Data quality issues in electronic health records for large-scale databases
- Authors: Saiod, Abdul Kader
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Electronic Health Records , Electronic Health Records--organization & administration Database management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44940 , vital:38190
- Description: Data Quality (DQ) in Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is one of the core functions that play a decisive role to improve the healthcare service quality. The DQ issues in EHRs are a noticeable trend to improve the introduction of an adaptive framework for interoperability and standards in Large-Scale Databases (LSDB) management systems. Therefore, large data communications are challenging in the traditional approaches to satisfy the needs of the consumers, as data is often not capture directly into the Database Management Systems (DBMS) in a seasonably enough fashion to enable their subsequent uses. In addition, large data plays a vital role in containing plenty of treasures for all the fields in the DBMS. EHRs technology provides portfolio management systems that allow HealthCare Organisations (HCOs) to deliver a higher quality of care to their patients than that which is possible with paper-based records. EHRs are in high demand for HCOs to run their daily services as increasing numbers of huge datasets occur every day. Efficient EHR systems reduce the data redundancy as well as the system application failure and increase the possibility to draw all necessary reports. However, one of the main challenges in developing efficient EHR systems is the inherent difficulty to coherently manage data from diverse heterogeneous sources. It is practically challenging to integrate diverse data into a global schema, which satisfies the need of users. The efficient management of HER systems using an existing DBMS present challenges because of incompatibility and sometimes inconsistency of data structures. As a result, no common methodological approach is currently in existence to effectively solve every data integration problem. The challenges of the DQ issue raised the need to find an efficient way to integrate large EHRs from diverse heterogeneous sources. To handle and align a large dataset efficiently, the hybrid algorithm method with the logical combination of Fuzzy-Ontology along with a large-scale EHRs analysis platform has shown the results in term of improved accuracy. This study investigated and addressed the raised DQ issues to interventions to overcome these barriers and challenges, including the provision of EHRs as they pertain to DQ and has combined features to search, extract, filter, clean and integrate data to ensure that users can coherently create new consistent data sets. The study researched the design of a hybrid method based on Fuzzy-Ontology with performed mathematical simulations based on the Markov Chain Probability Model. The similarity measurement based on dynamic Hungarian algorithm was followed by the Design Science Research (DSR) methodology, which will increase the quality of service over HCOs in adaptive frameworks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Saiod, Abdul Kader
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Electronic Health Records , Electronic Health Records--organization & administration Database management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44940 , vital:38190
- Description: Data Quality (DQ) in Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is one of the core functions that play a decisive role to improve the healthcare service quality. The DQ issues in EHRs are a noticeable trend to improve the introduction of an adaptive framework for interoperability and standards in Large-Scale Databases (LSDB) management systems. Therefore, large data communications are challenging in the traditional approaches to satisfy the needs of the consumers, as data is often not capture directly into the Database Management Systems (DBMS) in a seasonably enough fashion to enable their subsequent uses. In addition, large data plays a vital role in containing plenty of treasures for all the fields in the DBMS. EHRs technology provides portfolio management systems that allow HealthCare Organisations (HCOs) to deliver a higher quality of care to their patients than that which is possible with paper-based records. EHRs are in high demand for HCOs to run their daily services as increasing numbers of huge datasets occur every day. Efficient EHR systems reduce the data redundancy as well as the system application failure and increase the possibility to draw all necessary reports. However, one of the main challenges in developing efficient EHR systems is the inherent difficulty to coherently manage data from diverse heterogeneous sources. It is practically challenging to integrate diverse data into a global schema, which satisfies the need of users. The efficient management of HER systems using an existing DBMS present challenges because of incompatibility and sometimes inconsistency of data structures. As a result, no common methodological approach is currently in existence to effectively solve every data integration problem. The challenges of the DQ issue raised the need to find an efficient way to integrate large EHRs from diverse heterogeneous sources. To handle and align a large dataset efficiently, the hybrid algorithm method with the logical combination of Fuzzy-Ontology along with a large-scale EHRs analysis platform has shown the results in term of improved accuracy. This study investigated and addressed the raised DQ issues to interventions to overcome these barriers and challenges, including the provision of EHRs as they pertain to DQ and has combined features to search, extract, filter, clean and integrate data to ensure that users can coherently create new consistent data sets. The study researched the design of a hybrid method based on Fuzzy-Ontology with performed mathematical simulations based on the Markov Chain Probability Model. The similarity measurement based on dynamic Hungarian algorithm was followed by the Design Science Research (DSR) methodology, which will increase the quality of service over HCOs in adaptive frameworks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Development of high capacity lithium-manganese-rich cathode materials xLi2MnO3•(1-x)LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2 for lithium ion batteries
- Authors: Rapulenyane, Nomasonto
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Lithium ion batteries , Electrochemistry Lithium cells
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/34766 , vital:33442
- Description: In this study, a facile synthesis method was developed to produce layered-layered cathode materials with the formula xLi2MnO3•(1-x)LiMO2 (M= Ni and Mn) referred to as lithium-manganese-rich materials for lithium ion batteries. The prepared materials displayed high capacity ≥200 mAh/g at a current density of 20 mA/g in the voltage range of 2.0 V to 4.8 V. In particular the cathode material prepared at pH 10.0 delivered a high initial discharge capacity of 266 mAh/g at 20 mA/g current density and maintained a discharge capacity ≥220 mAh/g at 50 mA/g after 50 cycles. The synthesis method was used to further investigate the effect of lithium ratio in the layered-layered material. Li1+xMn0.6Ni0.2O2, x= 0.2, 0.25, 0.3 and 0.4 cathode materials were produced respectively. The BET surface area analysis results showed that Li1.3Mn0.6Ni0.2O2 material had comparatively higher surface area to the other cathode materials and also delivered good electrochemical results. XPS showed that the cation distribution is affected by the increase in lithium ratio, the Mn4+ percentages decreased significantly with an increase in lithium ratio. All materials peaks deconvoluted into two peaks namely Mn4+ and Mn3+, Li1.3Mn0.6Ni0.2O2 had the highest percentages of the stable Mn4+ 70.8%. Further investigation focused on the effect of the sintering temperature on the structure and the electrochemical performance of Li1+xMn0.6Ni0.2O2, x= 0.25, 0.3 and 0.4 cathode materials. X-ray diffraction showed the same patterns for all cathode materials sintered at 700˚C, 800˚C and 900˚C. Rietveld refined results however, showed that the increase in the sintering temperature, results in a decrease in the Li2MnO3 component percentage in the layered structures. Scanning electron microscopy images further proved that the particle size increases with increasing temperature. The charge–discharge tests of coin cells demonstrated that the materials sintered at 800˚C delivered higher discharge capacities above 200 mAh/g at 20 mA/g current density when compared to the materials made at the lower temperatures. Lastly the cathode material prepared at pH 10.0 was further evaluated in a cell using lithium titanate oxide Li4Ti5O12 as anode material. The cells delivered an initial discharge capacity of 213 mAh/g at 20 mA/g within a voltage range 3.3V-0.5V. The coin cells developed in this work delivered good cycling performance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Rapulenyane, Nomasonto
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Lithium ion batteries , Electrochemistry Lithium cells
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/34766 , vital:33442
- Description: In this study, a facile synthesis method was developed to produce layered-layered cathode materials with the formula xLi2MnO3•(1-x)LiMO2 (M= Ni and Mn) referred to as lithium-manganese-rich materials for lithium ion batteries. The prepared materials displayed high capacity ≥200 mAh/g at a current density of 20 mA/g in the voltage range of 2.0 V to 4.8 V. In particular the cathode material prepared at pH 10.0 delivered a high initial discharge capacity of 266 mAh/g at 20 mA/g current density and maintained a discharge capacity ≥220 mAh/g at 50 mA/g after 50 cycles. The synthesis method was used to further investigate the effect of lithium ratio in the layered-layered material. Li1+xMn0.6Ni0.2O2, x= 0.2, 0.25, 0.3 and 0.4 cathode materials were produced respectively. The BET surface area analysis results showed that Li1.3Mn0.6Ni0.2O2 material had comparatively higher surface area to the other cathode materials and also delivered good electrochemical results. XPS showed that the cation distribution is affected by the increase in lithium ratio, the Mn4+ percentages decreased significantly with an increase in lithium ratio. All materials peaks deconvoluted into two peaks namely Mn4+ and Mn3+, Li1.3Mn0.6Ni0.2O2 had the highest percentages of the stable Mn4+ 70.8%. Further investigation focused on the effect of the sintering temperature on the structure and the electrochemical performance of Li1+xMn0.6Ni0.2O2, x= 0.25, 0.3 and 0.4 cathode materials. X-ray diffraction showed the same patterns for all cathode materials sintered at 700˚C, 800˚C and 900˚C. Rietveld refined results however, showed that the increase in the sintering temperature, results in a decrease in the Li2MnO3 component percentage in the layered structures. Scanning electron microscopy images further proved that the particle size increases with increasing temperature. The charge–discharge tests of coin cells demonstrated that the materials sintered at 800˚C delivered higher discharge capacities above 200 mAh/g at 20 mA/g current density when compared to the materials made at the lower temperatures. Lastly the cathode material prepared at pH 10.0 was further evaluated in a cell using lithium titanate oxide Li4Ti5O12 as anode material. The cells delivered an initial discharge capacity of 213 mAh/g at 20 mA/g within a voltage range 3.3V-0.5V. The coin cells developed in this work delivered good cycling performance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Beneficiary perceptions regarding farm worker equity share schemes in South Africa
- Authors: Xolo, Siyavuya Nicholas
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Investments -- South Africa , Investment analysis Land reform -- South Africa Agricultural laborers -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/36323 , vital:33920
- Description: The study aimed to assess beneficiary perceptions regarding farm worker equity share schemes in South Africa. Farm worker equity share schemes started in the early 1990s with the aim of having a special arrangement pertaining to the ownership and operation of a farm between the farmer and the farm workers. This was intended to assist farm workers in not only remaining as farm workers but also to gain ownership of the farm. This could lead to the empowerment of farm workers, better working conditions, improved living standards and their rights to land ownership. Farm worker equity share schemes have been widely reported as having failed to meet their intended objectives, thus, in 2009, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform initiated a study to assess the implementation of equity share schemes. Although the report was not made public, it reports that out of the 88 equity share schemes at the time, only nine managed to pay dividends ranging from R200 to R2000 per year. As a result, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform put a moratorium on equity share schemes; this was however removed in 2011. It is against this background that this study was undertaken to assess beneficiaries’ perceptions regarding farm worker equity share schemes in South Africa. A positivistic research paradigm was employed in this study, by means of quantitative research. Secondary data in the form of textbooks, journal articles and Internet sources provided the theoretical framework for this study. Primary data was obtained using the survey method, by means of self-administered structured questionnaires. Convenience and purposive sampling were applied in order to select 20 farms that use equity share schemes. The farms selected for this study were located in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape provinces, covering a variety of farming activities such as citrus fruits, crops, vegetables and wineries. Ideally, a total of 15 farm workers per farm were targeted. However, due to a variation in these farm worker equity share schemes, on some farms less than 15 workers and in others more than 15 workers were selected for the study; this resulted in a total sample size of 341 farm workers. Ten null-hypotheses and a hypothetical model of beneficiary perceptions regarding farm worker equity share schemes were tested. The influence of seven independent variables were tested, these are: stakeholder trust, operational risks, government interventions, two-way communication, farm worker empowerment, training and skills development, and access to resources on farm worker equity share schemes. In addition, the influence of farm worker equity share schemes on three dependent variables, namely, farming performance, sustainability and employee expectations were tested. The Statistica (version 13.2) computer programme was used to analyse the results by means of advanced statistical techniques (such as exploratory factor analysis, regression and correlation analyses) as well as descriptive analysis and frequency distributions. After various statistical procedures, the model was re-specified; some of the variables were then renamed and the hypotheses were adjusted accordingly. The empirical results showed that three key variables to the success of farm worker equity share schemes are stakeholder trust, government interventions and farm owner support. It was determined that these key variables could lead to increased farming performance, farming sustainability and meeting employee expectations. This study provided useful and practical guidelines to farm owners and administrators of equity share schemes, so as to ensure effective strategising that could enhance their competitiveness and long term survival. The findings of this study could inform strategy policy formulation and implementation in the agricultural sector, as pertaining to farm worker equity share schemes. The study used a sound and well-developed research design and methodology, which has been justified and successfully applied to this research; this method can be utilised by other similar studies to conduct empirical research in the field of farm worker equity share schemes. It is envisaged that the results and recommendations of this study could be used to implement effective strategies that could ensure the effective functioning of farm worker equity share schemes in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Xolo, Siyavuya Nicholas
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Investments -- South Africa , Investment analysis Land reform -- South Africa Agricultural laborers -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/36323 , vital:33920
