Financial inclusion in South Africa
- Authors: Abrahams, Rayghana
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Financial services industry -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa Finance -- South Africa South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13579 , vital:27240
- Description: The research for this study was guided by the question on whether the financial inclusion improvement strategies of the South African government adequately address the financial inclusion targets, as set out in the National Development Plan. This descriptive non-empirical study was conducted by means of a literature review. The secondary data used for the study were collected from a number of sources, namely: (i) the 2015 Brookings Financial and Digital Inclusion Project report; (ii) the 2014 Global Findex survey; (iii) the InterMedia surveys; (iv) Financial Access surveys; (v) various national FinScope surveys; and (iv) a number of working papers of the World Bank related to financial inclusion. The data revealed that South Africa, with its sophisticated financial sector, was early to adopt policies and initiatives to advance financial inclusion and the country has experienced a noticeable increase in financial inclusion from 61% in 2004 to 87% in 2015. South Africa is 3% away from its National Development Plan goal of 90% financial inclusion by 2030. This indicates that overall, the financial inclusion initiatives adopted by the South African government were successful.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Abrahams, Rayghana
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Financial services industry -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa Finance -- South Africa South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13579 , vital:27240
- Description: The research for this study was guided by the question on whether the financial inclusion improvement strategies of the South African government adequately address the financial inclusion targets, as set out in the National Development Plan. This descriptive non-empirical study was conducted by means of a literature review. The secondary data used for the study were collected from a number of sources, namely: (i) the 2015 Brookings Financial and Digital Inclusion Project report; (ii) the 2014 Global Findex survey; (iii) the InterMedia surveys; (iv) Financial Access surveys; (v) various national FinScope surveys; and (iv) a number of working papers of the World Bank related to financial inclusion. The data revealed that South Africa, with its sophisticated financial sector, was early to adopt policies and initiatives to advance financial inclusion and the country has experienced a noticeable increase in financial inclusion from 61% in 2004 to 87% in 2015. South Africa is 3% away from its National Development Plan goal of 90% financial inclusion by 2030. This indicates that overall, the financial inclusion initiatives adopted by the South African government were successful.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Experiences of undergraduate diagnostic radiography students regarding assessor feedback during summative clinical assessments
- Authors: Hodgson, Hayley Dianne
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Medical education , Teacher-student relationships Communication in education Mentoring in education Radiography, Medical -- Digital techniques
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42296 , vital:36643
- Description: Assessment and feedback are closely interlinked terms. High quality feedback within education and assessment can have a profound influence on learning. Summative clinical assessments and feedback, conducted in clinical training sites, are vital steps in successfully preparing an undergraduate diagnostic radiography student for the desired outcome of a competent, skilled diagnostic radiographer. Feedback has the potential to close the gap between a student’s actual clinical performance and desired clinical performance. Despite the importance of feedback, students across the globe, particularly in the health professions, are dissatisfied with the current feedback systems. Failure to provide effective feedback within the clinical context can be detrimental to patient safety because students have a false impression of their clinical skills and competencies. The aim of the study was to explore and describe the experiences of undergraduate diagnostic radiography students regarding assessor feedback during summative clinical assessments. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research design was used to gain in-depth knowledge of the experiences of undergraduate diagnostic radiography students regarding assessor feedback during summative clinical assessments. Data were gathered from students by means of semi-structured focus group interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim and coded using Tesch’s eight steps. Two principle themes emerged from the data analysis. Theme 1 unpacked whether an assessor is an ally or foe. Theme 2 focussed on key elements that influence the nature of the feedback process. There were various positive experiences regarding assessor feedback during the summative clinical assessments reported by the participants. However, they were dissatisfied with numerous aspects of assessor feedback during their summative clinical assessments and this subsequently impeded their learning experience. Measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical research practices governed this research study. Based on the findings, the recommendations include that the higher education institution, clinical supervisors, and radiography students, should utilise feedback as a learning tool for skills development during summative clinical assesssments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Hodgson, Hayley Dianne
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Medical education , Teacher-student relationships Communication in education Mentoring in education Radiography, Medical -- Digital techniques
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42296 , vital:36643
- Description: Assessment and feedback are closely interlinked terms. High quality feedback within education and assessment can have a profound influence on learning. Summative clinical assessments and feedback, conducted in clinical training sites, are vital steps in successfully preparing an undergraduate diagnostic radiography student for the desired outcome of a competent, skilled diagnostic radiographer. Feedback has the potential to close the gap between a student’s actual clinical performance and desired clinical performance. Despite the importance of feedback, students across the globe, particularly in the health professions, are dissatisfied with the current feedback systems. Failure to provide effective feedback within the clinical context can be detrimental to patient safety because students have a false impression of their clinical skills and competencies. The aim of the study was to explore and describe the experiences of undergraduate diagnostic radiography students regarding assessor feedback during summative clinical assessments. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research design was used to gain in-depth knowledge of the experiences of undergraduate diagnostic radiography students regarding assessor feedback during summative clinical assessments. Data were gathered from students by means of semi-structured focus group interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim and coded using Tesch’s eight steps. Two principle themes emerged from the data analysis. Theme 1 unpacked whether an assessor is an ally or foe. Theme 2 focussed on key elements that influence the nature of the feedback process. There were various positive experiences regarding assessor feedback during the summative clinical assessments reported by the participants. However, they were dissatisfied with numerous aspects of assessor feedback during their summative clinical assessments and this subsequently impeded their learning experience. Measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical research practices governed this research study. Based on the findings, the recommendations include that the higher education institution, clinical supervisors, and radiography students, should utilise feedback as a learning tool for skills development during summative clinical assesssments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The effect of top dressing treatments on stolon weaning and keeping quality on two potato cultivars in the Gamtoos river valley
