A poverty alleviation strategy of Vukuzenzele gardening project in Motherwell township
- Authors: Zitho, Andiswa
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Economic development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Community development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Poor -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13724 , vital:27302
- Description: Poverty is one of the issues that affects the development in our country. the strategies that are used differ from one to person to another. development is said to be measured through a lot of things but mostly through economic growth which influenced by poverty. the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the strategies being used to alleviate poverty in the Motherwell township, in Port Elizabeth. The study focused mainly on Vukuzenzele gardening project, where a sample of 15 participants were purposovely selected to be part of the study. Furthermore, the aim of the study was to contribute towards community development by investigating the social issues that directly influence poverty eradication.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Zitho, Andiswa
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Economic development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Community development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Poor -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13724 , vital:27302
- Description: Poverty is one of the issues that affects the development in our country. the strategies that are used differ from one to person to another. development is said to be measured through a lot of things but mostly through economic growth which influenced by poverty. the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the strategies being used to alleviate poverty in the Motherwell township, in Port Elizabeth. The study focused mainly on Vukuzenzele gardening project, where a sample of 15 participants were purposovely selected to be part of the study. Furthermore, the aim of the study was to contribute towards community development by investigating the social issues that directly influence poverty eradication.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Knowledge and knower structures in relation to reproductive and sexual health in school curricula of Kenya and South Africa
- Authors: Chemwor, Ezekiel Kiplimo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Curriculum planning -- Kenya , Curriculum planning -- South Africa Education -- Study and teaching Reproductive health -- Study and teaching -- Kenya Reproductive health -- Study and teaching -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14884 , vital:27893
- Description: This study investigates the Reproductive and Sexual Health (RSH) knowledge as recontextualised in the school curricula of Kenya and South Africa. It sets to provide a holistic view of RSH by bringing to the fore the underlying principles structuring the legitimation of RSH knowledge and knowing in both curricula. More importantly, it provides a deeper understanding of what RSH concepts have to be known and what kind of ideal learner is being projected in the two curricula. The study sets out to answer the following two research questions: How is knowledge related to RSH legitimated in the South African and Kenyan school curricula? How are knowers related to RSH legitimated in the South African and Kenyan school curricula? Being located in the Official Recontextualisation Field of Bernstein’s pedagogic device, this study uses Bernstein’s knowledge structure approach and Legitimation Code Theory: Specialisation as theoretical framework. LCT: Specialisation codes provided a means of developing external languages of description or translation devices to build a requisite analytical framework for revealing the knowledge-knower structures legitimated in the two curricula. The study employs a multi-site case study research design with RSH knowledge and knowers in school curriculum being the case, and Kenya and South Africa as the two sites in the case study. The purpose of looking at the curricula from both countries was not specifically to compare the contents of the curricula documents, but rather to enable broader consideration of the ways in which they position RSH knowledge. The study found that RSH, as an interdisciplinary concept, is faced by a tension in its knowledge-knower structure across the curriculum levels. The biological component of the RSH concepts, has a hierarchical knowledge structure with a knowledge code that exhibited a purist insight as well as a horizontal knower structure that embodied a trained gaze, while the psychological component has a horizontal knowledge structure with a hierarchical knower structure that embodied a cultivated gaze.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Chemwor, Ezekiel Kiplimo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Curriculum planning -- Kenya , Curriculum planning -- South Africa Education -- Study and teaching Reproductive health -- Study and teaching -- Kenya Reproductive health -- Study and teaching -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14884 , vital:27893
- Description: This study investigates the Reproductive and Sexual Health (RSH) knowledge as recontextualised in the school curricula of Kenya and South Africa. It sets to provide a holistic view of RSH by bringing to the fore the underlying principles structuring the legitimation of RSH knowledge and knowing in both curricula. More importantly, it provides a deeper understanding of what RSH concepts have to be known and what kind of ideal learner is being projected in the two curricula. The study sets out to answer the following two research questions: How is knowledge related to RSH legitimated in the South African and Kenyan school curricula? How are knowers related to RSH legitimated in the South African and Kenyan school curricula? Being located in the Official Recontextualisation Field of Bernstein’s pedagogic device, this study uses Bernstein’s knowledge structure approach and Legitimation Code Theory: Specialisation as theoretical framework. LCT: Specialisation codes provided a means of developing external languages of description or translation devices to build a requisite analytical framework for revealing the knowledge-knower structures legitimated in the two curricula. The study employs a multi-site case study research design with RSH knowledge and knowers in school curriculum being the case, and Kenya and South Africa as the two sites in the case study. The purpose of looking at the curricula from both countries was not specifically to compare the contents of the curricula documents, but rather to enable broader consideration of the ways in which they position RSH knowledge. The study found that RSH, as an interdisciplinary concept, is faced by a tension in its knowledge-knower structure across the curriculum levels. The biological component of the RSH concepts, has a hierarchical knowledge structure with a knowledge code that exhibited a purist insight as well as a horizontal knower structure that embodied a trained gaze, while the psychological component has a horizontal knowledge structure with a hierarchical knower structure that embodied a cultivated gaze.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The relationship between employee value proposition, organisational commitment and intention-to-serve among provincial traffic officers
- Authors: Macpherson, Wayne Elvison
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Organizational commitment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18036 , vital:28567
- Description: Traffic officers are employed to protect and serve the community, but various sources including annual reports and newspaper articles cast doubt on whether these goals are attained in the Eastern Cape. These sources further allege that the failure to serve can be attributed to dissatisfaction and poor employee commitment. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to explore the relationship between the Employee Value Proposition, organisational commitment and intention-to-serve among provincial traffic officers. A literature study was conducted on the three above-mentioned variables to achieve this objective. The empirical study consisted of a survey with a self-administered questionnaire. Five components of the Employee Value Proposition, as established by the Corporate Leadership Council (CLC) (2006), were measured. These included career opportunities, organisation itself, relationships, remuneration/reward and work itself. The Three Component Model (TCM) developed by Meyer and Allen (1991) was used to measure affective, continuance and normative commitment. The Intention-to-Serve Scale was adapted from the Employee Work Passion Appraisal (EWPA) Model (Zigarmi, Nimon, Houson, Witt and Diehl, 2011) and was used to measure intent-to-perform and intent-to-use discretion. The questionnaire was completed by 357 provincial traffic officers across the six districts of the Eastern Cape, which represented a 95 percent response rate. The results from the empirical study indicated that the majority of respondents had less positive perceptions of the Employee Value Proposition offered to them. Affective commitment, regarded as the desired type of organisational commitment, was scored the lowest. However, positive scores were obtained for intention-to-serve. A statistical and practical significant relationship was found between the Employee Value Proposition and organisational commitment, and between the Employee Value Proposition and intention-to-serve as well as between organizational commitment and intention-to-serve. The results suggest that a more appealing Employee Value Proposition could result in improved organisational commitment as well as improved intention-to-serve. It is therefore recommended that the Eastern Cape Department of Transport reconsider the Employee Value Proposition offered to traffic officers and use it as a tool to improve commitment and service delivery.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Macpherson, Wayne Elvison
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Organizational commitment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18036 , vital:28567
- Description: Traffic officers are employed to protect and serve the community, but various sources including annual reports and newspaper articles cast doubt on whether these goals are attained in the Eastern Cape. These sources further allege that the failure to serve can be attributed to dissatisfaction and poor employee commitment. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to explore the relationship between the Employee Value Proposition, organisational commitment and intention-to-serve among provincial traffic officers. A literature study was conducted on the three above-mentioned variables to achieve this objective. The empirical study consisted of a survey with a self-administered questionnaire. Five components of the Employee Value Proposition, as established by the Corporate Leadership Council (CLC) (2006), were measured. These included career opportunities, organisation itself, relationships, remuneration/reward and work itself. The Three Component Model (TCM) developed by Meyer and Allen (1991) was used to measure affective, continuance and normative commitment. The Intention-to-Serve Scale was adapted from the Employee Work Passion Appraisal (EWPA) Model (Zigarmi, Nimon, Houson, Witt and Diehl, 2011) and was used to measure intent-to-perform and intent-to-use discretion. The questionnaire was completed by 357 provincial traffic officers across the six districts of the Eastern Cape, which represented a 95 percent response rate. The results from the empirical study indicated that the majority of respondents had less positive perceptions of the Employee Value Proposition offered to them. Affective commitment, regarded as the desired type of organisational commitment, was scored the lowest. However, positive scores were obtained for intention-to-serve. A statistical and practical significant relationship was found between the Employee Value Proposition and organisational commitment, and between the Employee Value Proposition and intention-to-serve as well as between organizational commitment and intention-to-serve. The results suggest that a more appealing Employee Value Proposition could result in improved organisational commitment as well as improved intention-to-serve. It is therefore recommended that the Eastern Cape Department of Transport reconsider the Employee Value Proposition offered to traffic officers and use it as a tool to improve commitment and service delivery.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Impacts of African elephant feeding on white rhinoceros foraging opportunities
- Authors: Prinsloo, Dominique
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Herbivores -- Ecology -- South Africa , Grassland ecology -- South Africa Animal-plant relationships -- South Africa Ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13768 , vital:27306
- Description: In this study, I investigated the interaction between two megaherbivores, the African elephant and white rhinoceros, that has the potential to impact grazing lawns of which white rhino are the creators and maintainers and elephants are potentially the modifiers. I hypothesized that as elephants browse, they discard a variety of coarse woody debris onto the ground; should this woody debris (of varying amounts and sizes) fall onto grazing lawns, white rhino either move them, consume grass around the woody debris or abandon the lawn entirely. If high levels of woody debris are deposited here, grazing by white rhino is likely to be prevented, at which time I predicted that mesoherbivores would have a competitive advantage in accessing forage that white rhino cannot. I examined the mechanistic links between different levels of elephant-deposited woody debris and grass response at a point scale and feeding patch spatial scale of grazing lawns in an African savanna. In addition, I assessed the response of mesoherbivores in terms of vigilance behaviour with increasing levels of predation risk posed by increasing levels of woody debris. I present the first evidence of an indirect effect of elephant on white rhino foraging behaviour. I demonstrate how increasing levels of woody debris lead to a decreasing probability of foraging by white rhino. I also demonstrate how the probability of foraging by mesoherbivores increases as the amount of forage increases. However, since this study took place during a severe drought where resources are extremely limited, I was unable to properly separate the effects of elephant-deposited woody debris from the severe lack of rainfall on grass response and subsequently herbivore foraging behaviour. Due possibly to the drought, mesoherbivores responded less or not at all to risk factors such as woody debris therefore woody debris was not a predictor of vigilance behaviour in my study. This study contributes to our understanding of how the impacts of elephants, as ecosystem engineers, have cascading effects on savanna ecosystems. My study showed that elephant impact mediates the foraging behaviour of white rhino during a drought. However, under average rainfall periods, my original hypothesized effect of the indirect impacts of elephants on white rhino foraging and grazing lawn dynamics could still hold. This key hypothesis that I was unable to test under ‘normal’ conditions due to the drought is still valid and functionally important for understanding the ecosystem processes driving grazing lawn formation, persistence and composition in African savannas where elephants and white rhinos coexist.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Prinsloo, Dominique
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Herbivores -- Ecology -- South Africa , Grassland ecology -- South Africa Animal-plant relationships -- South Africa Ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13768 , vital:27306