- Description: The study aimed to assess beneficiary perceptions regarding farm worker equity share schemes in South Africa. Farm worker equity share schemes started in the early 1990s with the aim of having a special arrangement pertaining to the ownership and operation of a farm between the farmer and the farm workers. This was intended to assist farm workers in not only remaining as farm workers but also to gain ownership of the farm. This could lead to the empowerment of farm workers, better working conditions, improved living standards and their rights to land ownership. Farm worker equity share schemes have been widely reported as having failed to meet their intended objectives, thus, in 2009, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform initiated a study to assess the implementation of equity share schemes. Although the report was not made public, it reports that out of the 88 equity share schemes at the time, only nine managed to pay dividends ranging from R200 to R2000 per year. As a result, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform put a moratorium on equity share schemes; this was however removed in 2011. It is against this background that this study was undertaken to assess beneficiaries’ perceptions regarding farm worker equity share schemes in South Africa. A positivistic research paradigm was employed in this study, by means of quantitative research. Secondary data in the form of textbooks, journal articles and Internet sources provided the theoretical framework for this study. Primary data was obtained using the survey method, by means of self-administered structured questionnaires. Convenience and purposive sampling were applied in order to select 20 farms that use equity share schemes. The farms selected for this study were located in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape provinces, covering a variety of farming activities such as citrus fruits, crops, vegetables and wineries. Ideally, a total of 15 farm workers per farm were targeted. However, due to a variation in these farm worker equity share schemes, on some farms less than 15 workers and in others more than 15 workers were selected for the study; this resulted in a total sample size of 341 farm workers. Ten null-hypotheses and a hypothetical model of beneficiary perceptions regarding farm worker equity share schemes were tested. The influence of seven independent variables were tested, these are: stakeholder trust, operational risks, government interventions, two-way communication, farm worker empowerment, training and skills development, and access to resources on farm worker equity share schemes. In addition, the influence of farm worker equity share schemes on three dependent variables, namely, farming performance, sustainability and employee expectations were tested. The Statistica (version 13.2) computer programme was used to analyse the results by means of advanced statistical techniques (such as exploratory factor analysis, regression and correlation analyses) as well as descriptive analysis and frequency distributions. After various statistical procedures, the model was re-specified; some of the variables were then renamed and the hypotheses were adjusted accordingly. The empirical results showed that three key variables to the success of farm worker equity share schemes are stakeholder trust, government interventions and farm owner support. It was determined that these key variables could lead to increased farming performance, farming sustainability and meeting employee expectations. This study provided useful and practical guidelines to farm owners and administrators of equity share schemes, so as to ensure effective strategising that could enhance their competitiveness and long term survival. The findings of this study could inform strategy policy formulation and implementation in the agricultural sector, as pertaining to farm worker equity share schemes. The study used a sound and well-developed research design and methodology, which has been justified and successfully applied to this research; this method can be utilised by other similar studies to conduct empirical research in the field of farm worker equity share schemes. It is envisaged that the results and recommendations of this study could be used to implement effective strategies that could ensure the effective functioning of farm worker equity share schemes in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A management model for human settlements: a case study of Nigeria and South Africa
- Authors: Adeniran, Adeleye Ayoade
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Human settlements -- Nigeria , Human settlements -- South Africa Sustainable development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45985 , vital:39403
- Description: Persistent depreciating human settlements is a global challenge, particularly in developing countries and this challenge contributes to the continuously increasing housing gap, despite several novel policies and programmes. Although there is a dearth of research-based literature on human settlements management, studies show that property management, Facility Management, housing management and urban management impact the sustainability of all these built environment milieus which form part of the human settlements’ sub-components. This research aimed at altering the afore-said challenge by exploring the management of human settlements in Nigeria and in South Africa. Philosophically, the research is pragmatic, and it rests on positivist deductive reasoning. The methods used for data collection include a review of literature, collection of archival records, and empirical studies of purposively selected professionals and stakeholders involved in human settlements’ management in Nigeria and in South Africa. The findings indicate that existing human settlements in the case studies are “good” and “acceptable” with the majority adopting an outsourced method of management. Furthermore, the lack of maintenance records, the deficiency in policy monitoring and the training of management and maintenance personnel were the three highest ranking factors indicated to be affecting human settlements management. Moreover, an inhabitant’s income, the time available for management, professional expertise and technology employed for management are recognised as the critical sustainability sub-factors affecting human settlement management. The factor analysis established ownership, human resource and capital, social, legal, technology, economic, physical and environmental factors as vital and very significant in achieving sustainable management of human settlements. The study recommends the professionalisation of the field of human settlements as well as a formulation of management policy among others. The study developed a management model for human settlements, and it advocates that human settlements managers, owners and organisations should apply the model in this study, to improve their human settlement management practices, so as to achieve sustainability, and in essence, Sustainable Development Goal 11. It is hoped that the suggested management model will influence human settlement policy development and review, the designing of human settlement management programmes including the framework for their ongoing monitoring and evaluation. The study furthermore contributes to the development of housing and human settlement curricula and evolving human settlement research in both developed and developing countries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Adeniran, Adeleye Ayoade
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Human settlements -- Nigeria , Human settlements -- South Africa Sustainable development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45985 , vital:39403
- Description: Persistent depreciating human settlements is a global challenge, particularly in developing countries and this challenge contributes to the continuously increasing housing gap, despite several novel policies and programmes. Although there is a dearth of research-based literature on human settlements management, studies show that property management, Facility Management, housing management and urban management impact the sustainability of all these built environment milieus which form part of the human settlements’ sub-components. This research aimed at altering the afore-said challenge by exploring the management of human settlements in Nigeria and in South Africa. Philosophically, the research is pragmatic, and it rests on positivist deductive reasoning. The methods used for data collection include a review of literature, collection of archival records, and empirical studies of purposively selected professionals and stakeholders involved in human settlements’ management in Nigeria and in South Africa. The findings indicate that existing human settlements in the case studies are “good” and “acceptable” with the majority adopting an outsourced method of management. Furthermore, the lack of maintenance records, the deficiency in policy monitoring and the training of management and maintenance personnel were the three highest ranking factors indicated to be affecting human settlements management. Moreover, an inhabitant’s income, the time available for management, professional expertise and technology employed for management are recognised as the critical sustainability sub-factors affecting human settlement management. The factor analysis established ownership, human resource and capital, social, legal, technology, economic, physical and environmental factors as vital and very significant in achieving sustainable management of human settlements. The study recommends the professionalisation of the field of human settlements as well as a formulation of management policy among others. The study developed a management model for human settlements, and it advocates that human settlements managers, owners and organisations should apply the model in this study, to improve their human settlement management practices, so as to achieve sustainability, and in essence, Sustainable Development Goal 11. It is hoped that the suggested management model will influence human settlement policy development and review, the designing of human settlement management programmes including the framework for their ongoing monitoring and evaluation. The study furthermore contributes to the development of housing and human settlement curricula and evolving human settlement research in both developed and developing countries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Catholic and charismatic: identity construction in a catholic charismatic movement in Nigeria
- Authors: Torty, Livinus
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Catholic Church -- Nigeria , Pentecostalism -- Catholic Church Identity (Psychology) Identity (Psychology) -- Social aspects -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43787 , vital:37047
- Description: The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a movement within the Catholic Church that blends and synthesizes elements of Catholicism and Pentecostalism. The movement straddles these two religious traditions within Christianity. Besides its incorporation of elements of Catholicism and Pentecostalism, the movement also has as its objective, the revitalizing and renewal of the Catholic Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. These fundamental orientations of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal distinguish it from other Catholic movements, bestowing on it its unique identity. Although different from other Catholic movements, the movement and its members lay claim to a Catholic identity and seek to assert its legitimacy within the Catholic Church. Existing literature has provided useful insights into the question of identity within the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. However, the question of identity construction within the movement has not been adequately and comprehensively addressed in academic literature. This is especially the case in the African context. This leaves therefore a gap in our knowledge of how the movement and its members construct their catholic and charismatic identities. This study sets out to explore how the movement and its members construct their identity in relation to the Holy Spirit, the institutional Catholic Church and other Catholics, as well as in the context of the movement’s ritual music. Identity construction in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is seen as key to making meaning of the movement and its place within Catholicism. The study adopted a qualitative research and ethnographic approach in which empirical data was collected in the context of fieldwork through informal, semi-structured and focus group interviews as well as participant observation during the activities of a Catholic Charismatic prayer group in Minna, Nigeria. Theoretical perspectives drawn from identity, hermeneutics and anthropology of extraordinary experience were used as analytical lens in the study. The study revealed that identity within the Catholic Charismatic Renewal was constructed principally in relation to the Holy Spirit. A spiritual experience or encounter was central in such identity construction, and the subjective and intersubjective identity of the members revolved around the two key concepts of ‘spirit-centred identity’ and ‘empowerment’. The study indicated that the members of the movement constructed their identity in ways that demonstrated their loyalty to the Church and their status as an officially recognised Catholic movement. In addition, their identity was also constructed in relation to the functions that they perceived themselves to perform within the Catholic Church. Although the members of the movement considered their charismatic and catholic identities to be compatible, they understood themselves to be different from other Catholics. The study also showed that while music was considered to be important within the movement, the context and content of its ritual music were overwhelmingly Pentecostal, and music that projected a catholic identity was relegated to the background and given expression mainly in the realm of individual religious practice. The study suggests that identity construction within the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is multiple, ongoing, flexible, and sometimes contradictory and paradoxical. Through its identity construction, the members of the movement demonstrate the heterogeneity of the Catholic space and seek to extend the boundaries of Catholicism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Torty, Livinus
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Catholic Church -- Nigeria , Pentecostalism -- Catholic Church Identity (Psychology) Identity (Psychology) -- Social aspects -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43787 , vital:37047
- Description: The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a movement within the Catholic Church that blends and synthesizes elements of Catholicism and Pentecostalism. The movement straddles these two religious traditions within Christianity. Besides its incorporation of elements of Catholicism and Pentecostalism, the movement also has as its objective, the revitalizing and renewal of the Catholic Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. These fundamental orientations of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal distinguish it from other Catholic movements, bestowing on it its unique identity. Although different from other Catholic movements, the movement and its members lay claim to a Catholic identity and seek to assert its legitimacy within the Catholic Church. Existing literature has provided useful insights into the question of identity within the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. However, the question of identity construction within the movement has not been adequately and comprehensively addressed in academic literature. This is especially the case in the African context. This leaves therefore a gap in our knowledge of how the movement and its members construct their catholic and charismatic identities. This study sets out to explore how the movement and its members construct their identity in relation to the Holy Spirit, the institutional Catholic Church and other Catholics, as well as in the context of the movement’s ritual music. Identity construction in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is seen as key to making meaning of the movement and its place within Catholicism. The study adopted a qualitative research and ethnographic approach in which empirical data was collected in the context of fieldwork through informal, semi-structured and focus group interviews as well as participant observation during the activities of a Catholic Charismatic prayer group in Minna, Nigeria. Theoretical perspectives drawn from identity, hermeneutics and anthropology of extraordinary experience were used as analytical lens in the study. The study revealed that identity within the Catholic Charismatic Renewal was constructed principally in relation to the Holy Spirit. A spiritual experience or encounter was central in such identity construction, and the subjective and intersubjective identity of the members revolved around the two key concepts of ‘spirit-centred identity’ and ‘empowerment’. The study indicated that the members of the movement constructed their identity in ways that demonstrated their loyalty to the Church and their status as an officially recognised Catholic movement. In addition, their identity was also constructed in relation to the functions that they perceived themselves to perform within the Catholic Church. Although the members of the movement considered their charismatic and catholic identities to be compatible, they understood themselves to be different from other Catholics. The study also showed that while music was considered to be important within the movement, the context and content of its ritual music were overwhelmingly Pentecostal, and music that projected a catholic identity was relegated to the background and given expression mainly in the realm of individual religious practice. The study suggests that identity construction within the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is multiple, ongoing, flexible, and sometimes contradictory and paradoxical. Through its identity construction, the members of the movement demonstrate the heterogeneity of the Catholic space and seek to extend the boundaries of Catholicism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Water balance processes in indigenous and introduced spaces three production system in the Southern Cape region of South Africa
- Authors: Mapeto, Tatenda
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Hydrology -- Research -- South Africa , Groundwater -- Research -- South Africa Trees -- Breeding Sustainable forestry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49325 , vital:41621
- Description: Forests and trees are important modulators of water flow and their position in the landscape impacts the spatial and temporal availability of ground water and surface water resources. As such, the global extent of natural forests is linked to the availability of water. In the circumstances where tree production systems have been introduced and are managed in landscapes previously populated with other forms of vegetation, it is necessary to understand their hydrological impact so as to ensure that the benefits derived from these tree systems do not outweigh the costs of water availability for sustaining human and environmental water requirements.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mapeto, Tatenda
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Hydrology -- Research -- South Africa , Groundwater -- Research -- South Africa Trees -- Breeding Sustainable forestry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49325 , vital:41621
- Description: Forests and trees are important modulators of water flow and their position in the landscape impacts the spatial and temporal availability of ground water and surface water resources. As such, the global extent of natural forests is linked to the availability of water. In the circumstances where tree production systems have been introduced and are managed in landscapes previously populated with other forms of vegetation, it is necessary to understand their hydrological impact so as to ensure that the benefits derived from these tree systems do not outweigh the costs of water availability for sustaining human and environmental water requirements.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2020
