessful responses to it by Peter Singer and Kwame Gyekye. Responding in particular to David Heyd's Supererogationism - but also to J. O. Urmson, Susan Wolf, and Jonathan Dancy - I develop an account of the principle "Good implies Ought" that does not entail absurd over-obligation. I argue that this Anti-Supererogationist model stands up to the four strongest arguments against such a position, and that it embraces a more accurate account of the relation between values and oughts than Supererogationists are capable of supplying. Finally, I sketch a detailed eudaimonist account of the principle umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu - that our commitment to the good of others stems from our flourishing being caught up with theirs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Van Niekerk, Jason Bradley
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Supererogation , Supererogation -- History , Values , Ethics -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2731 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004268 , Supererogation , Supererogation -- History , Values , Ethics -- History
- Description: In this thesis, I argue that we have no reason to accept the existence of a category of supererogatory moral goods: that is, good acts that carry no pressure to bring them about. Despite the counterintuitive nature and suspicious provenance of the concept, Supererogationism is the orthodoxy in Ethics, and I examine promising but unsuccessful responses to it by Peter Singer and Kwame Gyekye. Responding in particular to David Heyd's Supererogationism - but also to J. O. Urmson, Susan Wolf, and Jonathan Dancy - I develop an account of the principle "Good implies Ought" that does not entail absurd over-obligation. I argue that this Anti-Supererogationist model stands up to the four strongest arguments against such a position, and that it embraces a more accurate account of the relation between values and oughts than Supererogationists are capable of supplying. Finally, I sketch a detailed eudaimonist account of the principle umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu - that our commitment to the good of others stems from our flourishing being caught up with theirs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The relationship between interest rates and inflation in South Africa : revisiting Fisher's hypothesis
- Mitchell-Innes, Henry Alexander
- Authors: Mitchell-Innes, Henry Alexander
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Fisher effect (Economics) , Interest rates -- South Africa , Interest rates -- Effect of inflation -- South Africa , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Banks and banking, Central -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:991 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002726 , Fisher effect (Economics) , Interest rates -- South Africa , Interest rates -- Effect of inflation -- South Africa , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Banks and banking, Central -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Description: This thesis investigates the relationship between expected inflation and nominal interest rates in South Africa and the extent to which the Fisher effect hypothesis holds. The hypothesis, proposed by Fisher (1930), that the nominal rate of interest should reflect movements in the expected rate of inflation has been the subject of much empirical research in many industrialised countries. This wealth of literature can be attributed to various factors including the pivotal role that the nominal rate of interest and, perhaps more importantly, the real rate of interest plays in the economy. The validity of the Fisher effect also has important implications for monetary policy and needs to be considered by central banks. Few studies have been conducted in South Africa to validate this important hypothesis. The analysis uses the 3-month bankers’ acceptance rate and the 10-year government bond rate to proxy both short- and long-term interest rates. The existence of a long-run unit proportional relationship between nominal interest rates and expected inflation is tested using Johansen’s cointegration test. The data is analysed for the period April 2000 to July 2005 as the research aims to establish whether the Fisher relationship holds within an inflation targeting monetary policy framework. The short-run Fisher effect is not empirically verified. This is due to the effects of the monetary policy transmission mechanism and implies that short-term nominal interest rates are a good indication of the stance of monetary policy. A long-run cointegrating relationship is established between long-term interest rates and expected inflation. The long-run adjustment is less than unity, which can be attributed to the credibility of the inflation-targeting framework.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Mitchell-Innes, Henry Alexander
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Fisher effect (Economics) , Interest rates -- South Africa , Interest rates -- Effect of inflation -- South Africa , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Banks and banking, Central -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:991 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002726 , Fisher effect (Economics) , Interest rates -- South Africa , Interest rates -- Effect of inflation -- South Africa , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Banks and banking, Central -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Description: This thesis investigates the relationship between expected inflation and nominal interest rates in South Africa and the extent to which the Fisher effect hypothesis holds. The hypothesis, proposed by Fisher (1930), that the nominal rate of interest should reflect movements in the expected rate of inflation has been the subject of much empirical research in many industrialised countries. This wealth of literature can be attributed to various factors including the pivotal role that the nominal rate of interest and, perhaps more importantly, the real rate of interest plays in the economy. The validity of the Fisher effect also has important implications for monetary policy and needs to be considered by central banks. Few studies have been conducted in South Africa to validate this important hypothesis. The analysis uses the 3-month bankers’ acceptance rate and the 10-year government bond rate to proxy both short- and long-term interest rates. The existence of a long-run unit proportional relationship between nominal interest rates and expected inflation is tested using Johansen’s cointegration test. The data is analysed for the period April 2000 to July 2005 as the research aims to establish whether the Fisher relationship holds within an inflation targeting monetary policy framework. The short-run Fisher effect is not empirically verified. This is due to the effects of the monetary policy transmission mechanism and implies that short-term nominal interest rates are a good indication of the stance of monetary policy. A long-run cointegrating relationship is established between long-term interest rates and expected inflation. The long-run adjustment is less than unity, which can be attributed to the credibility of the inflation-targeting framework.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