- Description: In this study, I investigated the interaction between two megaherbivores, the African elephant and white rhinoceros, that has the potential to impact grazing lawns of which white rhino are the creators and maintainers and elephants are potentially the modifiers. I hypothesized that as elephants browse, they discard a variety of coarse woody debris onto the ground; should this woody debris (of varying amounts and sizes) fall onto grazing lawns, white rhino either move them, consume grass around the woody debris or abandon the lawn entirely. If high levels of woody debris are deposited here, grazing by white rhino is likely to be prevented, at which time I predicted that mesoherbivores would have a competitive advantage in accessing forage that white rhino cannot. I examined the mechanistic links between different levels of elephant-deposited woody debris and grass response at a point scale and feeding patch spatial scale of grazing lawns in an African savanna. In addition, I assessed the response of mesoherbivores in terms of vigilance behaviour with increasing levels of predation risk posed by increasing levels of woody debris. I present the first evidence of an indirect effect of elephant on white rhino foraging behaviour. I demonstrate how increasing levels of woody debris lead to a decreasing probability of foraging by white rhino. I also demonstrate how the probability of foraging by mesoherbivores increases as the amount of forage increases. However, since this study took place during a severe drought where resources are extremely limited, I was unable to properly separate the effects of elephant-deposited woody debris from the severe lack of rainfall on grass response and subsequently herbivore foraging behaviour. Due possibly to the drought, mesoherbivores responded less or not at all to risk factors such as woody debris therefore woody debris was not a predictor of vigilance behaviour in my study. This study contributes to our understanding of how the impacts of elephants, as ecosystem engineers, have cascading effects on savanna ecosystems. My study showed that elephant impact mediates the foraging behaviour of white rhino during a drought. However, under average rainfall periods, my original hypothesized effect of the indirect impacts of elephants on white rhino foraging and grazing lawn dynamics could still hold. This key hypothesis that I was unable to test under ‘normal’ conditions due to the drought is still valid and functionally important for understanding the ecosystem processes driving grazing lawn formation, persistence and composition in African savannas where elephants and white rhinos coexist.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The influence of organisational culture on organisational commitment of employees in the banking industry
- Authors: Pegram, Carla
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Corporate culture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Organizational commitment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Employee loyalty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Banks and banking -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19684 , vital:28934
- Description: Given the importance of organisational culture on the success of commercial banks, the prevalence of increased employee turnover rates, as well as the challenges that banks face with regard to preventing the loss of employees to its competitors, this study focused on the influence of selected organisational culture factors on the organisational commitment of banking employees. Against this background, the primary objective of this study was to identify and empirically test the influence of selected organisational culture factors on Organisational commitment of employees in the banking industry in the Eastern Cape. An overview of the literature was provided whereby the nature and importance of organisational commitment and organisational culture were described in the context of the banking industry. From the literature it was evident that the organisational culture of a bank has an influence on the organisational commitment of employees. The literature highlighted Involvement of employees (Empowerment of employees, Team orientation and Capacity development of employees), Adaptability (Creating change, Customer focus and Organisational learning), Consistency (Core values, Coordination and integration and Agreement) and Mission (Vision, Goals and objectives and Strategic direction and intent) as the major factors of organisational culture which influence the organisational culture of a business, in this case a commercial bank. These factors of organisational culture formed the main focus of this study. A positivistic research paradigm and quantitative research methodology were adopted for this study and a descriptive research approach was used. The primary data collection procedures involved selecting the population, the sample, sampling techniques, as well as the sample size. For the purpose of this study, the population consisted of all banking employees of the selected commercial bank within the borders of the Eastern Cape province. The sample size in this study consisted of 700 banking employees. A survey was undertaken and a structured, self-administered questionnaire was used in order to gather the necessary data. The measuring instrument used was based on an existing questionnaire used in previous research. Where necessary the items were reworded to suit this study. A total of 700 questionnaires were distributed, which resulted in 336 usable questionnaires. Thus, an effective response rate of 49.43% was achieved. The reliability of the ordinal scales of the measuring instrument was confirmed by means of the calculation of Cronbach‟s alpha coefficients, whereby coefficients greater than 0.6 were deemed to be reliable. Cronbach‟s alpha coefficients of greater than 0.6 were returned for all the factors measured using ordinal scales, thus satisfactory evidence of reliability were provided. The validity of the ordinal scales of the measuring instrument was confirmed by means of a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Items originally intended to measure the constructs under investigation did not all load as expected. One item measuring each of the factors, namely, Empowerment of employees, Creating change, Organisational learning, Agreement, and Coordination and integration, did not load as expected and was thus excluded from further statistical analyses. The operationalisation for these factors was amended accordingly. The items measuring each of the remaining constructs, namely, Organisational commitment, Team orientation, Capacity development of employees, Customer focus, Core values, Vision, Goals and objectives, and Strategic direction and intent, all loaded as expected. The sample data was summarised using descriptive statistics. In addition, t-tests were used to determine whether the differences in mean scores returned by the demographic variable Gender and the independent and dependent variables under investigation, were significantly different from each other. Pearson‟s Product Moment Correlations coefficients were used to assess the associations between the variables under investigation. A Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) was undertaken to measure the relationships between the independent variable and the dependent variables investigated in this study. Lastly, the relationships between the demographic variables and the dependent and independent variables were tested by means of an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The dependent variable Organisational commitment returned a mean score of 6.11, with the majority of banking employees agreeing that they are highly committed to the bank and feel a strong personal connection towards the bank, would recommend working at this bank to others, would find it difficult to leave and would continue to work for the bank out of choice rather than necessity. The independent variables investigated returned mean scores of between 6.05 (Coordination and integration) and 6.32 (Strategic direction and intent) with most respondents agreeing that the conditions or relationships investigated existed within the bank in which they worked. The results of the MRA reported significant positive linear relationships between Empowerment of employees, Capacity development of employees, Coordination and integration and Strategic direction and intent, and the dependent variable Organisational commitment. Furthermore, a significant negative linear relationship between Core values and the dependent variable Organisational commitment were reported. No significant linear relationships emerged between the remaining independent variables, namely, Team orientation, Creating change, Customer focus, Organisational learning, Agreement, Vision and Goals objectives, and the dependent variable Organisational commitment. The results of the ANOVA reported various significant relationships between the demographic variables and the dependent and independent variables investigated in the study. Based on the findings of this study, numerous recommendations were proposed to assist managers of banks to ultimately improve the organisational commitment of employees by adopting and encouraging certain behaviours in terms of the organisational culture of the bank. The findings of this study showed that by focusing on Empowerment of employees, Capacity development of employees, Coordination and integration and Strategic direction and intent, banks can enhance the organisational commitment of their employees. It is hoped that the findings of this study will provide bank managers with practical suggestions on how to use these organisational culture factors to improve organisational commitment among employees, and that the suggestions for future research will inspire future researchers to continue investigating the organisational culture factors in banks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Pegram, Carla
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Corporate culture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Organizational commitment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Employee loyalty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Banks and banking -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19684 , vital:28934
- Description: Given the importance of organisational culture on the success of commercial banks, the prevalence of increased employee turnover rates, as well as the challenges that banks face with regard to preventing the loss of employees to its competitors, this study focused on the influence of selected organisational culture factors on the organisational commitment of banking employees. Against this background, the primary objective of this study was to identify and empirically test the influence of selected organisational culture factors on Organisational commitment of employees in the banking industry in the Eastern Cape. An overview of the literature was provided whereby the nature and importance of organisational commitment and organisational culture were described in the context of the banking industry. From the literature it was evident that the organisational culture of a bank has an influence on the organisational commitment of employees. The literature highlighted Involvement of employees (Empowerment of employees, Team orientation and Capacity development of employees), Adaptability (Creating change, Customer focus and Organisational learning), Consistency (Core values, Coordination and integration and Agreement) and Mission (Vision, Goals and objectives and Strategic direction and intent) as the major factors of organisational culture which influence the organisational culture of a business, in this case a commercial bank. These factors of organisational culture formed the main focus of this study. A positivistic research paradigm and quantitative research methodology were adopted for this study and a descriptive research approach was used. The primary data collection procedures involved selecting the population, the sample, sampling techniques, as well as the sample size. For the purpose of this study, the population consisted of all banking employees of the selected commercial bank within the borders of the Eastern Cape province. The sample size in this study consisted of 700 banking employees. A survey was undertaken and a structured, self-administered questionnaire was used in order to gather the necessary data. The measuring instrument used was based on an existing questionnaire used in previous research. Where necessary the items were reworded to suit this study. A total of 700 questionnaires were distributed, which resulted in 336 usable questionnaires. Thus, an effective response rate of 49.43% was achieved. The reliability of the ordinal scales of the measuring instrument was confirmed by means of the calculation of Cronbach‟s alpha coefficients, whereby coefficients greater than 0.6 were deemed to be reliable. Cronbach‟s alpha coefficients of greater than 0.6 were returned for all the factors measured using ordinal scales, thus satisfactory evidence of reliability were provided. The validity of the ordinal scales of the measuring instrument was confirmed by means of a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Items originally intended to measure the constructs under investigation did not all load as expected. One item measuring each of the factors, namely, Empowerment of employees, Creating change, Organisational learning, Agreement, and Coordination and integration, did not load as expected and was thus excluded from further statistical analyses. The operationalisation for these factors was amended accordingly. The items measuring each of the remaining constructs, namely, Organisational commitment, Team orientation, Capacity development of employees, Customer focus, Core values, Vision, Goals and objectives, and Strategic direction and intent, all loaded as expected. The sample data was summarised using descriptive statistics. In addition, t-tests were used to determine whether the differences in mean scores returned by the demographic variable Gender and the independent and dependent variables under investigation, were significantly different from each other. Pearson‟s Product Moment Correlations coefficients were used to assess the associations between the variables under investigation. A Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) was undertaken to measure the relationships between the independent variable and the dependent variables investigated in this study. Lastly, the relationships between the demographic variables and the dependent and independent variables were tested by means of an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The dependent variable Organisational commitment returned a mean score of 6.11, with the majority of banking employees agreeing that they are highly committed to the bank and feel a strong personal connection towards the bank, would recommend working at this bank to others, would find it difficult to leave and would continue to work for the bank out of choice rather than necessity. The independent variables investigated returned mean scores of between 6.05 (Coordination and integration) and 6.32 (Strategic direction and intent) with most respondents agreeing that the conditions or relationships investigated existed within the bank in which they worked. The results of the MRA reported significant positive linear relationships between Empowerment of employees, Capacity development of employees, Coordination and integration and Strategic direction and intent, and the dependent variable Organisational commitment. Furthermore, a significant negative linear relationship between Core values and the dependent variable Organisational commitment were reported. No significant linear relationships emerged between the remaining independent variables, namely, Team orientation, Creating change, Customer focus, Organisational learning, Agreement, Vision and Goals objectives, and the dependent variable Organisational commitment. The results of the ANOVA reported various significant relationships between the demographic variables and the dependent and independent variables investigated in the study. Based on the findings of this study, numerous recommendations were proposed to assist managers of banks to ultimately improve the organisational commitment of employees by adopting and encouraging certain behaviours in terms of the organisational culture of the bank. The findings of this study showed that by focusing on Empowerment of employees, Capacity development of employees, Coordination and integration and Strategic direction and intent, banks can enhance the organisational commitment of their employees. It is hoped that the findings of this study will provide bank managers with practical suggestions on how to use these organisational culture factors to improve organisational commitment among employees, and that the suggestions for future research will inspire future researchers to continue investigating the organisational culture factors in banks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Financial inclusion in South Africa