Black South African men’s adjustment to divorce: a divorce-stress-adjustment model
- Muchena, Kudakwashe Christopher
- Authors: Muchena, Kudakwashe Christopher
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Divorce -- Psychological aspects , Social psychology Men -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50121 , vital:42048
- Description: The decision to divorce marks a turning point for each individual involved. It can be viewed as more than just a legal process. From a psychological perspective, it does not matter who initiated the divorce, it always comes with emotional ramifications for all those involved. Statistically there is a high rate of divorce in South Africa and there have been significant shifts in trends over time. However, black South African men’s experience of, action in, and adjustment to divorce has been relatively neglected in the divorce research, yet it is important for understanding contemporary social arrangements and processes, as well as for broadening the understanding of black South African men’s lives. How black South African men describe their situations and respond to marital dissolution may point to their positions in the gender-structured community and to how they interpret the nature of social practice, marriages, divorce and their position in society. The present study aimed at exploring black South African men’s experience of, and adjustment to, divorce. More specifically, the study developed a divorce-stress-adjustment model for divorced black South African men. The theoretical framework underpinning this study was that of Symbolic Interactionism that was complemented and enhanced by Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory, focusing specifically on identity development in adulthood. This was a qualitative study using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as both the research design and data analytic theory and process. The eight participants were volunteers who were recruited purposively. In accordance with IPA guidelines, data for the study was collected using biographical questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The emerging themes were grouped into four superordinate themes, that is, pre-divorce experiences, experiencing divorce, adjustment process and post-divorce experience. Each superordinate theme had corresponding subordinate themes and subthemes. The themes were then used to develop the divorce-stress adjustment model indicating that the experience of divorce is an interconnected process. Weed’s recommendations for interpretative synthesis of interview data were used.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Muchena, Kudakwashe Christopher
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Divorce -- Psychological aspects , Social psychology Men -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50121 , vital:42048
- Description: The decision to divorce marks a turning point for each individual involved. It can be viewed as more than just a legal process. From a psychological perspective, it does not matter who initiated the divorce, it always comes with emotional ramifications for all those involved. Statistically there is a high rate of divorce in South Africa and there have been significant shifts in trends over time. However, black South African men’s experience of, action in, and adjustment to divorce has been relatively neglected in the divorce research, yet it is important for understanding contemporary social arrangements and processes, as well as for broadening the understanding of black South African men’s lives. How black South African men describe their situations and respond to marital dissolution may point to their positions in the gender-structured community and to how they interpret the nature of social practice, marriages, divorce and their position in society. The present study aimed at exploring black South African men’s experience of, and adjustment to, divorce. More specifically, the study developed a divorce-stress-adjustment model for divorced black South African men. The theoretical framework underpinning this study was that of Symbolic Interactionism that was complemented and enhanced by Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory, focusing specifically on identity development in adulthood. This was a qualitative study using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as both the research design and data analytic theory and process. The eight participants were volunteers who were recruited purposively. In accordance with IPA guidelines, data for the study was collected using biographical questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The emerging themes were grouped into four superordinate themes, that is, pre-divorce experiences, experiencing divorce, adjustment process and post-divorce experience. Each superordinate theme had corresponding subordinate themes and subthemes. The themes were then used to develop the divorce-stress adjustment model indicating that the experience of divorce is an interconnected process. Weed’s recommendations for interpretative synthesis of interview data were used.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Investigation of the thermo-chemical behaviour of coal-algae agglomerates
- Authors: Baloyi, Hope
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Biomass energy , Coal -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23913 , vital:30642
- Description: There is a growing research interest in the co-processing of biomass and coal, with the aim of addressing the negative attributes associated with the thermal processing of coal alone. Biomass feedstocks are regarded as a clean, renewable source, and the co-utilization of biomass feedstocks with coal is deemed to have a potential to reduce emission of pollutants (i.e. NOx and SOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). Moreover, biomass are thermally reactive and thus facilitate the conversion of coal during co-processing. Biomass material and coal are two autonomous fuel materials with different chemical characteristics and have a dissimilar thermal behaviour making it difficult to achieve chemical interaction between the two solid fuels to contribute to the formation of products. Coalgae® Technology developed at the Nelson Mandela University, involves the biological treatment of coal fines by adsorbing live microalgae biomass (in slurry form) onto waste coal fines to form coal-microalgae agglomerates. This new innovative approach seeks to integrate bio-based feedstock into coal thermal processing and to improve the utilization and thermal efficiency of coal fines as well as the interaction between the volatile components of biomass and coal during thermal processing (e.g. devolatilization), thereby overcoming some of the challenges that confront the co-processing of coal and biomass. Coal fines are low-ranked coals, generally characterized by high contents of sulphur, high ash yields, low calorific values and poor thermal reactivity, and these attributes limits the thermo-chemical processing of the coal fines. Therefore, this investigation was undertaken to assess the thermo-chemical behaviour of coal-microalgae agglomerates, formed by adsorbing live microalgae slurry at varying ratios onto coal fines. For this purpose, the effects of adsorbing microalgae at varying ratios on the chemical characteristics and thermal behaviour of coal fines under pyrolytic conditions were investigated. The primary aim was to assess whether the thermo-chemical behaviour of coal-microalgae agglomerates, formed by adsorption of live microalgae onto fine coal, is substantively modified compared to a simple additive model of the original coal and pre-dried microalgae biomass samples. Results obtained from the proximate analyses performed on an Eltra Thermo-gravimetric analyzer (TGA) thermostep, have shown that the adsorption of microalgae slurry onto coal fines does not possess greater influence in improving the yield of volatiles and ash in coal fines than can be expected from a simple additive model of the original raw materials. Based on the ultimate analyses results, it was found that the adsorption of microalgae slurry resulted in a systematic reduction in the sulphur content, a notable increase in the hydrogen and oxygen contents, however, no significant disparities were found between the measured ultimate properties of coal-microalgae agglomerates as compared to the theoretically-expected ultimate properties from a simple linear combination of parental coal and microalgae biomass. Assessment of the thermal behaviour of parental samples and coal-microalgae agglomerates involved the use non-isothermal (40-900ºC, 20 K/min) thermogravimetry under inert conditions. It was found that the adsorption of microalgae slurry onto coal fines resulted in an improved thermal reactivity of coal fines, although, did not affect the overall pyrolysis characteristics of the coal fines. Comparison of the thermal profiles (measured and calculated TG/DTG curves), revealed that the yield of volatile products during the pyrolysis of coal-microalgae blends do not exceed the expected volatile yields from a simple combination of coal and microalgae biomass. These results suggest that there was no positive or accelerative synergistic interaction between volatile components of adsorbed microalgae and coal fines during pyrolysis. Mild pyrolysis of raw coal and coal-microalgae performed in a fixed-bed reactor furnace (450ºC), resulted in improved yields of Fossil-Bio crude (FBC) oil (derived from coal-microalgae pyrolysis), at increased biomass ratio compared to coal tar. FBC Oil was found to contain relatively high contents of oxygen, hydrogen, and low sulphur content than coal tar. GC-MS analyses showed the presence of a heterocyclic compounds (i.e. Indole and 2, 6 dimethyl pyridine) in the FBC oil and these were not identified in the coal tar. Furthermore, high boiling compounds such as Flourene, pyrene and pentacosane were identified in the coal tar, however not identified in the FBC oil. Simulated distillation results showed notable differences between the FBC oil and coal tar in terms of the distribution of boiling point fractions particularly, high boing point components. Semi-devolatilized chars derived from coal-microalgae agglomerates showed substantial degree of decarboxylation and dehydrogenation compared to the coal chars.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Baloyi, Hope
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Biomass energy , Coal -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23913 , vital:30642
- Description: There is a growing research interest in the co-processing of biomass and coal, with the aim of addressing the negative attributes associated with the thermal processing of coal alone. Biomass feedstocks are regarded as a clean, renewable source, and the co-utilization of biomass feedstocks with coal is deemed to have a potential to reduce emission of pollutants (i.e. NOx and SOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). Moreover, biomass are thermally reactive and thus facilitate the conversion of coal during co-processing. Biomass material and coal are two autonomous fuel materials with different chemical characteristics and have a dissimilar thermal behaviour making it difficult to achieve chemical interaction between the two solid fuels to contribute to the formation of products. Coalgae® Technology developed at the Nelson Mandela University, involves the biological treatment of coal fines by adsorbing live microalgae biomass (in slurry form) onto waste coal fines to form coal-microalgae agglomerates. This new innovative approach seeks to integrate bio-based feedstock into coal thermal processing and to improve the utilization and thermal efficiency of coal fines as well as the interaction between the volatile components of biomass and coal during thermal processing (e.g. devolatilization), thereby overcoming some of the challenges that confront the co-processing of coal and biomass. Coal fines are low-ranked coals, generally characterized by high contents of sulphur, high ash yields, low calorific values and poor thermal reactivity, and these attributes limits the thermo-chemical processing of the coal fines. Therefore, this investigation was undertaken to assess the thermo-chemical behaviour of coal-microalgae agglomerates, formed by adsorbing live microalgae slurry at varying ratios onto coal fines. For this purpose, the effects of adsorbing microalgae at varying ratios on the chemical characteristics and thermal behaviour of coal fines under pyrolytic conditions were investigated. The primary aim was to assess whether the thermo-chemical behaviour of coal-microalgae agglomerates, formed by adsorption of live microalgae onto fine coal, is substantively modified compared to a simple additive model of the original coal and pre-dried microalgae biomass samples. Results obtained from the proximate analyses performed on an Eltra Thermo-gravimetric analyzer (TGA) thermostep, have shown that the adsorption of microalgae slurry onto coal fines does not possess greater influence in improving the yield of volatiles and ash in coal fines than can be expected from a simple additive model of the original raw materials. Based on the ultimate analyses results, it was found that the adsorption of microalgae slurry resulted in a systematic reduction in the sulphur content, a notable increase in the hydrogen and oxygen contents, however, no significant disparities were found between the measured ultimate properties of coal-microalgae agglomerates as compared to the theoretically-expected ultimate properties from a simple linear combination of parental coal and microalgae biomass. Assessment of the thermal behaviour of parental samples and coal-microalgae agglomerates involved the use non-isothermal (40-900ºC, 20 K/min) thermogravimetry under inert conditions. It was found that the adsorption of microalgae slurry onto coal fines resulted in an improved thermal reactivity of coal fines, although, did not affect the overall pyrolysis characteristics of the coal fines. Comparison of the thermal profiles (measured and calculated TG/DTG curves), revealed that the yield of volatile products during the pyrolysis of coal-microalgae blends do not exceed the expected volatile yields from a simple combination of coal and microalgae biomass. These results suggest that there was no positive or accelerative synergistic interaction between volatile components of adsorbed microalgae and coal fines during pyrolysis. Mild pyrolysis of raw coal and coal-microalgae performed in a fixed-bed reactor furnace (450ºC), resulted in improved yields of Fossil-Bio crude (FBC) oil (derived from coal-microalgae pyrolysis), at increased biomass ratio compared to coal tar. FBC Oil was found to contain relatively high contents of oxygen, hydrogen, and low sulphur content than coal tar. GC-MS analyses showed the presence of a heterocyclic compounds (i.e. Indole and 2, 6 dimethyl pyridine) in the FBC oil and these were not identified in the coal tar. Furthermore, high boiling compounds such as Flourene, pyrene and pentacosane were identified in the coal tar, however not identified in the FBC oil. Simulated distillation results showed notable differences between the FBC oil and coal tar in terms of the distribution of boiling point fractions particularly, high boing point components. Semi-devolatilized chars derived from coal-microalgae agglomerates showed substantial degree of decarboxylation and dehydrogenation compared to the coal chars.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A critical analysis of organisational justice in the South African financial service industry
- Authors: Mrwebi, Viwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Organizational behavior , Financial services industry -- South Africa -- Management Intrinsic motivation Employee retention Labor turnover
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33065 , vital:32513
- Description: Organisational justice has captured the interest of scholars in recent years since it is associated with the perceptions and reactions of an individual, to the presence of fairness in an organisation. It thus captures what an individual feel or evaluates to be, morally correct rather than viewing it to be something prescriptive. This study was aimed at investigating the extent of organisational justice on organisational citizenship behaviour, ethical behaviour and employee retention in the South African financial services industry. A hypothetical model and measuring instrument was developed in order to investigate factors that may influence the organisational justice in the financial services industry. Six independent variables (trustworthiness of management, employee engagement, reward system, organisational transparency, two-way communication and organisational climate) were identified as variables that have the potential to influence organisational justice (mediating variable). It was also hypothesised that organisational justice) has the potential to affect the dependent variables (organisational citizenship behaviour, ethical behaviour and employee retention). Furthermore, nine null-hypotheses were developed to test the relationship between independent, mediating and dependent variables. All these variables were clearly defined and operationalised with various items that were obtained from other measuring instruments or self-developed items. A quantitative research approach followed. This study made use of the non-probability sampling technique, specifically convenient and judgemental sampling, as there is no data base of financial services firms available in South Africa. A purposive sample of 800 respondents was drawn from four provinces in South Africa. Factor and regression analyses were used to test the significance of the relationship between the various independent and dependent variables. The mediating variable of organisational justice was viewed by respondents as a two-dimensional construct, namely procedural-interactional justice and distributive justice. Consequently, intrinsic rewards, extrinsic rewards, organisational transparency and organisational climate were identified as independent variables that could have an impact on the procedural-interactional justice to predict organisational citizenship behaviour and reputable employee retention in the financial services industry. No relationships were identified between trustworthiness of management and employee engagement and procedural-interactional justice. The independent variables, trustworthiness of management, extrinsic rewards and organisational climate, could have an impact on distributive justice to predict organisational citizenship behaviour and reputable employee retention in the financial services industry. No relationships were identified between employee engagement, intrinsic rewards, organisational transparency and distributive justice. The findings of this study have contributed to the body of knowledge in the financial services literature in South Africa, by developing a theoretical model and a measuring instrument of organisational justice in the financial services industry. The antecedents of organisational justice in the financial services industry are not well documented in literature and findings of this study could thus contribute towards closing this gap in literature. The findings of this study could also inform policy formulation to assist with the implementation of organisational justice programmes in the financial services industry. This study provided useful and very practical guidelines to organisations in order to ensure the effective strategising and management of OJ that could enhance their local and global competitiveness and long-term survival.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Mrwebi, Viwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Organizational behavior , Financial services industry -- South Africa -- Management Intrinsic motivation Employee retention Labor turnover