Unstable ironies: narrative instability in Herman Charles Bosman's "Oom Schalk Lourens" series
- Authors: Davis, Rebecca
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Bosman, Herman Charles, 1905-1951 -- Criticism and interpretation , Irony in literature , Narration (Rhetoric)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2215 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002258 , Bosman, Herman Charles, 1905-1951 -- Criticism and interpretation , Irony in literature , Narration (Rhetoric)
- Description: This thesis examines the narrative situation within Herman Charles Bosman’s “Oom Schalk Lourens” series of stories, focussing on the nature of the relationship between author and narrator. In particular, it seeks to trace the source of the multiple ironies at work in the texts. It has been customary for critics in the past to claim that the irony within the stories stems from Bosman, operating authorially ‘above’ Oom Schalk. In terms of this theory, Oom Schalk is read as being largely unaware of the inconsistencies and contradictions within his narrative. It is the claim of this thesis, however, that Oom Schalk is the self-aware creator of the texts’ ironies much of the time. Chapter 1 commences with an attempt at defining irony, and provides a brief overview of the history of its deployment within South African literature before discussing the literary genre which Bosman was to exploit as his ironic vehicle: the “oral-style” short story. Chapter 2 examines Wayne C. Booth’s notions of “stable” and “unstable” irony: the irony of the Oom Schalk stories has, in the past, been classified as belonging to the former category, but this thesis attempts to show that its inconsistent deployment within the stories consigns it more accurately to the latter. Chapter 3 offers an assessment of the extrinsic contexts relevant to the analysis: the context of the stories’ publication, and the likely composition of Bosman’s reading public. Chapter 4 begins to examine the distance between implied author and implied narrator in the stories. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 subject stories dealing with the themes of art, race and land to detailed analysis in order to examine the shifting – and progressively, though unevenly, diminishing – distance between Bosman and Oom Schalk. The thesis concludes that the degree to which the ironic distance between author and narrator fluctuates within, and between, the stories, results in a narrative situation which must be classified as fundamentally unstable.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Davis, Rebecca
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Bosman, Herman Charles, 1905-1951 -- Criticism and interpretation , Irony in literature , Narration (Rhetoric)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2215 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002258 , Bosman, Herman Charles, 1905-1951 -- Criticism and interpretation , Irony in literature , Narration (Rhetoric)
- Description: This thesis examines the narrative situation within Herman Charles Bosman’s “Oom Schalk Lourens” series of stories, focussing on the nature of the relationship between author and narrator. In particular, it seeks to trace the source of the multiple ironies at work in the texts. It has been customary for critics in the past to claim that the irony within the stories stems from Bosman, operating authorially ‘above’ Oom Schalk. In terms of this theory, Oom Schalk is read as being largely unaware of the inconsistencies and contradictions within his narrative. It is the claim of this thesis, however, that Oom Schalk is the self-aware creator of the texts’ ironies much of the time. Chapter 1 commences with an attempt at defining irony, and provides a brief overview of the history of its deployment within South African literature before discussing the literary genre which Bosman was to exploit as his ironic vehicle: the “oral-style” short story. Chapter 2 examines Wayne C. Booth’s notions of “stable” and “unstable” irony: the irony of the Oom Schalk stories has, in the past, been classified as belonging to the former category, but this thesis attempts to show that its inconsistent deployment within the stories consigns it more accurately to the latter. Chapter 3 offers an assessment of the extrinsic contexts relevant to the analysis: the context of the stories’ publication, and the likely composition of Bosman’s reading public. Chapter 4 begins to examine the distance between implied author and implied narrator in the stories. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 subject stories dealing with the themes of art, race and land to detailed analysis in order to examine the shifting – and progressively, though unevenly, diminishing – distance between Bosman and Oom Schalk. The thesis concludes that the degree to which the ironic distance between author and narrator fluctuates within, and between, the stories, results in a narrative situation which must be classified as fundamentally unstable.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
An investigation into the popularity of Nigerian movies in Zambia: a reception study of Lusaka viewers
- Authors: Phiri, Diana
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Motion pictures, Nigerian Motion picture audiences -- Zambia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3509 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007615
- Description: Motivated by a concern as to why Zambians are attracted to foreign media in the form of Nigerian movies, this thesis is a qualitative audience study which investigates the popularity of Nigerian movies in Zambia with a focus on Lusaka viewers. Against the dominance of Western media and most especially Hollywood movies, this study explores the popularity of Nigerian movies in Zambia which highlights the circulation of media within and between non-Western countries. This is an aspect of trans-national cultural flows that has been ignored in theories of media imperialism. The thesis argues that the widespread popularity of Nigerian movies in Africa and in Zambia in particular necessitates a revision of the conceptions of global cultural flows that privilege the centrality of the West but ignore other centres engaged in contemporary cultural production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Phiri, Diana