- Authors: Abrahams, Rayghana
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Financial services industry -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa Finance -- South Africa South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13579 , vital:27240
- Description: The research for this study was guided by the question on whether the financial inclusion improvement strategies of the South African government adequately address the financial inclusion targets, as set out in the National Development Plan. This descriptive non-empirical study was conducted by means of a literature review. The secondary data used for the study were collected from a number of sources, namely: (i) the 2015 Brookings Financial and Digital Inclusion Project report; (ii) the 2014 Global Findex survey; (iii) the InterMedia surveys; (iv) Financial Access surveys; (v) various national FinScope surveys; and (iv) a number of working papers of the World Bank related to financial inclusion. The data revealed that South Africa, with its sophisticated financial sector, was early to adopt policies and initiatives to advance financial inclusion and the country has experienced a noticeable increase in financial inclusion from 61% in 2004 to 87% in 2015. South Africa is 3% away from its National Development Plan goal of 90% financial inclusion by 2030. This indicates that overall, the financial inclusion initiatives adopted by the South African government were successful.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Abrahams, Rayghana
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Financial services industry -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa Finance -- South Africa South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13579 , vital:27240
- Description: The research for this study was guided by the question on whether the financial inclusion improvement strategies of the South African government adequately address the financial inclusion targets, as set out in the National Development Plan. This descriptive non-empirical study was conducted by means of a literature review. The secondary data used for the study were collected from a number of sources, namely: (i) the 2015 Brookings Financial and Digital Inclusion Project report; (ii) the 2014 Global Findex survey; (iii) the InterMedia surveys; (iv) Financial Access surveys; (v) various national FinScope surveys; and (iv) a number of working papers of the World Bank related to financial inclusion. The data revealed that South Africa, with its sophisticated financial sector, was early to adopt policies and initiatives to advance financial inclusion and the country has experienced a noticeable increase in financial inclusion from 61% in 2004 to 87% in 2015. South Africa is 3% away from its National Development Plan goal of 90% financial inclusion by 2030. This indicates that overall, the financial inclusion initiatives adopted by the South African government were successful.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Exploring the use of participatory visual methods in teaching sexuality education within the HIV and AIDS education programme in selected Kenyan secondary schools
- Yego, Lily Jerotich, Opata, Violet, Sathorar, Heloise
- Authors: Yego, Lily Jerotich , Opata, Violet , Sathorar, Heloise
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Sex instruction -- Kenya , Teaching -- Aids and devices AIDS (Disease) -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Kenya Sex instruction for children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13414 , vital:27183
- Description: The HIV and AIDS prevalence in Kenya is still high and remains a major health concern despite the Kenyan government’s initiatives to create awareness about the epidemic through inclusion of the HIV and AIDS programme in schools. This is because the provision of sexuality, HIV and AIDS education in schools is not effective. Teachers face various challenges in the effective delivery of the subject due to their discomfort related to these sensitive topics. Therefore, learners are left inadequately supported by the teachers. With an immense variety of conflicting information about sexuality availed to young people through the social media and also through their peers, young people are left at risk of exploring their sexualities with inadequate and wrong information, thus exposing them to HIV infections. Since schools have been identified as ideal sites for the effective delivery of sexuality, HIV and AIDS education, teachers are expected to teach the learners using a variety of pedagogical strategies in order to achieve efficacy in the delivery of this subject, hence the need to explore teaching styles that could provide a safe space for the effective delivery of sexuality, HIV and AIDS education. This study sought to explore teachers’ experiences of using participatory visual methods in teaching sexuality education within the HIV and AIDS education programme in selected Kenyan secondary schools, in order to understand how such methods could affect the teaching of Sexuality education. This study employed a phenomenological research design, interpretivist paradigm and a participatory methodology. Memory accounts, reflective journals and focus group discussions were used for data generation with nine secondary school teachers, from three purposively selected schools in Kenya. Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory underpinned the study. The findings revealed that teachers are uncomfortable teaching sexuality education because of fear of leading learners astray, fear of victimization and sexualization, and fear of misleading and hurting learners because of lack of knowledge. This resulted in teachers feeling guilty due to ineffective delivery of Sexuality education. The findings also revealed that participatory visual methods were effective for use by the teachers and the learners in the classroom to navigate issues around sexuality, HIV and AIDS. This was because they are learner-centred, thus making learners producers of knowledge while at the same time encouraging optimism in teaching and learning. This study thus recommends pre-service teacher training on participatory methods of teaching. Educational institutions should also arrange for workshops to train in-service teachers on comprehensive sexuality, HIV and AIDS education and how to tackle it in their classrooms. Moreover, curriculum developers should make sexuality, HIV and AIDS education a compulsory subject to give it equal status with other examinable subjects, for it to be taken seriously. It is only through concerted efforts from everyone that Kenya can reach its target of Zero new HIV infections.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Yego, Lily Jerotich , Opata, Violet , Sathorar, Heloise
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Sex instruction -- Kenya , Teaching -- Aids and devices AIDS (Disease) -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Kenya Sex instruction for children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13414 , vital:27183
- Description: The HIV and AIDS prevalence in Kenya is still high and remains a major health concern despite the Kenyan government’s initiatives to create awareness about the epidemic through inclusion of the HIV and AIDS programme in schools. This is because the provision of sexuality, HIV and AIDS education in schools is not effective. Teachers face various challenges in the effective delivery of the subject due to their discomfort related to these sensitive topics. Therefore, learners are left inadequately supported by the teachers. With an immense variety of conflicting information about sexuality availed to young people through the social media and also through their peers, young people are left at risk of exploring their sexualities with inadequate and wrong information, thus exposing them to HIV infections. Since schools have been identified as ideal sites for the effective delivery of sexuality, HIV and AIDS education, teachers are expected to teach the learners using a variety of pedagogical strategies in order to achieve efficacy in the delivery of this subject, hence the need to explore teaching styles that could provide a safe space for the effective delivery of sexuality, HIV and AIDS education. This study sought to explore teachers’ experiences of using participatory visual methods in teaching sexuality education within the HIV and AIDS education programme in selected Kenyan secondary schools, in order to understand how such methods could affect the teaching of Sexuality education. This study employed a phenomenological research design, interpretivist paradigm and a participatory methodology. Memory accounts, reflective journals and focus group discussions were used for data generation with nine secondary school teachers, from three purposively selected schools in Kenya. Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory underpinned the study. The findings revealed that teachers are uncomfortable teaching sexuality education because of fear of leading learners astray, fear of victimization and sexualization, and fear of misleading and hurting learners because of lack of knowledge. This resulted in teachers feeling guilty due to ineffective delivery of Sexuality education. The findings also revealed that participatory visual methods were effective for use by the teachers and the learners in the classroom to navigate issues around sexuality, HIV and AIDS. This was because they are learner-centred, thus making learners producers of knowledge while at the same time encouraging optimism in teaching and learning. This study thus recommends pre-service teacher training on participatory methods of teaching. Educational institutions should also arrange for workshops to train in-service teachers on comprehensive sexuality, HIV and AIDS education and how to tackle it in their classrooms. Moreover, curriculum developers should make sexuality, HIV and AIDS education a compulsory subject to give it equal status with other examinable subjects, for it to be taken seriously. It is only through concerted efforts from everyone that Kenya can reach its target of Zero new HIV infections.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The impact of leadership on talent retention: exploring gender and generational cohort’s psychological contract issues
- Authors: Vasi, Lee-Anne
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Age and employment -- South Africa , Leadership -- South Africa -- Management Employee retention -- South Africa Organizational commitment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20066 , vital:29101
- Description: If the early nineties were concerned about a “rapidly changing business environment,” business in the twenty first century should be deeply paranoid about the future of business as we know it (Pieterse et al., 2009, p.1). Both global and national political factors has impacted the economy to epidemic negative heights. For companies to survive, its leadership requires a strand of resilience that sustains operations like never before. This can only be reached through the workforce. The question can thus be asked, how does one optimally use the gifting of each employee to impact the sustained operation of the organisation? The aim of this study is to determine the impact of leadership on talent retention: exploring gender and generational cohort’s psychological contract issues. The target population for the study consisted of 711 (n) employed South African executive MBA professionals within various industry sectors, namely, Management, Finance, Engineering, Information Technology and Accounting sectors, dispersed at various levels within their respective organisations, representing various Provinces, predominantly from the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Gauteng. 55 percent were male respondents and 45 percent were female respondents. 34% of the respondents’ age group were located in the category Generation-Y (respondents aged 25 – 34 years) and 30% of the respondents’ were located in the category Generation-X (respondents aged 35 – 44 years). The results showed that job insecurity was not statistically significantly related to employee engagement and turnover intention. Leadership empowerment behaviour contributed statistically significantly to employee engagement and low turnover intention. The research populations’ current experience depicts strong opportunities for personal development and work satisfaction, with moderate financial fulfilment. There is furthermore a strong relationship between leadership and retention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Vasi, Lee-Anne
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Age and employment -- South Africa , Leadership -- South Africa -- Management Employee retention -- South Africa Organizational commitment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20066 , vital:29101
- Description: If the early nineties were concerned about a “rapidly changing business environment,” business in the twenty first century should be deeply paranoid about the future of business as we know it (Pieterse et al., 2009, p.1). Both global and national political factors has impacted the economy to epidemic negative heights. For companies to survive, its leadership requires a strand of resilience that sustains operations like never before. This can only be reached through the workforce. The question can thus be asked, how does one optimally use the gifting of each employee to impact the sustained operation of the organisation? The aim of this study is to determine the impact of leadership on talent retention: exploring gender and generational cohort’s psychological contract issues. The target population for the study consisted of 711 (n) employed South African executive MBA professionals within various industry sectors, namely, Management, Finance, Engineering, Information Technology and Accounting sectors, dispersed at various levels within their respective organisations, representing various Provinces, predominantly from the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Gauteng. 55 percent were male respondents and 45 percent were female respondents. 34% of the respondents’ age group were located in the category Generation-Y (respondents aged 25 – 34 years) and 30% of the respondents’ were located in the category Generation-X (respondents aged 35 – 44 years). The results showed that job insecurity was not statistically significantly related to employee engagement and turnover intention. Leadership empowerment behaviour contributed statistically significantly to employee engagement and low turnover intention. The research populations’ current experience depicts strong opportunities for personal development and work satisfaction, with moderate financial fulfilment. There is furthermore a strong relationship between leadership and retention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Status of farm dwellers in the Great Kei municipality post implementation of the security tenure act
- Authors: Mfeya, Nontando Hazel
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Eviction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land tenure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Occupancy (Law) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14002 , vital:27381
