'ORPHEIOI HYMNOI' The generic contexts of the Orphic Hymns
- Malamis, Daniel Scott Christos
- Authors: Malamis, Daniel Scott Christos
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Orphic hymns , Poetics Early works to 1800 , Hymns, Greek (Classical) History and criticism , Literary form
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/327177 , vital:61088 , DOI 10.21504/10962/327177
- Description: Uncertainty surrounds the circumstances of Orphic Hymns’ composition and their intended use. Their author has substituted their own identity for that of the mythological poet and there is no certain reference to the extant collection in any ancient source. They are, in this sense, decontextualised. This study aims to make a contribution to the ongoing debate concerning the hymns’ composition, and the original function they might have served, through an analysis of their poetic and generic contexts. Following a detailed survey of scholarship on the hymns, I reflect first on the collection as a unified text, the constitutive parts of the individual hymns and the methods they employ for addressing, describing and praying to the gods. I then study a select group of stylistic features that the hymns prominently display: their use of phonic effects, including etymological figures, of antithesis and symmetrical patterning, and their extensive repetition of poetic formulae. In each case I discuss the deployment and significance of these poetic elements within the collection and consider the intertextual parallels suggested by their recurrence in Greek literary texts of all periods. This analysis reveals the hymns’ engagement with an overlapping set of poetic traditions, including, most prominently, cultic hymns and oracles, gnomic poetry, the theological discourses of the Presocratic philosophers and, in particular, Orphic poetry in its many forms. It suggests moreover that the hymns engage deeply with the oral strategies of the earliest Greek poets, underscoring the conclusion reached by several recent scholars, that the extant collection is essentially performative and was intended to be recited and heard. I argue that the Orphic Hymns were not a unique text in their employment of the stylistic features studied here, but drew extensively upon earlier hymns composed in Orpheus’ name. I further consider, in the light of this argument, the bearing this study has on the unresolved questions of the hymns’ composition, whether by a single author or many, and the aims of the poet(s) who composed them. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literature Studies, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Malamis, Daniel Scott Christos
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Orphic hymns , Poetics Early works to 1800 , Hymns, Greek (Classical) History and criticism , Literary form
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/327177 , vital:61088 , DOI 10.21504/10962/327177
- Description: Uncertainty surrounds the circumstances of Orphic Hymns’ composition and their intended use. Their author has substituted their own identity for that of the mythological poet and there is no certain reference to the extant collection in any ancient source. They are, in this sense, decontextualised. This study aims to make a contribution to the ongoing debate concerning the hymns’ composition, and the original function they might have served, through an analysis of their poetic and generic contexts. Following a detailed survey of scholarship on the hymns, I reflect first on the collection as a unified text, the constitutive parts of the individual hymns and the methods they employ for addressing, describing and praying to the gods. I then study a select group of stylistic features that the hymns prominently display: their use of phonic effects, including etymological figures, of antithesis and symmetrical patterning, and their extensive repetition of poetic formulae. In each case I discuss the deployment and significance of these poetic elements within the collection and consider the intertextual parallels suggested by their recurrence in Greek literary texts of all periods. This analysis reveals the hymns’ engagement with an overlapping set of poetic traditions, including, most prominently, cultic hymns and oracles, gnomic poetry, the theological discourses of the Presocratic philosophers and, in particular, Orphic poetry in its many forms. It suggests moreover that the hymns engage deeply with the oral strategies of the earliest Greek poets, underscoring the conclusion reached by several recent scholars, that the extant collection is essentially performative and was intended to be recited and heard. I argue that the Orphic Hymns were not a unique text in their employment of the stylistic features studied here, but drew extensively upon earlier hymns composed in Orpheus’ name. I further consider, in the light of this argument, the bearing this study has on the unresolved questions of the hymns’ composition, whether by a single author or many, and the aims of the poet(s) who composed them. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literature Studies, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
A 5G Communication system based on flexible spectrum technology for the SKA
- Authors: Karembera, Reinhard Siwombe
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems--Technological innovations , Wireless communication systems -- Standards --South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/56177 , vital:56013
- Description: Faculty of Science Radio astronomy research is rapidly expanding across the African continent. At the same time, the fifth generation (5G) of mobile communication systems are also being researched and developed. Throughout history, mobile communication networks are known to affect the activities of radio astronomy. If not carefully managed, radio frequencies from mobile communication devices can severely affect radio astronomy observations. To that end, many techniques have been proposed to protect the radio astronomer from RFIs coming from radio communication networks. Some of the proposed techniques such as RFI quite zones and spectrum assignment by regulatory authorities will not be convenient during the implementation of 5G mobile networks. This is because 5G radio communication systems are expected to support spectrum-hungry application such as video-on-demand, augmented realities, high-definition television and so on. To realize this, the 5G networks will be forced to have access to protected radio spectrum, including those at which radio astronomy activities are being researched. To facilitate this, the 5G radio communication networks should have the intelligence to coexist within such protected spectrums without the consequences of radio frequency interferences (RFI) to the primary user. In this thesis, we present novel 5G networks with the intelligence that allow them to coexist within radio astronomy areas without introducing RFIs to the primary user. We proposed a photonic solution, keeping in mind the characteristic requirements for future 5G radio communication networks. The thesis begins by reviewing the current trend of radio astronomy research in Africa. It was found that radio astronomy research in Africa is growing rapidly. Many African countries such as South Africa and Ghana are at advanced stages when it comes to radio astronomy research. Therefore, the finding and proposal of this thesis will be valuable to such countries. In order to develop a radio access network (RAN) that can coexist within radio astronomy areas, the thesis reviewed past and present state-of-the-art RANs. Each access network was analyses for its feasibility to be implemented within radio astronomy areas to realize mobile communication without the consequences of RFIs to the astronomer. It was motivated that the current centralized radio access network (C-RAN) the best solution to be developed for radio communication within radio astronomy areas. This is because the C-RAN architecture is centralized by pooling network resources to a common point. From such pool, network resources can be controlled and shared among 5G network user, including radio astronomers and the surrounding communities. The next chapters reviewed photonic RF transmitters and their associated lasers currently being proposed to be used within C-RANs. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Karembera, Reinhard Siwombe
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems--Technological innovations , Wireless communication systems -- Standards --South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/56177 , vital:56013
- Description: Faculty of Science Radio astronomy research is rapidly expanding across the African continent. At the same time, the fifth generation (5G) of mobile communication systems are also being researched and developed. Throughout history, mobile communication networks are known to affect the activities of radio astronomy. If not carefully managed, radio frequencies from mobile communication devices can severely affect radio astronomy observations. To that end, many techniques have been proposed to protect the radio astronomer from RFIs coming from radio communication networks. Some of the proposed techniques such as RFI quite zones and spectrum assignment by regulatory authorities will not be convenient during the implementation of 5G mobile networks. This is because 5G radio communication systems are expected to support spectrum-hungry application such as video-on-demand, augmented realities, high-definition television and so on. To realize this, the 5G networks will be forced to have access to protected radio spectrum, including those at which radio astronomy activities are being researched. To facilitate this, the 5G radio communication networks should have the intelligence to coexist within such protected spectrums without the consequences of radio frequency interferences (RFI) to the primary user. In this thesis, we present novel 5G networks with the intelligence that allow them to coexist within radio astronomy areas without introducing RFIs to the primary user. We proposed a photonic solution, keeping in mind the characteristic requirements for future 5G radio communication networks. The thesis begins by reviewing the current trend of radio astronomy research in Africa. It was found that radio astronomy research in Africa is growing rapidly. Many African countries such as South Africa and Ghana are at advanced stages when it comes to radio astronomy research. Therefore, the finding and proposal of this thesis will be valuable to such countries. In order to develop a radio access network (RAN) that can coexist within radio astronomy areas, the thesis reviewed past and present state-of-the-art RANs. Each access network was analyses for its feasibility to be implemented within radio astronomy areas to realize mobile communication without the consequences of RFIs to the astronomer. It was motivated that the current centralized radio access network (C-RAN) the best solution to be developed for radio communication within radio astronomy areas. This is because the C-RAN architecture is centralized by pooling network resources to a common point. From such pool, network resources can be controlled and shared among 5G network user, including radio astronomers and the surrounding communities. The next chapters reviewed photonic RF transmitters and their associated lasers currently being proposed to be used within C-RANs. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
A behaviour of South Africa’s economy towards inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) from BRICs economies
- Authors: Dingela, Siyasanga
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Investments, Foreign -- South Africa , Investments, Foreign -- Developing countries , South Africa -- Economic conditions , BRIC countries -- Foreign economic relations
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51141 , vital:43212
- Description: This study investigated a behaviour of South Africa’s economy towards inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) from Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICs) economies, during the period 1997 to 2016. The BRICs bloc was coined in 2001 by then chairperson of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Jim O’Neil. According to Goldman Sach (2001), the BRICs group was collectively expected to overtake the major economic powers over the span of a few decades. Their growth is expected to shape a new economic order and replace the currently dominant advanced economies. South Africa joined the BRICs bloc in 2010 as the jeweler of the world and as a gateway to Africa. It joined the BRICs group at the time when economic growth was at a sluggish rate, and the savings and investment were at the lowest rate. The country had a high unemployment rate, high levels of poverty and income inequality. On the other hand, the BRICs economies had limited intra-BRICs flows amongst themselves. It is against this background that this study investigated the long run impact of BRICs FDI inflows on South Africa’s economic growth, and the causality relationship between South Africa’s economic growth and BRICs FDI inflows. This study contributes to the body of knowledge of economics in South Africa and the literature on foreign direct investment and economic growth in South Africa. The study employed two cointegration methods to investigate the behaviour of South Africa’s economy towards inflows of foreign direct investment from BRICs economies. These are fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS). For granger causality, the study employed Stacked and Dumistrescu Hurlin tests. All the models used time series annual data from 1997 to 2016. The Unit root test results confirmed that the variables were stationary at first difference using panel Im, Pesaran, Shin (IPS) and Levin, Lin, Chu (LLC). The research employs four regressions, first, Economic growth and foreign direct investment (i.e. private sector, banking sector and both sectors), human capital, physical capital, household consumption, government expenditure, exports, and arable land; Second, Employment and foreign direct investment, human capital, physical capital, household consumption, government expenditure, exports, and arable land; third, Economic complexity and foreign direct investment, human capital, physical capital, household consumption, government expenditure, exports, and arable land; finally, Unemployment and foreign direct investment, human capital, physical capital, household consumption, government expenditure, exports, and arable land. The cointegration results for private FDI and economic growth, employment, economic complexity, and unemployment. The results show only economic complexity has significant effect on foreign direct investment and other variables show insignificant results. However, this effect is smaller compared to other growth determinants which are included in the regressions. The cointegration results for bank FDI. These results show more similarities with private FDI results and few differences. However, this effect is smaller compared to other growth determinants included in the regressions. These growth determinants, however, show a positive effect of human capital and household consumption on economic growth which is expected. Other interesting results are exports being positively related with economic growth and unemployment but negative with employment and insignificant with economic complexity. Another one is government spending negatively influence economic growth, employment and positively influence unemployment. But insignificant for economic complexity. Total FDI results and other variables. These results are also similar to private and bank FDI results discussed above. Economic complexity shows significant effect with foreign direct investment, yet other variables are insignificant. . Further results show human capital positively related with economic growth, which is expected. However, physical capital and household consumption negatively affects growth. Another one exports show positive influence on economic growth but negatively related with employment. Yet, insignificant with economic complexity and unemployment. Other results government spending shows negative influence with employment but insignificant with economic growth, economic complexity and unemployment. The results for nonlinearity between the variables under review. The results that employment and economic complexity are nonlinear with foreign direct investment and no nonlinearity between unemployment, economic growth and foreign direct investment. For employment, low levels of foreign direct investment (LFDI_private) adversely affects employment but at higher levels (FDI_private_SQ) is insignificant. For economic complexity, low levels of foreign direct investment are insignificant for economic complexity but at higher levels there is a positive effect of squared foreign direct investment on economic complexity. Further results show that economic growth and employment are nonlinear with human capital, physical capital, household consumption and exports. Physical capital and household consumption adversely affect economic growth, yet positively affects employment. Human capital positively affects economic growth, employment, and unemployment. Exports positively affect economic growth, but negatively affect employment. Further results show nonlinearity between employment and government expenditure. Government expenditure adversely affects employment. Also, economic growth and unemployment show nonlinearity with arable land. Arable land adversely affects economic growth but positively affects unemployment. Nonlinear results for economic growth and economic complexity with foreign direct investment but no