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Motion pictures, Nigerian Motion picture audiences -- Zambia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3509 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007615
- Description: Motivated by a concern as to why Zambians are attracted to foreign media in the form of Nigerian movies, this thesis is a qualitative audience study which investigates the popularity of Nigerian movies in Zambia with a focus on Lusaka viewers. Against the dominance of Western media and most especially Hollywood movies, this study explores the popularity of Nigerian movies in Zambia which highlights the circulation of media within and between non-Western countries. This is an aspect of trans-national cultural flows that has been ignored in theories of media imperialism. The thesis argues that the widespread popularity of Nigerian movies in Africa and in Zambia in particular necessitates a revision of the conceptions of global cultural flows that privilege the centrality of the West but ignore other centres engaged in contemporary cultural production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The trouble with culture : Plato's critique of poetry
- Authors: Ansell, James D'Olier
- Date: 2007 , 2013-07-25
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2733 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004460
- Description: In this thesis I argue that Plato's critique of poetry, taken in its proper context, is a serious and relevant critique of popular culture. In the first chapter I argue that the poetic reforms proposed in Books 2 and 3 and Book 10 of Republic stand at the front of a total reform of Greek culture. I argue for the consistency of Plato's whole argument and then I claim that if we get Plato's targets right, not fine art or literature, and focus on appropriate modern analogues then we can see why his critique is still important. If we share his claim that we are influenced by popular culture in important and often insidious ways and agree that culture can promote corrupt values, then we have accepted the core of Plato's challenge. If we find his solution distasteful, then the task is to come up with a democratic alternative. In the remaining two chapters I focus specifically on the challenge to the poets, putting the other reforms to the side. In the second chapter I consider a possible reply to the challenge focusing on the worth of the poetry that was expelled. I first look elsewhere in the Platonic oeuvre at the account of beauty in Symposium and Phaedrus but I argue that neither of them gives anything like aesthetic value that could be usefully applied to poetry. Next I look to some modern accounts of aesthetic value. I argue that while they might go some of the distance against Plato's challenge, they face a difficult task because it is not sufficient positing the value, an account is needed of their positive benefit. In the third chapter I turn to a more direct response to the challenge. Arguably Aristotle offers such a response in the Poetics, in terms of the notion of katharsis. I consider two interpretative candidates for katharsis. The first takes the benefit of poetry to be psychological - katharsis is a purgation of otherwise pathological emotions. I argue that this fails because it misunderstands precisely what Plato's concerns about poetry are, and, furthermore, this account could even be compatible with Plato's worries. The second interpretation takes the benefit of poetry to be ethical- katharsis is a type of ethical clarification which is beneficial in training our emotional responses. I claim that the clarification, and education, is worryingly conventionalist, and doesn't take seriously that Plato's target was popular culture and not great, educative literature. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Ansell, James D'Olier
- Date: 2007 , 2013-07-25
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2733 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004460
- Description: In this thesis I argue that Plato's critique of poetry, taken in its proper context, is a serious and relevant critique of popular culture. In the first chapter I argue that the poetic reforms proposed in Books 2 and 3 and Book 10 of Republic stand at the front of a total reform of Greek culture. I argue for the consistency of Plato's whole argument and then I claim that if we get Plato's targets right, not fine art or literature, and focus on appropriate modern analogues then we can see why his critique is still important. If we share his claim that we are influenced by popular culture in important and often insidious ways and agree that culture can promote corrupt values, then we have accepted the core of Plato's challenge. If we find his solution distasteful, then the task is to come up with a democratic alternative. In the remaining two chapters I focus specifically on the challenge to the poets, putting the other reforms to the side. In the second chapter I consider a possible reply to the challenge focusing on the worth of the poetry that was expelled. I first look elsewhere in the Platonic oeuvre at the account of beauty in Symposium and Phaedrus but I argue that neither of them gives anything like aesthetic value that could be usefully applied to poetry. Next I look to some modern accounts of aesthetic value. I argue that while they might go some of the distance against Plato's challenge, they face a difficult task because it is not sufficient positing the value, an account is needed of their positive benefit. In the third chapter I turn to a more direct response to the challenge. Arguably Aristotle offers such a response in the Poetics, in terms of the notion of katharsis. I consider two interpretative candidates for katharsis. The first takes the benefit of poetry to be psychological - katharsis is a purgation of otherwise pathological emotions. I argue that this fails because it misunderstands precisely what Plato's concerns about poetry are, and, furthermore, this account could even be compatible with Plato's worries. The second interpretation takes the benefit of poetry to be ethical- katharsis is a type of ethical clarification which is beneficial in training our emotional responses. I claim that the clarification, and education, is worryingly conventionalist, and doesn't take seriously that Plato's target was popular culture and not great, educative literature. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An exploration of mathematical concepts embedded in Xhosa beadwork artifacts through an invention programme for Grade 9 learners