- Description: The period preceding and after the enactment of ESTA marks an increase in the difficulties faced by the farm dwellers in South Africa. They are still faced with illegal evictions. Their difficulties are marked with loss of land for food farming, loss of work, income and homes. Nevertheless, the introduction of ESTA in 1997 aimed at protecting and restoring the land rights of farm dwellers working on farms. Despite its existence there are still challenges of illegal evictions. This research focuses on difficulties faced by farm workers after the enactment of ESTA and investigate the process and effects of illegal evictions. The thesis adopts a qualitative research methodology that takes the form of a case study on two farms, Killarney farm and Shellford farm, where farm workers experienced evictions. The findings confirm that the farm workers are subject to illegal evictions. The evictions are due to the conversion of agricultural farms to game farming and also due to labour disputes. Poor living conditions are evident and farm owners conduct tacit evictions by imposing restrictions and threatening the farm workers who wish to stay on the farms. This thesis concludes by presenting suggestions that may restrict or put an end to illegal evictions. ESTA needs to be amended in order to ensure the security of farm workers who live on the farms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Status of farm dwellers in the Great Kei municipality post implementation of the security tenure act
- Authors: Mfeya, Nontando Hazel
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Eviction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land tenure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Occupancy (Law) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14002 , vital:27381
- Description: The period preceding and after the enactment of ESTA marks an increase in the difficulties faced by the farm dwellers in South Africa. They are still faced with illegal evictions. Their difficulties are marked with loss of land for food farming, loss of work, income and homes. Nevertheless, the introduction of ESTA in 1997 aimed at protecting and restoring the land rights of farm dwellers working on farms. Despite its existence there are still challenges of illegal evictions. This research focuses on difficulties faced by farm workers after the enactment of ESTA and investigate the process and effects of illegal evictions. The thesis adopts a qualitative research methodology that takes the form of a case study on two farms, Killarney farm and Shellford farm, where farm workers experienced evictions. The findings confirm that the farm workers are subject to illegal evictions. The evictions are due to the conversion of agricultural farms to game farming and also due to labour disputes. Poor living conditions are evident and farm owners conduct tacit evictions by imposing restrictions and threatening the farm workers who wish to stay on the farms. This thesis concludes by presenting suggestions that may restrict or put an end to illegal evictions. ESTA needs to be amended in order to ensure the security of farm workers who live on the farms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Medication errors in a private hospital closed intensive care unit: a retrospective analysis of process change
- Authors: Cruickshank, Deborah Claire
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Medication errors
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15501 , vital:28259
- Description: Healthcare professionals should be concerned about the safety of the patients in their care and the references to patient safety go back as far as the Hippocratic Oath. Study of literature however shows that medical errors are still of concern and the majority of medical errors are medication errors. The aim of the study was to determine whether process changes introduced reduced both the medication prescribing and medication administration errors in the intensive care unit, thereby contributing to an increase in overall patient safety in the intensive care unit. This study retrospectively analysed the effect of the process changes on medication prescribing and administration errors. The research objectives were to: Identify the number and type of prescribing medication errors prior to the implementation of process changes; Identify the number and type of administration medication errors prior to the implementation of process changes; Identify the process changes implemented; o Determine number and type of prescribing medication errors post the implementation of process changes; Determine number and type of administration medication errors post the implementation of process changes; Assess whether the process changes affected the number and type of prescribing medication errors; and o Assess whether the process changes affected the number and type of administration medication errors. In the Phase One (1 November 2013 to 31 January 2014) 534 patient prescription charts for 172 patients were examined. Medication error rates of 57.6% (n=99) of individual patients reviewed and 18.4% of total patient prescription charts reviewed were found. A total of 69 medication prescribing errors were found in Phase One. This equates to an error percentage of 12.9% per patient chart reviewed and 40.1% per patient reviewed. Thirty medication administration errors were identified in Phase One of the study representing 17.4% of patients reviewed and 5.6% of patient prescription charts reviewed. Medication administration errors included both errors of commission, incorrect doses administered, (n=19) and omission, dose missed, (n=11). Process changes were then introduced and the results of these changes analysed in Phase Two (1 April 2014 to 31 December 2014) show an overall reduction in total medication errors with relation to number of patients reviewed from 57.6% in Phase One to 40.5% in Phase Two. In relation to number of prescription charts reviewed the medication error rate in Phase One was 18.4% and in Phase Two 14.4%. Prescribing errors in relation to number of patients reviewed reduced from 40.1% in Phase One to 26.19% in Phase Two. Overall reductions in percentage of errors were seen in all categories of prescribing errors except duplication of therapy which showed a slight increase. Based on the number of patients reviewed a reduction of prescribing errors was seen in the following categories: transcription errors (13.3% to 7.6%), anticoagulant not prescribed when indicated (3.5% to 2.4%), medication safety (5.2% to 2.9%), dose errors (9.3% to 6.6%) and duration of therapy (6.3% to 3.6%). An increase in the duplication of therapy error rate was seen (2.3% to 3.1%). There was also a reduction in administration errors in relation to number of patients reviewed with a total number of errors of 17.4% in Phase One and 15.8% in Phase Two. The number of prescribing errors per medication chart in Phase Two showed a statistically significant reduction (p=.002). A statistically significant reduction was also seen when the number of errors per patient was reviewed (p=.008). The total number of medication administration errors per medication chart showed a significant reduction (p=.042) as did the number of administration errors per patient (p=.003). When combining the total number of medication errors (both prescriobing and administration) a significant reduction was seen for both the number of charts reviewed (p=.001) and the number of patients reviewed (p=.002). These results indicate that the desired goal of increasing patient safety with regard to medication errors has been achieved but ongoing study is required to ensure the sustainability of the process changes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Cruickshank, Deborah Claire
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Medication errors
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15501 , vital:28259
- Description: Healthcare professionals should be concerned about the safety of the patients in their care and the references to patient safety go back as far as the Hippocratic Oath. Study of literature however shows that medical errors are still of concern and the majority of medical errors are medication errors. The aim of the study was to determine whether process changes introduced reduced both the medication prescribing and medication administration errors in the intensive care unit, thereby contributing to an increase in overall patient safety in the intensive care unit. This study retrospectively analysed the effect of the process changes on medication prescribing and administration errors. The research objectives were to: Identify the number and type of prescribing medication errors prior to the implementation of process changes; Identify the number and type of administration medication errors prior to the implementation of process changes; Identify the process changes implemented; o Determine number and type of prescribing medication errors post the implementation of process changes; Determine number and type of administration medication errors post the implementation of process changes; Assess whether the process changes affected the number and type of prescribing medication errors; and o Assess whether the process changes affected the number and type of administration medication errors. In the Phase One (1 November 2013 to 31 January 2014) 534 patient prescription charts for 172 patients were examined. Medication error rates of 57.6% (n=99) of individual patients reviewed and 18.4% of total patient prescription charts reviewed were found. A total of 69 medication prescribing errors were found in Phase One. This equates to an error percentage of 12.9% per patient chart reviewed and 40.1% per patient reviewed. Thirty medication administration errors were identified in Phase One of the study representing 17.4% of patients reviewed and 5.6% of patient prescription charts reviewed. Medication administration errors included both errors of commission, incorrect doses administered, (n=19) and omission, dose missed, (n=11). Process changes were then introduced and the results of these changes analysed in Phase Two (1 April 2014 to 31 December 2014) show an overall reduction in total medication errors with relation to number of patients reviewed from 57.6% in Phase One to 40.5% in Phase Two. In relation to number of prescription charts reviewed the medication error rate in Phase One was 18.4% and in Phase Two 14.4%. Prescribing errors in relation to number of patients reviewed reduced from 40.1% in Phase One to 26.19% in Phase Two. Overall reductions in percentage of errors were seen in all categories of prescribing errors except duplication of therapy which showed a slight increase. Based on the number of patients reviewed a reduction of prescribing errors was seen in the following categories: transcription errors (13.3% to 7.6%), anticoagulant not prescribed when indicated (3.5% to 2.4%), medication safety (5.2% to 2.9%), dose errors (9.3% to 6.6%) and duration of therapy (6.3% to 3.6%). An increase in the duplication of therapy error rate was seen (2.3% to 3.1%). There was also a reduction in administration errors in relation to number of patients reviewed with a total number of errors of 17.4% in Phase One and 15.8% in Phase Two. The number of prescribing errors per medication chart in Phase Two showed a statistically significant reduction (p=.002). A statistically significant reduction was also seen when the number of errors per patient was reviewed (p=.008). The total number of medication administration errors per medication chart showed a significant reduction (p=.042) as did the number of administration errors per patient (p=.003). When combining the total number of medication errors (both prescriobing and administration) a significant reduction was seen for both the number of charts reviewed (p=.001) and the number of patients reviewed (p=.002). These results indicate that the desired goal of increasing patient safety with regard to medication errors has been achieved but ongoing study is required to ensure the sustainability of the process changes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Foraging ecology of gentoo penguins pygoscelis papua at the Falkland Islands
- Authors: Handley, Jonathan Murray
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Gentoo penguin -- Food -- Falkland Islands Gentoo penguin -- Ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14113 , vital:27431
- Description: Marine top predators often occupy broad geographical ranges that encompass varied habitats. Therefore, a pre-requisite towards conserving these animals is to determine the components of their realized niche, and investigate whether a species is a specialist or a generalist. For generalist species, it is also necessary to understand if local specialisation occurs. Uncovering these components can allow us to build models of a species realized niche that may then be used to infer habitat use in unsampled locations. However, fully understanding the components of a marine top predators realized niche is challenging owing to the limited opportunity for in situ observations. Overcoming these limitations is a key step in marine top predator research. It will enhance our understanding of trophic coupling in marine systems, and aid in the development of tools to better study these predators in their dynamic environment. Seabirds, penguins (Spheniscids) in particular, are a group of animals for which investigating their realized niche is of vital importance. This is because numerous species face growing uncertainty in the Anthropocene, and in a time of rapid environmental change there is furthermore a need to better understand the potential use of these birds as indicators of ecosystem health. The aim of this thesis, therefore, is to investigate the foraging ecology of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) at the Falkland Islands. At the Falkland Islands, limited historical information exists regarding this species foraging ecology, with most information coming from a single location at the Falklands. As the Falkland Islands have the world’s largest population of gentoo penguins, elucidating factors influencing this population will have global relevance. Furthermore, historical information indicated potential competition with fisheries, and with prospecting for hydrocarbons and an inshore fishery, there is a need to understand the distribution of these birds across the islands. Penguins are also well suited to carry biologging devices allowing for in situ observations of inter and intraspecific interactions, as well as habitat specific interactions. In this study, I sampled birds over three breeding seasons, from four breeding colonies - chosen for their varied surrounding at sea habitat - across the Falkland Islands. I investigated the diet with stomach content and stable isotope analysis, the at-sea distribution with GPS and time depth recorders, and how these birds behaved at sea using custom made animal-borne camera loggers. Furthermore, I developed a method to recognise prey encounter events from back mounted accelerometers, using a supervised machine learning approach. As part of the first species specific description of diet at this scale for the Falklands, I revealed six key prey items for the birds: rock cod (Patagonotothen spp.), lobster krill (Munida spp.), Falkland herring (Sprattus fuegensis), Patagonian squid (Doryteuthis gahi), juvenile fish (likely all nototheniids), and southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis). The use of animal-borne camera loggers verified that not only do gentoo penguins consume a diverse array of prey items, but they adopted various methods to capture and pursue prey, with evidence of birds following optimal foraging theory. Prey composition varied significantly between study sites with the at-sea distribution and habitat use of penguins reflecting that of local prey. Birds from colonies close to gently sloping, shallow waters, foraged primarily in a benthic manner and had larger niche widths. However, those at a colony surrounded by steeply sloping, deeper waters, typically foraged in a pelagic manner. Contrasting diet patterns were also prevalent from stable isotope data, and the niche widths of birds relating to both stomach content and stable isotope data were larger at colonies where benthic foraging was prevalent. Therefore, it was clear that surrounding bathymetry played a key role in shaping this species’ foraging ecology, and that at the population level at the Falkland Islands birds are generalists. However, at individual colonies some specialisation occurs to take advantage of locally available prey. I developed habitat distribution models - via boosted regression trees – which transferred well in time but poorly across space. Reasons for poor model transfer might relate to the generalist foraging nature of these birds and the reduced availability of environmental predictors owing to the limited range of these birds. I furthermore developed a method to identify prey encounter events that can also, to a degree, distinguish between prey items. This method will be a promising approach to refine habitat distribution models in future. These habitat distribution models could potentially contribute to marine spatial planning at the Falkland Islands. Footage from animal-borne camera loggers clearly showed that prey behaviour can significantly influence trophic coupling in marine systems and should be accounted for in studies using marine top predators as samplers of mid to lower trophic level species. Ultimately, flexibility in foraging strategies and inter-colony variation will play a critical role when assessing factors such as interspecific competition or overlap with anthropogenic activities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Handley, Jonathan Murray