nonlinearity in other remaining variables. For economic growth, low levels of foreign direct investment there is a positive effect of foreign direct investment on economic growth, however, at higher levels foreign direct investment are insignificant. For economic complexity, low levels of foreign direct investment are insignificant, yet, higher levels of foreign direct investment there is a positive influence of foreign direct investment on economic complexity. Further results show economic growth and employment that are nonlinear with human capital, physical capital, and household consumption. Human capital positively affects both economic growth and employment. Physical capital and household consumption are adversely affecting economic growth, yet positively affects employment. Further results show nonlinearity between economic growth and government expenditure. Government expenditure adversely affects employment. More results, employment, and unemployment show nonlinearity results with exports. Exports adversely affect employment but positively affects unemployment. Results show economic growth and unemployment that are nonlinear with arable land. Arable land adversely affects economic growth, but positively affect unemployment. Nonlinear results for economic complexity only and other variables show no nonlinearity in the regressions. For economic complexity, low levels of foreign direct investment are insignificant, but at higher levels of foreign direct investment there is positive effect of foreign direct investment on economic complexity. More results show economic growth and employment that are nonlinear with human capital, physical capital, household consumption and exports. Human capital and exports positively affect economic growth, employment, and unemployment. Whereas, physical capital and household consumption adversely affects economic growth and unemployment, yet positively affects employment. Further results show nonlinearity between employment and government expenditure. Government spending adversely affects employment. Further results show nonlinearity between economic growth and unemployment with arable land. Arable land positively affects unemployment, yet adversely affects economic growth. The following section discusses granger causality results. This study also employed granger causality tests. The causality results between economic growth, employment, economic complexity, unemployment, and private foreign direct investment. The causality results show that there is granger causality between economic growth and economic complexity with private foreign direct investment. Whereas, between bank foreign direct investment and other variables there is no granger causality. However, between total foreign direct investment and economic growth and employment there is granger causality. There are a number of policy recommendations that can be drawn from the study. The study results in overall revealed that BRICs (private and bank) FDI inflows had a positive impact on South Africa’s economic growth between 1997 and 2016. The study results suggest that the policy makers should focus the attention on lobbying foreign direct investment from BRICs economies, since this study shows positive impact and relationship between South Africa’s economic growth and BRICs FDI inflows. The BRICs economies should focus on enhancing investment partnership, preventing protectionism, and promoting intra-BRICS flows. In addition, South Africa should eliminate barriers affecting business with BRICs countries. Policy makers should promote the building of new companies (for example Greenfield Investment) so that the economy of South Africa could grow and create employment. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Economics, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Dingela, Siyasanga
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Investments, Foreign -- South Africa , Investments, Foreign -- Developing countries , South Africa -- Economic conditions , BRIC countries -- Foreign economic relations
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51141 , vital:43212
- Description: This study investigated a behaviour of South Africa’s economy towards inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) from Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICs) economies, during the period 1997 to 2016. The BRICs bloc was coined in 2001 by then chairperson of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Jim O’Neil. According to Goldman Sach (2001), the BRICs group was collectively expected to overtake the major economic powers over the span of a few decades. Their growth is expected to shape a new economic order and replace the currently dominant advanced economies. South Africa joined the BRICs bloc in 2010 as the jeweler of the world and as a gateway to Africa. It joined the BRICs group at the time when economic growth was at a sluggish rate, and the savings and investment were at the lowest rate. The country had a high unemployment rate, high levels of poverty and income inequality. On the other hand, the BRICs economies had limited intra-BRICs flows amongst themselves. It is against this background that this study investigated the long run impact of BRICs FDI inflows on South Africa’s economic growth, and the causality relationship between South Africa’s economic growth and BRICs FDI inflows. This study contributes to the body of knowledge of economics in South Africa and the literature on foreign direct investment and economic growth in South Africa. The study employed two cointegration methods to investigate the behaviour of South Africa’s economy towards inflows of foreign direct investment from BRICs economies. These are fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS). For granger causality, the study employed Stacked and Dumistrescu Hurlin tests. All the models used time series annual data from 1997 to 2016. The Unit root test results confirmed that the variables were stationary at first difference using panel Im, Pesaran, Shin (IPS) and Levin, Lin, Chu (LLC). The research employs four regressions, first, Economic growth and foreign direct investment (i.e. private sector, banking sector and both sectors), human capital, physical capital, household consumption, government expenditure, exports, and arable land; Second, Employment and foreign direct investment, human capital, physical capital, household consumption, government expenditure, exports, and arable land; third, Economic complexity and foreign direct investment, human capital, physical capital, household consumption, government expenditure, exports, and arable land; finally, Unemployment and foreign direct investment, human capital, physical capital, household consumption, government expenditure, exports, and arable land. The cointegration results for private FDI and economic growth, employment, economic complexity, and unemployment. The results show only economic complexity has significant effect on foreign direct investment and other variables show insignificant results. However, this effect is smaller compared to other growth determinants which are included in the regressions. The cointegration results for bank FDI. These results show more similarities with private FDI results and few differences. However, this effect is smaller compared to other growth determinants included in the regressions. These growth determinants, however, show a positive effect of human capital and household consumption on economic growth which is expected. Other interesting results are exports being positively related with economic growth and unemployment but negative with employment and insignificant with economic complexity. Another one is government spending negatively influence economic growth, employment and positively influence unemployment. But insignificant for economic complexity. Total FDI results and other variables. These results are also similar to private and bank FDI results discussed above. Economic complexity shows significant effect with foreign direct investment, yet other variables are insignificant. . Further results show human capital positively related with economic growth, which is expected. However, physical capital and household consumption negatively affects growth. Another one exports show positive influence on economic growth but negatively related with employment. Yet, insignificant with economic complexity and unemployment. Other results government spending shows negative influence with employment but insignificant with economic growth, economic complexity and unemployment. The results for nonlinearity between the variables under review. The results that employment and economic complexity are nonlinear with foreign direct investment and no nonlinearity between unemployment, economic growth and foreign direct investment. For employment, low levels of foreign direct investment (LFDI_private) adversely affects employment but at higher levels (FDI_private_SQ) is insignificant. For economic complexity, low levels of foreign direct investment are insignificant for economic complexity but at higher levels there is a positive effect of squared foreign direct investment on economic complexity. Further results show that economic growth and employment are nonlinear with human capital, physical capital, household consumption and exports. Physical capital and household consumption adversely affect economic growth, yet positively affects employment. Human capital positively affects economic growth, employment, and unemployment. Exports positively affect economic growth, but negatively affect employment. Further results show nonlinearity between employment and government expenditure. Government expenditure adversely affects employment. Also, economic growth and unemployment show nonlinearity with arable land. Arable land adversely affects economic growth but positively affects unemployment. Nonlinear results for economic growth and economic complexity with foreign direct investment but no nonlinearity in other remaining variables. For economic growth, low levels of foreign direct investment there is a positive effect of foreign direct investment on economic growth, however, at higher levels foreign direct investment are insignificant. For economic complexity, low levels of foreign direct investment are insignificant, yet, higher levels of foreign direct investment there is a positive influence of foreign direct investment on economic complexity. Further results show economic growth and employment that are nonlinear with human capital, physical capital, and household consumption. Human capital positively affects both economic growth and employment. Physical capital and household consumption are adversely affecting economic growth, yet positively affects employment. Further results show nonlinearity between economic growth and government expenditure. Government expenditure adversely affects employment. More results, employment, and unemployment show nonlinearity results with exports. Exports adversely affect employment but positively affects unemployment. Results show economic growth and unemployment that are nonlinear with arable land. Arable land adversely affects economic growth, but positively affect unemployment. Nonlinear results for economic complexity only and other variables show no nonlinearity in the regressions. For economic complexity, low levels of foreign direct investment are insignificant, but at higher levels of foreign direct investment there is positive effect of foreign direct investment on economic complexity. More results show economic growth and employment that are nonlinear with human capital, physical capital, household consumption and exports. Human capital and exports positively affect economic growth, employment, and unemployment. Whereas, physical capital and household consumption adversely affects economic growth and unemployment, yet positively affects employment. Further results show nonlinearity between employment and government expenditure. Government spending adversely affects employment. Further results show nonlinearity between economic growth and unemployment with arable land. Arable land positively affects unemployment, yet adversely affects economic growth. The following section discusses granger causality results. This study also employed granger causality tests. The causality results between economic growth, employment, economic complexity, unemployment, and private foreign direct investment. The causality results show that there is granger causality between economic growth and economic complexity with private foreign direct investment. Whereas, between bank foreign direct investment and other variables there is no granger causality. However, between total foreign direct investment and economic growth and employment there is granger causality. There are a number of policy recommendations that can be drawn from the study. The study results in overall revealed that BRICs (private and bank) FDI inflows had a positive impact on South Africa’s economic growth between 1997 and 2016. The study results suggest that the policy makers should focus the attention on lobbying foreign direct investment from BRICs economies, since this study shows positive impact and relationship between South Africa’s economic growth and BRICs FDI inflows. The BRICs economies should focus on enhancing investment partnership, preventing protectionism, and promoting intra-BRICS flows. In addition, South Africa should eliminate barriers affecting business with BRICs countries. Policy makers should promote the building of new companies (for example Greenfield Investment) so that the economy of South Africa could grow and create employment. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Economics, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
A best practice guideline for the management of the quality of objective structured clinical examinations at a multi-campus public college of nursing
- Authors: Nyangeni, Thandolwakhe
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Nursing assessment-- Management , Clinical Competence -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51466 , vital:43281
- Description: An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a robust method of clinical assessment which, when properly planned and executed, results in a high quality and credible student assessment. However, concerns regarding its uniformity, fairness, objectivity and accuracy have been raised. Concerns regarding the management of the quality of OSCEs at a public College of Nursing in the Eastern Cape were raised by the College’s stakeholders. No best practice guideline had been developed regarding the management of the quality of OSCEs for this College. The aim of this study was therefore to develop a best practice guideline for the management of the quality of OSCEs at a public College of Nursing. The Transformative Pedagogy Theory proposed by Khedkar and Nair was used as a philosophical underpinning for this study. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) model for evidence-based healthcare was used as a theoretical basis for this study. In Phase One, a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design was used to explore and describe the experiences of nurse educators regarding the management of the quality of OSCEs at a multi-campus public College of Nursing. Semi-structured individual interviews were used to collect data from fourteen (n=14) nurse educators. Thereafter, a qualitative document analysis of fifteen (n=15) external moderators’ reports was conducted to explore the information external moderators shared regarding the management of the quality of OSCEs at a multi-campus public College of Nursing. A document analysis checklist designed by the researcher was used to extract the data from external moderators’ reports. Tesch’s method of data analysis was utilised to analyse the data from the interviews while the data analysis process proposed by Dalglish, Khalid and McMahon was used to analyse the data from the external moderator’s reports. In Phase Two, an integrative literature review was conducted to search, select, extract, appraise and synthesise best practices regarding the management of the quality of OSCEs in health sciences education. The adapted integrative literature review steps, as proposed by de Souza, da Silva and de Carvalho, were utilised to guide this phase. Data of a total of thirteen (n=13) articles were extracted and synthesised. In Phase Three, the findings of Phase One and Phase Two were synthesised, as a basis for informing the development of a best practice guideline for the management of the quality of OSCEs. The National Institute for Health and Care (NICE) and the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) frameworks were used as a basis for developing the best practice guideline for the management of the quality of OSCEs at a multi-campus public College of Nursing. The draft best practice guideline was reviewed by eight (n=8) expert reviewers who were experienced in conducting OSCE’s and best practice guideline development. Lincoln and Guba’s principles—namely credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability were applied to ensure the trustworthiness of the interview data. Wesley’s criteria- namely triangulation, thick description and audit trail were used to ensure the trustworthiness of the document analysis. The principles as stipulated in the Belmont Report were applied in order to ensure the ethical soundness of this study. Findings of the interviews and the document analysis in Phase One revealed that, while there are measures currently in place to facilitate quality in the management of OSCEs in this College of Nursing, there are gaps such as uncertainty in the assessment practices being used and resource constraints that hinder the overall quality of OSCEs. The participants indicated the need for the development of a best practice guideline for the management of the quality of OSCEs at this College. Findings from the integrative literature review in Phase Two revealed three themes, namely: apply quality measures in the preparation and planning phase of OSCEs; apply quality measures in the implementation phase of OSCEs; and apply quality measures in the evaluation phase of OSCEs. For Phase Three, the developed best practice guideline included three recommendations regarding the quality measures that should be applied in each of the three phases of OSCEs. It is recommended for the developed best practice guideline to be further refined, piloted and implemented to be used by nurse educators and other relevant stakeholders Once implemented, the guideline is expected to enhance the management of the quality of OSCEs at the multi-campus College of Nursing and, ultimately, nursing and patient outcomes through quality nursing education and assessment. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Nyangeni, Thandolwakhe