- Authors: Myemane, Dumakazi Margaret
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- Psychological aspects Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- Social aspects -- South Africa Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa Xhosa (African people) Ethnomathematics Beadwork -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Beadwork, Xhosa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1950 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008201
- Description: Mathematics has become increasingly important, as it is a pre-requisite for careers like architecture, science, engineering and medicine. Therefore it becomes imperative for the learners to understand and love it. In other words a sound foundation of mathematical skills and knowledge in the early stages is required. Often we hear learners asking questions like "when and where are we going to use these symbols x and y in our lives? " These questions might indicate that learners cannot link mathematics with daily life occurrences or even their own background experiences. This study is an exploration through hands-on activities of mathematical concepts embedded in beadwork artifacts. Learners' background experiences on bead work artifacts are acknowledged and explored for mathematical understanding. It is a case study, consisting of 44 learners in Grade 9 in two schools in Grahamstown. An interpretive approach is used. In order for the learners to be able to explore beadwork artifacts, they visited the Albany Museum (AM) and Msithandane Women's Project (MWP) in the community. Learners gathered information from these two sources. Beadwork artifacts in this study were used as a mediation and integration tool between culture and mathematics. Beadwork artifacts are found in the learners' cultures serving different purposes. In this study the focus was on Xhosa bead work artifacts. The hands-on activities posed challenges to learners because of their different background experiences. Some were able to draw designs but were unable to thread what they designed, whereas others were able to thread beads but were unable to draw designs. In this study learners had to use both completed bead work artifacts and drawn up designs for the investigation of mathematical concepts. Learners were able to identify symmetries in dress and in South African flag designs. Number patterns discovered were linked to their prior number pattern knowledge. The economic value of beadwork artifacts linked mathematics to the economics learning area. This study ties up with the new curriculum (C2005) and RNCS, which advocate the inclusion and integration of learning areas. In this instance, art and culture were used in mathematical activities. The study also encouraged the inclusion of participants' cultural background as a starting point for motivating them towards utilizing mathematical resources existing in their real life situations. The purpose was to make them aware that mathematics is found everywhere around us.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Myemane, Dumakazi Margaret
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- Psychological aspects Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- Social aspects -- South Africa Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa Xhosa (African people) Ethnomathematics Beadwork -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Beadwork, Xhosa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1950 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008201
- Description: Mathematics has become increasingly important, as it is a pre-requisite for careers like architecture, science, engineering and medicine. Therefore it becomes imperative for the learners to understand and love it. In other words a sound foundation of mathematical skills and knowledge in the early stages is required. Often we hear learners asking questions like "when and where are we going to use these symbols x and y in our lives? " These questions might indicate that learners cannot link mathematics with daily life occurrences or even their own background experiences. This study is an exploration through hands-on activities of mathematical concepts embedded in beadwork artifacts. Learners' background experiences on bead work artifacts are acknowledged and explored for mathematical understanding. It is a case study, consisting of 44 learners in Grade 9 in two schools in Grahamstown. An interpretive approach is used. In order for the learners to be able to explore beadwork artifacts, they visited the Albany Museum (AM) and Msithandane Women's Project (MWP) in the community. Learners gathered information from these two sources. Beadwork artifacts in this study were used as a mediation and integration tool between culture and mathematics. Beadwork artifacts are found in the learners' cultures serving different purposes. In this study the focus was on Xhosa bead work artifacts. The hands-on activities posed challenges to learners because of their different background experiences. Some were able to draw designs but were unable to thread what they designed, whereas others were able to thread beads but were unable to draw designs. In this study learners had to use both completed bead work artifacts and drawn up designs for the investigation of mathematical concepts. Learners were able to identify symmetries in dress and in South African flag designs. Number patterns discovered were linked to their prior number pattern knowledge. The economic value of beadwork artifacts linked mathematics to the economics learning area. This study ties up with the new curriculum (C2005) and RNCS, which advocate the inclusion and integration of learning areas. In this instance, art and culture were used in mathematical activities. The study also encouraged the inclusion of participants' cultural background as a starting point for motivating them towards utilizing mathematical resources existing in their real life situations. The purpose was to make them aware that mathematics is found everywhere around us.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Coping strategies of African women middle managers in the manufacturing industry
- Authors: Mayeko, Ncedisa
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Women executives -- South Africa , Stress management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9901 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1071 , Women executives -- South Africa , Stress management