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Gentoo penguin -- Food -- Falkland Islands Gentoo penguin -- Ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14113 , vital:27431
- Description: Marine top predators often occupy broad geographical ranges that encompass varied habitats. Therefore, a pre-requisite towards conserving these animals is to determine the components of their realized niche, and investigate whether a species is a specialist or a generalist. For generalist species, it is also necessary to understand if local specialisation occurs. Uncovering these components can allow us to build models of a species realized niche that may then be used to infer habitat use in unsampled locations. However, fully understanding the components of a marine top predators realized niche is challenging owing to the limited opportunity for in situ observations. Overcoming these limitations is a key step in marine top predator research. It will enhance our understanding of trophic coupling in marine systems, and aid in the development of tools to better study these predators in their dynamic environment. Seabirds, penguins (Spheniscids) in particular, are a group of animals for which investigating their realized niche is of vital importance. This is because numerous species face growing uncertainty in the Anthropocene, and in a time of rapid environmental change there is furthermore a need to better understand the potential use of these birds as indicators of ecosystem health. The aim of this thesis, therefore, is to investigate the foraging ecology of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) at the Falkland Islands. At the Falkland Islands, limited historical information exists regarding this species foraging ecology, with most information coming from a single location at the Falklands. As the Falkland Islands have the world’s largest population of gentoo penguins, elucidating factors influencing this population will have global relevance. Furthermore, historical information indicated potential competition with fisheries, and with prospecting for hydrocarbons and an inshore fishery, there is a need to understand the distribution of these birds across the islands. Penguins are also well suited to carry biologging devices allowing for in situ observations of inter and intraspecific interactions, as well as habitat specific interactions. In this study, I sampled birds over three breeding seasons, from four breeding colonies - chosen for their varied surrounding at sea habitat - across the Falkland Islands. I investigated the diet with stomach content and stable isotope analysis, the at-sea distribution with GPS and time depth recorders, and how these birds behaved at sea using custom made animal-borne camera loggers. Furthermore, I developed a method to recognise prey encounter events from back mounted accelerometers, using a supervised machine learning approach. As part of the first species specific description of diet at this scale for the Falklands, I revealed six key prey items for the birds: rock cod (Patagonotothen spp.), lobster krill (Munida spp.), Falkland herring (Sprattus fuegensis), Patagonian squid (Doryteuthis gahi), juvenile fish (likely all nototheniids), and southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis). The use of animal-borne camera loggers verified that not only do gentoo penguins consume a diverse array of prey items, but they adopted various methods to capture and pursue prey, with evidence of birds following optimal foraging theory. Prey composition varied significantly between study sites with the at-sea distribution and habitat use of penguins reflecting that of local prey. Birds from colonies close to gently sloping, shallow waters, foraged primarily in a benthic manner and had larger niche widths. However, those at a colony surrounded by steeply sloping, deeper waters, typically foraged in a pelagic manner. Contrasting diet patterns were also prevalent from stable isotope data, and the niche widths of birds relating to both stomach content and stable isotope data were larger at colonies where benthic foraging was prevalent. Therefore, it was clear that surrounding bathymetry played a key role in shaping this species’ foraging ecology, and that at the population level at the Falkland Islands birds are generalists. However, at individual colonies some specialisation occurs to take advantage of locally available prey. I developed habitat distribution models - via boosted regression trees – which transferred well in time but poorly across space. Reasons for poor model transfer might relate to the generalist foraging nature of these birds and the reduced availability of environmental predictors owing to the limited range of these birds. I furthermore developed a method to identify prey encounter events that can also, to a degree, distinguish between prey items. This method will be a promising approach to refine habitat distribution models in future. These habitat distribution models could potentially contribute to marine spatial planning at the Falkland Islands. Footage from animal-borne camera loggers clearly showed that prey behaviour can significantly influence trophic coupling in marine systems and should be accounted for in studies using marine top predators as samplers of mid to lower trophic level species. Ultimately, flexibility in foraging strategies and inter-colony variation will play a critical role when assessing factors such as interspecific competition or overlap with anthropogenic activities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Exploring maternal parenting styles and methods of discipline in relation to autistic children's challenging behaviour in the home environment
- Authors: Ramjee, Prashana
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Autistic children -- South Africa -- Discipline , Mentally ill children -- South Africa -- Discipline Parenthood -- South Africa -- Psychological aspects Parent and child -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20570 , vital:29323
- Description: Autism Spectrum Disorder is not a modern phenomenon. Researchers have been studying children with “autism-like” characteristics for over one hundred years and only now it has become recognised, as it is a growing phenomenon. Autism is a vast and complex disorder with a range in which a child’s “autism-like” characteristics fall. Although, the primary distress of autism falls mainly on the child’s shoulders, primary caregivers such as mothers, are faced with many challenges due to the core behavioural characteristics. These challenging behaviours often leave mothers blaming themselves and defending their parenting skills. There are extensive publications regarding parenting that have been published through the years on children who do not have any diagnosed conditions, but limited research and publications exist in the area of parenting children on the autistic spectrum in general and in the South African context. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the maternal parenting styles and methods of discipline in relation to autistic children’s challenging behaviour. The present study incorporated Diana Baumrind’s Parenting Style Model as a framework to better understand the maternal parenting styles and methods of discipline. This study was explorative and descriptive in nature and a biographical questionnaire and a semi-structured interview schedule was utilised to gather data until saturation had been reached. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was employed to obtain participants and thematic analysis was used to analyse data and to extract themes. This study seeks to contribute to psychology's existing body of knowledge by conducting research on parenting styles of learners on the autistic spectrum in South Africa. By conducting this study the researcher hopes to be able to assist parents and helping Exploring Maternal Parenting Styles and Methods of Discipline in Relation to Autistic Children’s Challenging Behaviour in the Home Environment professionals with an understanding of the parenting styles and the methods that are being used to discipline the autistic child’s behaviour in the home environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Ramjee, Prashana
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Autistic children -- South Africa -- Discipline , Mentally ill children -- South Africa -- Discipline Parenthood -- South Africa -- Psychological aspects Parent and child -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20570 , vital:29323
- Description: Autism Spectrum Disorder is not a modern phenomenon. Researchers have been studying children with “autism-like” characteristics for over one hundred years and only now it has become recognised, as it is a growing phenomenon. Autism is a vast and complex disorder with a range in which a child’s “autism-like” characteristics fall. Although, the primary distress of autism falls mainly on the child’s shoulders, primary caregivers such as mothers, are faced with many challenges due to the core behavioural characteristics. These challenging behaviours often leave mothers blaming themselves and defending their parenting skills. There are extensive publications regarding parenting that have been published through the years on children who do not have any diagnosed conditions, but limited research and publications exist in the area of parenting children on the autistic spectrum in general and in the South African context. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the maternal parenting styles and methods of discipline in relation to autistic children’s challenging behaviour. The present study incorporated Diana Baumrind’s Parenting Style Model as a framework to better understand the maternal parenting styles and methods of discipline. This study was explorative and descriptive in nature and a biographical questionnaire and a semi-structured interview schedule was utilised to gather data until saturation had been reached. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was employed to obtain participants and thematic analysis was used to analyse data and to extract themes. This study seeks to contribute to psychology's existing body of knowledge by conducting research on parenting styles of learners on the autistic spectrum in South Africa. By conducting this study the researcher hopes to be able to assist parents and helping Exploring Maternal Parenting Styles and Methods of Discipline in Relation to Autistic Children’s Challenging Behaviour in the Home Environment professionals with an understanding of the parenting styles and the methods that are being used to discipline the autistic child’s behaviour in the home environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Strain behaviour of an eco-car wheel rim designed through topology and composite layup optimization
- Authors: Badenhorst, Martin Wessel
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Wheels -- Design and construction Mechanical engineering
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEng
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/16066 , vital:28317
- Description: This research aimed to reduce the mass of a purpose built eco-car wheel through the sequential use of structural topology and composites optimization software packages while investigating the changes in mass and strain behaviour resulting from altering component geometry, lamina shape, and stacking sequence. The strain behaviour of a commercially available wheel constructed using pre-tensioned steel spokes was established through the comparison of measured physical and FEA strains resulting from applied pressure, radial, lateral, torsional, and combined loads. Structural topology optimization software was then utilized to produce 48 different wheel geometries corresponding to a combined loading scenario consisting of pressure, radial, and lateral loads. The variables controlled during this process included the objective optimization function, safety factor, target design volume, split-draw constraint, and degrees of cyclic symmetry. The optimum geometry was determined by means of evaluating specific stiffness and potential towards being manufactured as a composite component. Three composite wheel FEA base models, with uni-directional laminae stacked at different fibre orientation intervals, were created according to this geometry and lightened by means of composite free size optimization. Composite sizing and shuffling optimizations were then utilized to further enhance the mass and strain characteristics of the lightest of these three solutions Two composite wheels were manufactured according to the wheel geometry, lamina shapes, and stacking sequences determined by means of structural topology and composites ptimizations. The physical mass and strain behaviour of these wheels were measured and compared to those corresponding to the optimized FEA model, as well as the commercially available wheel. This comparison showed that structural topology and composites optimization software packages can be sequentially utilized to produce an adequately stiff composite wheel of lower mass than a commercially available wheel constructed using pre-tensioned steel spokes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Badenhorst, Martin Wessel
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Wheels -- Design and construction Mechanical engineering
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEng
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/16066 , vital:28317
- Description: This research aimed to reduce the mass of a purpose built eco-car wheel through the sequential use of structural topology and composites optimization software packages while investigating the changes in mass and strain behaviour resulting from altering component geometry, lamina shape, and stacking sequence. The strain behaviour of a commercially available wheel constructed using pre-tensioned steel spokes was established through the comparison of measured physical and FEA strains resulting from applied pressure, radial, lateral, torsional, and combined loads. Structural topology optimization software was then utilized to produce 48 different wheel geometries corresponding to a combined loading scenario consisting of pressure, radial, and lateral loads. The variables controlled during this process included the objective optimization function, safety factor, target design volume, split-draw constraint, and degrees of cyclic symmetry. The optimum geometry was determined by means of evaluating specific stiffness and potential towards being manufactured as a composite component. Three composite wheel FEA base models, with uni-directional laminae stacked at different fibre orientation intervals, were created according to this geometry and lightened by means of composite free size optimization. Composite sizing and shuffling optimizations were then utilized to further enhance the mass and strain characteristics of the lightest of these three solutions Two composite wheels were manufactured according to the wheel geometry, lamina shapes, and stacking sequences determined by means of structural topology and composites ptimizations. The physical mass and strain behaviour of these wheels were measured and compared to those corresponding to the optimized FEA model, as well as the commercially available wheel. This comparison showed that structural topology and composites optimization software packages can be sequentially utilized to produce an adequately stiff composite wheel of lower mass than a commercially available wheel constructed using pre-tensioned steel spokes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The impact of leadership on talent retention: exploring gender and generational cohort’s psychological contract issues