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Nursing assessment-- Management , Clinical Competence -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51466 , vital:43281
- Description: An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a robust method of clinical assessment which, when properly planned and executed, results in a high quality and credible student assessment. However, concerns regarding its uniformity, fairness, objectivity and accuracy have been raised. Concerns regarding the management of the quality of OSCEs at a public College of Nursing in the Eastern Cape were raised by the College’s stakeholders. No best practice guideline had been developed regarding the management of the quality of OSCEs for this College. The aim of this study was therefore to develop a best practice guideline for the management of the quality of OSCEs at a public College of Nursing. The Transformative Pedagogy Theory proposed by Khedkar and Nair was used as a philosophical underpinning for this study. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) model for evidence-based healthcare was used as a theoretical basis for this study. In Phase One, a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design was used to explore and describe the experiences of nurse educators regarding the management of the quality of OSCEs at a multi-campus public College of Nursing. Semi-structured individual interviews were used to collect data from fourteen (n=14) nurse educators. Thereafter, a qualitative document analysis of fifteen (n=15) external moderators’ reports was conducted to explore the information external moderators shared regarding the management of the quality of OSCEs at a multi-campus public College of Nursing. A document analysis checklist designed by the researcher was used to extract the data from external moderators’ reports. Tesch’s method of data analysis was utilised to analyse the data from the interviews while the data analysis process proposed by Dalglish, Khalid and McMahon was used to analyse the data from the external moderator’s reports. In Phase Two, an integrative literature review was conducted to search, select, extract, appraise and synthesise best practices regarding the management of the quality of OSCEs in health sciences education. The adapted integrative literature review steps, as proposed by de Souza, da Silva and de Carvalho, were utilised to guide this phase. Data of a total of thirteen (n=13) articles were extracted and synthesised. In Phase Three, the findings of Phase One and Phase Two were synthesised, as a basis for informing the development of a best practice guideline for the management of the quality of OSCEs. The National Institute for Health and Care (NICE) and the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) frameworks were used as a basis for developing the best practice guideline for the management of the quality of OSCEs at a multi-campus public College of Nursing. The draft best practice guideline was reviewed by eight (n=8) expert reviewers who were experienced in conducting OSCE’s and best practice guideline development. Lincoln and Guba’s principles—namely credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability were applied to ensure the trustworthiness of the interview data. Wesley’s criteria- namely triangulation, thick description and audit trail were used to ensure the trustworthiness of the document analysis. The principles as stipulated in the Belmont Report were applied in order to ensure the ethical soundness of this study. Findings of the interviews and the document analysis in Phase One revealed that, while there are measures currently in place to facilitate quality in the management of OSCEs in this College of Nursing, there are gaps such as uncertainty in the assessment practices being used and resource constraints that hinder the overall quality of OSCEs. The participants indicated the need for the development of a best practice guideline for the management of the quality of OSCEs at this College. Findings from the integrative literature review in Phase Two revealed three themes, namely: apply quality measures in the preparation and planning phase of OSCEs; apply quality measures in the implementation phase of OSCEs; and apply quality measures in the evaluation phase of OSCEs. For Phase Three, the developed best practice guideline included three recommendations regarding the quality measures that should be applied in each of the three phases of OSCEs. It is recommended for the developed best practice guideline to be further refined, piloted and implemented to be used by nurse educators and other relevant stakeholders Once implemented, the guideline is expected to enhance the management of the quality of OSCEs at the multi-campus College of Nursing and, ultimately, nursing and patient outcomes through quality nursing education and assessment. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
A case study assessment of the ecological and social status of the South African boat-based whale watching industry
- Authors: Tolsma, Minke
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Whale watching --South Africa , Dolphin watching
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55887 , vital:54397
- Description: Boat-based whale-watching (BBWW) is a rapidly growing marine tourism industry globally and in South Africa (SA). BBWW in SA was established in 1998, and since then the number of permits available has doubled from 20 to 40. However, the establishment and past growth of the industry was undertaken without ecological research or impact assessments. Global research has shown that BBWW has the potential to cause short-term changes in cetacean behaviour and movement, which in turn can have long-term population-level consequences. National policies to grow ocean economies in SA may encourage excessive growth in the BBWW industry, impacting the ecological sustainability. In the absence of long-term impact data, the BBWW industry should be managed to minimise short-term changes. This study aimed to determine the social and ecological status of the SA BBWW industry, using Plettenberg Bay as a case study, to inform its long term sustainability. To achieve this aim: 1) the short-term behavioural and movement responses of six cetacean species to encounters with commercial BBWW vessels were measured; 2) the efficacy of three permit regulations (approach speed, approach angle, and encounter duration) to prevent short-term behavioural changes in three cetacean species was measured; 3) rates of compliance of BBWWoperators with current regulations were recorded; 4) BBWW tourists’ expectations of and satisfaction with the industry were investigated; as well as 5) operators’ views on the current permit regulations of the industry All research was conducted between September 2018 and November 2020 in Plettenberg Bay (SA) where two BBWW companies operating two vessels each are active. Three dolphin (bottlenose, common and humpback dolphins) and three whale (Bryde’s, humpback and southern right whales) species are targeted by the industry, and were encountered during this study. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Tolsma, Minke
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Whale watching --South Africa , Dolphin watching
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55887 , vital:54397
- Description: Boat-based whale-watching (BBWW) is a rapidly growing marine tourism industry globally and in South Africa (SA). BBWW in SA was established in 1998, and since then the number of permits available has doubled from 20 to 40. However, the establishment and past growth of the industry was undertaken without ecological research or impact assessments. Global research has shown that BBWW has the potential to cause short-term changes in cetacean behaviour and movement, which in turn can have long-term population-level consequences. National policies to grow ocean economies in SA may encourage excessive growth in the BBWW industry, impacting the ecological sustainability. In the absence of long-term impact data, the BBWW industry should be managed to minimise short-term changes. This study aimed to determine the social and ecological status of the SA BBWW industry, using Plettenberg Bay as a case study, to inform its long term sustainability. To achieve this aim: 1) the short-term behavioural and movement responses of six cetacean species to encounters with commercial BBWW vessels were measured; 2) the efficacy of three permit regulations (approach speed, approach angle, and encounter duration) to prevent short-term behavioural changes in three cetacean species was measured; 3) rates of compliance of BBWWoperators with current regulations were recorded; 4) BBWW tourists’ expectations of and satisfaction with the industry were investigated; as well as 5) operators’ views on the current permit regulations of the industry All research was conducted between September 2018 and November 2020 in Plettenberg Bay (SA) where two BBWW companies operating two vessels each are active. Three dolphin (bottlenose, common and humpback dolphins) and three whale (Bryde’s, humpback and southern right whales) species are targeted by the industry, and were encountered during this study. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
A comparative appraisal of access and quality of sexual and reproductive health services for gays and lesbians in Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) and Pretoria (South Africa)
- Authors: Jasi, Phineas
- Date: 2021-11
- Subjects: Reproductive health , Sexual health
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21959 , vital:51854
- Description: This study investigated the extent to which gays and lesbians access quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Pretoria and Bulawayo. The study also examines the facilitators and barriers for accessing the same services. Theoretically, the study was grounded in the Health Belief Model (Hochbaum, 1958, modified by Rosenstock, 1974 and Siddiqui, 2016). To answer the research questions, a mixed methods approach was applied involving both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. A total of 30 key informant interviews, eight focus group discussions and 387 questionnaires were administered using purposive, time location and snowball sampling approaches in the two cities. The study found that the most commonly available sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services were contraceptive services, sexually transmitted infections (STI) services and Human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV) services. The services were provided at public health facilities, drop-in centres and through outreach activities operated by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The least available services that gays and lesbians required as part of a comprehensive package were access to information, education and communications (IEC) materials and mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS). Several service providers were not adhering to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for provision of comprehensive services for key populations including gays and lesbians. Critical gaps noted included the absence of key populations-only service hours, lack of options for clinicians to attend to them, presence of a stigma and discrimination free environment and provision of comprehensive package of services under one roof. Most of the referral facilities had limited drugs, equipment and supplies for cancer screening and they had no HIV prevention, sex change, in-vitro fertilization, and sterilization services and procedures. The quality of physical facilities and SRH services in both cities did not meet the expectations of gays and lesbians, acting as a barrier to their health seeking behaviour. Stigma and discrimination from healthcare workers was a huge barrier affecting access across all public health facilities. The acts of stigmatisation and discrimination affected the perceptions that gays and lesbians had regarding the quality of the services and compromised access of the same. In view of these health system challenges, the study recommends that there is need for public authorities in both cities to address the bottlenecks and barriers affecting access to SRH services and products such as lubricants, affordable quality condoms, dental dams and latex gloves while reinforcing the facilitating factors promoting access. Healthcare workers need further training on how to provide comprehensive services for gays and lesbians according to the WHO guidelines. Public health authorities in Bulawayo and Pretoria should build upon the identified factors which facilitated the access to SRH services and use of products such as condoms and lubricants. These factors require strengthening of community-based organizations and networks that work directly with gays and lesbians in both Bulawayo and Pretoria. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-11
- Authors: Jasi, Phineas
- Date: 2021-11
- Subjects: Reproductive health , Sexual health
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21959 , vital:51854
- Description: This study investigated the extent to which gays and lesbians access quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Pretoria and Bulawayo. The study also examines the facilitators and barriers for accessing the same services. Theoretically, the study was grounded in the Health Belief Model (Hochbaum, 1958, modified by Rosenstock, 1974 and Siddiqui, 2016). To answer the research questions, a mixed methods approach was applied involving both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. A total of 30 key informant interviews, eight focus group discussions and 387 questionnaires were administered using purposive, time location and snowball sampling approaches in the two cities. The study found that the most commonly available sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services were contraceptive services, sexually transmitted infections (STI) services and Human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV) services. The services were provided at public health facilities, drop-in centres and through outreach activities operated by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The least available services that gays and lesbians required as part of a comprehensive package were access to information, education and communications (IEC) materials and mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS). Several service providers were not adhering to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for provision of comprehensive services for key populations including gays and lesbians. Critical gaps noted included the absence of key populations-only service hours, lack of options for clinicians to attend to them, presence of a stigma and discrimination free environment and provision of comprehensive package of services under one roof. Most of the referral facilities had limited drugs, equipment and supplies for cancer screening and they had no HIV prevention, sex change, in-vitro fertilization, and sterilization services and procedures. The quality of physical facilities and SRH services in both cities did not meet the expectations of gays and lesbians, acting as a barrier to their health seeking behaviour. Stigma and discrimination from healthcare workers was a huge barrier affecting access across all public health facilities. The acts of stigmatisation and discrimination affected the perceptions that gays and lesbians had regarding the quality of the services and compromised access of the same. In view of these health system challenges, the study recommends that there is need for public authorities in both cities to address the bottlenecks and barriers affecting access to SRH services and products such as lubricants, affordable quality condoms, dental dams and latex gloves while reinforcing the facilitating factors promoting access. Healthcare workers need further training on how to provide comprehensive services for gays and lesbians according to the WHO guidelines. Public health authorities in Bulawayo and Pretoria should build upon the identified factors which facilitated the access to SRH services and use of products such as condoms and lubricants. These factors require strengthening of community-based organizations and networks that work directly with gays and lesbians in both Bulawayo and Pretoria. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-11
A compliance framework for IT governance adoption and use by state-owned entities in South Africa
- Authors: Nxozi, Monelo
- Date: 2023-03-31
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419244 , vital:71628