- Description: African women in South Africa have for decades, if not centuries, been marginalized in the workplace. With the dawn of the new South Africa came Affirmative Action and subsequently, the Employment Equity Act. These policies offered African women opportunities to enter the workplace. The review of the literature shows that the psychological functioning of African women managers has received minimal research attention. In addition, the literature review on coping focused on the individual and communal coping strategies which indicated that individual and systemic strategies have been neglected in both the theories of coping and extant empirical literature. The current study addresses this through the conceptualisation of coping from a systemic perspective. The current study aimed to explore and describe the coping strategies of African women middle managers in the manufacturing industry in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area. The study was conducted within a qualitative research paradigm and took the form of exploratory research. Non-probability snowball sampling was utilized to identify participants for the study. The sample consisted of three African women managers who held middle management positions in the manufacturing industry in the Nelson Mandela metropolitan area. Semi-structured interviewing was utilised to collect the data. In order to analyse the data, Tesch’s (1990) qualitative analysis steps were utilised. The study showed that African women middle managers relied on individual strategies such as assertiveness, spirituality and, positive attitude to cope. These individual strategies were not used in isolation, as the participants relied on various subsystems within which they were embedded to cope with the demands they faced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Mayeko, Ncedisa
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Women executives -- South Africa , Stress management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9901 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1071 , Women executives -- South Africa , Stress management
- Description: African women in South Africa have for decades, if not centuries, been marginalized in the workplace. With the dawn of the new South Africa came Affirmative Action and subsequently, the Employment Equity Act. These policies offered African women opportunities to enter the workplace. The review of the literature shows that the psychological functioning of African women managers has received minimal research attention. In addition, the literature review on coping focused on the individual and communal coping strategies which indicated that individual and systemic strategies have been neglected in both the theories of coping and extant empirical literature. The current study addresses this through the conceptualisation of coping from a systemic perspective. The current study aimed to explore and describe the coping strategies of African women middle managers in the manufacturing industry in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area. The study was conducted within a qualitative research paradigm and took the form of exploratory research. Non-probability snowball sampling was utilized to identify participants for the study. The sample consisted of three African women managers who held middle management positions in the manufacturing industry in the Nelson Mandela metropolitan area. Semi-structured interviewing was utilised to collect the data. In order to analyse the data, Tesch’s (1990) qualitative analysis steps were utilised. The study showed that African women middle managers relied on individual strategies such as assertiveness, spirituality and, positive attitude to cope. These individual strategies were not used in isolation, as the participants relied on various subsystems within which they were embedded to cope with the demands they faced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Unearthed : personifications of widowhood and acts of memory : volume 1 and 2
- Authors: Arbi, Linda Margaret
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Widowhood -- Social aspects -- South Africa Widowhood -- Social aspects -- Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) Widows in art -- South Africa Widows in art -- Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) Memory in art -- South Africa Memory in art -- Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: vital:2428 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002225
- Description: By researching visual traditions of representing widows in relation to a social role, I explore how these may be related to processes of mourning and memory. My study begins with an historical reading and, along with an analysis of Renaissance widow portraiture, I trace the experiences of widows in the Cape of Good Hope. For the purposes of this thesis, I have selected images of widows to investigate memory-work particularly when speaking of loss. I re-view these memory processes through recent historical and art historical discourse with reference to contemporary South African artworks in order to understand how public memory is formed by way of visual documentation. These narratives around widowhood have informed the subject matter for my Master’s exhibition and shed light on my own experience as a widow. The interaction between objects and memory are of particular interest and manifest in my studio art practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Arbi, Linda Margaret
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Widowhood -- Social aspects -- South Africa Widowhood -- Social aspects -- Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) Widows in art -- South Africa Widows in art -- Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) Memory in art -- South Africa Memory in art -- Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: vital:2428 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002225
- Description: By researching visual traditions of representing widows in relation to a social role, I explore how these may be related to processes of mourning and memory. My study begins with an historical reading and, along with an analysis of Renaissance widow portraiture, I trace the experiences of widows in the Cape of Good Hope. For the purposes of this thesis, I have selected images of widows to investigate memory-work particularly when speaking of loss. I re-view these memory processes through recent historical and art historical discourse with reference to contemporary South African artworks in order to understand how public memory is formed by way of visual documentation. These narratives around widowhood have informed the subject matter for my Master’s exhibition and shed light on my own experience as a widow. The interaction between objects and memory are of particular interest and manifest in my studio art practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Building a semantic web-based e-health component for a multipurpose communication centre