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33065 , vital:32513
- Description: Organisational justice has captured the interest of scholars in recent years since it is associated with the perceptions and reactions of an individual, to the presence of fairness in an organisation. It thus captures what an individual feel or evaluates to be, morally correct rather than viewing it to be something prescriptive. This study was aimed at investigating the extent of organisational justice on organisational citizenship behaviour, ethical behaviour and employee retention in the South African financial services industry. A hypothetical model and measuring instrument was developed in order to investigate factors that may influence the organisational justice in the financial services industry. Six independent variables (trustworthiness of management, employee engagement, reward system, organisational transparency, two-way communication and organisational climate) were identified as variables that have the potential to influence organisational justice (mediating variable). It was also hypothesised that organisational justice) has the potential to affect the dependent variables (organisational citizenship behaviour, ethical behaviour and employee retention). Furthermore, nine null-hypotheses were developed to test the relationship between independent, mediating and dependent variables. All these variables were clearly defined and operationalised with various items that were obtained from other measuring instruments or self-developed items. A quantitative research approach followed. This study made use of the non-probability sampling technique, specifically convenient and judgemental sampling, as there is no data base of financial services firms available in South Africa. A purposive sample of 800 respondents was drawn from four provinces in South Africa. Factor and regression analyses were used to test the significance of the relationship between the various independent and dependent variables. The mediating variable of organisational justice was viewed by respondents as a two-dimensional construct, namely procedural-interactional justice and distributive justice. Consequently, intrinsic rewards, extrinsic rewards, organisational transparency and organisational climate were identified as independent variables that could have an impact on the procedural-interactional justice to predict organisational citizenship behaviour and reputable employee retention in the financial services industry. No relationships were identified between trustworthiness of management and employee engagement and procedural-interactional justice. The independent variables, trustworthiness of management, extrinsic rewards and organisational climate, could have an impact on distributive justice to predict organisational citizenship behaviour and reputable employee retention in the financial services industry. No relationships were identified between employee engagement, intrinsic rewards, organisational transparency and distributive justice. The findings of this study have contributed to the body of knowledge in the financial services literature in South Africa, by developing a theoretical model and a measuring instrument of organisational justice in the financial services industry. The antecedents of organisational justice in the financial services industry are not well documented in literature and findings of this study could thus contribute towards closing this gap in literature. The findings of this study could also inform policy formulation to assist with the implementation of organisational justice programmes in the financial services industry. This study provided useful and very practical guidelines to organisations in order to ensure the effective strategising and management of OJ that could enhance their local and global competitiveness and long-term survival.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
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
Design of metal ion-selective reagents for recovery of precious metals
- Authors: Moleko-Boyce, Pulleng
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Bioinorganic chemistry , Metal complexes Speciation (Chemistry)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42510 , vital:36664
- Description: The study is divided into two sections; namely, (1) the design of rhodium(III) specific chelating ligands (tridentate bis-benzimidazole derivatives), and (2) the development of iridium(IV)-specific quaternary diammonium cations with electron donating and electron withdrawing groups. Bis-benzimidazole chelating ligands used were bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl)amine (NNN1), bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)ethyl)amine (NNN2), bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl)sulfide (NSN1) and bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)ethyl)sulfide (NSN2). Quaternary diammonium cations used were tetramethylbenzyl-1,10-diammonium chloride (QuatDMDAMeBnz), tetrabenzyl-1,10-diammonium chloride (QuatDMDABnz), tetratrifluoromethylbenzyl-1,10-diammonium chloride (QuatDMDACF3Bnz) and tetranitrobenzyl-1,10-diammonium chloride (QuatDMDANO2Bnz). For both studies, polyvinylbenzylchloride (PVBC) nanofibers were used as support material. The PVBC nanofibers which were functionalised with bis-benzimidazole derivatives and quaternary diammonium cations, respectively, were investigated for the selectivity for Rh(III) over Ir(III), Pt(II), Pd(II) and Ni(II), and for separation of Ir(IV) from Rh(III), respectively. The sorbent materials were characterised by FTIR, SEM, BET surface area, TGA, EDS and elemental analysis, and the results showed that the functionalization of the sorbent materials was successful.The efficiency of bis-benzimidazole derivatives and quaternary diammonium cations, respectively, were investigated in a column study under dynamic flow adsorption conditions. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms were investigated under batch conditions and fitted on pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order model, and Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm, respectively. It was observed that the bis-benzimidazole derivatives showed uptake of [RhCl3(H2O)3], and the loading capacities were observed in the following order; NSN1 (181.06 mg/g) > NSN2 (148.55 mg/g) > NNN1 (131.88 mg/g) > NNN2 (75.87 mg/g). The bis-benzimidazole derivatives preference for metal ions was further investigated with a multi-element solution containing Rh(III), Ir(III), Pt(II), Pd(II) and Ni(II). The bis-benzimidazole derivatives showed the following order of loading capacity: NSN1 (47.28 mg/g) > NSN2 (23.89 mg/g) > NNN1 (17.47 mg/g) > NNN2 (14.91 mg/g) for Rh(III); NSN2 (10.64 mg/g) > NNN2 (6.84 mg/g) > NSN1 (5.74 mg/g) > NNN1 (5.02 mg/g) for Ir(III); NNN2 (33.96 mg/g) > NSN1 (30.95 mg/g) > NSN2 (19.95 mg/g) > NNN1 (14.92 mg/g) for Pt(II); NNN1 (47.94 mg/g) > NNN2 (28.90 mg/g) > NSN1 (16.22 mg/g) > NSN2 (15.83 mg/g) for Pd(II). Bis-benzimidazole derivatives showed no uptake of nickel(II) under these conditions. It was observed the ligand-selectivity order for Rh(III) was similar in both single-element and multi-element studies. This order showed that the bis-benzimidazoles containing a sulfur atom showed a high preference for rhodium(III) compared to Pt(II) which had a high preference for NNN2 as well as Pd(II) which had a high preference for NNN1. Ir(III) generally had a lower preference for the ligands presumably due to its higher kinetic inertness compared with Rh(III). Column sorption of [IrCl6]2- and [RhCl5(H2O)]2- on nanofibers functionalized with diammonium cations was carried out and the loading capacities of [IrCl6]2- were obtained. [RhCl5(H2O)]2- was not adsorbed by the sorbent materials while [IrCl6]2- was loaded onto the column. The loading capacities of [IrCl6]2- with the quaternary diammonium sorbent materials increased in the order of F-QuatDMDAMeBnz (60.29 mg/g) < F-QuatDMDABnz (67.61 mg/g) < F-QuatDMDACF3Bnz (107.59 mg/g) < F-QuatDMDANO2Bnz (140.47 mg/g). The loading capacity for Ir(IV) with quaternary diammonium cationic nanofibers increased with an increase in the electron-withdrawing nature of the quaternizing group. The charge delocalizing ability of the nitrobenzyl group resulted in the best interaction of the diammonium cation with [IrCl6]2-. Batch equilibrium studies were carried out to assess the efficiency of bis-benzimidazole chelating derivatives as adsorbents using a multi-metal solution (Rh(III), Ir(III), Pt(II), Pd(II) and Ni(II)) in 0.5 M HCl. The efficiency of the quaternary diammonium cations was tested using a binary metal solution (Ir(IV) and Rh(III)) in 6 M HCl. The isothermal batch adsorption studies of a multi-metal solution with bis-benzimidazoles derivatives fitted the Langmuir isotherm model which confirmed monolayer adsorption onto a homogeneous surface. The Langmuir isotherm parameter (qe (mg/g)), using functionalized nanofibers, showed the order of NNN2 (128.21 mg/g) > NSN1 (99.01 mg/g) > NSN2 (91.74 mg/g) > NNN1 (84.03 mg/g) for Pt(II); NNN1 (66.23 mg/g) > NNN2 (5.89 mg/g) > NSN1 (1.40 mg/g) > NSN2 (0.59 mg/g) for Pd(II); NSN2 (10.64 mg/g) > NNN2 (6.84 mg/g) > NSN1 (5.74 mg/g) > NNN1 (5.02 mg/g) for Ir(III); NSN1 (140.85 mg/g) > NSN2 (109.89 mg/g) > NNN1 (104.17 mg/g) > NNN2 (91.74 mg/g) for Rh(III). The pseudo-first-order kinetics model was found to be the best fit to describe the adsorption kinetics of all metal ions onto all the sorbent materials. K1 (min-1) value in pseudo-first-order kinetics showed the same order of adsorption as observed in the Langmuir isotherms. The isothermal batch adsorption studies of [IrCl6]2- and [RhCl5(H2O)]2- with quaternary diammonium cations fitted the Freundlich isotherm model and confirmed to be effective for multiple-layered adsorption onto a heterogeneous surface. The Freundlich isotherm parameter (kf (mg/g)) using functionalized quaternary diammonium cationic nanofibers increased in the order of F-QuatDMDANO2Bnz (794.33 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDACF3Bnz (185.35 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDABnz (156.32 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDAMeBnz (112.46 mg/g) for Ir(IV) uptake. F-QuatDMDANO2Bnz resin showed the highest adsorption than that of F-QuatDMDAMeBnz, F-QuatDMDABnz and F-QuatDMDACF3Bnz and this order is similar to what was observed in column studies. The quaternary diammonium cations were shown to have the highest adsorption capacity for Ir(IV) compared with Rh(III). The adsorption of Rh(III) was also observed to increase in the order of F-QuatDMDANO2Bnz (177.83 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDACF3Bnz (40.37 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDABnz (36.98 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDAMeBnz (12.71 mg/g). The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was found to be the best fit to describe the adsorption kinetics of both metal ions onto all the sorbent materials. K2 (g.mg-1min-1) value in pseudo-second-order kinetics showed the same order of adsorption as observed in the Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption studies showed adsorption takes place via chemisorption process. This thesis presents PGMs and iridium-specific materials that could be applied in solutions of secondary PGMs sources containing rhodium, platinum and palladium with bis-benzimidazoles as well as in feed solutions from ore processing with diammonium cations for iridium recovery.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Moleko-Boyce, Pulleng
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Bioinorganic chemistry , Metal complexes Speciation (Chemistry)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42510 , vital:36664
- Description: The study is divided into two sections; namely, (1) the design of rhodium(III) specific chelating ligands (tridentate bis-benzimidazole derivatives), and (2) the development of iridium(IV)-specific quaternary diammonium cations with electron donating and electron withdrawing groups. Bis-benzimidazole chelating ligands used were bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl)amine (NNN1), bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)ethyl)amine (NNN2), bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl)sulfide (NSN1) and bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)ethyl)sulfide (NSN2). Quaternary diammonium cations used were tetramethylbenzyl-1,10-diammonium chloride (QuatDMDAMeBnz), tetrabenzyl-1,10-diammonium chloride (QuatDMDABnz), tetratrifluoromethylbenzyl-1,10-diammonium chloride (QuatDMDACF3Bnz) and tetranitrobenzyl-1,10-diammonium chloride (QuatDMDANO2Bnz). For both studies, polyvinylbenzylchloride (PVBC) nanofibers were used as support material. The PVBC nanofibers which were functionalised with bis-benzimidazole derivatives and quaternary diammonium cations, respectively, were investigated for the selectivity for Rh(III) over Ir(III), Pt(II), Pd(II) and Ni(II), and for separation of Ir(IV) from Rh(III), respectively. The sorbent materials were characterised by FTIR, SEM, BET surface area, TGA, EDS and elemental analysis, and the results showed that the functionalization of the sorbent materials was successful.The efficiency of bis-benzimidazole derivatives and quaternary diammonium cations, respectively, were investigated in a column study under dynamic flow adsorption conditions. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms were investigated under batch conditions and fitted on pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order model, and Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm, respectively. It was observed that the bis-benzimidazole derivatives showed uptake of [RhCl3(H2O)3], and the loading capacities were observed in the following order; NSN1 (181.06 mg/g) > NSN2 (148.55 mg/g) > NNN1 (131.88 mg/g) > NNN2 (75.87 mg/g). The bis-benzimidazole derivatives preference for metal ions was further investigated with a multi-element solution containing Rh(III), Ir(III), Pt(II), Pd(II) and Ni(II). The bis-benzimidazole derivatives showed the following order of loading capacity: NSN1 (47.28 mg/g) > NSN2 (23.89 mg/g) > NNN1 (17.47 mg/g) > NNN2 (14.91 mg/g) for Rh(III); NSN2 (10.64 mg/g) > NNN2 (6.84 mg/g) > NSN1 (5.74 mg/g) > NNN1 (5.02 mg/g) for Ir(III); NNN2 (33.96 mg/g) > NSN1 (30.95 mg/g) > NSN2 (19.95 mg/g) > NNN1 (14.92 mg/g) for Pt(II); NNN1 (47.94 mg/g) > NNN2 (28.90 mg/g) > NSN1 (16.22 mg/g) > NSN2 (15.83 mg/g) for Pd(II). Bis-benzimidazole derivatives showed no uptake of nickel(II) under these conditions. It was observed the ligand-selectivity order for Rh(III) was similar in both single-element and multi-element studies. This order showed that the bis-benzimidazoles containing a sulfur atom showed a high preference for rhodium(III) compared to Pt(II) which had a high preference for NNN2 as well as Pd(II) which had a high preference for NNN1. Ir(III) generally had a lower preference for the ligands presumably due to its higher kinetic inertness compared with Rh(III). Column sorption of [IrCl6]2- and [RhCl5(H2O)]2- on nanofibers functionalized with diammonium cations was carried out and the loading capacities of [IrCl6]2- were obtained. [RhCl5(H2O)]2- was not adsorbed by the sorbent materials while [IrCl6]2- was loaded onto the column. The loading capacities of [IrCl6]2- with the quaternary diammonium sorbent materials increased in the order of F-QuatDMDAMeBnz (60.29 mg/g) < F-QuatDMDABnz (67.61 mg/g) < F-QuatDMDACF3Bnz (107.59 mg/g) < F-QuatDMDANO2Bnz (140.47 mg/g). The loading capacity for Ir(IV) with quaternary diammonium cationic nanofibers increased with an increase in the electron-withdrawing nature of the quaternizing group. The charge delocalizing ability of the nitrobenzyl group resulted in the best interaction of the diammonium cation with [IrCl6]2-. Batch equilibrium studies were carried out to assess the efficiency of bis-benzimidazole chelating derivatives as adsorbents using a multi-metal solution (Rh(III), Ir(III), Pt(II), Pd(II) and Ni(II)) in 0.5 M HCl. The efficiency of the quaternary diammonium cations was tested using a binary metal solution (Ir(IV) and Rh(III)) in 6 M HCl. The isothermal batch adsorption studies of a multi-metal solution with bis-benzimidazoles derivatives fitted the Langmuir isotherm model which confirmed monolayer adsorption onto a homogeneous surface. The Langmuir isotherm parameter (qe (mg/g)), using functionalized nanofibers, showed the order of NNN2 (128.21 mg/g) > NSN1 (99.01 mg/g) > NSN2 (91.74 mg/g) > NNN1 (84.03 mg/g) for Pt(II); NNN1 (66.23 mg/g) > NNN2 (5.89 mg/g) > NSN1 (1.40 mg/g) > NSN2 (0.59 mg/g) for Pd(II); NSN2 (10.64 mg/g) > NNN2 (6.84 mg/g) > NSN1 (5.74 mg/g) > NNN1 (5.02 mg/g) for Ir(III); NSN1 (140.85 mg/g) > NSN2 (109.89 mg/g) > NNN1 (104.17 mg/g) > NNN2 (91.74 mg/g) for Rh(III). The pseudo-first-order kinetics model was found to be the best fit to describe the adsorption kinetics of all metal ions onto all the sorbent materials. K1 (min-1) value in pseudo-first-order kinetics showed the same order of adsorption as observed in the Langmuir isotherms. The isothermal batch adsorption studies of [IrCl6]2- and [RhCl5(H2O)]2- with quaternary diammonium cations fitted the Freundlich isotherm model and confirmed to be effective for multiple-layered adsorption onto a heterogeneous surface. The Freundlich isotherm parameter (kf (mg/g)) using functionalized quaternary diammonium cationic nanofibers increased in the order of F-QuatDMDANO2Bnz (794.33 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDACF3Bnz (185.35 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDABnz (156.32 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDAMeBnz (112.46 mg/g) for Ir(IV) uptake. F-QuatDMDANO2Bnz resin showed the highest adsorption than that of F-QuatDMDAMeBnz, F-QuatDMDABnz and F-QuatDMDACF3Bnz and this order is similar to what was observed in column studies. The quaternary diammonium cations were shown to have the highest adsorption capacity for Ir(IV) compared with Rh(III). The adsorption of Rh(III) was also observed to increase in the order of F-QuatDMDANO2Bnz (177.83 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDACF3Bnz (40.37 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDABnz (36.98 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDAMeBnz (12.71 mg/g). The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was found to be the best fit to describe the adsorption kinetics of both metal ions onto all the sorbent materials. K2 (g.mg-1min-1) value in pseudo-second-order kinetics showed the same order of adsorption as observed in the Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption studies showed adsorption takes place via chemisorption process. This thesis presents PGMs and iridium-specific materials that could be applied in solutions of secondary PGMs sources containing rhodium, platinum and palladium with bis-benzimidazoles as well as in feed solutions from ore processing with diammonium cations for iridium recovery.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