- Description: Embargoed. Possible release date in early 2025. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Information Systems, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-31
- Authors: Nxozi, Monelo
- Date: 2023-03-31
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419244 , vital:71628
- Description: Embargoed. Possible release date in early 2025. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Information Systems, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-31
A comprehensive review of the taxonomic diversity within the freshwater catfish genus Parauchenoglanis (Siluriformes, Auchenoglanididae)
- Authors: Sithole, Yonela
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402992 , vital:69912
- Description: Thesis embargoed. To be released early 2026. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Ichthyology & Fisheries Science, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
- Authors: Sithole, Yonela
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402992 , vital:69912
- Description: Thesis embargoed. To be released early 2026. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Ichthyology & Fisheries Science, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
A corporate strategy framework to increase financial performance in Zimbabwean firms
- Authors: Matanhire, Farai
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Business enterprises -- Zimbabwe -- Finance -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54047 , vital:46206
- Description: The world over, contrasting company performance by firms in the same operating environment and industry has been a conundrum. Firms do not operate in a vacuum, but within spheres where various factors around them affect their performances. To that end, heterogeneous firm performance is a common phenomenon that is influenced by a number of factors, including how management develops appropriate selections, trade-offs and calculated choices to be dissimilar from other players in the market in order to gain a competitive advantage that will lead to superior financial performance. A collection of actions that management puts in place to out-perform competing firms in order to achieve greater profitability is called corporate strategy. These plans of action include the effective management of the socio-political and cultural institutions in a manner beneficial to the organisation. This plan of action on the socio-political and cultural institutions gives rise to institutional strategic management. The formulation of corporate strategies is done through a process that involves a set of rules, ideas or beliefs called frameworks, which include the Resource Based Strategy Framework, Business Models, Innovation and Institutionalism. Research has shown that the financial performance of firms is driven by a number of factors, namely corporate strategy, industry competitiveness, operating environment and core competencies amongst other factors. There is a plethora of determinants for the performance of firms and the complexity in the current business environment that has contributed to some models becoming obsolete while others remain relevant. It is against this background that the primary research objective of establishing a corporate strategy framework used by Zimbabwean firms to increase financial performance was developed. To answer this primary research objective, secondary objectives to (a) determine the impact of the Resource-Based Strategy Framework on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; (b) ascertain the impact of business models using Porter’s Generic Strategies Framework on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; (c) determine the impact of the Institutional Strategy Framework on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; (d) determine the impact of the Innovation Strategy Framework on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; (e) establish the joint impact of the Resource-Based Strategy framework, Business Models, Institutional Strategies and Innovation Strategies on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; and (f) establish other corporate strategy frameworks used by Zimbabwean firms to increase financial performance, were developed. The study population was the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) listed firms that fairly represented all the major operating sectors and firms in Zimbabwe. The researcher adopted a mixed research design incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods in order to best reflect the critical strategy elements that were increasing financial performance in Zimbabwean firms. Qualitative data was collected through interviews conducted with executive managers of ZSE firms. Triangulation was achieved by comparing and contrasting data collected from interviews to secondary data extracted from websites, reports and audited financial statements. Both qualitative and quantitative data analysis was done using RQDA, an open-source computer-aided data software. ZSE listed firms were categorised into the five sectors of basic materials, consumer goods, consumer services, financial services and industrials. These firms were further categorised into excellent, medium, poor and very poor performers. Collected data was analysed to establish strategies that were used by excellent, medium, poor and very poor firms to see if they were using the same and figure out the impact of the various strategy frameworks on the financial performance on Zimbabwean firms. Data was analysed using univariate, ordinal and binomial logistics regression analysis. These data analysis models confirmed that RBS was a significant driver of financial performance for ZSE listed firms when all the strategy frameworks were combined. However, evaluating the impact of each strategy framework separately showed that all the frameworks were significant in driving financial performance, with the exception of the Institutional Strategy Framework. All the firms were doing more or less the same on Institutional Strategy Framework (ISF), hence it could not be a predictor of financial performance under the regression models. However, the ISF had a high score on univariate evaluation method. It is against this background that the study recommended the use of the Resource Based Strategy Framework (RBS) in pursuit of increasing financial performance of firms as this has been empirically found to have a significant impact on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe. , Thesis (DBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Matanhire, Farai
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Business enterprises -- Zimbabwe -- Finance -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54047 , vital:46206
- Description: The world over, contrasting company performance by firms in the same operating environment and industry has been a conundrum. Firms do not operate in a vacuum, but within spheres where various factors around them affect their performances. To that end, heterogeneous firm performance is a common phenomenon that is influenced by a number of factors, including how management develops appropriate selections, trade-offs and calculated choices to be dissimilar from other players in the market in order to gain a competitive advantage that will lead to superior financial performance. A collection of actions that management puts in place to out-perform competing firms in order to achieve greater profitability is called corporate strategy. These plans of action include the effective management of the socio-political and cultural institutions in a manner beneficial to the organisation. This plan of action on the socio-political and cultural institutions gives rise to institutional strategic management. The formulation of corporate strategies is done through a process that involves a set of rules, ideas or beliefs called frameworks, which include the Resource Based Strategy Framework, Business Models, Innovation and Institutionalism. Research has shown that the financial performance of firms is driven by a number of factors, namely corporate strategy, industry competitiveness, operating environment and core competencies amongst other factors. There is a plethora of determinants for the performance of firms and the complexity in the current business environment that has contributed to some models becoming obsolete while others remain relevant. It is against this background that the primary research objective of establishing a corporate strategy framework used by Zimbabwean firms to increase financial performance was developed. To answer this primary research objective, secondary objectives to (a) determine the impact of the Resource-Based Strategy Framework on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; (b) ascertain the impact of business models using Porter’s Generic Strategies Framework on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; (c) determine the impact of the Institutional Strategy Framework on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; (d) determine the impact of the Innovation Strategy Framework on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; (e) establish the joint impact of the Resource-Based Strategy framework, Business Models, Institutional Strategies and Innovation Strategies on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; and (f) establish other corporate strategy frameworks used by Zimbabwean firms to increase financial performance, were developed. The study population was the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) listed firms that fairly represented all the major operating sectors and firms in Zimbabwe. The researcher adopted a mixed research design incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods in order to best reflect the critical strategy elements that were increasing financial performance in Zimbabwean firms. Qualitative data was collected through interviews conducted with executive managers of ZSE firms. Triangulation was achieved by comparing and contrasting data collected from interviews to secondary data extracted from websites, reports and audited financial statements. Both qualitative and quantitative data analysis was done using RQDA, an open-source computer-aided data software. ZSE listed firms were categorised into the five sectors of basic materials, consumer goods, consumer services, financial services and industrials. These firms were further categorised into excellent, medium, poor and very poor performers. Collected data was analysed to establish strategies that were used by excellent, medium, poor and very poor firms to see if they were using the same and figure out the impact of the various strategy frameworks on the financial performance on Zimbabwean firms. Data was analysed using univariate, ordinal and binomial logistics regression analysis. These data analysis models confirmed that RBS was a significant driver of financial performance for ZSE listed firms when all the strategy frameworks were combined. However, evaluating the impact of each strategy framework separately showed that all the frameworks were significant in driving financial performance, with the exception of the Institutional Strategy Framework. All the firms were doing more or less the same on Institutional Strategy Framework (ISF), hence it could not be a predictor of financial performance under the regression models. However, the ISF had a high score on univariate evaluation method. It is against this background that the study recommended the use of the Resource Based Strategy Framework (RBS) in pursuit of increasing financial performance of firms as this has been empirically found to have a significant impact on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe. , Thesis (DBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
A critical analysis of the Urban Food System, Urban Governance and Household Food Security in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
- Authors: Maphosa, Mandlenkosi
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Food security Zimbabwe Bulawayo , City planning Government policy Zimbabwe Bulawayo , Urban poor Zimbabwe Bulawayo , Urban agriculture Zimbabwe Bulawayo , COVID-19 (Disease) Zimbabwe Bulawayo , Agent (Philosophy)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/327165 , vital:61087 , DOI 10.21504/10962/327165
- Description: Urbanisation is occurring on a massive scale globally and even more so in the less developed regions of the Global South including sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Like other developing regions of the world, urbanisation in SSA is not occurring alongside a corresponding growth in urban economies. Resultantly, it is taking place in tandem with the rising scourge of urban poverty, including food insecurity. While urban food insecurity is a clear challenge in SSA, the challenge has however not been met with equal vigour in policy making and implementation circles and even in academia. Problematically, the urban food security literature often focuses on one element of the food system without giving due attention to other components of the system. Resultantly, broader systemic failures and the dynamics related to the different actors across the system-elements are missed. There has thus been recent calls to embrace urban governance in studying urban food systems, which this study does. The thesis examines the urban food system in Bulawayo (in Zimbabwe) with specific reference to urban governance and household food security to understand sociologically the complex multi-dimensional processes, structures, systems, and practices underpinning the urban food system. As a result of the complex nature of food systems, an eclectic analytical framework is employed encompassing Obeng Odoom’s DED framework, Clapp and Fuchs’ framework of power, Gaventa’s power cube and theories of everyday life derived from de Certeau and Lefebvre. Methodologically, the study is informed by a Critical Realism paradigm which accommodates the convergent mixed methods research design employed. The research strategy employed was that of a survey and case study. Key findings reveal that the Bulawayo food system, from production to consumption, is complex and is nested within broader national and international food systems. Although without a direct and explicit mandate on food security, the local authority is at the centre of urban governance processes as it employs a plethora of strategies to influence the nature of the food system. However, the study reveals that the food system is as much a construction from below through the agential activities of the urban poor. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Maphosa, Mandlenkosi
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Food security Zimbabwe Bulawayo , City planning Government policy Zimbabwe Bulawayo , Urban poor Zimbabwe Bulawayo , Urban agriculture Zimbabwe Bulawayo , COVID-19 (Disease) Zimbabwe Bulawayo , Agent (Philosophy)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/327165 , vital:61087 , DOI 10.21504/10962/327165
- Description: Urbanisation is occurring on a massive scale globally and even more so in the less developed regions of the Global South including sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Like other developing regions of the world, urbanisation in SSA is not occurring alongside a corresponding growth in urban economies. Resultantly, it is taking place in tandem with the rising scourge of urban poverty, including food insecurity. While urban food insecurity is a clear challenge in SSA, the challenge has however not been met with equal vigour in policy making and implementation circles and even in academia. Problematically, the urban food security literature often focuses on one element of the food system without giving due attention to other components of the system. Resultantly, broader systemic failures and the dynamics related to the different actors across the system-elements are missed. There has thus been recent calls to embrace urban governance in studying urban food systems, which this study does. The thesis examines the urban food system in Bulawayo (in Zimbabwe) with specific reference to urban governance and household food security to understand sociologically the complex multi-dimensional processes, structures, systems, and practices underpinning the urban food system. As a result of the complex nature of food systems, an eclectic analytical framework is employed encompassing Obeng Odoom’s DED framework, Clapp and Fuchs’ framework of power, Gaventa’s power cube and theories of everyday life derived from de Certeau and Lefebvre. Methodologically, the study is informed by a Critical Realism paradigm which accommodates the convergent mixed methods research design employed. The research strategy employed was that of a survey and case study. Key findings reveal that the Bulawayo food system, from production to consumption, is complex and is nested within broader national and international food systems. Although without a direct and explicit mandate on food security, the local authority is at the centre of urban governance processes as it employs a plethora of strategies to influence the nature of the food system. However, the study reveals that the food system is as much a construction from below through the agential activities of the urban poor. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
A critical assessment of credit provision governance in South Africa with a focus on balancing the rights and responsibilities of credit providers and consumers under Section 129 of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005
- Batchelor, Bronwyn Le Ann https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7300-131X
- Authors: Batchelor, Bronwyn Le Ann https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7300-131X
- Date: 2022-05