- Authors: Hlungulu, Bulumko
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Telecommunication in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Health -- Computer network resources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11380 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/374 , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Telecommunication in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Health -- Computer network resources
- Description: Rural communities have limited access to health information which is made available on the internet. This is due to poor infrastructure (i.e., lack of clinics or Internet access) and that gives them problems in accessing information within the domain of health. The availability of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in a rural community can provide the community with a number of beneficial solutions to their problems as they maximize the potential of knowledge sharing and delivery. This research seeks to make use of ICTs deployed in the community of Dwesa, in order to contribute to improving the health standards of the community. It seeks to accomplish this by carrying out an investigation and literature review with the aim of understanding health knowledge sharing dynamics in the context of marginalized communities. The knowledge acquired will then be used in the development and implementation of a semantic web-based e-Health portal as part of the Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) project. This portal will share and deliver western medical knowledge, traditional knowledge and indigenous knowledge. This research seeks to make use of a combination of Free and/or Open Sources Software in developing the portal to make it affordable to the community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Hlungulu, Bulumko
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Telecommunication in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Health -- Computer network resources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11380 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/374 , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Telecommunication in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Health -- Computer network resources
- Description: Rural communities have limited access to health information which is made available on the internet. This is due to poor infrastructure (i.e., lack of clinics or Internet access) and that gives them problems in accessing information within the domain of health. The availability of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in a rural community can provide the community with a number of beneficial solutions to their problems as they maximize the potential of knowledge sharing and delivery. This research seeks to make use of ICTs deployed in the community of Dwesa, in order to contribute to improving the health standards of the community. It seeks to accomplish this by carrying out an investigation and literature review with the aim of understanding health knowledge sharing dynamics in the context of marginalized communities. The knowledge acquired will then be used in the development and implementation of a semantic web-based e-Health portal as part of the Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) project. This portal will share and deliver western medical knowledge, traditional knowledge and indigenous knowledge. This research seeks to make use of a combination of Free and/or Open Sources Software in developing the portal to make it affordable to the community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Investigating the effect of various film-forming polymers on the evaporation rate of a volatile component in a cosmetic formulation
- Authors: Barnard, Carla
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Cosmetic delivery systems , Controlled release preparations , Cosmetics , Polymers , Drugs -- Controlled release
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10377 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1498 , Cosmetic delivery systems , Controlled release preparations , Cosmetics , Polymers , Drugs -- Controlled release
- Description: The topical application of many substances, including drugs, enzymes, moisturizers and fragrances, contributes largely to the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. These components are often volatile in nature and dissipate in a matter of hours. When considering the different types of slow release systems, an overwhelming variety of these systems is available. Each one of the systems is unique in a way, and is designed to perform a particular function, whether it facilitates the controlled release of an active into the body via the skin surface (transdermal delivery) or whether it reduces the rate of loss of an active from the skin surface to the surrounding environment. For the purpose of this study, a previously existing fixative formulation which is believed to reduce the rate of loss of an active component to the environment, through film formation on the skin surface, was investigated. Alternative ingredients or components were incorporated together with the original fixative formulation ingredients into an experimental design which investigates the effect of each group of the components present. 18 formulations with various concentrations of the components within the groups and specified upper and lower limits for each component were formulated. The fixative properties of the formulations were analysed through the incorporation of a fixed amount of a simple fragrance molecule, 4- methoxybenzaldehyde, into each formulation and evaporation studies were conducted in an environmental room at 28±1° C over a period of 5 hours followed by gas chromatography analysis and finally data analyses using statistical methods. The most efficient fixative formulation was established using regression analysis. The fragrance compound in this formulation was found to evaporate at a rate of 0.47 g/L per hour. The least efficient fixative formulation lead to the loss of 0.78 g/L of the fragrance component per hour. From the calculated fragrance concentrations, the rate constant for each individual fixative formulation could be calculated and response surface 8 modelling by backward regression was used in order to determine how each component contributes to the rate of loss of the fragrance compound. Since the sum of the original ingredient and its alternative was constant, each of the original ingredients was coupled directly