- Authors: Murray, Roger Benjamin
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Plants -- Effect of nitrates on
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48522 , vital:40884
- Description: Potatoes are an important crop in the Eastern Cape, and in South Africa as a whole, as a nutritious staple food. For consumers, they provide a quality, relatively low-priced form of carbohydrate and, for farmers, they are a valuable cash crop. The nutritional requirements of Solanum tuberosum L., in particular its nitrogen (N) needs, during cultivation is an aspect warranting further research. The Eastern Cape is a prime potato-producing region and, as such, is an appropriate and logical choice in terms of a suitable location for the required study. Improper farming practices with regards to improper fertilizer application techniques can adversely affect yields, and excessive application of fertilizer is fundamentally economically unsound, adverse towards the environment and potentially detrimental to the crop. It is therefore imperative that nutrients – and nitrogen in particular – are available to the crop in the correct quantities at the correct time. The objective of this dissertation was to accurately identify the nitrogen fertilizer needs of potatoes – with specific emphasis on whether or not nitrogen affects stolon growth and development. The potato cultivar used in the research trial was Mondial, which is a cultivar well-established in the region. Nitrogen applications needed to be closely monitored with regards to the total seasonal amount of nitrogen applied, the timing of applications and the amount applied at each application. Meaningful data accumulated from this study will help farmers in the area to accurately assess the efficiency of their farming operations. Excessive or insufficient plant nutrition affects tuber bulking and quality. The objective was to accurately identify this “sweet spot” (i.e. the optimal measure and timing) with regards to fertilization, especially nitrogen, while also taking into account various other factors that affect healthy tuber development and stolon formation. The untested assertion that prompted this study was that too much nitrogen adversely affects the number of stolons – and therefore, the number of tubers, since tubers grow from the stolons. It is generally accepted that too little N will adversely affect yields and yield potential will not be achieved, and that too much N will adversely affect yields, incur unnecessary costs and potentially degrade the environment. Optimum nitrogen application quantities were therefore identified, along with points at which deviations from optimum yields occurred. There were 8 distinct treatment combinations – namely: a rate of 150kg/ha, 250kg/ha, 350kg/ha and 450kg/ha – of nitrogen (N) throughout the growing season, administered at 2 different timings (hereafter referred to as the Application Timings). The applications of nitrogen were administered as follows: Application Timing 1 (50% N at planting : 25% N as Topdressing 1 : 25% N as Topdressing 2) and Application Timing 2 (75% N at planting : 12.5% N as Topdressing 1 : 12.5% N as Topdressing 2). The findings suggest that while nitrogen played a role in increasing yield, there was no conclusive evidence to suggest that stolons were weaned by excessive amounts of nitrogen throughout the growing season. The results obtained from statistical analysis showed that, between Application Timing 1 (50%:25%:25%) and Application Timing 2 (75%:12.5%:12.5%), neither split application timing was superior to the other in terms of tuber yield or effect on the average number of stolons when data from all three plantings were combined. In some instances, high stolon numbers were observed in the high N application plots. The highest stolon count in a single data collection in Planting 1 was in the 450kg/ha App. 1 plots in the 3rd data collection. The highest stolon count in a single data collection in Planting 2 was in the 250kg/ha App. 2 plots in the 2nd data collection. The highest stolon count in a single data collection was in the 350kg/ha App. 2 plots in the 3rd data collection. The conjecture that excessive nitrogen causes stolon weaning in potatoes was not supported by the findings of the experiments conducted in the three trial plantings which constituted this research study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Murray, Roger Benjamin
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Plants -- Effect of nitrates on
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48522 , vital:40884
- Description: Potatoes are an important crop in the Eastern Cape, and in South Africa as a whole, as a nutritious staple food. For consumers, they provide a quality, relatively low-priced form of carbohydrate and, for farmers, they are a valuable cash crop. The nutritional requirements of Solanum tuberosum L., in particular its nitrogen (N) needs, during cultivation is an aspect warranting further research. The Eastern Cape is a prime potato-producing region and, as such, is an appropriate and logical choice in terms of a suitable location for the required study. Improper farming practices with regards to improper fertilizer application techniques can adversely affect yields, and excessive application of fertilizer is fundamentally economically unsound, adverse towards the environment and potentially detrimental to the crop. It is therefore imperative that nutrients – and nitrogen in particular – are available to the crop in the correct quantities at the correct time. The objective of this dissertation was to accurately identify the nitrogen fertilizer needs of potatoes – with specific emphasis on whether or not nitrogen affects stolon growth and development. The potato cultivar used in the research trial was Mondial, which is a cultivar well-established in the region. Nitrogen applications needed to be closely monitored with regards to the total seasonal amount of nitrogen applied, the timing of applications and the amount applied at each application. Meaningful data accumulated from this study will help farmers in the area to accurately assess the efficiency of their farming operations. Excessive or insufficient plant nutrition affects tuber bulking and quality. The objective was to accurately identify this “sweet spot” (i.e. the optimal measure and timing) with regards to fertilization, especially nitrogen, while also taking into account various other factors that affect healthy tuber development and stolon formation. The untested assertion that prompted this study was that too much nitrogen adversely affects the number of stolons – and therefore, the number of tubers, since tubers grow from the stolons. It is generally accepted that too little N will adversely affect yields and yield potential will not be achieved, and that too much N will adversely affect yields, incur unnecessary costs and potentially degrade the environment. Optimum nitrogen application quantities were therefore identified, along with points at which deviations from optimum yields occurred. There were 8 distinct treatment combinations – namely: a rate of 150kg/ha, 250kg/ha, 350kg/ha and 450kg/ha – of nitrogen (N) throughout the growing season, administered at 2 different timings (hereafter referred to as the Application Timings). The applications of nitrogen were administered as follows: Application Timing 1 (50% N at planting : 25% N as Topdressing 1 : 25% N as Topdressing 2) and Application Timing 2 (75% N at planting : 12.5% N as Topdressing 1 : 12.5% N as Topdressing 2). The findings suggest that while nitrogen played a role in increasing yield, there was no conclusive evidence to suggest that stolons were weaned by excessive amounts of nitrogen throughout the growing season. The results obtained from statistical analysis showed that, between Application Timing 1 (50%:25%:25%) and Application Timing 2 (75%:12.5%:12.5%), neither split application timing was superior to the other in terms of tuber yield or effect on the average number of stolons when data from all three plantings were combined. In some instances, high stolon numbers were observed in the high N application plots. The highest stolon count in a single data collection in Planting 1 was in the 450kg/ha App. 1 plots in the 3rd data collection. The highest stolon count in a single data collection in Planting 2 was in the 250kg/ha App. 2 plots in the 2nd data collection. The highest stolon count in a single data collection was in the 350kg/ha App. 2 plots in the 3rd data collection. The conjecture that excessive nitrogen causes stolon weaning in potatoes was not supported by the findings of the experiments conducted in the three trial plantings which constituted this research study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Designing devotion: the visual mechanisms used to build a personality cult