- Subjects: Debtor and creditor -- South Africa , Credit control -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26715 , vital:65967
- Description: The National Credit Act of 2005 (the NCA), described as the fourth generation of consumer protection legislation in South Africa, is the product of an initiative by the Department of Trade and Industry to address the shortcomings of the third generation of consumer protection legislation, being the Usury Act 73 of 1968 and the Credit Agreements Act 75 of 1980. The NCA seeks to unify legislation and departs radically from the old dispensation. Its aims are, inter alia, to provide a fair and non-discriminatory marketplace, to prohibit unfair credit practices and reckless lending, to establish national norms and standards relating to consumer credit and to promote a consistent enforcement framework relating to consumer credit. Through enactment of the NCA the government appears to have focused on the protection of consumers through pre-enforcement procedures, prohibitions on reckless lending practices, prevention of over-indebtedness, alleviation of over indebtedness, and an array of other measures. This protection is deemed necessary due to the relative unequal bargaining power between the credit provider (provider) and the consumer at the time of conclusion of an agreement. This consumer protection has, however, sometimes come at the cost of provider protection. Despite these endeavours, there is still the inevitably common occurrence of breach of the agreement by consumers and the ensuing recovery process available to providers. The relationship between the two major role players – the provider and consumer - is the epicentre of any discussion, theory or legislative enactment pertaining to credit. This study commences with an examination of the historical background and rationale for the NCA, putting into context the rules and regulations which govern the relationship between the parties when an agreement is breached as well as the remedies and recourses that are available to the aggrieved party in terms of the NCA. The common law, which acts as a stabiliser especially when there are legislative changes, is examined in relation to preenforcement procedures, breach and the remedies as affected by the NCA. The equitable balancing of the rights and responsibilities of these two major role players is essential to the continued well-being of not only the parties but also the credit industry and economy as a whole. The most common way for individuals to purchase any large asset like a home or motor vehicle is to approach a financial institution for provision of a loan or credit agreement. To protect its interest, the financial institution would normally register a mortgage bond over the property or hold the title of the motor vehicle until all instalments have been settled. The problem arises when the consumer defaults on repayment of the loan or credit agreement. The financial institution would then be forced to institute legal proceedings to for example foreclose on the bond and repossess the property or motor vehicle. The preenforcement procedure finds itself in the centre of the tug of war between the parties in that this is the area and time that both parties require their rights and interests to be protected. The pre-enforcement procedures determine to a large extent, if properly implemented, how many agreements are seen to successful finalisation versus the alternative of those being cancelled and / or enforcement pursued through litigation by the provider. Successful implementation of agreements and repayment of debt would support a healthy credit industry and therefore, a strong economy. This is also the favoured outcome by the NCA. Section 129 of the NCA encapsulates the pre-enforcement procedure and thus determines balancing the parties’ rights and responsibilities through its interpretation and application. The section, however, would appear to fall short in that the delivery requirement of the notice is not adequately defined and has therefore resulted in many disputes, interpretations and two subsequent amendments to the section by the National Credit Amendment Act of 2014 and 2019. The purpose of this study is to critically analyse section 129 of the NCA and determine if the rights of both the consumer and provider have been equally protected, with particular reference to the burden of bringing the section 129 notice to the attention of the consumer. The question posed by all parties involved is always inevitably: Must the section 129 notice come to the actual knowledge of the consumer in order for it to be valid? The answer to this question has varied between two schools of thought. The first school of thought, being the pro-provider approach, answers the question in the negative and holds that as long as the provider has met certain delivery requirements their duty has been fulfilled whether or not the consumer actually receives the notice. The second school of thought, being the pro-consumer approach, answers the questions in the affirmative and requires the provider to carry the burden of ensuring the consumer actually receives the notice in order for it to be valid. There are numerous reasons in support of both schools of thought. It is hoped that this study will make a helpful contribution to the balanced interpretation of section 129. The study aims to provide a consistent interpretation of the section whilst balancing the rights of the consumer and provider respectively. , Thesis (LLD) -- Faculty of Law, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-05
- Authors: Batchelor, Bronwyn Le Ann https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7300-131X
- Date: 2022-05
- Subjects: Debtor and creditor -- South Africa , Credit control -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26715 , vital:65967
- Description: The National Credit Act of 2005 (the NCA), described as the fourth generation of consumer protection legislation in South Africa, is the product of an initiative by the Department of Trade and Industry to address the shortcomings of the third generation of consumer protection legislation, being the Usury Act 73 of 1968 and the Credit Agreements Act 75 of 1980. The NCA seeks to unify legislation and departs radically from the old dispensation. Its aims are, inter alia, to provide a fair and non-discriminatory marketplace, to prohibit unfair credit practices and reckless lending, to establish national norms and standards relating to consumer credit and to promote a consistent enforcement framework relating to consumer credit. Through enactment of the NCA the government appears to have focused on the protection of consumers through pre-enforcement procedures, prohibitions on reckless lending practices, prevention of over-indebtedness, alleviation of over indebtedness, and an array of other measures. This protection is deemed necessary due to the relative unequal bargaining power between the credit provider (provider) and the consumer at the time of conclusion of an agreement. This consumer protection has, however, sometimes come at the cost of provider protection. Despite these endeavours, there is still the inevitably common occurrence of breach of the agreement by consumers and the ensuing recovery process available to providers. The relationship between the two major role players – the provider and consumer - is the epicentre of any discussion, theory or legislative enactment pertaining to credit. This study commences with an examination of the historical background and rationale for the NCA, putting into context the rules and regulations which govern the relationship between the parties when an agreement is breached as well as the remedies and recourses that are available to the aggrieved party in terms of the NCA. The common law, which acts as a stabiliser especially when there are legislative changes, is examined in relation to preenforcement procedures, breach and the remedies as affected by the NCA. The equitable balancing of the rights and responsibilities of these two major role players is essential to the continued well-being of not only the parties but also the credit industry and economy as a whole. The most common way for individuals to purchase any large asset like a home or motor vehicle is to approach a financial institution for provision of a loan or credit agreement. To protect its interest, the financial institution would normally register a mortgage bond over the property or hold the title of the motor vehicle until all instalments have been settled. The problem arises when the consumer defaults on repayment of the loan or credit agreement. The financial institution would then be forced to institute legal proceedings to for example foreclose on the bond and repossess the property or motor vehicle. The preenforcement procedure finds itself in the centre of the tug of war between the parties in that this is the area and time that both parties require their rights and interests to be protected. The pre-enforcement procedures determine to a large extent, if properly implemented, how many agreements are seen to successful finalisation versus the alternative of those being cancelled and / or enforcement pursued through litigation by the provider. Successful implementation of agreements and repayment of debt would support a healthy credit industry and therefore, a strong economy. This is also the favoured outcome by the NCA. Section 129 of the NCA encapsulates the pre-enforcement procedure and thus determines balancing the parties’ rights and responsibilities through its interpretation and application. The section, however, would appear to fall short in that the delivery requirement of the notice is not adequately defined and has therefore resulted in many disputes, interpretations and two subsequent amendments to the section by the National Credit Amendment Act of 2014 and 2019. The purpose of this study is to critically analyse section 129 of the NCA and determine if the rights of both the consumer and provider have been equally protected, with particular reference to the burden of bringing the section 129 notice to the attention of the consumer. The question posed by all parties involved is always inevitably: Must the section 129 notice come to the actual knowledge of the consumer in order for it to be valid? The answer to this question has varied between two schools of thought. The first school of thought, being the pro-provider approach, answers the question in the negative and holds that as long as the provider has met certain delivery requirements their duty has been fulfilled whether or not the consumer actually receives the notice. The second school of thought, being the pro-consumer approach, answers the questions in the affirmative and requires the provider to carry the burden of ensuring the consumer actually receives the notice in order for it to be valid. There are numerous reasons in support of both schools of thought. It is hoped that this study will make a helpful contribution to the balanced interpretation of section 129. The study aims to provide a consistent interpretation of the section whilst balancing the rights of the consumer and provider respectively. , Thesis (LLD) -- Faculty of Law, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-05
A critical assessment of economic policies and their impact on entrepreneurship development in South Africa: a case of Khayelitsha Township in Cape Town
- Oduwole, Olusola https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1563-7392
- Authors: Oduwole, Olusola https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1563-7392
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship , Economic policy , Economic development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26302 , vital:65236
- Description: The complexity of the South African society due to past systematic exclusion of some communities from economic activities resulted in the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment. Although various economic policies had been developed since the advent of the democratic dispensation in 1994, these policies focused on levelling the economic environment, poverty alleviation and massive social security system. However, despite all the interventions, South Africa remains one of the most unequal societies in the world. This is profiled by the mushrooming of informal settlements around cities with job seekers and frequent protests by people who are impatient to experience improvement in their quality of life and who feel cheated out of their social contract. Advocacy from the governing party’s tripartite alliance towards a developmental state had placed more obligations on the government. This requires deliberate interventions through policies implementation to improve or at best alleviate the well-being of the citizenry. A survey conducted in the township of Khayelitsha to assess the impact of such economic policies on the development of entrepreneurship. Khayelitsha is one of South Africa’s largest townships, an informal settlement profiled by unemployment, poor infrastructure and unavailability of basic services. The study explored the entrepreneurial perception, start-up barriers, entrepreneurship climate, and general cultural factors relating to the environment of entrepreneurship development. The results reveal that despite the various economic policies, high level of unwillingness of citizens towards entrepreneurial activity and business venture is rife notwithstanding the high level of unemployment and poverty. The antidote to these challenges would be a rapid entrepreneurship drive among people most affected that would cause them to mind their own business” and become “masters of their own destinies. Given the complexity and massiveness of the challenges, the conclusion shows that a pragmatic solution is required. Therefore, the emancipation of entrepreneurship development in South Africa townships needs attention. The recommended solution is a pragmatic and innovative strategy based on the acronyms NEEDS HELP which stand for Neighbourhood Enhancement and Environmental Development Strategy and Holistic Entrepreneurial Lifestyle Programme. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2015
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Oduwole, Olusola https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1563-7392
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship , Economic policy , Economic development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26302 , vital:65236
- Description: The complexity of the South African society due to past systematic exclusion of some communities from economic activities resulted in the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment. Although various economic policies had been developed since the advent of the democratic dispensation in 1994, these policies focused on levelling the economic environment, poverty alleviation and massive social security system. However, despite all the interventions, South Africa remains one of the most unequal societies in the world. This is profiled by the mushrooming of informal settlements around cities with job seekers and frequent protests by people who are impatient to experience improvement in their quality of life and who feel cheated out of their social contract. Advocacy from the governing party’s tripartite alliance towards a developmental state had placed more obligations on the government. This requires deliberate interventions through policies implementation to improve or at best alleviate the well-being of the citizenry. A survey conducted in the township of Khayelitsha to assess the impact of such economic policies on the development of entrepreneurship. Khayelitsha is one of South Africa’s largest townships, an informal settlement profiled by unemployment, poor infrastructure and unavailability of basic services. The study explored the entrepreneurial perception, start-up barriers, entrepreneurship climate, and general cultural factors relating to the environment of entrepreneurship development. The results reveal that despite the various economic policies, high level of unwillingness of citizens towards entrepreneurial activity and business venture is rife notwithstanding the high level of unemployment and poverty. The antidote to these challenges would be a rapid entrepreneurship drive among people most affected that would cause them to mind their own business” and become “masters of their own destinies. Given the complexity and massiveness of the challenges, the conclusion shows that a pragmatic solution is required. Therefore, the emancipation of entrepreneurship development in South Africa townships needs attention. The recommended solution is a pragmatic and innovative strategy based on the acronyms NEEDS HELP which stand for Neighbourhood Enhancement and Environmental Development Strategy and Holistic Entrepreneurial Lifestyle Programme. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2015
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
A Critical Assessment of the Legal and Policy Frameworks for Combating Child Trafficking in the Southern African Development Community
- Muvhevhi, Roseline Rumbidzai https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1024-5548
- Authors: Muvhevhi, Roseline Rumbidzai https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1024-5548
- Date: 2022-09
- Subjects: Child trafficking -- Law and legislation -- Africa, Southern , Child welfare -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26728 , vital:65969