HIV-related stigma in rural areas: a case of citrus farm workers based in Addo community in Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mazorodze, Tasara
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Stigma (Social psychology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Discrimination -- Psychology HIV infections -- Psychology AIDS (Disease) -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41526 , vital:36501
- Description: While South Africa has recently joined the rest of the world in the race to achieve an AIDS free generation by the year of 2030, little has been done to develop the scientific interventions that address HIV-related stigma, which is one of the major barriers to the fight against HIV. To the researcher’s knowledge, this is the first study in the South African context that seeks to assess the forms of HIV- related stigma in a local context and in a rural area in particular, where HIV related stigma research and interventions remains scant. This study acknowledges the dynamic, unique, multidimensional and sensitive nature of HIV-related stigma and, therefore, an explanatory mixed approach enabled the researcher to provide a comprehensive assessment of HIV-related stigma amongst the citrus farm workers who are based in Addo, Eastern Cape. Quantitative data was collected from 200 participants across five farms, whereas 50 employees across the 5 farms were also selected to take part in the focus group discussions. An assessment of the reliability and validity of local HIV-related stigma scales (Kalichman et al., 2005 personal stigma scale-English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans version and Visser et al. 2008 personal and attributed stigma scale-English version) and the UNAIDS (2012) HIV knowledge scale was conducted. The assessment showed that the reliability of these scales of measurement tend to vary according to context. In this study, the Kalichman et al., (2005) personal stigma scale (English version) scored a weaker reliability score (alpha=0.58). Thus, as the scale is not reliable for the rural context, it was not considered. Furthermore, quantitative findings show that citrus farm workers are characterised by lack of/ little knowledge about HIV, which results in the stigmatisation of people who are HIV positive in the form of symbolic, instrumental, personal and attributed stigma, as well as a fear of HIV disclosure. Findings also revealed that participants who display a high personal stigma score are likely to display a high attributed stigma score (r=0.47, p<0.00). This confirm the assumption of social identity theory that people tend to use stigma as a ‘protective function’ to protect their identity by labelling other people as ‘’deviant’ or ‘stigmatising’. This finding is particularly relevant in that it reveals that, while many people are aware that stigmatising people with HIV is not morally acceptable, they rather attribute stigmatising attitudes to their communities. Thus future studies need to consider emphasising the assessment of attributed stigma in a rural context. Quantitative findings also revealed that the effect of the following demographic variables, namely race (F=20.1, p=0.00), marital status (F=3.58, p=0.00), religion (F=7.17, p=0.03) and education (F=2.63, p=0.03) on HIV-related stigma was statistically significant. This provides proof that HIV-related interventions that were developed for the Addo community need to consider the above-mentioned demographics variables. The qualitative findings provided an in-depth analysis of the key quantitative findings. A lack of knowledge about HIV among participants was further confirmed by the following themes that were common during focus group discussions: misconceptions about HIV transmission and prevention; false beliefs that healthy looking people cannot have HIV; HIV symptoms are clearly visible; and HIV can be transmitted through contact with people who are HIV positive. Possible causes of HIV-related stigma as revealed by the qualitative findings include; fear of death; the belief that HIV is a punishment for bad behaviour; and the fear of being isolated and rejected. The qualitative approach revealed other forms of HIV-related stigma that were not common in the quantitative studynamely; healthcare, employment and verbal stigma. The focus group discussions revealed the major reasons why a large number of the farm works may be reluctant to disclose their status, namely fear of the unknown and attributed stigma. The study concluded by offering recommendations for the designing and tailoring of HIV-related interventions in the rural context and in the citrus sector in particular.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mazorodze, Tasara
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Stigma (Social psychology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Discrimination -- Psychology HIV infections -- Psychology AIDS (Disease) -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41526 , vital:36501
- Description: While South Africa has recently joined the rest of the world in the race to achieve an AIDS free generation by the year of 2030, little has been done to develop the scientific interventions that address HIV-related stigma, which is one of the major barriers to the fight against HIV. To the researcher’s knowledge, this is the first study in the South African context that seeks to assess the forms of HIV- related stigma in a local context and in a rural area in particular, where HIV related stigma research and interventions remains scant. This study acknowledges the dynamic, unique, multidimensional and sensitive nature of HIV-related stigma and, therefore, an explanatory mixed approach enabled the researcher to provide a comprehensive assessment of HIV-related stigma amongst the citrus farm workers who are based in Addo, Eastern Cape. Quantitative data was collected from 200 participants across five farms, whereas 50 employees across the 5 farms were also selected to take part in the focus group discussions. An assessment of the reliability and validity of local HIV-related stigma scales (Kalichman et al., 2005 personal stigma scale-English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans version and Visser et al. 2008 personal and attributed stigma scale-English version) and the UNAIDS (2012) HIV knowledge scale was conducted. The assessment showed that the reliability of these scales of measurement tend to vary according to context. In this study, the Kalichman et al., (2005) personal stigma scale (English version) scored a weaker reliability score (alpha=0.58). Thus, as the scale is not reliable for the rural context, it was not considered. Furthermore, quantitative findings show that citrus farm workers are characterised by lack of/ little knowledge about HIV, which results in the stigmatisation of people who are HIV positive in the form of symbolic, instrumental, personal and attributed stigma, as well as a fear of HIV disclosure. Findings also revealed that participants who display a high personal stigma score are likely to display a high attributed stigma score (r=0.47, p<0.00). This confirm the assumption of social identity theory that people tend to use stigma as a ‘protective function’ to protect their identity by labelling other people as ‘’deviant’ or ‘stigmatising’. This finding is particularly relevant in that it reveals that, while many people are aware that stigmatising people with HIV is not morally acceptable, they rather attribute stigmatising attitudes to their communities. Thus future studies need to consider emphasising the assessment of attributed stigma in a rural context. Quantitative findings also revealed that the effect of the following demographic variables, namely race (F=20.1, p=0.00), marital status (F=3.58, p=0.00), religion (F=7.17, p=0.03) and education (F=2.63, p=0.03) on HIV-related stigma was statistically significant. This provides proof that HIV-related interventions that were developed for the Addo community need to consider the above-mentioned demographics variables. The qualitative findings provided an in-depth analysis of the key quantitative findings. A lack of knowledge about HIV among participants was further confirmed by the following themes that were common during focus group discussions: misconceptions about HIV transmission and prevention; false beliefs that healthy looking people cannot have HIV; HIV symptoms are clearly visible; and HIV can be transmitted through contact with people who are HIV positive. Possible causes of HIV-related stigma as revealed by the qualitative findings include; fear of death; the belief that HIV is a punishment for bad behaviour; and the fear of being isolated and rejected. The qualitative approach revealed other forms of HIV-related stigma that were not common in the quantitative studynamely; healthcare, employment and verbal stigma. The focus group discussions revealed the major reasons why a large number of the farm works may be reluctant to disclose their status, namely fear of the unknown and attributed stigma. The study concluded by offering recommendations for the designing and tailoring of HIV-related interventions in the rural context and in the citrus sector in particular.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A critical analysis of disaster risk management in local governance with reference to Sarah Baartman District Municipality
- Authors: Oosthuizen, Rene Cheryl
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Disaster relief -- Citizen participation , Risk management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/34487 , vital:33385
- Description: The devastation and destruction caused by natural and man-made disasters have become a global concern, particularly as such disasters affect the most vulnerable in society. The devastation they wreak frequently involves loss of lives and property. Globally, Disaster Management has moved in approach from reactive to proactive. Disaster management is now more than a field of study; it is the application of practices and principles which enable disasters to be managed both prior to and in the aftermath of their occurrence. Disaster risk management is the development approach to Disaster Management. The study addresses the integration of disaster risk management into integrated development planning at the local level in South Africa. The impact of disasters on social and economic development is of special interest. In many instances, resources that have been planned for development have to be diverted for response activities during disasters. Thus, development and disaster risk management are two sides of the same coin and should be dealt with in unison and not separately. There is also now widespread international acknowledgement for the idea of mainstreaming disaster risk management into development planning, particularly at the local level of government. The central argument of this study is that by integrating disaster risk management plans into integrated development plans at the local level, the risks faced by communities can be reduced. Risks can be even further reduced, and development enhanced when communities play an active role in disaster risk management. Within this context, the main objective of the study was to develop a model for integrating disaster risk management plans into integrated development plans at the local level. To achieve this key objective, the study used theoretical and empirical studies. The theoretical aspect focussed on international frameworks and national legislation for Disaster Management. Legislative requirements pertaining to the involvement of communities in integrated development planning were explored, as was the literature on asset-based community development. Empirical research complimented the theoretical research through the use of qualitative methods to collect data. This involved semi-structured interviews with eight government officials involved in provincial, district and municipal Disaster Management programmes, and focus group discussions with sixty ward committee members, so that community viewpoints would be included. The findings of the study reveal that the integration of disaster risk management plans into integrated development plans at the local level can greatly contribute towards reducing the risks faced by communities, especially high-risk communities. The study also revealed that by carefully considering and using community assets, local government could ameliorate the financial effects of Disaster Management and empower communities as first responders. The thesis gives an outline of a model that may be used by local government to integrate risks and community assets into an integrated development plan.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Oosthuizen, Rene Cheryl
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Disaster relief -- Citizen participation , Risk management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/34487 , vital:33385
- Description: The devastation and destruction caused by natural and man-made disasters have become a global concern, particularly as such disasters affect the most vulnerable in society. The devastation they wreak frequently involves loss of lives and property. Globally, Disaster Management has moved in approach from reactive to proactive. Disaster management is now more than a field of study; it is the application of practices and principles which enable disasters to be managed both prior to and in the aftermath of their occurrence. Disaster risk management is the development approach to Disaster Management. The study addresses the integration of disaster risk management into integrated development planning at the local level in South Africa. The impact of disasters on social and economic development is of special interest. In many instances, resources that have been planned for development have to be diverted for response activities during disasters. Thus, development and disaster risk management are two sides of the same coin and should be dealt with in unison and not separately. There is also now widespread international acknowledgement for the idea of mainstreaming disaster risk management into development planning, particularly at the local level of government. The central argument of this study is that by integrating disaster risk management plans into integrated development plans at the local level, the risks faced by communities can be reduced. Risks can be even further reduced, and development enhanced when communities play an active role in disaster risk management. Within this context, the main objective of the study was to develop a model for integrating disaster risk management plans into integrated development plans at the local level. To achieve this key objective, the study used theoretical and empirical studies. The theoretical aspect focussed on international frameworks and national legislation for Disaster Management. Legislative requirements pertaining to the involvement of communities in integrated development planning were explored, as was the literature on asset-based community development. Empirical research complimented the theoretical research through the use of qualitative methods to collect data. This involved semi-structured interviews with eight government officials involved in provincial, district and municipal Disaster Management programmes, and focus group discussions with sixty ward committee members, so that community viewpoints would be included. The findings of the study reveal that the integration of disaster risk management plans into integrated development plans at the local level can greatly contribute towards reducing the risks faced by communities, especially high-risk communities. The study also revealed that by carefully considering and using community assets, local government could ameliorate the financial effects of Disaster Management and empower communities as first responders. The thesis gives an outline of a model that may be used by local government to integrate risks and community assets into an integrated development plan.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A strategy towards implementing standardised data structures in municipal information systems
- Authors: Koekemoer, Silma Marguerite
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Data structures (Computer science) , Municipal government -- Data processing Public administration -- Data processing Management information systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46064 , vital:39482