- Authors: Muller, Ruehl
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Design -- Social aspects , Design -- Human factors Communication in design Graphic arts
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22968 , vital:30158
- Description: This study develops a model that aims to prove that, regardless of sociopolitical system, where a cult of personality exists, the mechanisms that are used to construct it and to maintain it, from a visual communication perspective, exhibit a methodological sameness. Drawing on Collins’ (2004) theory of emotional energy and interaction rituals, and Márquez’s (2013; 2017) application of said theory as an explanation of the personality cult phenomenon, the model seeks to identify, with regard to affectiveemotional constructions, what is required from leader-based foci to initiate this process. To achieve this, artefacts (visual representations) of Kim Jongil, Ayatollah Khomeini, King Mswati III, and Saparmurat Niyazov and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow were collated from within North Korea, Iran, Swaziland and Turkmenistan respectively. Analyses of both the design and semiotic components of the artefacts were conducted and the findings used to develop the model. The model was tested through four unique case studies of personality cults not affiliated with its construction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Muller, Ruehl
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Design -- Social aspects , Design -- Human factors Communication in design Graphic arts
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22968 , vital:30158
- Description: This study develops a model that aims to prove that, regardless of sociopolitical system, where a cult of personality exists, the mechanisms that are used to construct it and to maintain it, from a visual communication perspective, exhibit a methodological sameness. Drawing on Collins’ (2004) theory of emotional energy and interaction rituals, and Márquez’s (2013; 2017) application of said theory as an explanation of the personality cult phenomenon, the model seeks to identify, with regard to affectiveemotional constructions, what is required from leader-based foci to initiate this process. To achieve this, artefacts (visual representations) of Kim Jongil, Ayatollah Khomeini, King Mswati III, and Saparmurat Niyazov and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow were collated from within North Korea, Iran, Swaziland and Turkmenistan respectively. Analyses of both the design and semiotic components of the artefacts were conducted and the findings used to develop the model. The model was tested through four unique case studies of personality cults not affiliated with its construction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Development of polypropylene – waste tyre crumbs based tpe's with the aid of vistamaxxtm as a compatibiliser
- Authors: Masele, Siyamtanda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Polymers , Polymerization Crumb rubber Rubber
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42589 , vital:36670
- Description: Polypropylene (PP) is a semi crystalline thermoplastic polymer and one of the most commonly used polyolefins. It is well known for its poor impact resistance; hence, for industries such as the automotive and packaging, reinforced PP is widely used. In general plastic waste disposal is a global crisis raising environmental and human health concerns, with PP being the highest consumed polymer globally; hence a push in the reuse and recycling of PP. Recycled polypropylene has limited uses for industrial applications due to its highly reduced properties owing to the recycling process which inhabits cutting of chains lengths, broadened molecular weight distributions and compromised crystallinity. Several studies have investigated the use of reinforcing fillers and modifiers in order to improve properties of PP. Inorganic materials and minerals such as CaCO3, Mica, Talc and glass fibre are used as fillers to improve mechanical properties (tensile and hardness), but still lacks in improving the impact resistance. Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are typically used where elastomer and thermoplastics fail as individual components. This is because they have the benefit of thermoplastic properties at hypo ambient condition and elastomer properties such as good impact and elongation at sub-zero conditions. The study took a route of using PP and waste tyre crumb rubber (CR) material to prepare potentially low-cost waste based TPE’s, which would then inherit both properties of PP and the rubber component. VistamaxxTM 6202 (EPR), a commercial name for ethylene-propylene monomer (EPR), was used as a compatibiliser to improve interaction between PP and CR and to contribute towards the overall improvement of various properties such as mechanical properties. VistamaxxTM has a low glass transition temperature (Tg, = -30 ºC), which is important for low temperature applications such as cold storage; it also has a very high elongation and as a result contributed significantly to the overall properties when used in TPE blends. The study highlighted differences between two TPE compounding formulation pathways; namely master-batch (MB) and design of experiments (DoE). The MB formulations were blends that were prepared by a conventional way of compounding; where a pre-mixed CR/EPR blend, in the ratio of 80(CR):20(EPR), was used to form a master-batch. Results showed that there are some similarities between TPEs prepared in different ways, which suggests that the ultimate properties such as thermal stability are in fact more PP matrix based. Thermal analyses results revealed that when high amount of CR was added to the TPE blends, there was a substantial amount of residue mainly due to inherent carbon black. The degree of crystallinity of the blends decreased with increased amounts of CR irrespective of whether it was the MB or DoE blends. The MB TPE blends demonstrated that hardness is not linked to the amount of the MB nor the crystallinity of blends. Meanwhile, tensile elongation and tensile stress were affected by crystallinity. On the other hand, the impact strength findings showed that the amount of MB in TPE blends reached a threshold at 30%. The DoE based TPE blends demonstrated that the optimum mechanical properties are observed when components of the blends are incorporated individually during compounding. This was observed for impact strength, tensile stress as well as elongation at break. The results showed that the incorporation of EPR should be at least 20% for good impact and elongation properties; however, for tensile and hardness, the PP matrix must be high. The study also showed that, for better mechanical properties it was more suitable to use the blends formulated with DoE, because the master-batch approach limited the improving of the mechanical properties by an addition of up to 30% of both the CR and EPR. The storage modulus as well as the tan delta for both MB and DoE decreased when the elastomeric phases were added on both methods, whereas tan delta Tg values decreased as more of the elastomeric phase was added. Evidence from morphology studies showed that the majority of TPE blends suffer from inadequate distribution and adhesion between PP and elastomer; resulting in poor mechanical properties. Furthermore, a threshold of matrix invasion is observed from 30% and above of CR in the blend, where lack of in capsulated lamps of CR were observed hindering the stress induced crystallization and relaxation of the PP phase. The latter was observed irrespective of the type of blend, which strongly suggests and highlights the limits of blending PP with elastomers. Study demonstrated the ability of VistamaxxTM to be utilized as a binding material for PP and CR and displaying the challenges that might arise when used as a master-batch with crumb rubber.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Masele, Siyamtanda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Polymers , Polymerization Crumb rubber Rubber
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42589 , vital:36670