to its alternative and no conclusion could be made about the contribution of individual components. By increasing the concentration of Hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) 100K and its alternative HPC 140K, while keeping the effects of the other components constant, a decrease in the rate of fragrance loss was observed. The same conclusion could be made when increasing the concentrations of PEG-12 Dimethicone and its alternative cetyl dimethicone (decreases the evaporation rate). An interaction took place between HPC 100K and PEG-12 dimethicone and their alternatives. The negative effect was, however, not as strong as the combined positive effect on the rate of fragrance loss of the individual components HPC and PEG-12 dimethicone. Evidence suggested that the removal of the components polyvinylpyrrolidone and its alternative, polyurethane-32 (Baycusan® C1003), would improve the effectiveness of the fixative formulation in terms of its slow release properties. A confirmation experiment established that the exclusion of these components from the fixative formulation does improve the “slow release” properties thereof. A larger, more intricate design is required to investigate the effect of each one of the individual components and where the sum of the components (original and its alternative) is not constant.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Barnard, Carla
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Cosmetic delivery systems , Controlled release preparations , Cosmetics , Polymers , Drugs -- Controlled release
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10377 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1498 , Cosmetic delivery systems , Controlled release preparations , Cosmetics , Polymers , Drugs -- Controlled release
- Description: The topical application of many substances, including drugs, enzymes, moisturizers and fragrances, contributes largely to the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. These components are often volatile in nature and dissipate in a matter of hours. When considering the different types of slow release systems, an overwhelming variety of these systems is available. Each one of the systems is unique in a way, and is designed to perform a particular function, whether it facilitates the controlled release of an active into the body via the skin surface (transdermal delivery) or whether it reduces the rate of loss of an active from the skin surface to the surrounding environment. For the purpose of this study, a previously existing fixative formulation which is believed to reduce the rate of loss of an active component to the environment, through film formation on the skin surface, was investigated. Alternative ingredients or components were incorporated together with the original fixative formulation ingredients into an experimental design which investigates the effect of each group of the components present. 18 formulations with various concentrations of the components within the groups and specified upper and lower limits for each component were formulated. The fixative properties of the formulations were analysed through the incorporation of a fixed amount of a simple fragrance molecule, 4- methoxybenzaldehyde, into each formulation and evaporation studies were conducted in an environmental room at 28±1° C over a period of 5 hours followed by gas chromatography analysis and finally data analyses using statistical methods. The most efficient fixative formulation was established using regression analysis. The fragrance compound in this formulation was found to evaporate at a rate of 0.47 g/L per hour. The least efficient fixative formulation lead to the loss of 0.78 g/L of the fragrance component per hour. From the calculated fragrance concentrations, the rate constant for each individual fixative formulation could be calculated and response surface 8 modelling by backward regression was used in order to determine how each component contributes to the rate of loss of the fragrance compound. Since the sum of the original ingredient and its alternative was constant, each of the original ingredients was coupled directly to its alternative and no conclusion could be made about the contribution of individual components. By increasing the concentration of Hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) 100K and its alternative HPC 140K, while keeping the effects of the other components constant, a decrease in the rate of fragrance loss was observed. The same conclusion could be made when increasing the concentrations of PEG-12 Dimethicone and its alternative cetyl dimethicone (decreases the evaporation rate). An interaction took place between HPC 100K and PEG-12 dimethicone and their alternatives. The negative effect was, however, not as strong as the combined positive effect on the rate of fragrance loss of the individual components HPC and PEG-12 dimethicone. Evidence suggested that the removal of the components polyvinylpyrrolidone and its alternative, polyurethane-32 (Baycusan® C1003), would improve the effectiveness of the fixative formulation in terms of its slow release properties. A confirmation experiment established that the exclusion of these components from the fixative formulation does improve the “slow release” properties thereof. A larger, more intricate design is required to investigate the effect of each one of the individual components and where the sum of the components (original and its alternative) is not constant.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Microalgal biomass and distribution in the Mngazi and Mngazana Estuaries
- Ngesi, Hlekani Ntombizakithi
- Authors: Ngesi, Hlekani Ntombizakithi
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Microalgae -- South Africa -- Mngazi Estuary , Algae -- South Africa -- Mngazi Estuary , Algae -- South Africa -- Mngazana Estuary , Estuarine ecology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10610 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1591 , Microalgae -- South Africa -- Mngazi Estuary , Algae -- South Africa -- Mngazi Estuary , Algae -- South Africa -- Mngazana Estuary , Estuarine ecology -- South Africa