- Description: Child trafficking is a longstanding problem which affects victims and communities in various ways and therefore requires stern action both at the global and regional level. In the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, the crime is closely connected to the existing socio-economic challenges such as poverty; underdevelopment; lack of equal economic opportunities; HIV/AIDS; and human rights violations. As a result, SADC States are fertile sources, transit zones and destinations for child trafficking. It is internationally recognised that it is States such as those in the SADC region that require a comprehensive approach to prevent and prosecute the crime while simultaneously ensuring victim protection. To this effect, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children is the primary instrument that seeks to provide such a comprehensive approach to child trafficking. Therefore, the current regional and national responses to child trafficking in most SADC States, are influenced by this Protocol. Despite these legislative and policy efforts to combat the crime, statistics show that in recent years child trafficking has been rapidly increasing in SADC. Thus, this research seeks to investigate why child trafficking remains prevalent in the region despite a plethora of measures against the crime. The research, therefore, assesses the effectiveness of the legal and policy measures taken by the SADC States to combat child trafficking using a qualitative approach involving analysis and interpretation of relevant legislation and policies. The primary focus is on the Trafficking Protocol as the main child trafficking instrument at the international level. The role of non-child trafficking instruments in the absence of a community instrument against the crime in SADC is also analysed. This research observes that the increasing child trafficking problem in the region is not mainly because of a lack of adequate legislation or policies but the lack of effective implementation of measures. Without a regional comprehensive and coordinated implementation approach, these measures remain weak and inadequate to fully combat child trafficking in the region. To this end, numerous legislative, policy, institutional and operational reform mechanisms to strengthen the subsisting measures against child trafficking in the region and areas for further research are recommended. , Thesis (LLD) -- Faculty of Law, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-09
- Authors: Muvhevhi, Roseline Rumbidzai https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1024-5548
- Date: 2022-09
- Subjects: Child trafficking -- Law and legislation -- Africa, Southern , Child welfare -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26728 , vital:65969
- Description: Child trafficking is a longstanding problem which affects victims and communities in various ways and therefore requires stern action both at the global and regional level. In the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, the crime is closely connected to the existing socio-economic challenges such as poverty; underdevelopment; lack of equal economic opportunities; HIV/AIDS; and human rights violations. As a result, SADC States are fertile sources, transit zones and destinations for child trafficking. It is internationally recognised that it is States such as those in the SADC region that require a comprehensive approach to prevent and prosecute the crime while simultaneously ensuring victim protection. To this effect, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children is the primary instrument that seeks to provide such a comprehensive approach to child trafficking. Therefore, the current regional and national responses to child trafficking in most SADC States, are influenced by this Protocol. Despite these legislative and policy efforts to combat the crime, statistics show that in recent years child trafficking has been rapidly increasing in SADC. Thus, this research seeks to investigate why child trafficking remains prevalent in the region despite a plethora of measures against the crime. The research, therefore, assesses the effectiveness of the legal and policy measures taken by the SADC States to combat child trafficking using a qualitative approach involving analysis and interpretation of relevant legislation and policies. The primary focus is on the Trafficking Protocol as the main child trafficking instrument at the international level. The role of non-child trafficking instruments in the absence of a community instrument against the crime in SADC is also analysed. This research observes that the increasing child trafficking problem in the region is not mainly because of a lack of adequate legislation or policies but the lack of effective implementation of measures. Without a regional comprehensive and coordinated implementation approach, these measures remain weak and inadequate to fully combat child trafficking in the region. To this end, numerous legislative, policy, institutional and operational reform mechanisms to strengthen the subsisting measures against child trafficking in the region and areas for further research are recommended. , Thesis (LLD) -- Faculty of Law, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-09
A framework for communicating climate information to rural small-scale farmers in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa using systems thinking approach
- Pindura, Tineyi Herbert https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7233-6222
- Authors: Pindura, Tineyi Herbert https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7233-6222
- Date: 2022-02
- Subjects: Farms, Small , Agriculture -- Environmental aspects , Climatic changes
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22809 , vital:52784
- Description: In the Eastern Cape of South Africa, rural small-scale farmers live in uncertain times characterized by climate change and variability, which intensify social, political and financial inequalities. Therefore, there is a need to increase the understanding and interpretation of climate information to minimize crop production risk, reduce rural small-scale farmers’ vulnerability to climate, and maximize opportunities. Increasing the resilience among rural small-scale farmers requires appropriate and viable practical approaches. By using systems thinking approach (and the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality in the Eastern Cape as a study area), this research disseminates the complex nature of current climate information frameworks. Through inputs from farmers (through a Farmers Research Group methodology) and climate data, this thesis developed a new framework for communicating climate information (herein referred as the climate information communication systems framework) to rural small-scale farmers. The proposed climate information communication systems framework successfully integrates scientific and traditional knowledge. The framework constitutes certain stages, where the farming system and crop identification is the first stage. The second stage is the requirements stage, which has two relationships: scientist to crop requirements and farmers to crop requirements. At the scientist to crop requirements level, users will examine crop requirements by combining climatic data and crop simulations, while at the farmers to crop requirement, rural small-scale farmers use the scientific information to plan for the farming season. The farmer then decides the planting and growing period as well as the harvest timing. The study suggests that building links between rural small-scale farmers, extension officers, and scientists makes sharing information easier. The proposed climate information framework design illustrates that stakeholders now have a personal relationship with climate information transmission and can influence the different actions to reduce the effect of climate change unpredictability. The study established that climate change and variability influence recent agricultural output trends. Recent temperature and rainfall trends could have resulted in low crop productivity in the study area. The study also reflected that women are a critical resource in agriculture and rural economy and that middle-aged men and youth are less interested in farming. The findings also showed that women are more receptive to climate information; hence, to promote access and use of climate information remains vital to consider gender-specific aspects for appropriate decision-making in the agriculture sector. The study also recommends enhancing the Farmers Research Group technique. In the past, the scope of this methodology has been narrowly focused, and it must be explored to incorporate additional types of climate information and more debate about how climate is related to the decisions farmers for implementation or consideration. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-02
- Authors: Pindura, Tineyi Herbert https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7233-6222
- Date: 2022-02
- Subjects: Farms, Small , Agriculture -- Environmental aspects , Climatic changes
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22809 , vital:52784
- Description: In the Eastern Cape of South Africa, rural small-scale farmers live in uncertain times characterized by climate change and variability, which intensify social, political and financial inequalities. Therefore, there is a need to increase the understanding and interpretation of climate information to minimize crop production risk, reduce rural small-scale farmers’ vulnerability to climate, and maximize opportunities. Increasing the resilience among rural small-scale farmers requires appropriate and viable practical approaches. By using systems thinking approach (and the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality in the Eastern Cape as a study area), this research disseminates the complex nature of current climate information frameworks. Through inputs from farmers (through a Farmers Research Group methodology) and climate data, this thesis developed a new framework for communicating climate information (herein referred as the climate information communication systems framework) to rural small-scale farmers. The proposed climate information communication systems framework successfully integrates scientific and traditional knowledge. The framework constitutes certain stages, where the farming system and crop identification is the first stage. The second stage is the requirements stage, which has two relationships: scientist to crop requirements and farmers to crop requirements. At the scientist to crop requirements level, users will examine crop requirements by combining climatic data and crop simulations, while at the farmers to crop requirement, rural small-scale farmers use the scientific information to plan for the farming season. The farmer then decides the planting and growing period as well as the harvest timing. The study suggests that building links between rural small-scale farmers, extension officers, and scientists makes sharing information easier. The proposed climate information framework design illustrates that stakeholders now have a personal relationship with climate information transmission and can influence the different actions to reduce the effect of climate change unpredictability. The study established that climate change and variability influence recent agricultural output trends. Recent temperature and rainfall trends could have resulted in low crop productivity in the study area. The study also reflected that women are a critical resource in agriculture and rural economy and that middle-aged men and youth are less interested in farming. The findings also showed that women are more receptive to climate information; hence, to promote access and use of climate information remains vital to consider gender-specific aspects for appropriate decision-making in the agriculture sector. The study also recommends enhancing the Farmers Research Group technique. In the past, the scope of this methodology has been narrowly focused, and it must be explored to incorporate additional types of climate information and more debate about how climate is related to the decisions farmers for implementation or consideration. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-02
A framework for continuing professional development of teachers in regular primary schools: towards the effective teaching of learners with special education needs in Zimbabwe
- Muguwe, Emely https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2156-8642
- Authors: Muguwe, Emely https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2156-8642
- Date: 2015-05
- Subjects: Teachers -- Training of , Teachers -- In-service training.
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24794 , vital:63576
- Description: This study focused on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) needs of teachers in regular primary schools for the effective teaching of learners with special education needs in Zimbabwe. The motivation of the study emerged from concerns raised by stakeholders that teachers were inadequately prepared to teach learners with special education needs in general education classrooms. This study was underpinned by the post-positivistic paradigm which takes on both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study also employed the survey design, which utilised the mixed methods approach. The accessible population comprised 93 primary schools and 1 457 teachers, 93 school heads and all education officers in the Gweru District of Zimbabwe. The researcher used purposive and disproportional random sampling. Ten schools were purposively selected from a population of 93 schools in the Gweru District. One hundred and fifty teachers (10percent of the population) which translated into 15 teachers from each school, were selected from the 10 schools through disproportional stratified random sampling in order to include both male (n=69) and female (n=81) teachers in the study. Semi-structured questionnaires, semi-structured face- to- face interviews and focus group discussions are the data collection methods which were used in this study. Data were presented, analysed and discussed, starting with demographic data in the first section, followed by quantitative data which were presented concurrently with corresponding emerging themes from qualitative data. The data collected via the questionnaires were coded and key-punched for analysis. Data were presented in tables, bar graphs and pie charts. Findings of the study revealed that there is a dire need for knowledge and skills in SEN among teachers in regular schools. Teachers needed to be prepared for a paradigm shift of the inclusive era. Teachers also needed to identify their own needs to ensure that relevant and preferred areas were covered. Findings revealed that teachers preferred well-structured CPD which is facilitated by an expert and CPD held in their own schools, where good practices are shared with workmates. Findings also confirmed the availability of policy circulars in schools, although some teachers expressed that they were not aware of such circulars. There were no specific days allocated specifically for school CPD. Most teachers were not availed with the opportunity to attend out-of-school based workshops; and cascading of information led to dilution of original ideas. There was lack of adequate mentoring among qualified teachers. Teachers preferred the standards-based model for promotion purposes although it was limiting in terms of teachers’ learning. The training model was viewed as a productive way of quickly in-servicing teachers relative to its cost. The communities of practice model and transformative model were not being utilised in schools due to national policies that govern teachers. Findings also revealed that teachers faced major challenges such as funding of CPD, getting information on CPD opportunities and time to engage in CPD activities. Teachers reeled with a lot of pressure resulting in burn-out as a result of large classes. Although staff development meetings were held in schools, they were mostly administrative and nothing definite was being done to mitigate the challenges which teachers were facing in accessing CPD opportunities. Teachers opted for a CPD framework which would give them more information and more opportunities for CPD on SEN, better access to teaching materials and more opportunities to work with experienced practitioners in SEN. Teachers preferred a framework based on a variety of CPD models, more school-based CPD rather than out of school -based CPD. The researcher concluded that teachers in regular schools were not equipped to teach learners with special education needs in the mainstream. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education was not employing the best models in preparing teachers to be effective. Teachers were facing challenges such as, funding, unavailability of information and time in accessing CPD opportunities. The study recommends that The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should put in place provisions to meet the CPD needs of teachers. Teachers should be fully involved in the identification of CPD needs. It was also recommends that school heads needed CPD on SEN for them to be able to guide teachers properly and to be supportive of the policy. Besides national policies, schools should design CPD policies specifically for their respective schools, in line with national policies. Andragogy principles, Wenger’s social learning theory and Vygotsky’s perspective among others, should underpin the CPD framework. The study recommends an alternative CPD model which would utilise a combination of transmissive, transitional and transformative models and modes of delivery as lenses in meeting the CPD needs of teachers in the context of SEN. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2015
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015-05
- Authors: Muguwe, Emely https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2156-8642
- Date: 2015-05
- Subjects: Teachers -- Training of , Teachers -- In-service training.