- Description: Polypropylene (PP) is a semi crystalline thermoplastic polymer and one of the most commonly used polyolefins. It is well known for its poor impact resistance; hence, for industries such as the automotive and packaging, reinforced PP is widely used. In general plastic waste disposal is a global crisis raising environmental and human health concerns, with PP being the highest consumed polymer globally; hence a push in the reuse and recycling of PP. Recycled polypropylene has limited uses for industrial applications due to its highly reduced properties owing to the recycling process which inhabits cutting of chains lengths, broadened molecular weight distributions and compromised crystallinity. Several studies have investigated the use of reinforcing fillers and modifiers in order to improve properties of PP. Inorganic materials and minerals such as CaCO3, Mica, Talc and glass fibre are used as fillers to improve mechanical properties (tensile and hardness), but still lacks in improving the impact resistance. Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are typically used where elastomer and thermoplastics fail as individual components. This is because they have the benefit of thermoplastic properties at hypo ambient condition and elastomer properties such as good impact and elongation at sub-zero conditions. The study took a route of using PP and waste tyre crumb rubber (CR) material to prepare potentially low-cost waste based TPE’s, which would then inherit both properties of PP and the rubber component. VistamaxxTM 6202 (EPR), a commercial name for ethylene-propylene monomer (EPR), was used as a compatibiliser to improve interaction between PP and CR and to contribute towards the overall improvement of various properties such as mechanical properties. VistamaxxTM has a low glass transition temperature (Tg, = -30 ºC), which is important for low temperature applications such as cold storage; it also has a very high elongation and as a result contributed significantly to the overall properties when used in TPE blends. The study highlighted differences between two TPE compounding formulation pathways; namely master-batch (MB) and design of experiments (DoE). The MB formulations were blends that were prepared by a conventional way of compounding; where a pre-mixed CR/EPR blend, in the ratio of 80(CR):20(EPR), was used to form a master-batch. Results showed that there are some similarities between TPEs prepared in different ways, which suggests that the ultimate properties such as thermal stability are in fact more PP matrix based. Thermal analyses results revealed that when high amount of CR was added to the TPE blends, there was a substantial amount of residue mainly due to inherent carbon black. The degree of crystallinity of the blends decreased with increased amounts of CR irrespective of whether it was the MB or DoE blends. The MB TPE blends demonstrated that hardness is not linked to the amount of the MB nor the crystallinity of blends. Meanwhile, tensile elongation and tensile stress were affected by crystallinity. On the other hand, the impact strength findings showed that the amount of MB in TPE blends reached a threshold at 30%. The DoE based TPE blends demonstrated that the optimum mechanical properties are observed when components of the blends are incorporated individually during compounding. This was observed for impact strength, tensile stress as well as elongation at break. The results showed that the incorporation of EPR should be at least 20% for good impact and elongation properties; however, for tensile and hardness, the PP matrix must be high. The study also showed that, for better mechanical properties it was more suitable to use the blends formulated with DoE, because the master-batch approach limited the improving of the mechanical properties by an addition of up to 30% of both the CR and EPR. The storage modulus as well as the tan delta for both MB and DoE decreased when the elastomeric phases were added on both methods, whereas tan delta Tg values decreased as more of the elastomeric phase was added. Evidence from morphology studies showed that the majority of TPE blends suffer from inadequate distribution and adhesion between PP and elastomer; resulting in poor mechanical properties. Furthermore, a threshold of matrix invasion is observed from 30% and above of CR in the blend, where lack of in capsulated lamps of CR were observed hindering the stress induced crystallization and relaxation of the PP phase. The latter was observed irrespective of the type of blend, which strongly suggests and highlights the limits of blending PP with elastomers. Study demonstrated the ability of VistamaxxTM to be utilized as a binding material for PP and CR and displaying the challenges that might arise when used as a master-batch with crumb rubber.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The relationship between leadership, group identity and intention to attend: the case of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Mazantsana, Pumla
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Leadership -- South Africa -- Research , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Absenteeism (Labor) -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/32741 , vital:32340
- Description: The study investigated the relationship between leadership, group identity and intention to attend; among a sample of employees in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Since it is a common occurrence that public entities in South Africa are faced with high labour turnover and absenteeism as a result of failure to attend, strategies are required that will assist in reducing this challenging issue. The expectation is that by virtue of the leadership authorities and responsibilities, they play an important in the effective functioning of such public entities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Mazantsana, Pumla
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Leadership -- South Africa -- Research , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Absenteeism (Labor) -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/32741 , vital:32340
- Description: The study investigated the relationship between leadership, group identity and intention to attend; among a sample of employees in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Since it is a common occurrence that public entities in South Africa are faced with high labour turnover and absenteeism as a result of failure to attend, strategies are required that will assist in reducing this challenging issue. The expectation is that by virtue of the leadership authorities and responsibilities, they play an important in the effective functioning of such public entities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The use of photography as a vehicle for socio-cultural commentary on the stigmatisation of albinism in sub-Saharan Africa
- Authors: Pragnell, Robyn Monica
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Photography -- Social aspects , Photography -- Digital techniques Photography -- Research Photography -- Africa Three-dimensional display systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22541 , vital:29998
- Description: This study provides an investigation into the current transition socio-culturally concerned photographers are making from traditional two-dimensional flat imagery, towards three-dimensional materiality based photographic installation artworks. According to Dr. Gillian Rose (2016), larger society is found to be in a state of oculacentrism, where vision and visuals are central to contemporary every day experience, resulting in the medium of photographic expression not being used and experienced by the average person as an art medium at all. So much so that these traditional photographic forms of visual communications have found a decline in visual engagement and subsequently visual impact. In an attempt to combat this change in the relationship between photographic imagery and audiences, select socio-cultural photographers are adopting practices incorporating three-dimensional, immersive installation techniques (Shore, 2014: 7-11), (Lister, 2007: 272). The aim is to provide a three-dimensional installation space, where the audience is encouraged to engage with socio-cultural issues. The study focuses specifically on two sociocultural photographers, Damien Schumann and Angelica Dass, who have communicated socio-cultural stories in this three-dimensional photographic installation space. In order to analyse and derive valuable techniques and approaches from their selected works The Shack (2010) and Humanae (2017) the study combines sections of Dr. Gillian Rose’s Visual Methodologies Framework (2016) as well as installation analysis tools designed by author Mark Rosenthal (2003). The same analytical criteria are then applied to the practical components socio-cultural topic communicating the Stigmatism Towards Persons With Albinism in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study concludes having created a three-dimensional photographic installation exhibition using similar techniques identified within the selected artists, moving beyond twodimensional forms to present a combination of three-dimensional techniques for enhanced socio-cultural visual communications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Pragnell, Robyn Monica