- Authors: Vasi, Lee-Anne
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Age and employment -- South Africa , Leadership -- South Africa -- Management Employee retention -- South Africa Organizational commitment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20077 , vital:29096
- Description: If the early nineties were concerned about a “rapidly changing business environment,” business in the twenty first century should be deeply paranoid about the future of business as we know it (Pieterse et al., 2009, p.1). Both global and national political factors has impacted the economy to epidemic negative heights. For companies to survive, its leadership requires a strand of resilience that sustains operations like never before. This can only be reached through the workforce. The question can thus be asked, how does one optimally use the gifting of each employee to impact the sustained operation of the organisation? The aim of this study is to determine the impact of leadership on talent retention: exploring gender and generational cohort’s psychological contract issues. The target population for the study consisted of 711 (n) employed South African executive MBA professionals within various industry sectors, namely, Management, Finance, Engineering, Information Technology and Accounting sectors, dispersed at various levels within their respective organisations, representing various Provinces, predominantly from the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Gauteng. 55 percent were male respondents and 45 percent were female respondents. 34% of the respondents’ age group were located in the category Generation-Y (respondents aged 25 – 34 years) and 30% of the respondents’ were located in the category Generation-X (respondents aged 35 – 44 years). The results showed that job insecurity was not statistically significantly related to employee engagement and turnover intention. Leadership empowerment behaviour contributed statistically significantly to employee engagement and low turnover intention. The research populations’ current experience depicts strong opportunities for personal development and work satisfaction, with moderate financial fulfilment. There is furthermore a strong relationship between leadership and retention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Vasi, Lee-Anne
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Age and employment -- South Africa , Leadership -- South Africa -- Management Employee retention -- South Africa Organizational commitment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20077 , vital:29096
- Description: If the early nineties were concerned about a “rapidly changing business environment,” business in the twenty first century should be deeply paranoid about the future of business as we know it (Pieterse et al., 2009, p.1). Both global and national political factors has impacted the economy to epidemic negative heights. For companies to survive, its leadership requires a strand of resilience that sustains operations like never before. This can only be reached through the workforce. The question can thus be asked, how does one optimally use the gifting of each employee to impact the sustained operation of the organisation? The aim of this study is to determine the impact of leadership on talent retention: exploring gender and generational cohort’s psychological contract issues. The target population for the study consisted of 711 (n) employed South African executive MBA professionals within various industry sectors, namely, Management, Finance, Engineering, Information Technology and Accounting sectors, dispersed at various levels within their respective organisations, representing various Provinces, predominantly from the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Gauteng. 55 percent were male respondents and 45 percent were female respondents. 34% of the respondents’ age group were located in the category Generation-Y (respondents aged 25 – 34 years) and 30% of the respondents’ were located in the category Generation-X (respondents aged 35 – 44 years). The results showed that job insecurity was not statistically significantly related to employee engagement and turnover intention. Leadership empowerment behaviour contributed statistically significantly to employee engagement and low turnover intention. The research populations’ current experience depicts strong opportunities for personal development and work satisfaction, with moderate financial fulfilment. There is furthermore a strong relationship between leadership and retention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The influence of diversity management initiatives on business and social outcomes in South African businesses
- Authors: Webber, Zwelibanzi Samson
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Diversity in the workplace -- South Africa , Organizational change -- South Africa Social change -- South Africa Management -- Social aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13524 , vital:27217
- Description: Diversity management is of strategic importance in all organisations throughout the world. Its importance is derived from the belief that workplaces by nature consist of diverse employees, who in one way or another are different in terms of race, gender, religion, or any other difference that may have an impact on the business and its employees. The differences among people need to be managed. This study investigated the influence of diversity management initiatives on business and social outcomes in South African businesses. Literature reviews on diversity management and multicultural education in various parts of the world have revealed an impact on the influence of diversity management initiatives on business and social outcomes. However, existing South African literature on diversity management does not conclusively expose the effects of diversity management on business and social outcomes, hence the need for this study. The study was based on a conceptual framework, which included variables on diversity management initiatives, diversity management models, institutional development theory and business and social outcomes. Hypotheses for the study were also developed and tested. In testing the hypotheses, the empirical data collected was subjected to a series of statistical tests, using STATISTICA version 13. MANOVA tests were conducted to determine the existence of differences among variables and the extent to which the variables differed was measured by means of ANOVA tests. Tukey post hoc tests (Tukey HSD) were used to determine practical significance among variables. The study was also subjected to Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient analysis tests to ascertain the existence of relationships between all diversity management initiatives and business and social outcome factors. The analysis was concluded by conducting an exploratory factor analysis. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to confirm or reduce the number of factors and the number of factors was subsequently reduced. A Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient test was also done for the extracted factors, after which a regressions analysis test was conducted to confirm the existence of relationships between the extracted diversity management initiatives factors and business and social outcomes factors. This formed the basis for the development of a proposed diversity management model. The model of the implementation of diversity management initiatives is an important contribution to the study because it shows the different aspects that guide the process of implementation. The model is based on the implementation of a formal diversity management change strategy and programme of action; employment equity plan and strategy; and the recruitment and empowerment of women and people living with disabilities. The study was not without limitations. Challenges with regard to access to respondents were experienced and this was one of the delays in data collection. Another challenge experienced was that the study did not include qualitative research approaches, which could have been used for in-depth responses. The study provides an important milestone for the use of diversity management initiatives in South African companies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Webber, Zwelibanzi Samson
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Diversity in the workplace -- South Africa , Organizational change -- South Africa Social change -- South Africa Management -- Social aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13524 , vital:27217
- Description: Diversity management is of strategic importance in all organisations throughout the world. Its importance is derived from the belief that workplaces by nature consist of diverse employees, who in one way or another are different in terms of race, gender, religion, or any other difference that may have an impact on the business and its employees. The differences among people need to be managed. This study investigated the influence of diversity management initiatives on business and social outcomes in South African businesses. Literature reviews on diversity management and multicultural education in various parts of the world have revealed an impact on the influence of diversity management initiatives on business and social outcomes. However, existing South African literature on diversity management does not conclusively expose the effects of diversity management on business and social outcomes, hence the need for this study. The study was based on a conceptual framework, which included variables on diversity management initiatives, diversity management models, institutional development theory and business and social outcomes. Hypotheses for the study were also developed and tested. In testing the hypotheses, the empirical data collected was subjected to a series of statistical tests, using STATISTICA version 13. MANOVA tests were conducted to determine the existence of differences among variables and the extent to which the variables differed was measured by means of ANOVA tests. Tukey post hoc tests (Tukey HSD) were used to determine practical significance among variables. The study was also subjected to Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient analysis tests to ascertain the existence of relationships between all diversity management initiatives and business and social outcome factors. The analysis was concluded by conducting an exploratory factor analysis. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to confirm or reduce the number of factors and the number of factors was subsequently reduced. A Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient test was also done for the extracted factors, after which a regressions analysis test was conducted to confirm the existence of relationships between the extracted diversity management initiatives factors and business and social outcomes factors. This formed the basis for the development of a proposed diversity management model. The model of the implementation of diversity management initiatives is an important contribution to the study because it shows the different aspects that guide the process of implementation. The model is based on the implementation of a formal diversity management change strategy and programme of action; employment equity plan and strategy; and the recruitment and empowerment of women and people living with disabilities. The study was not without limitations. Challenges with regard to access to respondents were experienced and this was one of the delays in data collection. Another challenge experienced was that the study did not include qualitative research approaches, which could have been used for in-depth responses. The study provides an important milestone for the use of diversity management initiatives in South African companies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Discovering the root of obesity through the symbology of food: a historical and cultural exploration
- Authors: Jacobs, Nadine
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Obesity -- Psychological aspects , Obesity -- Research Behavior modification Psychophysiology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17569 , vital:28379
- Description: Obesity is fast becoming a worldwide issue with detrimental health consequences. The increasing availability of effective nutritional strategies, physical exercise regimes and behaviour modification approaches to weight loss do not offer a satisfactory explanation as to why only two to five percent of people who have lost weight successfully manage to retain the weight loss over the long term. By referring to several concepts on how the symbols of food originate in the unconscious and end up becoming the unconscious impetus for conscious thought and dietary behaviours relating to food, the complexity of food pathologies, with specific reference to obesity is explored. The study presents a narrative review of the available literature on symbols in a variety of cultural-historical contexts through the theoretical lens of the psychoanalytic framework. The study contributed to the current treatment approaches to obesity, by highlighting how the unconscious content of the psyche serve to compromise conscious efforts to address the problem of obesity. Also, the need for further research into the development of a model that, by incorporating the psychoanalytic approach to obesity, will support the long-term success of weight loss intervention by addressing the underlying issues, is emphasised.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Discovering the root of obesity through the symbology of food: a historical and cultural exploration
- Authors: Jacobs, Nadine
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Obesity -- Psychological aspects , Obesity -- Research Behavior modification Psychophysiology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17569 , vital:28379
- Description: Obesity is fast becoming a worldwide issue with detrimental health consequences. The increasing availability of effective nutritional strategies, physical exercise regimes and behaviour modification approaches to weight loss do not offer a satisfactory explanation as to why only two to five percent of people who have lost weight successfully manage to retain the weight loss over the long term. By referring to several concepts on how the symbols of food originate in the unconscious and end up becoming the unconscious impetus for conscious thought and dietary behaviours relating to food, the complexity of food pathologies, with specific reference to obesity is explored. The study presents a narrative review of the available literature on symbols in a variety of cultural-historical contexts through the theoretical lens of the psychoanalytic framework. The study contributed to the current treatment approaches to obesity, by highlighting how the unconscious content of the psyche serve to compromise conscious efforts to address the problem of obesity. Also, the need for further research into the development of a model that, by incorporating the psychoanalytic approach to obesity, will support the long-term success of weight loss intervention by addressing the underlying issues, is emphasised.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
An experimental study of self-regulated learning with mathematically gifted pupils in Nigerian primary schools
- Authors: Zaram, Gyang Nyam
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Nigeria , Numeracy -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Nigeria Gifted children -- Education -- Curricula Gifted children -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13381 , vital:27180