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24794 , vital:63576
- Description: This study focused on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) needs of teachers in regular primary schools for the effective teaching of learners with special education needs in Zimbabwe. The motivation of the study emerged from concerns raised by stakeholders that teachers were inadequately prepared to teach learners with special education needs in general education classrooms. This study was underpinned by the post-positivistic paradigm which takes on both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study also employed the survey design, which utilised the mixed methods approach. The accessible population comprised 93 primary schools and 1 457 teachers, 93 school heads and all education officers in the Gweru District of Zimbabwe. The researcher used purposive and disproportional random sampling. Ten schools were purposively selected from a population of 93 schools in the Gweru District. One hundred and fifty teachers (10percent of the population) which translated into 15 teachers from each school, were selected from the 10 schools through disproportional stratified random sampling in order to include both male (n=69) and female (n=81) teachers in the study. Semi-structured questionnaires, semi-structured face- to- face interviews and focus group discussions are the data collection methods which were used in this study. Data were presented, analysed and discussed, starting with demographic data in the first section, followed by quantitative data which were presented concurrently with corresponding emerging themes from qualitative data. The data collected via the questionnaires were coded and key-punched for analysis. Data were presented in tables, bar graphs and pie charts. Findings of the study revealed that there is a dire need for knowledge and skills in SEN among teachers in regular schools. Teachers needed to be prepared for a paradigm shift of the inclusive era. Teachers also needed to identify their own needs to ensure that relevant and preferred areas were covered. Findings revealed that teachers preferred well-structured CPD which is facilitated by an expert and CPD held in their own schools, where good practices are shared with workmates. Findings also confirmed the availability of policy circulars in schools, although some teachers expressed that they were not aware of such circulars. There were no specific days allocated specifically for school CPD. Most teachers were not availed with the opportunity to attend out-of-school based workshops; and cascading of information led to dilution of original ideas. There was lack of adequate mentoring among qualified teachers. Teachers preferred the standards-based model for promotion purposes although it was limiting in terms of teachers’ learning. The training model was viewed as a productive way of quickly in-servicing teachers relative to its cost. The communities of practice model and transformative model were not being utilised in schools due to national policies that govern teachers. Findings also revealed that teachers faced major challenges such as funding of CPD, getting information on CPD opportunities and time to engage in CPD activities. Teachers reeled with a lot of pressure resulting in burn-out as a result of large classes. Although staff development meetings were held in schools, they were mostly administrative and nothing definite was being done to mitigate the challenges which teachers were facing in accessing CPD opportunities. Teachers opted for a CPD framework which would give them more information and more opportunities for CPD on SEN, better access to teaching materials and more opportunities to work with experienced practitioners in SEN. Teachers preferred a framework based on a variety of CPD models, more school-based CPD rather than out of school -based CPD. The researcher concluded that teachers in regular schools were not equipped to teach learners with special education needs in the mainstream. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education was not employing the best models in preparing teachers to be effective. Teachers were facing challenges such as, funding, unavailability of information and time in accessing CPD opportunities. The study recommends that The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should put in place provisions to meet the CPD needs of teachers. Teachers should be fully involved in the identification of CPD needs. It was also recommends that school heads needed CPD on SEN for them to be able to guide teachers properly and to be supportive of the policy. Besides national policies, schools should design CPD policies specifically for their respective schools, in line with national policies. Andragogy principles, Wenger’s social learning theory and Vygotsky’s perspective among others, should underpin the CPD framework. The study recommends an alternative CPD model which would utilise a combination of transmissive, transitional and transformative models and modes of delivery as lenses in meeting the CPD needs of teachers in the context of SEN. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2015
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015-05
A framework for guiding the interdisciplinary design of mHealth intervention apps for physical activity behaviour change
- Authors: Thomson, Callie Deborah
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Wireless communication systems in medical care , Exercise Health aspects , Behavior modification , Mobile apps , Medical care Technological innovations , Medical informatics , Health promotion Technological innovations , Application software Development , Design Science Research (DSR)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232193 , vital:49970 , DOI http://doi.org/10.21504/10962/232193
- Description: The global pandemic of noncommunicable diseases and its associated premature mortality rates and socioeconomic burden have led to increasingly intensified efforts towards designing and delivering health promotion interventions aimed at addressing the leading modifiable health risk behaviours, such as physical inactivity. Developing physical activity behaviour change interventions that target individuals at the dual intra-interpersonal socioecological levels of health promotion has become a key objective worldwide. Digital and mobile technology is revolutionising the ways in which health behaviour change interventions are delivered to individuals across the world, with mobile health applications (mHealth apps) increasingly recognised as a powerful means of promoting physical activity behaviour change. However, with the growth and opportunities of mHealth apps, come several design challenges. Key design challenges concern the integration of theory, the incorporation of evidence-based behaviour change techniques, the application of persuasive systems design principles, and the importance of multi- and interdisciplinary collaborative design, development and evaluation approaches. These key challenges influence the output product design and effectiveness of mHealth physical activity behaviour change intervention apps. There exists a paucity of approaches for guiding and supporting the multi- and interdisciplinary collaborative design, development and evaluation of mHealth physical activity behaviour change intervention apps. To address this gap, this research study proposes an Interdisciplinary mHealth App Design Framework, framed by a novel boundary object view. This view considers the diverse communities of practice, boundary objects and supporting artefacts, process activities, and knowledge sharing practices necessary and relevant to the design of effective mHealth physical activity behaviour change intervention apps. The framework’s development is guided by a Design Science Research (DSR) approach. Its core components are based on the findings of a critical theoretical analysis of twenty existing multi- and interdisciplinary digital health development approaches. Once developed, the framework is evaluated using a qualitative DSR linguistic interpretivist approach, with semi-structured interviews as the research instrument. The thematic analysis findings from interviews with thirty-one international academic researchers and industry practitioners informs the iterative modification and revision of an enhanced Interdisciplinary mHealth App Design Framework, constituting the main DSR artefact contribution of the research study. In addition, four theoretical contributions are made to the mHealth intervention app design body of knowledge, and a practical contribution is made through the provision of guideline recommendations for academics and industry practitioners. Methodological contributions are also made in terms of applying DSR, adopting a hybrid cognitive reasoning strategy, and employing a qualitative linguistic interpretivist approach to evaluation within a DSR project. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Information Systems, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
- Authors: Thomson, Callie Deborah
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Wireless communication systems in medical care , Exercise Health aspects , Behavior modification , Mobile apps , Medical care Technological innovations , Medical informatics , Health promotion Technological innovations , Application software Development , Design Science Research (DSR)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232193 , vital:49970 , DOI http://doi.org/10.21504/10962/232193
- Description: The global pandemic of noncommunicable diseases and its associated premature mortality rates and socioeconomic burden have led to increasingly intensified efforts towards designing and delivering health promotion interventions aimed at addressing the leading modifiable health risk behaviours, such as physical inactivity. Developing physical activity behaviour change interventions that target individuals at the dual intra-interpersonal socioecological levels of health promotion has become a key objective worldwide. Digital and mobile technology is revolutionising the ways in which health behaviour change interventions are delivered to individuals across the world, with mobile health applications (mHealth apps) increasingly recognised as a powerful means of promoting physical activity behaviour change. However, with the growth and opportunities of mHealth apps, come several design challenges. Key design challenges concern the integration of theory, the incorporation of evidence-based behaviour change techniques, the application of persuasive systems design principles, and the importance of multi- and interdisciplinary collaborative design, development and evaluation approaches. These key challenges influence the output product design and effectiveness of mHealth physical activity behaviour change intervention apps. There exists a paucity of approaches for guiding and supporting the multi- and interdisciplinary collaborative design, development and evaluation of mHealth physical activity behaviour change intervention apps. To address this gap, this research study proposes an Interdisciplinary mHealth App Design Framework, framed by a novel boundary object view. This view considers the diverse communities of practice, boundary objects and supporting artefacts, process activities, and knowledge sharing practices necessary and relevant to the design of effective mHealth physical activity behaviour change intervention apps. The framework’s development is guided by a Design Science Research (DSR) approach. Its core components are based on the findings of a critical theoretical analysis of twenty existing multi- and interdisciplinary digital health development approaches. Once developed, the framework is evaluated using a qualitative DSR linguistic interpretivist approach, with semi-structured interviews as the research instrument. The thematic analysis findings from interviews with thirty-one international academic researchers and industry practitioners informs the iterative modification and revision of an enhanced Interdisciplinary mHealth App Design Framework, constituting the main DSR artefact contribution of the research study. In addition, four theoretical contributions are made to the mHealth intervention app design body of knowledge, and a practical contribution is made through the provision of guideline recommendations for academics and industry practitioners. Methodological contributions are also made in terms of applying DSR, adopting a hybrid cognitive reasoning strategy, and employing a qualitative linguistic interpretivist approach to evaluation within a DSR project. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Information Systems, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
A framework for public infrastructure financing in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Kapesa, Tonderai
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Finance, Public -- Accounting -- Standards , Accounting -- Standards , Finance -- Zimbabwe , Infrastructure (Economics) -- Zimbabwe -- Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51688 , vital:43363
- Description: The Government of Zimbabwe is operating using the mantra: ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’. The notion of opening for business requires robust supporting economic infrastructure for enhanced productivity, in the form of reliable supply of electricity, accessible road/railway transport networks and availability of contemporary Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure. The aim of the study was to develop a framework for making financing decisions for public infrastructure in Zimbabwe. The objectives of the study are to: determine the main sources of public infrastructure financing in Zimbabwe; establish innovative finance’s capacity to close the public infrastructure financing gap in Zimbabwe; assess the role played by public-sector accounting in attracting appropriate and efficient mechanisms to finance public infrastructure in Zimbabwe; and ultimately to develop and recommend a framework for selecting suitable and efficient mechanisms to finance public infrastructure in Zimbabwe. According to literature reviewed, public infrastructure is broadly financed by public sector entities using their own resources (internally financed) or through private sector investments and innovative financing instruments (externally financed). When infrastructure is internally financed, the study is theoretically guided by the Public Goods Theory and the Theory of Public Finance and Public Policy. When externally financed, the Risk Return and Pecking Order theories are important. There are many instruments used to finance public infrastructure and one project may be financed using one or more instruments. Therefore, considerations are given to the need for a framework that helps improve the efficiency of the financing decision. The study was designed as a multiple case study that focused on four sectors of economic infrastructure, that is, transport, energy (electricity), ICT as well as water and sanitation. The research used synchronous mixed methods to achieve the objectives of the study. Qualitative research methods addressed the following objectives: a) to determine the main sources of public infrastructure financing in Zimbabwe; b) to establish innovative finance’s capacity to close the public infrastructure financing gap in Zimbabwe; and c) to assess the role played by public-sector accounting in attracting appropriate and efficient mechanisms to finance public infrastructure in Zimbabwe. Whilst to develop and recommend a framework for selecting suitable and efficient mechanisms to finance public infrastructure in Zimbabwe the study combined qualitative and quantitative research methods. Qualitative data was collected through interviews conducted with officials and staff from government ministries, government departments, as well as parastatal enterprises dealing with the four infrastructure types. The same respondents were asked to complete a survey questionnaire used to address part of the objective that developed a framework for public infrastructure financing. Interview data were triangulated using secondary data extracted from reports and financial statements. Some of the secondary data was collected from the World Bank’s development indicators online repository. Qualitative data analysis was done using RQDA, an open-source computer-aided data analysis software. Findings from the study revealed that the main sources of finance for public infrastructure in Zimbabwe are the government through budget appropriations, and concessionary loans from the China Export-Import Bank. There was also finance obtained from multilateral financial institutions such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the African Export-Import Bank. The study revealed that there is currently very limited use of innovative financing instruments such as PPPs in financing public infrastructure in Zimbabwe, despite the country having legislation to support such financing arrangements. The innovations in financing observed in the study entail the use of conventional financing mechanisms in unconventional ways. However, there is scope for improving the financing of public infrastructure using innovative financing mechanisms and significantly mitigate the financing gap. Public sector accountants in Zimbabwe are mainly active in financial reporting, although the financial statements for most ministries, government departments and parastatal enterprises had qualified audit opinions from the Auditor General’s office. Public sector accountants are not active in financial management and cost and management accounting responsibilities. As a result, public sector accountants are not adding value to public money through offering advisory services in the efficient investment of public money, as well as financing public infrastructure assets using the most efficient financing mechanism. There is no uniformly applied framework when making financing decisions for public infrastructure in Zimbabwe. Therefore, a framework was developed and is recommended for use by this study. The developed framework entails eight steps that are interrelated and interconnected. Use of the proposed framework requires availability of data about infrastructure projects that have been done in the past. The study recommends that Zimbabwe should ensure a robust framework for protecting private sector investments, which can be achieved by ensuring policy consistency; creating and implementing a legal framework that protects private capital; and having economically viable infrastructure sectors, that are liberalised to allow private sector participation. The Government of Zimbabwe must take deliberate actions that ensure variety of financing options at the disposal of the public sector to lower costs of financing public infrastructure. It is also important to fully operationalise the legislation and policies designed to facilitate the participation of the private sector in financing public sector projects. Such operationalisation entails a decentralisation of the regulations and policies to the provincial and municipal levels. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Accounting, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Kapesa, Tonderai
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Finance, Public -- Accounting -- Standards , Accounting -- Standards , Finance -- Zimbabwe , Infrastructure (Economics) -- Zimbabwe -- Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51688 , vital:43363