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Photography -- Social aspects , Photography -- Digital techniques Photography -- Research Photography -- Africa Three-dimensional display systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22541 , vital:29998
- Description: This study provides an investigation into the current transition socio-culturally concerned photographers are making from traditional two-dimensional flat imagery, towards three-dimensional materiality based photographic installation artworks. According to Dr. Gillian Rose (2016), larger society is found to be in a state of oculacentrism, where vision and visuals are central to contemporary every day experience, resulting in the medium of photographic expression not being used and experienced by the average person as an art medium at all. So much so that these traditional photographic forms of visual communications have found a decline in visual engagement and subsequently visual impact. In an attempt to combat this change in the relationship between photographic imagery and audiences, select socio-cultural photographers are adopting practices incorporating three-dimensional, immersive installation techniques (Shore, 2014: 7-11), (Lister, 2007: 272). The aim is to provide a three-dimensional installation space, where the audience is encouraged to engage with socio-cultural issues. The study focuses specifically on two sociocultural photographers, Damien Schumann and Angelica Dass, who have communicated socio-cultural stories in this three-dimensional photographic installation space. In order to analyse and derive valuable techniques and approaches from their selected works The Shack (2010) and Humanae (2017) the study combines sections of Dr. Gillian Rose’s Visual Methodologies Framework (2016) as well as installation analysis tools designed by author Mark Rosenthal (2003). The same analytical criteria are then applied to the practical components socio-cultural topic communicating the Stigmatism Towards Persons With Albinism in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study concludes having created a three-dimensional photographic installation exhibition using similar techniques identified within the selected artists, moving beyond twodimensional forms to present a combination of three-dimensional techniques for enhanced socio-cultural visual communications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Motivation of construction workers in the nelson Mandela Bay Metropole, South Africa
- Jesumoroti, Christtestimony Oluwafemi
- Authors: Jesumoroti, Christtestimony Oluwafemi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Performance standards -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Construction workers -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Construction industry -- Employees -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30573 , vital:30962
- Description: The issue of construction workers’ motivation has become a subject of debate among construction project management professionals. Construction workers mostly work long hours in relatively disagreeable environments and, far from their families. Most of the activities are done under difficult conditions including harsh weather conditions, however, employees are required to be motivated towards ensuring the attractiveness of the industry to them. Moreover, there are diverse perceptions that the motivation of construction workers positively impacts construction workers performance or rather adversely affects the general performance of construction workers. Although, workers motivation has been proven to improve construction productivity globally, motivation of construction workers seems not to be effectively implemented in South African Construction Industry. As a result, it is difficult for management to identify motivational factors that affect workers productivity in a work environment. A quantitative research approach was employed to analyse the result obtained from a structured questionnaire survey. The research respondents included: bricklayers, plumbers, concrete workers, electricians, carpenters, and professionals. This study used data from primary source which focus on tradesman, labourer and professional context. A survey was conducted with tradesmen, labourers and professionals regarding motivation on construction workers which was conducted in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole, Eastern Cape. It was found that motivation is important to construction workers’ performance. Awarding bonuses to workers is important to improving workers’ efficiency and there is a need for construction workers recognition by management. Construction industry stakeholder should shift their attention and prioritise the motivation of its workers since the industry has a way of cubing poverty and uplifting the county’s economy. The findings revealed that motivational communication, rather than functional communication, would enhance worker productivity. It was found that both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards are needed to improve worker productivity. It was also found that positive reinforcement techniques, should be used to enhance worker productivity. The findings from this research study revealed that the motivational theories apply to construction workers, and management needs to apply these theories wisely to achieve improved productivity. The study therefore concludes that motivational techniques are necessary to improve construction workers productivity on a vii construction site. It is recommended that supervisors use motivational communication, extrinsic rewards, intrinsic rewards and positive reinforcement to motivate their workers to achieve higher levels of productivity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Jesumoroti, Christtestimony Oluwafemi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Performance standards -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Construction workers -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Construction industry -- Employees -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30573 , vital:30962
- Description: The issue of construction workers’ motivation has become a subject of debate among construction project management professionals. Construction workers mostly work long hours in relatively disagreeable environments and, far from their families. Most of the activities are done under difficult conditions including harsh weather conditions, however, employees are required to be motivated towards ensuring the attractiveness of the industry to them. Moreover, there are diverse perceptions that the motivation of construction workers positively impacts construction workers performance or rather adversely affects the general performance of construction workers. Although, workers motivation has been proven to improve construction productivity globally, motivation of construction workers seems not to be effectively implemented in South African Construction Industry. As a result, it is difficult for management to identify motivational factors that affect workers productivity in a work environment. A quantitative research approach was employed to analyse the result obtained from a structured questionnaire survey. The research respondents included: bricklayers, plumbers, concrete workers, electricians, carpenters, and professionals. This study used data from primary source which focus on tradesman, labourer and professional context. A survey was conducted with tradesmen, labourers and professionals regarding motivation on construction workers which was conducted in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole, Eastern Cape. It was found that motivation is important to construction workers’ performance. Awarding