- Description: The present study was undertaken in the temporarily open/closed Mngazi and permanently open Mngazana estuaries, located on the subtropical east coast of South Africa. The results from this research will assist decision makers in the freshwater management of these systems. Intertidal and subtidal benthic chlorophyll a concentrations, water column chlorophyll a, nutrients and several physico-chemical parameters were measured between June 2002 and November 2003. The objective of this study was to determine if the presence of freshwater in the estuaries had an effect on the microalgae of both estuaries. Five sites were sampled in the Mngazi Estuary and 14 sites were sampled in the Mngazana Estuary. The average water column chlorophyll a was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the Mngazana Estuary (surface 7.8 ± 0.7 μg.l-1, bottom 6.4 ± 0.7 μg.l-1) compared to the Mngazi Estuary (surface 4.9 ± 1.2 μg.l-1, bottom 7.3 ± 1.5 μg.l-1). There was no evidence of an REI (river-estuary interface) zone in areas where the water column chlorophyll a concentrations were high even during open mouth conditions in the Mngazi Estuary. The REI is that area where salinity is less than 10 ppt and is characterized by high water column productivity. Even though both systems received some freshwater during the summer periods, this was not enough to stimulate phytoplankton growth and nutrient availability seems to be the major factor limiting phytoplankton in these systems. Flagellates and diatoms were the dominant phytoplankton groups in both estuaries during the entire sampling session. The relative abundance of the different phytoplankton groups did not show differences between sites. The relative abundance of flagellates was in most cases greater than 60% and diatoms made up the remainder. The average benthic chlorophyll a was higher in the Mngazana Estuary (intertidal 24 ± 6 μg.g-1 subtidal 15.2 ± 3 μg.g-1) compared to the Mngazi Estuary (intertidal 15.3 ± 4.3 μg.g-1 subtidal 5.4 ± 1.6 μg.g-1). Regions with high benthic chlorophyll a concentrations had high sediment organic content. Sediment organic content was higher in the Mngazana Estuary (1 percent - 8 percent) compared to the Mngazi Estuary (4 percent – 6.8 percent). The sites situated on the Main Channel had on average significantly higher (p<0.05) benthic chlorophyll a biomass compared to Creek 1 and Creek 2 in the Mngazana Estuary. Peaks in benthic chlorophyll a concentrations occurred in the intertidal sediments in Creek 1 (50.4 ± 13.4 μg.g-1) and Creek 2 (57.4 ± 1.4 μg.g-1) in the Mngazana Estuary, the peaks occurred in winter during a period of low freshwater inflow into the estuary. Microphytobenthic biomass measured in the Mngazi Estuary is among the lowest values reported in the literature for temporarily open/closed estuaries. Statistical 4 analysis showed no significant difference between benthic chlorophyll a during the different mouth conditions and sampling sessions in the Mngazi Estuary. Microalgal responses in the Mngazana Estuary were similar to those observed in other permanently open marine dominated estuaries. In the temporarily open/closed Mngazi Estuary microalgal characteristics were different to that of other temporarily open/closed estuaries probably because the estuary was only sampled in the open and semi-closed state.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Ngesi, Hlekani Ntombizakithi
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Microalgae -- South Africa -- Mngazi Estuary , Algae -- South Africa -- Mngazi Estuary , Algae -- South Africa -- Mngazana Estuary , Estuarine ecology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10610 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1591 , Microalgae -- South Africa -- Mngazi Estuary , Algae -- South Africa -- Mngazi Estuary , Algae -- South Africa -- Mngazana Estuary , Estuarine ecology -- South Africa
- Description: The present study was undertaken in the temporarily open/closed Mngazi and permanently open Mngazana estuaries, located on the subtropical east coast of South Africa. The results from this research will assist decision makers in the freshwater management of these systems. Intertidal and subtidal benthic chlorophyll a concentrations, water column chlorophyll a, nutrients and several physico-chemical parameters were measured between June 2002 and November 2003. The objective of this study was to determine if the presence of freshwater in the estuaries had an effect on the microalgae of both estuaries. Five sites were sampled in the Mngazi Estuary and 14 sites were sampled in the Mngazana Estuary. The average water column chlorophyll a was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the Mngazana Estuary (surface 7.8 ± 0.7 μg.l-1, bottom 6.4 ± 0.7 μg.l-1) compared to the Mngazi Estuary (surface 4.9 ± 1.2 μg.l-1, bottom 7.3 ± 1.5 μg.l-1). There was no evidence of an REI (river-estuary interface) zone in areas where the water column chlorophyll a concentrations were high even during open mouth conditions in the Mngazi Estuary. The REI is that area where salinity is less than 10 ppt and is characterized by high water column productivity. Even though both systems received some freshwater during the summer periods, this was not enough to stimulate phytoplankton growth and nutrient availability seems to be the major factor limiting phytoplankton in these systems. Flagellates and diatoms were the dominant phytoplankton groups in both estuaries during the entire sampling session. The relative abundance of the different phytoplankton groups did not show differences between sites. The relative abundance of flagellates was in most cases greater than 60% and diatoms made up the remainder. The average benthic chlorophyll a was higher in the Mngazana Estuary (intertidal 24 ± 6 μg.g-1 subtidal 15.2 ± 3 μg.g-1) compared to the Mngazi Estuary (intertidal 15.3 ± 4.3 μg.g-1 subtidal 5.4 ± 1.6 μg.g-1). Regions with high benthic chlorophyll a concentrations had high sediment organic content. Sediment organic content was higher in the Mngazana Estuary (1 percent - 8 percent) compared to the Mngazi Estuary (4 percent – 6.8 percent). The sites situated on the Main Channel had on average significantly higher (p<0.05) benthic chlorophyll a biomass compared to Creek 1 and Creek 2 in the Mngazana Estuary. Peaks in benthic chlorophyll a concentrations occurred in the intertidal sediments in Creek 1 (50.4 ± 13.4 μg.g-1) and Creek 2 (57.4 ± 1.4 μg.g-1) in the Mngazana Estuary, the peaks occurred in winter during a period of low freshwater inflow into the estuary. Microphytobenthic biomass measured in the Mngazi Estuary is among the lowest values reported in the literature for temporarily open/closed estuaries. Statistical 4 analysis showed no significant difference between benthic chlorophyll a during the different mouth conditions and sampling sessions in the Mngazi Estuary. Microalgal responses in the Mngazana Estuary were similar to those observed in other permanently open marine dominated estuaries. In the temporarily open/closed Mngazi Estuary microalgal characteristics were different to that of other temporarily open/closed estuaries probably because the estuary was only sampled in the open and semi-closed state.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010