- Description: The Government of Zimbabwe is operating using the mantra: ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’. The notion of opening for business requires robust supporting economic infrastructure for enhanced productivity, in the form of reliable supply of electricity, accessible road/railway transport networks and availability of contemporary Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure. The aim of the study was to develop a framework for making financing decisions for public infrastructure in Zimbabwe. The objectives of the study are to: determine the main sources of public infrastructure financing in Zimbabwe; establish innovative finance’s capacity to close the public infrastructure financing gap in Zimbabwe; assess the role played by public-sector accounting in attracting appropriate and efficient mechanisms to finance public infrastructure in Zimbabwe; and ultimately to develop and recommend a framework for selecting suitable and efficient mechanisms to finance public infrastructure in Zimbabwe. According to literature reviewed, public infrastructure is broadly financed by public sector entities using their own resources (internally financed) or through private sector investments and innovative financing instruments (externally financed). When infrastructure is internally financed, the study is theoretically guided by the Public Goods Theory and the Theory of Public Finance and Public Policy. When externally financed, the Risk Return and Pecking Order theories are important. There are many instruments used to finance public infrastructure and one project may be financed using one or more instruments. Therefore, considerations are given to the need for a framework that helps improve the efficiency of the financing decision. The study was designed as a multiple case study that focused on four sectors of economic infrastructure, that is, transport, energy (electricity), ICT as well as water and sanitation. The research used synchronous mixed methods to achieve the objectives of the study. Qualitative research methods addressed the following objectives: a) to determine the main sources of public infrastructure financing in Zimbabwe; b) to establish innovative finance’s capacity to close the public infrastructure financing gap in Zimbabwe; and c) to assess the role played by public-sector accounting in attracting appropriate and efficient mechanisms to finance public infrastructure in Zimbabwe. Whilst to develop and recommend a framework for selecting suitable and efficient mechanisms to finance public infrastructure in Zimbabwe the study combined qualitative and quantitative research methods. Qualitative data was collected through interviews conducted with officials and staff from government ministries, government departments, as well as parastatal enterprises dealing with the four infrastructure types. The same respondents were asked to complete a survey questionnaire used to address part of the objective that developed a framework for public infrastructure financing. Interview data were triangulated using secondary data extracted from reports and financial statements. Some of the secondary data was collected from the World Bank’s development indicators online repository. Qualitative data analysis was done using RQDA, an open-source computer-aided data analysis software. Findings from the study revealed that the main sources of finance for public infrastructure in Zimbabwe are the government through budget appropriations, and concessionary loans from the China Export-Import Bank. There was also finance obtained from multilateral financial institutions such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the African Export-Import Bank. The study revealed that there is currently very limited use of innovative financing instruments such as PPPs in financing public infrastructure in Zimbabwe, despite the country having legislation to support such financing arrangements. The innovations in financing observed in the study entail the use of conventional financing mechanisms in unconventional ways. However, there is scope for improving the financing of public infrastructure using innovative financing mechanisms and significantly mitigate the financing gap. Public sector accountants in Zimbabwe are mainly active in financial reporting, although the financial statements for most ministries, government departments and parastatal enterprises had qualified audit opinions from the Auditor General’s office. Public sector accountants are not active in financial management and cost and management accounting responsibilities. As a result, public sector accountants are not adding value to public money through offering advisory services in the efficient investment of public money, as well as financing public infrastructure assets using the most efficient financing mechanism. There is no uniformly applied framework when making financing decisions for public infrastructure in Zimbabwe. Therefore, a framework was developed and is recommended for use by this study. The developed framework entails eight steps that are interrelated and interconnected. Use of the proposed framework requires availability of data about infrastructure projects that have been done in the past. The study recommends that Zimbabwe should ensure a robust framework for protecting private sector investments, which can be achieved by ensuring policy consistency; creating and implementing a legal framework that protects private capital; and having economically viable infrastructure sectors, that are liberalised to allow private sector participation. The Government of Zimbabwe must take deliberate actions that ensure variety of financing options at the disposal of the public sector to lower costs of financing public infrastructure. It is also important to fully operationalise the legislation and policies designed to facilitate the participation of the private sector in financing public sector projects. Such operationalisation entails a decentralisation of the regulations and policies to the provincial and municipal levels. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Accounting, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
A framework for the economic valuation of wetland rehabilitation: case studies from South Africa
- Authors: Browne, Michelle
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Wetland restoration South Africa , Wetland management South Africa , Ecosystem management South Africa , Ecosystem services South Africa , Ecosystem management Economic aspects South Africa , Wetland restoration Cost effectiveness South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/263560 , vital:53638 , DOI 10.21504/10962/263561
- Description: Wetlands are recognised as having the potential to contribute long-term benefits to society; wetland rehabilitation is undertaken to recover these benefits in response to widespread wetland degradation. Increasingly, there have been calls to value the benefits of wetland rehabilitation to justify further investment. Such is the case in South Africa. Furthermore, recent global agendas and targets for ecosystem restoration, such as the declaration of the Decade of Restoration 2021-2030, suggest increasing pressure on governments to implement rehabilitation and imply a concomitant increase in decision-making regarding where and how to rehabilitate. In response to these information needs, this thesis explores the economic valuation of wetland rehabilitation through a narrative review of the foundational theory of values and valuation, a quantitative review of applied wetland rehabilitation economic valuation studies, and the evaluation of five wetland rehabilitation projects from South Africa. Projects were selected as case studies to represent various rehabilitation goals and explore different contexts (urban-rural; beneficiary groups), the timing of the evaluation (ex ante, ex post) and value types and valuation methods. The final chapter of the thesis integrates the case study experiences with the findings of the theoretical research components to propose a framework for the valuation of wetland rehabilitation, which can be applied in South Africa, and more generally, to further demonstrate the values of wetland rehabilitation, and as a tool to guide wetland rehabilitation decision-making. While initially grounded in mainstream economics, the research led into a number of fields including philosophy, social-ecological systems and social-ecological relations thinking, several environmental science areas and livelihood and human well-being frameworks. A deeper look into economic theory and history revealed an evolution of thinking on the meaning of ‘value’ and view of ‘nature’ and numerous critiques of standard neoclassical economics. From the insights gained and the case study experiences, this thesis argues that the neoclassical economic perspective, especially combined with a monetary metric, is too restrictive, and arguably too abstract in its assumptions of human behaviour and reliance on mathematical models, as an overarching framework for the valuation of wetland rehabilition. This is not to suggest that standard economic valuation concepts and methods cannot be useful, as the research case studies illustrated, but rather that wetland valuation must be approached from a value pluralism perspective. To this end, the proposed framework offers a way to think beyond, or in addition to, standard economic approaches in articulating the values of wetland rehabilitation. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
- Authors: Browne, Michelle
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Wetland restoration South Africa , Wetland management South Africa , Ecosystem management South Africa , Ecosystem services South Africa , Ecosystem management Economic aspects South Africa , Wetland restoration Cost effectiveness South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/263560 , vital:53638 , DOI 10.21504/10962/263561
- Description: Wetlands are recognised as having the potential to contribute long-term benefits to society; wetland rehabilitation is undertaken to recover these benefits in response to widespread wetland degradation. Increasingly, there have been calls to value the benefits of wetland rehabilitation to justify further investment. Such is the case in South Africa. Furthermore, recent global agendas and targets for ecosystem restoration, such as the declaration of the Decade of Restoration 2021-2030, suggest increasing pressure on governments to implement rehabilitation and imply a concomitant increase in decision-making regarding where and how to rehabilitate. In response to these information needs, this thesis explores the economic valuation of wetland rehabilitation through a narrative review of the foundational theory of values and valuation, a quantitative review of applied wetland rehabilitation economic valuation studies, and the evaluation of five wetland rehabilitation projects from South Africa. Projects were selected as case studies to represent various rehabilitation goals and explore different contexts (urban-rural; beneficiary groups), the timing of the evaluation (ex ante, ex post) and value types and valuation methods. The final chapter of the thesis integrates the case study experiences with the findings of the theoretical research components to propose a framework for the valuation of wetland rehabilitation, which can be applied in South Africa, and more generally, to further demonstrate the values of wetland rehabilitation, and as a tool to guide wetland rehabilitation decision-making. While initially grounded in mainstream economics, the research led into a number of fields including philosophy, social-ecological systems and social-ecological relations thinking, several environmental science areas and livelihood and human well-being frameworks. A deeper look into economic theory and history revealed an evolution of thinking on the meaning of ‘value’ and view of ‘nature’ and numerous critiques of standard neoclassical economics. From the insights gained and the case study experiences, this thesis argues that the neoclassical economic perspective, especially combined with a monetary metric, is too restrictive, and arguably too abstract in its assumptions of human behaviour and reliance on mathematical models, as an overarching framework for the valuation of wetland rehabilition. This is not to suggest that standard economic valuation concepts and methods cannot be useful, as the research case studies illustrated, but rather that wetland valuation must be approached from a value pluralism perspective. To this end, the proposed framework offers a way to think beyond, or in addition to, standard economic approaches in articulating the values of wetland rehabilitation. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
A framework for transmitting and entrenching values in indigenous black South African family businesses
- Authors: Kupangwa, Welcome
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53991 , vital:46171
- Description: Family businesses are the predominant form of business globally and their importance to the economies of countries and job creation are often highlighted. In comparison to non-family businesses, family businesses are often described as having several unique characteristics such as a long-term orientation, being more emotions-laden, and having multiple family generations work in the business. Family businesses are also more deeply rooted in their cultures and values than non-family businesses are, and it is these values that contribute to their uniqueness and longevity. The dominant cultures and values found in family businesses are often associated with those of the founders and their families, and most founders want successive generations to run their family businesses according to established traditions and core values. Despite their importance in both developed and developing economies, family businesses face significant challenges to survive and prosper across generations. One such challenge involves the transmission of values from business founders and/or current leaders to the next generation of family members. If these values are not transmitted to and shared by the next generation, and not entrenched into the functions and processes of their family business, the functioning of the family and the family business are at risk. Existing research on values in family businesses reveals limited knowledge of values transmission to the next generation of family members. In addition, questions remain unanswered as to how values are institutionalised and entrenched into family businesses, and how these values contribute to their longevity and success. Given the need to understand the role of values in the transgenerational success of family businesses, many research calls have been made to investigate the nature of values, values transmission and values entrenchment among family businesses, including those in developing countries. In response to these calls the primary objective of this study was to provide a framework for explaining how values are transmitted among indigenous Black South African business owning families and how these values are entrenched into their family businesses. Investigating values in the context of indigenous Black South African business owning families highlights the influence of indigenous culture on the transmission and entrenchment processes. This study is positioned in the interpretivism and the postmodernism research paradigm. Both deductive and inductive reasoning to theory development and qualitative methodological approach were adopted to create new and richer understandings and interpretations of the phenomena under investigation. Utilising a multiple and descriptive case study methodology, data was collected from seven indigenous Black South African family businesses through semi-structured interviews. To corroborate the interview findings, observations, document analysis and field notes were also used for data collection, which was then analysed utilising reflexive thematic analysis. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Kupangwa, Welcome
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53991 , vital:46171
- Description: Family businesses are the predominant form of business globally and their importance to the economies of countries and job creation are often highlighted. In comparison to non-family businesses, family businesses are often described as having several unique characteristics such as a long-term orientation, being more emotions-laden, and having multiple family generations work in the business. Family businesses are also more deeply rooted in their cultures and values than non-family businesses are, and it is these values that contribute to their uniqueness and longevity. The dominant cultures and values found in family businesses are often associated with those of the founders and their families, and most founders want successive generations to run their family businesses according to established traditions and core values. Despite their importance in both developed and developing economies, family businesses face significant challenges to survive and prosper across generations. One such challenge involves the transmission of values from business founders and/or current leaders to the next generation of family members. If these values are not transmitted to and shared by the next generation, and not entrenched into the functions and processes of their family business, the functioning of the family and the family business are at risk. Existing research on values in family businesses reveals limited knowledge of values transmission to the next generation of family members. In addition, questions remain unanswered as to how values are institutionalised and entrenched into family businesses, and how these values contribute to their longevity and success. Given the need to understand the role of values in the transgenerational success of family businesses, many research calls have been made to investigate the nature of values, values transmission and values entrenchment among family businesses, including those in developing countries. In response to these calls the primary objective of this study was to provide a framework for explaining how values are transmitted among indigenous Black South African business owning families and how these values are entrenched into their family businesses. Investigating values in the context of indigenous Black South African business owning families highlights the influence of indigenous culture on the transmission and entrenchment processes. This study is positioned in the interpretivism and the postmodernism research paradigm. Both deductive and inductive reasoning to theory development and qualitative methodological approach were adopted to create new and richer understandings and interpretations of the phenomena under investigation. Utilising a multiple and descriptive case study methodology, data was collected from seven indigenous Black South African family businesses through semi-structured interviews. To corroborate the interview findings, observations, document analysis and field notes were also used for data collection, which was then analysed utilising reflexive thematic analysis. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
A framework to integrate social entrepreneurship into development planning in South Africa
- Authors: Nwauche, Sokeibelemaye
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52982 , vital:44881
- Description: The thesis presents a framework to integrate social entrepreneurship (SE) into development planning in South Africa. Even though there is no consensus on a universally accepted definition of the term, there is concurrence that SE brings about social change that can influence the overall development of the community. In South Africa, SE is thus conceived of as one of the mechanisms for addressing the wicked and persistent socio-economic challenges that face the country. Social entrepreneurship occurs in areas such as education, health, skills development, youth programmes, rehabilitation, safety, food security, poverty, job creation, human rights activism, environmental issues, arts and culture, among others. However, it remains unclear how SE is integrated into the development planning and implementation processes. Questions of integrating SE into development planning are asked within the context of South Africa as a democratic developmental state that intervenes in the development process. It emphasises the mobilization of and engagement with all sectors towards the achievement of its development objectives as articulated in the national development plan (NDP). Also, government recognizes organizations in the social enterprise sector (such as NPOs and NPCs) as stakeholders and development partners who deliver relevant services towards the achievement of these development objectives. However, there is a lack of framework to mobilize and integrate the social enterprise sector and SE into the development planning process. Social entrepreneurship, therefore, tends to occur in insolation from other development programmes. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Nwauche, Sokeibelemaye
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52982 , vital:44881
- Description: The thesis presents a framework to integrate social entrepreneurship (SE) into development planning in South Africa. Even though there is no consensus on a universally accepted definition of the term, there is concurrence that SE brings about social change that can influence the overall development of the community. In South Africa, SE is thus conceived of as one of the mechanisms for addressing the wicked and persistent socio-economic challenges that face the country. Social entrepreneurship occurs in areas such as education, health, skills development, youth programmes, rehabilitation, safety, food security, poverty, job creation, human rights activism, environmental issues, arts and culture, among others. However, it remains unclear how SE is integrated into the development planning and implementation processes. Questions of integrating SE into development planning are asked within the context of South Africa as a democratic developmental state that intervenes in the development process. It emphasises the mobilization of and engagement with all sectors towards the achievement of its development objectives as articulated in the national development plan (NDP). Also, government recognizes organizations in the social enterprise sector (such as NPOs and NPCs) as stakeholders and development partners who deliver relevant services towards the achievement of these development objectives. However, there is a lack of framework to mobilize and integrate the social enterprise sector and SE into the development planning process. Social entrepreneurship, therefore, tends to occur in insolation from other development programmes. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04