bonuses to workers is important to improving workers’ efficiency and there is a need for construction workers recognition by management. Construction industry stakeholder should shift their attention and prioritise the motivation of its workers since the industry has a way of cubing poverty and uplifting the county’s economy. The findings revealed that motivational communication, rather than functional communication, would enhance worker productivity. It was found that both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards are needed to improve worker productivity. It was also found that positive reinforcement techniques, should be used to enhance worker productivity. The findings from this research study revealed that the motivational theories apply to construction workers, and management needs to apply these theories wisely to achieve improved productivity. The study therefore concludes that motivational techniques are necessary to improve construction workers productivity on a vii construction site. It is recommended that supervisors use motivational communication, extrinsic rewards, intrinsic rewards and positive reinforcement to motivate their workers to achieve higher levels of productivity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Towards a framework for the integration of information security into undergraduate computing curricula
- Gomana, Lindokuhle Gcina, Thomson, Kerry-Lynn
- Authors: Gomana, Lindokuhle Gcina , Thomson, Kerry-Lynn
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Information technology -- Study and teaching , Computer security -- Study and teaching Educational technology Computer networks -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13691 , vital:27296
- Description: Information is an important and valuable asset, in both our everyday lives and in various organisations. Information is subject to numerous threats, these can originate internally or externally to the organisation and could be accidental, intentional or caused by natural disasters. As an important organisational asset, information should be appropriately protected from threats and threat agents regardless of their origin. Organisational employees are, however, often cited as the “weakest link” in the attempt to protect organisational information systems and related information assets. Additionally to this, employees are one of the biggest and closest threat-agents to an organisation’s information systems and its security. Upon graduating, computing (Computer Science, Information Systems and Information Technology) graduates typically become organisational employees. Within organisations, computing graduates often take on roles and responsibilities that involve designing, developing, implementing, upgrading and maintaining the information systems that store, process and transmit organisational information assets. It is, therefore, important that these computing graduates possess the necessary information security skills, knowledge and understanding that could enable them to perform their roles and responsibilities in a secure manner. These information security skills, knowledge and understanding can be acquired through information security education obtained through a qualification that is offered at a higher education institution. At many higher education institutions where information security is taught, it is taught as a single, isolated module at the fourth year level of study. The problem with this is that some computing students do not advance to this level and many of those that do, do not elect information security as a module. This means that these students may graduate and be employed by organisations lacking the necessary information security skills, knowledge and understanding to perform their roles and responsibilities securely. Consequently, this could increase the number of employees who are the “weakest link” in securing organisational information systems and related information assets. The ACM, as a key role player that provides educational guidelines for the development of computing curricula, recommends that information security should be pervasively integrated into computing curricula. However, these guidelines and recommendations do not provide sufficient guidance on “how” computing educators can pervasively integrate information security into their modules. Therefore, the problem identified by this research is that “currently, no generally used framework exists to aid the pervasive integration of information security into undergraduate computing curricula”. The primary research objective of this study, therefore, is to develop a framework to aid the pervasive integration of information security into undergraduate computing curricula. In order to meet this objective, secondary objectives were met, namely: To develop an understanding of the importance of information security; to determine the importance of information security education as it relates to undergraduate computing curricula; and to determine computing educators’ perspectives on information security education in a South African context. Various research methods were used to achieve this study’s research objectives. These research methods included a literature review which was used to define and provide an in-depth discussion relating to the domain in which this study is contained, namely: information security and information security education. Furthermore, a survey which took the form of semi-structured interviews supported by a questionnaire, was used to elicit computing educators’ perspectives on information security education in a South African context. Argumentation was used to argue towards the proposed framework to aid the pervasive integration of information security into undergraduate computing curricula. In addition, modelling techniques were used to model the proposed framework and scenarios were used to demonstrate how a computing department could implement the proposed framework. Finally, elite interviews supported by a questionnaire were conducted to validate the proposed framework. It is envisaged that the proposed framework could assist computing departments and undergraduate computing educators in the integration of information security into their curricula. Furthermore, the pervasive integration of information security into undergraduate computing curricula could ensure that computing graduates exit higher education institutions possessing the necessary information security skills, knowledge and understanding to enable them to perform their roles and responsibilities securely. It is hoped that this could enable computing graduates to become a stronger link in securing organisational information systems and related assets.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Gomana, Lindokuhle Gcina , Thomson, Kerry-Lynn
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Information technology -- Study and teaching , Computer security -- Study and teaching Educational technology Computer networks -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13691 , vital:27296
- Description: Information is an important and valuable asset, in both our everyday lives and in various organisations. Information is subject to numerous threats, these can originate internally or externally to the organisation and could be accidental, intentional or caused by natural disasters. As an important organisational asset, information should be appropriately protected from threats and threat agents regardless of their origin. Organisational employees are, however, often cited as the “weakest link” in the attempt to protect organisational information systems and related information assets. Additionally to this, employees are one of the biggest and closest threat-agents to an organisation’s information systems and its security. Upon graduating, computing (Computer Science, Information Systems and Information Technology) graduates typically become organisational employees. Within organisations, computing graduates often take on roles and responsibilities that involve designing, developing, implementing, upgrading and maintaining the information systems that store, process and transmit organisational information assets. It is, therefore, important that these computing graduates possess the necessary information security skills, knowledge and understanding that could enable them to perform their roles and responsibilities in a secure manner. These information security skills, knowledge and understanding can be acquired through information security education obtained through a