- Description: The regulation pertaining to a Standard Chart of Accounts (SCOA) for Municipalities was published in 2014 and is applicable to all 257 municipalities and municipal entities in South Africa. The regulation represents a data classification framework or structure and affects all financial management and internal control systems (FMICS) used by municipalities and municipal entities, and affects key business processes within these organisations. Compliance with the SCOA regulation means that the full municipal accountability cycle should accommodate all seven of the SCOA segments, from the budget through transacting and reporting at the transaction level, with all seven of the segments being embedded in the master data table of the municipal FMICS. While the change to technology and systems may be self-evident, the related business change should not be underestimated. This information technology (IT) driven organisational change across the whole municipal environment represents the research topic and key objective of this research study, namely, a strategy towards implementing standard data structures in municipal IT systems. The study followed a pragmatic philosophy using diagnostic reasoning based on an inductive approach, multiple action research methods and a descriptive case study to derive the proposed implementation strategy. The research subjects, which included 25 pilot municipalities, were studied for the duration of the pilot implementation of the strategy with the objective of identifying and utilising the lessons learnt from their experience to fast track the rollout of the strategy to non-pilot municipalities. The study was limited to the local government environment and to South Africa as a geographic area and involved an accidental sample aligned to the implementation project under investigation. The proposed implementation strategy was, however, of a generic nature and is therefore applicable to any other institution or environment engaged in a similar implementation project. The main contribution of the study is an implementation strategy for standard data structures in municipal financial information systems and which consists of seven diagnostics, 17 guiding policies and 48 coherent actions. The strategy was developed and refined during six cycles of data collection, which were conducted at 25 municipalities actively involved in implementing of the standard data structures. The secondary contributions of the research study include three conference papers and one submission to an academic journal.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Koekemoer, Silma Marguerite
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Data structures (Computer science) , Municipal government -- Data processing Public administration -- Data processing Management information systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46064 , vital:39482
- Description: The regulation pertaining to a Standard Chart of Accounts (SCOA) for Municipalities was published in 2014 and is applicable to all 257 municipalities and municipal entities in South Africa. The regulation represents a data classification framework or structure and affects all financial management and internal control systems (FMICS) used by municipalities and municipal entities, and affects key business processes within these organisations. Compliance with the SCOA regulation means that the full municipal accountability cycle should accommodate all seven of the SCOA segments, from the budget through transacting and reporting at the transaction level, with all seven of the segments being embedded in the master data table of the municipal FMICS. While the change to technology and systems may be self-evident, the related business change should not be underestimated. This information technology (IT) driven organisational change across the whole municipal environment represents the research topic and key objective of this research study, namely, a strategy towards implementing standard data structures in municipal IT systems. The study followed a pragmatic philosophy using diagnostic reasoning based on an inductive approach, multiple action research methods and a descriptive case study to derive the proposed implementation strategy. The research subjects, which included 25 pilot municipalities, were studied for the duration of the pilot implementation of the strategy with the objective of identifying and utilising the lessons learnt from their experience to fast track the rollout of the strategy to non-pilot municipalities. The study was limited to the local government environment and to South Africa as a geographic area and involved an accidental sample aligned to the implementation project under investigation. The proposed implementation strategy was, however, of a generic nature and is therefore applicable to any other institution or environment engaged in a similar implementation project. The main contribution of the study is an implementation strategy for standard data structures in municipal financial information systems and which consists of seven diagnostics, 17 guiding policies and 48 coherent actions. The strategy was developed and refined during six cycles of data collection, which were conducted at 25 municipalities actively involved in implementing of the standard data structures. The secondary contributions of the research study include three conference papers and one submission to an academic journal.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Prioritisation of spaces and services in on-campus student housing facilities in southern Ghana universities
- Authors: Simpeh, Fredrick
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Student housing -- Ghana , College students -- Housing -- Ghana Student housing , Facility management -- Ghana Building management -- Ghana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/35637 , vital:33769
- Description: Student housing facilities (SHFs) are an integral part of universities’ physical facilities. Therefore, the management of SHF should be seen as part of broader university facility management. Moreover, it can be argued that by understanding the requirements of occupants, facility managers would be able to effectively prioritise the spaces and services required in the SHFs. However, studies from many parts of the world, including Ghana, show that users’ requirements and expectations are not duly incorporated into the management process of university building facilities. As a result, users’, in this case students requirements are not well prioritised by facility managers. Thus, the facility departments are unable to adequately provide and deliver SHF spaces and services to meet students’ requirements. With this in mind, this research aimed to develop a prioritisation and a standard SHF frameworks to enhance the provisioning and management of the on-campus SHF spaces and services at southern Ghana universities. The overarching research methodology was subjective. The qualitative method was adopted for the study. The research was conducted within the southern part of Ghana and limited to five universities. A total of ten focus group discussions were carried out in the five universities. Other sources of primary data were interviews and site visit. The study found that washrooms (toilet and bath), sleeping spaces, kitchens, study areas, libraries, sick bays, computer labs, bookshops, drying areas and discussion rooms as well as electricity, water, security, internet, cleaning services, maintenance services, generators, ventilation (fans), health services, library services, electric sockets, study furniture, refuse collection, pest control and fire extinguishers are extremely important spaces and services that students expect to have in a SHF. Furthermore, it was found that only 3 spaces out of the 10 rated as extremely important were rated as basic, whilst 10 out of the 15 services rated as extremely important received a basic priority rating. However, the study also found that some of these extremely important spaces and services such as study areas, computer labs, kitchens and internet were not provided in some SHFs. The study also revealed that students were generally not satisfied with some of the spaces and services that were provided in the SHFs; dissatisfaction was expressed with: the infrequent water supply; the poor condition of washrooms, i.e. bath and toilet facilities; the lack of study areas and also the condition, adequacy and availability of chairs and tables in the study rooms; the slow response of maintenance departments; the poor standard/quality of cleaning and availability of cleaners; the lack of adequate kitchens and the lack of stable internet connectivity. The study has achieved its aim by developing a prioritisation framework as well as an ideal SHF framework to enhance the provision and management of the on-campus SHF spaces and services at southern Ghana universities. It is recommended that SHFs which do not meet average students’ expected standards should be upgraded to meet such standards. The frameworks developed in the study could be used by facility managers or departments as a guide for effective on-campus SHF management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Simpeh, Fredrick
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Student housing -- Ghana , College students -- Housing -- Ghana Student housing , Facility management -- Ghana Building management -- Ghana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/35637 , vital:33769
- Description: Student housing facilities (SHFs) are an integral part of universities’ physical facilities. Therefore, the management of SHF should be seen as part of broader university facility management. Moreover, it can be argued that by understanding the requirements of occupants, facility managers would be able to effectively prioritise the spaces and services required in the SHFs. However, studies from many parts of the world, including Ghana, show that users’ requirements and expectations are not duly incorporated into the management process of university building facilities. As a result, users’, in this case students requirements are not well prioritised by facility managers. Thus, the facility departments are unable to adequately provide and deliver SHF spaces and services to meet students’ requirements. With this in mind, this research aimed to develop a prioritisation and a standard SHF frameworks to enhance the provisioning and management of the on-campus SHF spaces and services at southern Ghana universities. The overarching research methodology was subjective. The qualitative method was adopted for the study. The research was conducted within the southern part of Ghana and limited to five universities. A total of ten focus group discussions were carried out in the five universities. Other sources of primary data were interviews and site visit. The study found that washrooms (toilet and bath), sleeping spaces, kitchens, study areas, libraries, sick bays, computer labs, bookshops, drying areas and discussion rooms as well as electricity, water, security, internet, cleaning services, maintenance services, generators, ventilation (fans), health services, library services, electric sockets, study furniture, refuse collection, pest control and fire extinguishers are extremely important spaces and services that students expect to have in a SHF. Furthermore, it was found that only 3 spaces out of the 10 rated as extremely important were rated as basic, whilst 10 out of the 15 services rated as extremely important received a basic priority rating. However, the study also found that some of these extremely important spaces and services such as study areas, computer labs, kitchens and internet were not provided in some SHFs. The study also revealed that students were generally not satisfied with some of the spaces and services that were provided in the SHFs; dissatisfaction was expressed with: the infrequent water supply; the poor condition of washrooms, i.e. bath and toilet facilities; the lack of study areas and also the condition, adequacy and availability of chairs and tables in the study rooms; the slow response of maintenance departments; the poor standard/quality of cleaning and availability of cleaners; the lack of adequate kitchens and the lack of stable internet connectivity. The study has achieved its aim by developing a prioritisation framework as well as an ideal SHF framework to enhance the provision and management of the on-campus SHF spaces and services at southern Ghana universities. It is recommended that SHFs which do not meet average students’ expected standards should be upgraded to meet such standards. The frameworks developed in the study could be used by facility managers or departments as a guide for effective on-campus SHF management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Effects of 99-year leases on newly resettled farmers’ farm improvement, productivity and empowerment in Zimbabwe, 2007 to 2013
- Authors: Makaye, Peter
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Land reform - -Zimbabwe , Land tenure -- Zimbabwe Farmers -- Zimbabwe Sustainable development -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40812 , vital:36239
- Description: This study seeks to interrogate the effects of 99-year leases on newly resettled farmers, with focus on Zimbabwe’s Fast Track Land Reform programme, shifting from its causes and processes to its variegated outcomes., The focus was on how the leasehold system has impinged on three variables: farm improvement, productivity, and empowerment. Quantitative data was collected from 92 newly resettled farmers randomly selected from three different farming regions in Zimbabwe: Region 2, an agriculturally well-endowed area concentrating on crop production, Region 4, an arid and hot region concentrating on livestock, and Region 5, specialising in sugar cane production under irrigation. To corroborate the survey findings, follow-up interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) were carried out in these regions. Interviews with purposively sampled experts in agriculture in Zimbabwe were also conducted. Data are presented in charts and graphs as well as detailed descriptions. The study found that the 99-year leases influenced the fortunes of the farmers in different ways. In some areas, depending on the crop grown, the 99-year leases were accepted as a basis for a loan. In other instances, the leases have not been accepted as collateral and this has constrained the farmers’ ability to optimally utilise their farms optimally. Despite a general sense of insecurity, the farmers have shown a willingness to re-invest in the farms., Many improvements such as new accommodation for employees, the erection of fire guards, and the development of water sources are being made on the farms, all pointing to a desire for sustained utilisation of the A2 farms. The researcher proposes that serious effort has to be made towards making the 99-year leases acceptable as collateral for loans because otherwise, in the context of general undercapitalisation among the farmers, their ability to make the medium-scale farms optimally contribute to national accumulation will remain constrained. The form of tenure is related to the empowerment of the farmers, both materially and socially. This is in turn related to the sustainable use of the land and hence to sustainable development in Zimbabwe.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Makaye, Peter
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Land reform - -Zimbabwe , Land tenure -- Zimbabwe Farmers -- Zimbabwe Sustainable development -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40812 , vital:36239
- Description: This study seeks to interrogate the effects of 99-year leases on newly resettled farmers, with focus on Zimbabwe’s Fast Track Land Reform programme, shifting from its causes and processes to its variegated outcomes., The focus was on how the leasehold system has impinged on three variables: farm improvement, productivity, and empowerment. Quantitative data was collected from 92 newly resettled farmers randomly selected from three different farming regions in Zimbabwe: Region 2, an agriculturally well-endowed area concentrating on crop production, Region 4, an arid and hot region concentrating on livestock, and Region 5, specialising in sugar cane production under irrigation. To corroborate the survey findings, follow-up interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) were carried out in these regions. Interviews with purposively sampled experts in agriculture in Zimbabwe were also conducted. Data are presented in charts and graphs as well as detailed descriptions. The study found that the 99-year leases influenced the fortunes of the farmers in different ways. In some areas, depending on the crop grown, the 99-year leases were accepted as a basis for a loan. In other instances, the leases have not been accepted as collateral and this has constrained the farmers’ ability to optimally utilise their farms optimally. Despite a general sense of insecurity, the farmers have shown a willingness to re-invest in the farms., Many improvements such as new accommodation for employees, the erection of fire guards, and the development of water sources are being made on the farms, all pointing to a desire for sustained utilisation of the A2 farms. The researcher proposes that serious effort has to be made towards making the 99-year leases acceptable as collateral for loans because otherwise, in the context of general undercapitalisation among the farmers, their ability to make the medium-scale farms optimally contribute to national accumulation will remain constrained. The form of tenure is related to the empowerment of the farmers, both materially and socially. This is in turn related to the sustainable use of the land and hence to sustainable development in Zimbabwe.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Foraging in a dynamic environment: movement and stable isotope ecology of marine top predators breeding at the Prince Edward Archipelago
- Authors: Carpenter-Kling, Tegan
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Marine ecology , Stable isotope tracers , Estuarine ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49049 , vital:41596