- Description: The purpose of this study was to determine whether gifted pupils can master an enriched advanced level curriculum in mathematics using self-regulated learning strategies. A mathematics curriculum for class five primary school learners in Nigeria was developed for this study. An empirical study was conducted on primary five pupils who were seen to be significantly gifted in mathematics. The study employed the quantitative method of research, that is, the true experimental research. The pre-test, post-test control group design was used. Sixty gifted pupils who participated in a mathematics enrichment programme (MEP) were assigned into two groups of the control group and experimental group with thirty pupils forming each group. The control group was exposed to direct teaching (DT) while the experimental group used self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies. Four teachers served as facilitators in the MEP. The teaching and learning activities were carried out at a higher cognitive level as opposed to the regular curriculum, ensuring that the contents of the MEP were enriched and accelerated. Pupils in both the experimental group and the control group were administered a pre-test, problem-solving exercises, and post-test. These pupils also completed an attitudinal questionnaire to provide feedback about the MEP. The empirical results show that gifted pupils in primary five are capable of self-regulating their own learning through self-monitoring, self-evaluation, and self-reinforcement. The empirical results also show that there is a significant relationship between self-regulated learning, gifted learners, and an enriched advanced level differentiated curriculum as a realistic alternative to the present regular curriculum for gifted pupils in the mainstream of education. The findings further show that the lack of differentiation of instruction, lack of facilities such as libraries, media centres, and support materials contributes to low achievement of gifted pupils. Furthermore, the findings show that pupils were challenged and motivated with the MEP to the extent that they were engaged to think divergently and applied their metacognitive skills in finding solutions to mathematical problems. Therefore, the findings of this study could have significant implications for the future direction of gifted primary school education as well as teacher education. This study has made a significant contribution to the existing body of knowledge for implementing an enriched advanced level curriculum using SRL strategies for mathematically gifted pupils in the mainstream of primary school education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Zaram, Gyang Nyam
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Nigeria , Numeracy -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Nigeria Gifted children -- Education -- Curricula Gifted children -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13381 , vital:27180
- Description: The purpose of this study was to determine whether gifted pupils can master an enriched advanced level curriculum in mathematics using self-regulated learning strategies. A mathematics curriculum for class five primary school learners in Nigeria was developed for this study. An empirical study was conducted on primary five pupils who were seen to be significantly gifted in mathematics. The study employed the quantitative method of research, that is, the true experimental research. The pre-test, post-test control group design was used. Sixty gifted pupils who participated in a mathematics enrichment programme (MEP) were assigned into two groups of the control group and experimental group with thirty pupils forming each group. The control group was exposed to direct teaching (DT) while the experimental group used self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies. Four teachers served as facilitators in the MEP. The teaching and learning activities were carried out at a higher cognitive level as opposed to the regular curriculum, ensuring that the contents of the MEP were enriched and accelerated. Pupils in both the experimental group and the control group were administered a pre-test, problem-solving exercises, and post-test. These pupils also completed an attitudinal questionnaire to provide feedback about the MEP. The empirical results show that gifted pupils in primary five are capable of self-regulating their own learning through self-monitoring, self-evaluation, and self-reinforcement. The empirical results also show that there is a significant relationship between self-regulated learning, gifted learners, and an enriched advanced level differentiated curriculum as a realistic alternative to the present regular curriculum for gifted pupils in the mainstream of education. The findings further show that the lack of differentiation of instruction, lack of facilities such as libraries, media centres, and support materials contributes to low achievement of gifted pupils. Furthermore, the findings show that pupils were challenged and motivated with the MEP to the extent that they were engaged to think divergently and applied their metacognitive skills in finding solutions to mathematical problems. Therefore, the findings of this study could have significant implications for the future direction of gifted primary school education as well as teacher education. This study has made a significant contribution to the existing body of knowledge for implementing an enriched advanced level curriculum using SRL strategies for mathematically gifted pupils in the mainstream of primary school education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Foraging behaviour and thermal physiology of Cape sugarbirds: sex-specific responses to temperature
- Authors: Molepo, Mokgatla Jerry
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Sexual dimorphism (Animals) , Sex differences Birds -- Behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19124 , vital:28775
- Description: Body size (Mb) determines an animal’s energy and water demands for thermoregulation. Sexual dimorphism in Mb is common across many species, but its physiological consequences (e.g. energy and water demands) remain poorly understood. In this study, I determined if the sexually dimorphic Cape Sugarbird (Promerops cafer)–males are up to 15% larger than females, show sex-specific foraging patterns and physiological responses. To determine intraspecific variability behavioural in response to temperature, I compared flower visitation rates between male and female Cape Sugarbirds at different times of the day, and among days that varied in maximum air temperature. A total of 1207 males and 561 females were observed. Female Cape Sugarbirds visited flowers more often and continued to feed especially on hot days. Males generally dominated flower resources throughout the day, except on hot days. I also compared physiological responses in EWL, RMR and Tb between males and females at high air temperatures. There were no significant differences between the two sexes. Aggression which was overlooked appeared to have a high influence on foraging behaviour of Cape Sugarbirds. These results suggest that female Cape Sugarbirds will be more prone to energy and water stress during hot and dry summers in the Fynbos region because of resource dominance by male Cape Sugarbirds. Endemic birds, such as the Cape Sugarbird, warrant a conservation priority, especially since they are the dominant pollinator of the Protea plants in the Fynbos biome. The findings of this study will provide insights into population persistence of Cape Sugarbirds in response to predicted heat waves and rise in global temperatures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Molepo, Mokgatla Jerry
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Sexual dimorphism (Animals) , Sex differences Birds -- Behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19124 , vital:28775
- Description: Body size (Mb) determines an animal’s energy and water demands for thermoregulation. Sexual dimorphism in Mb is common across many species, but its physiological consequences (e.g. energy and water demands) remain poorly understood. In this study, I determined if the sexually dimorphic Cape Sugarbird (Promerops cafer)–males are up to 15% larger than females, show sex-specific foraging patterns and physiological responses. To determine intraspecific variability behavioural in response to temperature, I compared flower visitation rates between male and female Cape Sugarbirds at different times of the day, and among days that varied in maximum air temperature. A total of 1207 males and 561 females were observed. Female Cape Sugarbirds visited flowers more often and continued to feed especially on hot days. Males generally dominated flower resources throughout the day, except on hot days. I also compared physiological responses in EWL, RMR and Tb between males and females at high air temperatures. There were no significant differences between the two sexes. Aggression which was overlooked appeared to have a high influence on foraging behaviour of Cape Sugarbirds. These results suggest that female Cape Sugarbirds will be more prone to energy and water stress during hot and dry summers in the Fynbos region because of resource dominance by male Cape Sugarbirds. Endemic birds, such as the Cape Sugarbird, warrant a conservation priority, especially since they are the dominant pollinator of the Protea plants in the Fynbos biome. The findings of this study will provide insights into population persistence of Cape Sugarbirds in response to predicted heat waves and rise in global temperatures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Evaluating the development potential of extractive sector corporate social investments in Cameroon: Case of the oil & gas and mining sub sectors
- Jong, Yungong Theophilus, Cherry, Janet
- Authors: Jong, Yungong Theophilus , Cherry, Janet
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- Cameroon , Business ethics -- Cameroon Gold mines and mining -- Social aspects -- Cameroon Petroleum industry and trade -- Cameroon -- Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13370 , vital:27179
- Description: This study set out to evaluate the development potential of extractive sector corporate social investments (CSI) in Cameroon. It does this by evaluating the extent to which extractive companies effectively integrate CSI in their business operations and how this can be improved upon for more effective development outcomes in the country. The study premises that CSI can contribute to development but its activities will not always amount to just, balanced and sustainable development outcomes. To understand the extent to which it does, this study develops and applies a framework for determining the applicability and effectiveness of extractive sector CSI practices. The research followed an interpretivist philosophical orientation. A case study research strategy with the elements of a survey research was used. It also implemented a mixed research methods approach and relied on both primary and secondary data sources. The CSI evaluation process used documentary survey techniques and content analysis of corporate social responsibility-related documentation provided by extractive companies and other sector stakeholders. This was triangulated with an expert survey as well as a survey of major development organisations to understand the opinion of the external environment that should shape CSI practices. Results were analysed, discussed and synthesised using the front-end, mid-phase and back-end criteria for evaluating CSI integration. Findings show significant level of adherence to the discretionary idea of CSI among extractive firms working in Cameroon. This is due partly to growing social responsibility awareness among extractive firms around the world and the consequence of inaction. The greater majority of companies however, do not show strong proof of well thought out CSI implementation strategies. The feeling among experts is that extractive sector CSI in Cameroon is failing. It is predominantly self-regulated by extractive companies which raise questions regarding objective and credible CSI practices. The study concludes that CSI has been implemented in ad-hoc, haphazard and un-systematic ways. It has a viable potential to contribute to development but still suffers from a very weak CSI enabling environment as well as the challenges of sustainable development. Extractive sector CSI therefore, still needs to be significantly reworked to enhance its potential in contributing to just, balanced and sustainable development in Cameroon. It is recommended that an enabling environment be put in place through CSI promotional activities in the country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Jong, Yungong Theophilus , Cherry, Janet
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- Cameroon , Business ethics -- Cameroon Gold mines and mining -- Social aspects -- Cameroon Petroleum industry and trade -- Cameroon -- Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13370 , vital:27179
- Description: This study set out to evaluate the development potential of extractive sector corporate social investments (CSI) in Cameroon. It does this by evaluating the extent to which extractive companies effectively integrate CSI in their business operations and how this can be improved upon for more effective development outcomes in the country. The study premises that CSI can contribute to development but its activities will not always amount to just, balanced and sustainable development outcomes. To understand the extent to which it does, this study develops and applies a framework for determining the applicability and effectiveness of extractive sector CSI practices. The research followed an interpretivist philosophical orientation. A case study research strategy with the elements of a survey research was used. It also implemented a mixed research methods approach and relied on both primary and secondary data sources. The CSI evaluation process used documentary survey techniques and content analysis of corporate social responsibility-related documentation provided by extractive companies and other sector stakeholders. This was triangulated with an expert survey as well as a survey of major development organisations to understand the opinion of the external environment that should shape CSI practices. Results were analysed, discussed and synthesised using the front-end, mid-phase and back-end criteria for evaluating CSI integration. Findings show significant level of adherence to the discretionary idea of CSI among extractive firms working in Cameroon. This is due partly to growing social responsibility awareness among extractive firms around the world and the consequence of inaction. The greater majority of companies however, do not show strong proof of well thought out CSI implementation strategies. The feeling among experts is that extractive sector CSI in Cameroon is failing. It is predominantly self-regulated by extractive companies which raise questions regarding objective and credible CSI practices. The study concludes that CSI has been implemented in ad-hoc, haphazard and un-systematic ways. It has a viable potential to contribute to development but still suffers from a very weak CSI enabling environment as well as the challenges of sustainable development. Extractive sector CSI therefore, still needs to be significantly reworked to enhance its potential in contributing to just, balanced and sustainable development in Cameroon. It is recommended that an enabling environment be put in place through CSI promotional activities in the country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The safety of navigation and the role of port state jurisdiction: a South African perspective
- Authors: Metuge, Denning Ngomele
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Harbors -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Law of the sea -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19343 , vital:28853