qualification that is offered at a higher education institution. At many higher education institutions where information security is taught, it is taught as a single, isolated module at the fourth year level of study. The problem with this is that some computing students do not advance to this level and many of those that do, do not elect information security as a module. This means that these students may graduate and be employed by organisations lacking the necessary information security skills, knowledge and understanding to perform their roles and responsibilities securely. Consequently, this could increase the number of employees who are the “weakest link” in securing organisational information systems and related information assets. The ACM, as a key role player that provides educational guidelines for the development of computing curricula, recommends that information security should be pervasively integrated into computing curricula. However, these guidelines and recommendations do not provide sufficient guidance on “how” computing educators can pervasively integrate information security into their modules. Therefore, the problem identified by this research is that “currently, no generally used framework exists to aid the pervasive integration of information security into undergraduate computing curricula”. The primary research objective of this study, therefore, is to develop a framework to aid the pervasive integration of information security into undergraduate computing curricula. In order to meet this objective, secondary objectives were met, namely: To develop an understanding of the importance of information security; to determine the importance of information security education as it relates to undergraduate computing curricula; and to determine computing educators’ perspectives on information security education in a South African context. Various research methods were used to achieve this study’s research objectives. These research methods included a literature review which was used to define and provide an in-depth discussion relating to the domain in which this study is contained, namely: information security and information security education. Furthermore, a survey which took the form of semi-structured interviews supported by a questionnaire, was used to elicit computing educators’ perspectives on information security education in a South African context. Argumentation was used to argue towards the proposed framework to aid the pervasive integration of information security into undergraduate computing curricula. In addition, modelling techniques were used to model the proposed framework and scenarios were used to demonstrate how a computing department could implement the proposed framework. Finally, elite interviews supported by a questionnaire were conducted to validate the proposed framework. It is envisaged that the proposed framework could assist computing departments and undergraduate computing educators in the integration of information security into their curricula. Furthermore, the pervasive integration of information security into undergraduate computing curricula could ensure that computing graduates exit higher education institutions possessing the necessary information security skills, knowledge and understanding to enable them to perform their roles and responsibilities securely. It is hoped that this could enable computing graduates to become a stronger link in securing organisational information systems and related assets.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Levels of selected heavy metals in garden soil in Walmer Township and Wells Estate, Port Elizabeth
- Ogunfowora, Ebunoluwa Juliana
- Authors: Ogunfowora, Ebunoluwa Juliana
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Environmental health -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Environmental chemistry Pollution -- Physiological effect
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42990 , vital:36722
- Description: Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that have high densities. Heavy metals have been found to have applications in various sectors such as the industrial, domestic, agricultural and medical sectors, thus resulting in environmental pollution which may pose a hazard to human health. Heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, manganese, lead and mercury rank among the priority metals that are of public health significance, and they are commonly found in garden soils. In this study, residential garden soils were sampled in dwelling sites in Wells Estate and Walmer Township, and analysed for mercury, cadmium, arsenic, manganese and lead. A cross sectional design was employed in this study. The research was carried out in two phases; the first phase involved soil sample collection, preparation and laboratory work for the determination of heavy metal concentrations. The second phase focused on the social aspect of the study population which included the use of a pre-approved questionnaire and face-to-face interviews for the collection of human health related information at each dwelling site where soil samples were collected. The research protocol was approved by the Health Sciences Faculty Postgraduate Studies Committees (FPGSC) of Nelson Mandela University. Garden soil from residential yards of Wells Estate (near an industrial site, ̴ 2 km) and Walmer Township (further away from the industrial site (̴ 22 km), but relatively close to Port Elizabeth airport, ̴ 2 km) were sampled over a total of six sampling sessions resulting in 100 soil samples. Fifty soil samples were collected in Wells Estate and fifty soil samples in Walmer Township during the month of May 2017. Surface soil samples were collected from the top 2 cm of the soil using a sterile stainless-steel spoon. In addition to the collection of soil samples, a visual inspection of the house was undertaken to collect information about the house characteristics, geographic location (GPS coordinates) and characteristics of the surrounding area. Soil samples were prepared for analysis by grinding and drying followed by heavy metal determination using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyser (Bruker s1 TITAN Analyser, USA). A face-to-face questionnaire was administered to a suitable respondent at each dwelling site to obtain information related to health symptoms such as coughing, fever, chest pains, earache, sore throat, headaches, rapid breathing, sneezing, running/blocked nose, teary watery eyes, cancer, hypertension, heart diseases and mental illness. The mean concentrations of heavy metals were in the order manganese>lead>arsenic for both study sites. In Walmer Township soil samples, the mean concentrations of heavy metals determined were 154.8 mg/kg, 84.4 mg/kg and 5.4 mg/kg for manganese, lead, and arsenic, respectively. Mean concentrations of heavy metals as determined in Wells Estate were 322.2 mg/kg, 11.5 mg/kg, and 3.4 mg/kg for manganese, lead and arsenic, respectively. Manganese concentration across the study sites are below the guideline levels for USA (630 mg/kg) and South African (1500 mg/kg). About 2.0% of the sample exceeded the South African lead guideline level of 230 mg/kg, while 4.1% exceeded European lead level of 400 mg/kg in Walmer Township. Lead levels in Wells Estate were all below the South African, European and United States guideline levels. By contrast, 2.0% of the sample exceeded the South African arsenic guideline level of 48 mg/kg, 2.0% exceeded European arsenic guideline level of 50 mg/kg and 2.0% exceeded USA arsenic guideline level of 11 mg/kg in Walmer Township, while 2.0% exceeded USA arsenic guideline level of 11 mg/kg in Wells Estate. Mann Whitney U test showed statistically significant differences between lead levels (U=1527, p < 0.001) and manganese levels (U=2632, p < 0.001) across study sites. Soil manganese level showed significant association with age of house (crude OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14-0.83, p =0.016). Using data obtained from the questionnaire, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between soil heavy metals and the various health outcomes. In Walmer Township, manganese showed association with dry cough (OR: 11.35, 95% CI: 1.08-119.20) and sneezing (OR: 11.30, 95% CI: 1.09-116.67). Manganese was also associated with wet cough (OR: 0.19 95% CI: 0.05-0.70), dry cough (OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.06-0.83) and watery eye (OR: 4.55, 95% CI: 1.01-20.58) in Wells Estate. Dry cough (OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.16-0.64), sneezing (OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.06-4.48) and watery eye adjusted (OR: 3.71, 95% CI: 1.63-8.48) were also associated with manganese in the total sample. Confounding factors such as overcrowding (adjusted OR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.11-4.48) and air pollution (adjusted OR = 2.76; 95% CI:1.39-5.50), predicted wet cough and sneezing, respectively, across the total sample. Heavy metal concentration in most of the study dwellings of Walmer Township and Wells Estate were below the safe limit recommended by United States, European and South Africa soil reference levels. Nevertheless, we found a strong association between manganese and respiratory symptoms such as dry cough and sneezing in Walmer Township, as well as a strong association between manganese and watery eyes in Wells Estate. There was no evidence of associations between heavy metal exposure and gastrointestinal symptoms, chronic diseases and mental illness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Ogunfowora, Ebunoluwa Juliana