- Description: Marine ecosystems are experiencing rapid changes due to climate change. The associated temporal and spatial changes in resource distribution impacts on the foraging behaviour of marine top predators. If these changes negatively affect the ability of marine predators to forage efficiently, there may be dire consequences for their populations. However, evidence of foraging plasticity during adverse conditions, or generalist foraging behaviour, can allow inference about the resilience of species to environmental change and provide essential knowledge towards effective and proactive conservation measures. I examined plasticity in the trophic ecology of 12 marine predator species breeding on Marion Island, southern Indian Ocean, over three years (2015 – 2018), a period characterized by pronounced environmental variability. Firstly, I correlated behavioural states inferred along the GPS tracks of incubating wandering, grey-headed, sooty and light-mantled albatrosses to environmental variables that are indicative of biologically productive oceanographic features. Secondly, I analysed δ13C and δ15N blood values in 12 marine predator species (the afore-mentioned albatrosses as well as king, gentoo, macaroni and eastern rockhopper penguins, northern and southern giant petrels and Antarctic and sub-Antarctic fur seals) over two seasons: summer and autumn. My results revealed that the foraging behaviour of all the species is, to some degree, either plastic (temporally variable isotopic niche) or general (large isotopic niche which remained similar over time), except for the king penguin (small isotopic niche which remained similar over time), a known foraging specialist. Furthermore, despite their dynamic foraging behaviour, resource partitioning among the predators was maintained over time. Due to the ease and relatively low cost of collecting tissues for stable isotope analysis it has the potential to be a powerful tool to monitor the trophic ecology of marine predators. I thus used my simultaneously collected dataset of GPS tracks with the stable isotope blood compositions to investigate some of the assumptions underlying the inferences made from marine predator δ13C and δ15N blood values. I reconstructed species- and guild- specific δ13C and δ15N isoscapes for eight seabird species. Following this, I coupled individual-based movement models of northern giant petrels with global marine isotope models to explore the sensitivity of tissue δ13C values to a range of extrinsic (environmental) and intrinsic (behavioural, physiological) drivers. My results demonstrate the strong influence of reference isoscapes on the inference of stable isotope compositions of marine predators. Furthermore, I show that caution should be used when using non-species-specific or temporally inaccurate isoscapes. I furthermore demonstrate that biological interactions, such as competition for food resources, either past or present, as well as spatio-temporal distribution of food patches strongly influence the foraging behaviour of marine predators. These findings highlight the importance of integrating biological interactions in species distribution models which are used to predict possible distributional shifts of marine predators in the context of global changes. My thesis further developed previously available methods and presents a novel approach to investigate sources of variance in the stable isotopic composition of animals’ tissues.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Carpenter-Kling, Tegan
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Marine ecology , Stable isotope tracers , Estuarine ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49049 , vital:41596
- Description: Marine ecosystems are experiencing rapid changes due to climate change. The associated temporal and spatial changes in resource distribution impacts on the foraging behaviour of marine top predators. If these changes negatively affect the ability of marine predators to forage efficiently, there may be dire consequences for their populations. However, evidence of foraging plasticity during adverse conditions, or generalist foraging behaviour, can allow inference about the resilience of species to environmental change and provide essential knowledge towards effective and proactive conservation measures. I examined plasticity in the trophic ecology of 12 marine predator species breeding on Marion Island, southern Indian Ocean, over three years (2015 – 2018), a period characterized by pronounced environmental variability. Firstly, I correlated behavioural states inferred along the GPS tracks of incubating wandering, grey-headed, sooty and light-mantled albatrosses to environmental variables that are indicative of biologically productive oceanographic features. Secondly, I analysed δ13C and δ15N blood values in 12 marine predator species (the afore-mentioned albatrosses as well as king, gentoo, macaroni and eastern rockhopper penguins, northern and southern giant petrels and Antarctic and sub-Antarctic fur seals) over two seasons: summer and autumn. My results revealed that the foraging behaviour of all the species is, to some degree, either plastic (temporally variable isotopic niche) or general (large isotopic niche which remained similar over time), except for the king penguin (small isotopic niche which remained similar over time), a known foraging specialist. Furthermore, despite their dynamic foraging behaviour, resource partitioning among the predators was maintained over time. Due to the ease and relatively low cost of collecting tissues for stable isotope analysis it has the potential to be a powerful tool to monitor the trophic ecology of marine predators. I thus used my simultaneously collected dataset of GPS tracks with the stable isotope blood compositions to investigate some of the assumptions underlying the inferences made from marine predator δ13C and δ15N blood values. I reconstructed species- and guild- specific δ13C and δ15N isoscapes for eight seabird species. Following this, I coupled individual-based movement models of northern giant petrels with global marine isotope models to explore the sensitivity of tissue δ13C values to a range of extrinsic (environmental) and intrinsic (behavioural, physiological) drivers. My results demonstrate the strong influence of reference isoscapes on the inference of stable isotope compositions of marine predators. Furthermore, I show that caution should be used when using non-species-specific or temporally inaccurate isoscapes. I furthermore demonstrate that biological interactions, such as competition for food resources, either past or present, as well as spatio-temporal distribution of food patches strongly influence the foraging behaviour of marine predators. These findings highlight the importance of integrating biological interactions in species distribution models which are used to predict possible distributional shifts of marine predators in the context of global changes. My thesis further developed previously available methods and presents a novel approach to investigate sources of variance in the stable isotopic composition of animals’ tissues.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
A strategy to enhance the role of the church as a social service delivery agent in fighting poverty in contemporary South Africa
- Lujabe, Busisiwe Tando Tabiso
- Authors: Lujabe, Busisiwe Tando Tabiso
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Community-based social services Community development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17876 , vital:28477
- Description: The possible role and involvement of the Church in social development has reemerged as an important focus of contemporary academic and religious development discourse in South Africa. There are strong voices arguing for churches and other Faith-Based Organisations to be regarded as strategic in contributing to addressing the challenge of poverty as agents of social development. Yet, as church congregations multiply throughout South Africa, they appear to be less responsive to the challenge of poverty facing South African communities, contrary to the rich history of churches in the past. The need for churches to be involved in sustainable community-driven development initiatives to fight poverty in their local communities cannot be denied nor be met with just rhetoric and scholarly dissertations by theologians and academics. The vicious cycle of poverty in our communities must be eradicated as it represents a social injustice in terms of South Africa‘s Constitution and speaks to deep structural inequalities inherent in our society. Whilst researchers have made several proposals for churches to move from social welfare and relief, there appears to be little research with a clear practical strategy which congregations can implement to enhance their social service delivery role from social relief to sustainable community development. This has left a considerable gap which the current research sought to address. This study thus responds to the call by previous research for churches to implement strategies other than mere relief. Hence, this study contributes to the religious development discourse in South Africa, by developing a strategy to enhance Church-based social service delivery initiatives from social relief efforts which are not sustainable, to community development efforts which are sustainable and which will be consistent with the current social development policy context and contextually relevant to the socio-economic challenges of poverty and its consequences in South Africa. The study was conducted in two phases. During phase one, the main purpose was to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and current involvement of the Church in providing social services which address poverty in communities, to enhance understanding of the factors which influence the provision of social services by churches, as well as to understand participants views of how church-based social service delivery can be improved in order to fight poverty. For phase two, the goal was to develop a strategy to enhance church-based social service delivery from being social relief to being community development oriented. The following objectives guided the research process: To review selected and applicable literature to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and current involvement of the Church in the delivery of social services in order to fight poverty; To explore and describe the perceptions of church leaders and congregation members of the historical and current involvement of the Church in the delivery of social services in order to fight poverty; To explore and describe the factors which influence Church-based social service delivery in fighting poverty; To explore the views of church leaders and congregation members on how church-based social service delivery can be improved in their churches to inform the development of a strategy to enhance church-based social service delivery in fighting poverty. This study employed a qualitative research approach grounded in the interpretivist social science paradigm. The qualitative research approach necessitated an exploratory, descriptive and contextual method of inquiry. A descriptive case study method was also used, with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa selected as the main case of focus. The target population in this research comprised of Christian churches with a historical involvement in social service delivery in pre-apartheid South Africa. Purposeful sampling of 5 churches was undertaken, namely; Roman Catholic Church (RCC), Anglican Church (AC), Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), KwaSizabantu Mission (KSB) and Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA). Data collection was conducted in two phases. Phase one comprised a literature review; Phase two comprised gathering empirical evidence by conducting face to face semi-structured interviews with clergy and from conducting one focus group interview with congregants. The information obtained from participants was transcribed, coded and analysed using content analysis and by a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS), namely ATLAS.ti. Findings revealed a marked difference between the historical and current churchbased social service delivery suggestive of decline, accompanied by the lack of empowerment opportunities for current church leaders and congregation members in community development facilitation. Further evidence suggest the lack of cooperation between church leaders and congregation members; as well as the lack of sustainability of interventions owing to an absence of resources and the lack of capacity to create sustainable economic opportunities. Findings also revealed that church congregations are rich with people with various assets - skills, strengths, capabilities, passions, gifts, talents in various fields, which they can share with one another as congregations and communities. The discussion of findings reflected that historically, Church-based social service provision involved holistic intervention mechanisms, empowerment, collaborations and sustainability of interventions suggestive of second generation strategies of community development, while currently, Church-based social service provision involves mostly social relief and social welfare efforts suggestive of first generation strategies. The findings suggest a holistic strategy for ―reawakening the co-operativeness‖ of congregations to facilitate sustainable Church-based social service delivery towards fighting poverty in local communities. The strategy which was then developed and described with its sub-strategies, namely: Establishment of collaborative relationships Creation of empowerment opportunities Facilitation of holistic interventions The goal of the strategy is to guide church leaders and congregation members in facilitating sustainable Church-based social service programmes to fight poverty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Lujabe, Busisiwe Tando Tabiso
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Community-based social services Community development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17876 , vital:28477
- Description: The possible role and involvement of the Church in social development has reemerged as an important focus of contemporary academic and religious development discourse in South Africa. There are strong voices arguing for churches and other Faith-Based Organisations to be regarded as strategic in contributing to addressing the challenge of poverty as agents of social development. Yet, as church congregations multiply throughout South Africa, they appear to be less responsive to the challenge of poverty facing South African communities, contrary to the rich history of churches in the past. The need for churches to be involved in sustainable community-driven development initiatives to fight poverty in their local communities cannot be denied nor be met with just rhetoric and scholarly dissertations by theologians and academics. The vicious cycle of poverty in our communities must be eradicated as it represents a social injustice in terms of South Africa‘s Constitution and speaks to deep structural inequalities inherent in our society. Whilst researchers have made several proposals for churches to move from social welfare and relief, there appears to be little research with a clear practical strategy which congregations can implement to enhance their social service delivery role from social relief to sustainable community development. This has left a considerable gap which the current research sought to address. This study thus responds to the call by previous research for churches to implement strategies other than mere relief. Hence, this study contributes to the religious development discourse in South Africa, by developing a strategy to enhance Church-based social service delivery initiatives from social relief efforts which are not sustainable, to community development efforts which are sustainable and which will be consistent with the current social development policy context and contextually relevant to the socio-economic challenges of poverty and its consequences in South Africa. The study was conducted in two phases. During phase one, the main purpose was to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and current involvement of the Church in providing social services which address poverty in communities, to enhance understanding of the factors which influence the provision of social services by churches, as well as to understand participants views of how church-based social service delivery can be improved in order to fight poverty. For phase two, the goal was to develop a strategy to enhance church-based social service delivery from being social relief to being community development oriented. The following objectives guided the research process: To review selected and applicable literature to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and current involvement of the Church in the delivery of social services in order to fight poverty; To explore and describe the perceptions of church leaders and congregation members of the historical and current involvement of the Church in the delivery of social services in order to fight poverty; To explore and describe the factors which influence Church-based social service delivery in fighting poverty; To explore the views of church leaders and congregation members on how church-based social service delivery can be improved in their churches to inform the development of a strategy to enhance church-based social service delivery in fighting poverty. This study employed a qualitative research approach grounded in the interpretivist social science paradigm. The qualitative research approach necessitated an exploratory, descriptive and contextual method of inquiry. A descriptive case study method was also used, with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa selected as the main case of focus. The target population in this research comprised of Christian churches with a historical involvement in social service delivery in pre-apartheid South Africa. Purposeful sampling of 5 churches was undertaken, namely; Roman Catholic Church (RCC), Anglican Church (AC), Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), KwaSizabantu Mission (KSB) and Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA). Data collection was conducted in two phases. Phase one comprised a literature review; Phase two comprised gathering empirical evidence by conducting face to face semi-structured interviews with clergy and from conducting one focus group interview with congregants. The information obtained from participants was transcribed, coded and analysed using content analysis and by a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS), namely ATLAS.ti. Findings revealed a marked difference between the historical and current churchbased social service delivery suggestive of decline, accompanied by the lack of empowerment opportunities for current church leaders and congregation members in community development facilitation. Further evidence suggest the lack of cooperation between church leaders and congregation members; as well as the lack of sustainability of interventions owing to an absence of resources and the lack of capacity to create sustainable economic opportunities. Findings also revealed that church congregations are rich with people with various assets - skills, strengths, capabilities, passions, gifts, talents in various fields, which they can share with one another as congregations and communities. The discussion of findings reflected that historically, Church-based social service provision involved holistic intervention mechanisms, empowerment, collaborations and sustainability of interventions suggestive of second generation strategies of community development, while currently, Church-based social service provision involves mostly social relief and social welfare efforts suggestive of first generation strategies. The findings suggest a holistic strategy for ―reawakening the co-operativeness‖ of congregations to facilitate sustainable Church-based social service delivery towards fighting poverty in local communities. The strategy which was then developed and described with its sub-strategies, namely: Establishment of collaborative relationships Creation of empowerment opportunities Facilitation of holistic interventions The goal of the strategy is to guide church leaders and congregation members in facilitating sustainable Church-based social service programmes to fight poverty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Planning considerations for smart meter implementations in South Africa