- Description: This thesis set to examine whether South Africa has incorporated the provisions on vessel navigational safety standards established in the relevant international instruments developed by the IMO: the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS) as amended, the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW) as amended, and the Convention on International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREGs) as amended. It also set to determine the regulatory scope for the exercise of port State jurisdiction from a South African perspective. To establish whether a vessel’s condition complies to prescribed navigational safety standards, the relevant international instruments require States that have ratified the instruments not only to ensure that vessels registered under their flag are inspected for compliance before they can navigate, but that foreign visiting vessels must be surveyed to ensure that they also comply with the safety standards. These surveys are conducted while vessels are in the port of a port State. In addition, the Third United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 (LOSC), provides in article 218 that the port State may enforce anti-pollution regulations committed by a vessel that calls at one of its ports, after committing an illegal discharge outside the territorial waters of the State and its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). However, the provisions of article 218 LOSC have been the center of scholarly debate on the scope of port State jurisdiction (PSJ). Whilst one school of thought holds that PSJ refers only to the provisions of article 218 LOSC, another contends that in defining PSJ, its meaning must be awarded a broader scope to include the regulation of navigational safety standards. Due to the varied opinions on the scope of PSJ, this thesis examined the regulatory framework for the exercise of port State jurisdiction (PSJ) in South Africa. The discussion was relevant to determine the role of PSJ to enhance navigational safety from a South African perspective. This thesis comprised of an in-depth analysis of primary and secondary sources of data relevant to the regulation of navigational safety. The data obtained was critically discussed to establish whether the relevant international navigational safety standards are incorporated into South African law. The process included critical discussions on the principle of jurisdiction, and its exercise by States under international law. The discussions analysed the complexities associated with defining jurisdiction and determining its scope, which are relevant in respect of States’ competence to prescribe and enforce domestic laws, in conformity with the requirements of the LOSC. International law awards jurisdiction to the State to regulate laws within its national territory subject to some restrictions. However, the meaning of jurisdiction is not easily discernible even to lawyers. The discussions showed that the Republic exercises jurisdiction in conformity with generally accepted grounds for the exercise of jurisdiction, and that it is the prerogative of the State to adopt laws it deems necessary within its territory. Thus, the incorporation of international instruments on the safety of navigation is not a forgone conclusion, as it is dependent on the will of the State to ratify, and give effect to the provisions of the relevant instruments in its domestic law. Furthermore, this thesis discussed the relevant international safety instruments in contrast to the provisions of South African merchant shipping regulations, to identify any regulatory gaps in the incorporation of their provisions in South African law. Against a background of comparative analyses of the international norms and the provisions of South African merchant shipping regulations, this research found that a significant number of the relevant international safety instruments are incorporated into south African law by Merchant Shipping Act (MSA) as amended, and regulations made in terms of the Act. The provisions of South African merchant shipping regulations are administered by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). However, whilst this research found little doubt that the provisions of the STCW and COLREGs are given full effect in South African law, it identified regulatory differences in respect of the most relevant of all international instruments with regard to the safety of navigation, SOLAS. Some SOLAS provisions in respect of navigational safety are not incorporated into domestic law, and in some instances where they are incorporated, the provisions of domestic law contrasts that of SOLAS, or are not as comprehensive. For instance, there is a contrast in the provisions of the Navigation Bridge Visibility Regulations (NVBR), that make the regulations applicable to vessels of 45m or more in length constructed before 1 July 2008. Whereas, SOLAS regulations in respect of the navigation bridge visibility standards of vessels apply to vessels 55m or more length. Furthermore, a 5 months extension may be awarded in respect of a safety certificate issued for a South African vessel that is not in the Republic on the date of its expiry. This provision goes beyond the requirement of SOLAS, which requires that no extension be granted for a period longer than 3 months. Likewise, SAMSA may grant an extension of a safety certificate other than a cargo vessel construction certificate, for a period no longer than five month to enable a foreign vessel to complete its journey to its country of registry or point of inspection. This extension again, is longer than the 3 months requirement under SOLAS. Moreover, the survey requirements applicable to all South African vessels where ever they may be, and all foreign merchant vessels that come into the Republic, do not reflect the specific provisions of SOLAS. A significant amendment was made to SOLAS by SOLAS PROT 1988. SOLAS PROT 1988 introduced the harmonised system of survey and certification (HSSC) into the provisions of SOLAS, thereby harmonising its survey standards with those of other international instruments. SOLAS PROT 1988 has come into force for all States that have ratified the Protocol since the year 2000. This thesis finds that while South Africa is a party to SOLAS as amended by SOLAS PROT 1978, the Republic has not yet ratified SOLAS PROT 1988. Hence, the Republic is not bound to any requirements of SOLAS PROT 1988. Furthermore, although States that are not party to an international instrument requiring the implementation of the HSSC are invited to implement the HSSC anyway, there is no provision in the MSA that incorporates the HSSC. Of central importance to the regulation of merchant shipping standards, States are not only required to adopt domestic laws giving effect to international standards, but they are required to implement international standards in a uniform manner. This is aimed at avoiding a merchant shipping arena plagued by conflicting unilateral domestic rules. SOLAS PROT 1988 has been ratified by States comprising of 96% of the world’s merchant fleet by tonnage. The massive acceptance of SOLAS PROT 1988 is indicative of the international trend, towards uniformity in the implementation of international norms. This thesis recommends that, for the Republic’s merchant shipping regulations to reflect the international trend, the Republic should amend its merchant shipping regulation to incorporate the HSSC. Alternatively, the Republic may ratify SOLAS PROT 1988, and give full effect to its survey and certification standards and the relevant navigational safety provisions in the ANNEX of SOLAS.In addition, whilst a debate abounds on the international scene in respect of the scope of port State jurisdiction, the analysis of the regulatory framework for the exercise of port State jurisdiction in South Africa found that the regulatory framework for the exercise of port State jurisdiction by the Republic includes the regulation of not only environment-related navigational standards prescribed by article 218 LOSC, but also, navigational safety standards, and significantly, its scope is not burdened by the international law limitations to the exercise of coastal State jurisdiction. As such, a recommendation is made to the effect that when defining PSJ, its scope should not be limited to the enforcement of standards contained in article 218 LOSC, rather, it should be awarded a broader scope to include the regulation of other navigational standards including safety.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Metuge, Denning Ngomele
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Harbors -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Law of the sea -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19343 , vital:28853
- Description: This thesis set to examine whether South Africa has incorporated the provisions on vessel navigational safety standards established in the relevant international instruments developed by the IMO: the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS) as amended, the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW) as amended, and the Convention on International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREGs) as amended. It also set to determine the regulatory scope for the exercise of port State jurisdiction from a South African perspective. To establish whether a vessel’s condition complies to prescribed navigational safety standards, the relevant international instruments require States that have ratified the instruments not only to ensure that vessels registered under their flag are inspected for compliance before they can navigate, but that foreign visiting vessels must be surveyed to ensure that they also comply with the safety standards. These surveys are conducted while vessels are in the port of a port State. In addition, the Third United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 (LOSC), provides in article 218 that the port State may enforce anti-pollution regulations committed by a vessel that calls at one of its ports, after committing an illegal discharge outside the territorial waters of the State and its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). However, the provisions of article 218 LOSC have been the center of scholarly debate on the scope of port State jurisdiction (PSJ). Whilst one school of thought holds that PSJ refers only to the provisions of article 218 LOSC, another contends that in defining PSJ, its meaning must be awarded a broader scope to include the regulation of navigational safety standards. Due to the varied opinions on the scope of PSJ, this thesis examined the regulatory framework for the exercise of port State jurisdiction (PSJ) in South Africa. The discussion was relevant to determine the role of PSJ to enhance navigational safety from a South African perspective. This thesis comprised of an in-depth analysis of primary and secondary sources of data relevant to the regulation of navigational safety. The data obtained was critically discussed to establish whether the relevant international navigational safety standards are incorporated into South African law. The process included critical discussions on the principle of jurisdiction, and its exercise by States under international law. The discussions analysed the complexities associated with defining jurisdiction and determining its scope, which are relevant in respect of States’ competence to prescribe and enforce domestic laws, in conformity with the requirements of the LOSC. International law awards jurisdiction to the State to regulate laws within its national territory subject to some restrictions. However, the meaning of jurisdiction is not easily discernible even to lawyers. The discussions showed that the Republic exercises jurisdiction in conformity with generally accepted grounds for the exercise of jurisdiction, and that it is the prerogative of the State to adopt laws it deems necessary within its territory. Thus, the incorporation of international instruments on the safety of navigation is not a forgone conclusion, as it is dependent on the will of the State to ratify, and give effect to the provisions of the relevant instruments in its domestic law. Furthermore, this thesis discussed the relevant international safety instruments in contrast to the provisions of South African merchant shipping regulations, to identify any regulatory gaps in the incorporation of their provisions in South African law. Against a background of comparative analyses of the international norms and the provisions of South African merchant shipping regulations, this research found that a significant number of the relevant international safety instruments are incorporated into south African law by Merchant Shipping Act (MSA) as amended, and regulations made in terms of the Act. The provisions of South African merchant shipping regulations are administered by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). However, whilst this research found little doubt that the provisions of the STCW and COLREGs are given full effect in South African law, it identified regulatory differences in respect of the most relevant of all international instruments with regard to the safety of navigation, SOLAS. Some SOLAS provisions in respect of navigational safety are not incorporated into domestic law, and in some instances where they are incorporated, the provisions of domestic law contrasts that of SOLAS, or are not as comprehensive. For instance, there is a contrast in the provisions of the Navigation Bridge Visibility Regulations (NVBR), that make the regulations applicable to vessels of 45m or more in length constructed before 1 July 2008. Whereas, SOLAS regulations in respect of the navigation bridge visibility standards of vessels apply to vessels 55m or more length. Furthermore, a 5 months extension may be awarded in respect of a safety certificate issued for a South African vessel that is not in the Republic on the date of its expiry. This provision goes beyond the requirement of SOLAS, which requires that no extension be granted for a period longer than 3 months. Likewise, SAMSA may grant an extension of a safety certificate other than a cargo vessel construction certificate, for a period no longer than five month to enable a foreign vessel to complete its journey to its country of registry or point of inspection. This extension again, is longer than the 3 months requirement under SOLAS. Moreover, the survey requirements applicable to all South African vessels where ever they may be, and all foreign merchant vessels that come into the Republic, do not reflect the specific provisions of SOLAS. A significant amendment was made to SOLAS by SOLAS PROT 1988. SOLAS PROT 1988 introduced the harmonised system of survey and certification (HSSC) into the provisions of SOLAS, thereby harmonising its survey standards with those of other international instruments. SOLAS PROT 1988 has come into force for all States that have ratified the Protocol since the year 2000. This thesis finds that while South Africa is a party to SOLAS as amended by SOLAS PROT 1978, the Republic has not yet ratified SOLAS PROT 1988. Hence, the Republic is not bound to any requirements of SOLAS PROT 1988. Furthermore, although States that are not party to an international instrument requiring the implementation of the HSSC are invited to implement the HSSC anyway, there is no provision in the MSA that incorporates the HSSC. Of central importance to the regulation of merchant shipping standards, States are not only required to adopt domestic laws giving effect to international standards, but they are required to implement international standards in a uniform manner. This is aimed at avoiding a merchant shipping arena plagued by conflicting unilateral domestic rules. SOLAS PROT 1988 has been ratified by States comprising of 96% of the world’s merchant fleet by tonnage. The massive acceptance of SOLAS PROT 1988 is indicative of the international trend, towards uniformity in the implementation of international norms. This thesis recommends that, for the Republic’s merchant shipping regulations to reflect the international trend, the Republic should amend its merchant shipping regulation to incorporate the HSSC. Alternatively, the Republic may ratify SOLAS PROT 1988, and give full effect to its survey and certification standards and the relevant navigational safety provisions in the ANNEX of SOLAS.In addition, whilst a debate abounds on the international scene in respect of the scope of port State jurisdiction, the analysis of the regulatory framework for the exercise of port State jurisdiction in South Africa found that the regulatory framework for the exercise of port State jurisdiction by the Republic includes the regulation of not only environment-related navigational standards prescribed by article 218 LOSC, but also, navigational safety standards, and significantly, its scope is not burdened by the international law limitations to the exercise of coastal State jurisdiction. As such, a recommendation is made to the effect that when defining PSJ, its scope should not be limited to the enforcement of standards contained in article 218 LOSC, rather, it should be awarded a broader scope to include the regulation of other navigational standards including safety.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017