- Authors: Muchenje, Tonderai
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Application software -- Development , Smart power grids
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46218 , vital:39515
- Description: Smart meter implementations are still in their infancy in many African countries. This is evident by the lack of research on the subject in the African context. Most of the research studies are either Eurocentric or US-centric. Although these studies are important and informative, they might not address the African challenges in context. Hence, South Africa was chosen as the testbed for an investigation that addresses the apparent knowledge gap. This study set out to formulate a framework for planning considerations in the implementation of smart meter technology within South Africa. Through extensive literature review and analysis, the technology acceptance model (TAM) was chosen as a foundational framework for this study. Although TAM is widely used for researching technology acceptance and use, its applicability was found to be inadequate in explaining customer centric factors in smart metering. Therefore, it was supplemented with factors from the theory of reasoned action (TRA), the theory of planned behavior (TPB), privacy calculus theory (PCT), as well as the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). A total of 11 consumer-centric factors were identified, and these were statistically analysed using the structural equation modelling technique (SEM). Ten (10) consumer-centric factors was found to be significant. These were attitude, perceived value, monetary cost, privacy risk, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, facilitating conditions, social norms, trust in technology and behavioral intention. Hypothesis testing confirmed that, not one acceptance model could adequately be used to identify and explain the consumer-centric factors that can be incorporated for planning considerations for smart meter implementation in South Africa. It was further observed that the consumer-centric factors such as environmental issues, security, reliability and health issues that were important in developed countries were not deemed so in South Africa. From a methodological perspective, the study attests to contextual localised application as opposed to universal meaning and measurement invariance when incorporating planning consideration for smart meter implementation in South Africa as compared to European countries and the United States of America. Finally, the findings hold some practical implications, as they showed the practical utility of the model in predicting the consumer-centric factors that can be incorporated for planning considerations. In support, the Business Model Canvas (BMC) was found to be a useful tool in deriving and reporting on the formulation of planning consideration guidelines. Using the BMC, five planning consideration guidelines were derived: customer segmentation, partnerships, benefits communication, value identification and customer attitude. These planning considerations will allow smart meter providers to identify their customers, partners and value propositions they might need to offer consumers to facilitate a higher smart meter acceptance and use. The proposed planning consideration guidelines can practically be used by policymakers and regulators for several aspects for future pervasive technology acceptance studies. This research has, therefore, created a platform for further research in the smart technology domain while providing a usable predictive framework for the identification of consumer-centric factors and formulation of planning considerations guidelines for smart meter implementation within the South African context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Muchenje, Tonderai
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Application software -- Development , Smart power grids
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46218 , vital:39515
- Description: Smart meter implementations are still in their infancy in many African countries. This is evident by the lack of research on the subject in the African context. Most of the research studies are either Eurocentric or US-centric. Although these studies are important and informative, they might not address the African challenges in context. Hence, South Africa was chosen as the testbed for an investigation that addresses the apparent knowledge gap. This study set out to formulate a framework for planning considerations in the implementation of smart meter technology within South Africa. Through extensive literature review and analysis, the technology acceptance model (TAM) was chosen as a foundational framework for this study. Although TAM is widely used for researching technology acceptance and use, its applicability was found to be inadequate in explaining customer centric factors in smart metering. Therefore, it was supplemented with factors from the theory of reasoned action (TRA), the theory of planned behavior (TPB), privacy calculus theory (PCT), as well as the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). A total of 11 consumer-centric factors were identified, and these were statistically analysed using the structural equation modelling technique (SEM). Ten (10) consumer-centric factors was found to be significant. These were attitude, perceived value, monetary cost, privacy risk, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, facilitating conditions, social norms, trust in technology and behavioral intention. Hypothesis testing confirmed that, not one acceptance model could adequately be used to identify and explain the consumer-centric factors that can be incorporated for planning considerations for smart meter implementation in South Africa. It was further observed that the consumer-centric factors such as environmental issues, security, reliability and health issues that were important in developed countries were not deemed so in South Africa. From a methodological perspective, the study attests to contextual localised application as opposed to universal meaning and measurement invariance when incorporating planning consideration for smart meter implementation in South Africa as compared to European countries and the United States of America. Finally, the findings hold some practical implications, as they showed the practical utility of the model in predicting the consumer-centric factors that can be incorporated for planning considerations. In support, the Business Model Canvas (BMC) was found to be a useful tool in deriving and reporting on the formulation of planning consideration guidelines. Using the BMC, five planning consideration guidelines were derived: customer segmentation, partnerships, benefits communication, value identification and customer attitude. These planning considerations will allow smart meter providers to identify their customers, partners and value propositions they might need to offer consumers to facilitate a higher smart meter acceptance and use. The proposed planning consideration guidelines can practically be used by policymakers and regulators for several aspects for future pervasive technology acceptance studies. This research has, therefore, created a platform for further research in the smart technology domain while providing a usable predictive framework for the identification of consumer-centric factors and formulation of planning considerations guidelines for smart meter implementation within the South African context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Evaluating the impact of energy policies on sustainable development in South Africa
- Authors: Julius, Ibitoye Oyebanji
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Energy policy -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa Renewable energy sources -- South Africa Sustainable living -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30440 , vital:30944
- Description: The unachieved targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the end of 2015 by some developing countries including South Africa, lead to the evolution of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ensuring access to sustainable, affordable, and modern energy is one of the 17 SDGs that the countries are expected to achieve before the end of 2030. Green growth is an important strategy for attaining this goal and a pathway to achieving the other goals. Therefore, an empirical study of the impact of energy policies on sustainable development is pertinent. Despite the importance of such research, there exists a gap in the literature relating to green growth and sustainable development from the SDGs point of view. This study fills the existing lacuna by developing an intertemporal holistic model which allows a study of the impact of energy policies on sustainable development in relation to the SDGs. Specifically, this thesis employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Toda-Yamamoto approaches to analyse the long-run relationship and direction of causality respectively between green growth policies and sustainable development in South Africa from 1984 to 2016. This research provides insights into the importance of green growth for factors such as deforestation, fuel exports, energy imports and agricultural development, thus adding to the existing literature on the impact of renewable energy on a country’s social, environmental and economic conditions. Results from the analysis of the long-run relationship between green growth and macroeconomic variables, indicate a positive unidirectional relationship between changes in green growth policies and gross capital formation. This finding suggests that adopting green growth policies leads to increased investments. In contrast, green growth was found to have a negative effect on national income (gross domestic product). However, the Granger causality tests do not establish causality between these variables. Although green growth policies stimulate investments, high start-up costs associated with the implementation of these policies may mean that the resultant higher investments are yet to be translated to higher income levels in the South African economy. The findings indicate a boost in the South African balance of payment within the study period iv iv as evidenced by the positive long-run relationship between green growth policies and fuel exports. Additionally, the results indicate that green growth energy policies have assisted in improving the resilience to international oil price shocks as shown in the negative and significant long-run relationship between green growth and energy imports. With regard to environmental variables, results suggest a substitutability effect between green growth policies and the consumption of non-renewable energy. However, no evidence is found on the impact of green growth policies on the levels of deforestation and carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions, as well as natural resource depletion. In relation to the social variables, adoption of green growth policies was found to lead to improved educational quality, with causality running in both directions. This finding supports the feedback hypothesis. Similarly, green growth policies had a positive impact on agricultural development, again with causality established in both directions. The outcome of the long-run relationship between green energy consumption and unemployment shows that the green growth policies is yet to have a significant impact on unemployment reduction in South Africa. Green growth also has an insignificant and indirect relationship with GDP per capita; this result was affirmed by the absence of causality between GDP per capita and green energy consumption. This research not only makes contributions to the literature on the relevance of green growth policies for achieving economic, social and environmental sustainability, it also suggests possible policy implications which highlight the need for adoption and continued implementation of green growth policies in developing countries such as South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Julius, Ibitoye Oyebanji
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Energy policy -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa Renewable energy sources -- South Africa Sustainable living -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30440 , vital:30944
- Description: The unachieved targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the end of 2015 by some developing countries including South Africa, lead to the evolution of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ensuring access to sustainable, affordable, and modern energy is one of the 17 SDGs that the countries are expected to achieve before the end of 2030. Green growth is an important strategy for attaining this goal and a pathway to achieving the other goals. Therefore, an empirical study of the impact of energy policies on sustainable development is pertinent. Despite the importance of such research, there exists a gap in the literature relating to green growth and sustainable development from the SDGs point of view. This study fills the existing lacuna by developing an intertemporal holistic model which allows a study of the impact of energy policies on sustainable development in relation to the SDGs. Specifically, this thesis employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Toda-Yamamoto approaches to analyse the long-run relationship and direction of causality respectively between green growth policies and sustainable development in South Africa from 1984 to 2016. This research provides insights into the importance of green growth for factors such as deforestation, fuel exports, energy imports and agricultural development, thus adding to the existing literature on the impact of renewable energy on a country’s social, environmental and economic conditions. Results from the analysis of the long-run relationship between green growth and macroeconomic variables, indicate a positive unidirectional relationship between changes in green growth policies and gross capital formation. This finding suggests that adopting green growth policies leads to increased investments. In contrast, green growth was found to have a negative effect on national income (gross domestic product). However, the Granger causality tests do not establish causality between these variables. Although green growth policies stimulate investments, high start-up costs associated with the implementation of these policies may mean that the resultant higher investments are yet to be translated to higher income levels in the South African economy. The findings indicate a boost in the South African balance of payment within the study period iv iv as evidenced by the positive long-run relationship between green growth policies and fuel exports. Additionally, the results indicate that green growth energy policies have assisted in improving the resilience to international oil price shocks as shown in the negative and significant long-run relationship between green growth and energy imports. With regard to environmental variables, results suggest a substitutability effect between green growth policies and the consumption of non-renewable energy. However, no evidence is found on the impact of green growth policies on the levels of deforestation and carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions, as well as natural resource depletion. In relation to the social variables, adoption of green growth policies was found to lead to improved educational quality, with causality running in both directions. This finding supports the feedback hypothesis. Similarly, green growth policies had a positive impact on agricultural development, again with causality established in both directions. The outcome of the long-run relationship between green energy consumption and unemployment shows that the green growth policies is yet to have a significant impact on unemployment reduction in South Africa. Green growth also has an insignificant and indirect relationship with GDP per capita; this result was affirmed by the absence of causality between GDP per capita and green energy consumption. This research not only makes contributions to the literature on the relevance of green growth policies for achieving economic, social and environmental sustainability, it also suggests possible policy implications which highlight the need for adoption and continued implementation of green growth policies in developing countries such as South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018