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Environmental health -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Environmental chemistry Pollution -- Physiological effect
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42990 , vital:36722
- Description: Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that have high densities. Heavy metals have been found to have applications in various sectors such as the industrial, domestic, agricultural and medical sectors, thus resulting in environmental pollution which may pose a hazard to human health. Heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, manganese, lead and mercury rank among the priority metals that are of public health significance, and they are commonly found in garden soils. In this study, residential garden soils were sampled in dwelling sites in Wells Estate and Walmer Township, and analysed for mercury, cadmium, arsenic, manganese and lead. A cross sectional design was employed in this study. The research was carried out in two phases; the first phase involved soil sample collection, preparation and laboratory work for the determination of heavy metal concentrations. The second phase focused on the social aspect of the study population which included the use of a pre-approved questionnaire and face-to-face interviews for the collection of human health related information at each dwelling site where soil samples were collected. The research protocol was approved by the Health Sciences Faculty Postgraduate Studies Committees (FPGSC) of Nelson Mandela University. Garden soil from residential yards of Wells Estate (near an industrial site, ̴ 2 km) and Walmer Township (further away from the industrial site (̴ 22 km), but relatively close to Port Elizabeth airport, ̴ 2 km) were sampled over a total of six sampling sessions resulting in 100 soil samples. Fifty soil samples were collected in Wells Estate and fifty soil samples in Walmer Township during the month of May 2017. Surface soil samples were collected from the top 2 cm of the soil using a sterile stainless-steel spoon. In addition to the collection of soil samples, a visual inspection of the house was undertaken to collect information about the house characteristics, geographic location (GPS coordinates) and characteristics of the surrounding area. Soil samples were prepared for analysis by grinding and drying followed by heavy metal determination using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyser (Bruker s1 TITAN Analyser, USA). A face-to-face questionnaire was administered to a suitable respondent at each dwelling site to obtain information related to health symptoms such as coughing, fever, chest pains, earache, sore throat, headaches, rapid breathing, sneezing, running/blocked nose, teary watery eyes, cancer, hypertension, heart diseases and mental illness. The mean concentrations of heavy metals were in the order manganese>lead>arsenic for both study sites. In Walmer Township soil samples, the mean concentrations of heavy metals determined were 154.8 mg/kg, 84.4 mg/kg and 5.4 mg/kg for manganese, lead, and arsenic, respectively. Mean concentrations of heavy metals as determined in Wells Estate were 322.2 mg/kg, 11.5 mg/kg, and 3.4 mg/kg for manganese, lead and arsenic, respectively. Manganese concentration across the study sites are below the guideline levels for USA (630 mg/kg) and South African (1500 mg/kg). About 2.0% of the sample exceeded the South African lead guideline level of 230 mg/kg, while 4.1% exceeded European lead level of 400 mg/kg in Walmer Township. Lead levels in Wells Estate were all below the South African, European and United States guideline levels. By contrast, 2.0% of the sample exceeded the South African arsenic guideline level of 48 mg/kg, 2.0% exceeded European arsenic guideline level of 50 mg/kg and 2.0% exceeded USA arsenic guideline level of 11 mg/kg in Walmer Township, while 2.0% exceeded USA arsenic guideline level of 11 mg/kg in Wells Estate. Mann Whitney U test showed statistically significant differences between lead levels (U=1527, p < 0.001) and manganese levels (U=2632, p < 0.001) across study sites. Soil manganese level showed significant association with age of house (crude OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14-0.83, p =0.016). Using data obtained from the questionnaire, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between soil heavy metals and the various health outcomes. In Walmer Township, manganese showed association with dry cough (OR: 11.35, 95% CI: 1.08-119.20) and sneezing (OR: 11.30, 95% CI: 1.09-116.67). Manganese was also associated with wet cough (OR: 0.19 95% CI: 0.05-0.70), dry cough (OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.06-0.83) and watery eye (OR: 4.55, 95% CI: 1.01-20.58) in Wells Estate. Dry cough (OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.16-0.64), sneezing (OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.06-4.48) and watery eye adjusted (OR: 3.71, 95% CI: 1.63-8.48) were also associated with manganese in the total sample. Confounding factors such as overcrowding (adjusted OR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.11-4.48) and air pollution (adjusted OR = 2.76; 95% CI:1.39-5.50), predicted wet cough and sneezing, respectively, across the total sample. Heavy metal concentration in most of the study dwellings of Walmer Township and Wells Estate were below the safe limit recommended by United States, European and South Africa soil reference levels. Nevertheless, we found a strong association between manganese and respiratory symptoms such as dry cough and sneezing in Walmer Township, as well as a strong association between manganese and watery eyes in Wells Estate. There was no evidence of associations between heavy metal exposure and gastrointestinal symptoms, chronic diseases and mental illness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Challenging the aesthetics and functionality of metals in contemporary blacksmithing
- Authors: Lucas, Justin
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Art metal-work , Blacksmithing Ironwork
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40533 , vital:36180
- Description: A forge allows the creation of both utilitarian craftwork and artworks. It is difficult to find blacksmiths who are willing to pass on their knowledge, particularly in South Africa where the art of blacksmithing is practised by a small number of individuals who rely on their labour for an income. This dissertation documents the building of a forge and what is needed to practise the art of blacksmithing, sourcing of the materials, and the application of blacksmithing to make pleasing artefacts. The document includes the processes of forge tool-making, providing an avenue for future students to fabricate tools and use the processes for art-making as well as list of suppliers and list of blacksmiths in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Lucas, Justin
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Art metal-work , Blacksmithing Ironwork
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40533 , vital:36180
- Description: A forge allows the creation of both utilitarian craftwork and artworks. It is difficult to find blacksmiths who are willing to pass on their knowledge, particularly in South Africa where the art of blacksmithing is practised by a small number of individuals who rely on their labour for an income. This dissertation documents the building of a forge and what is needed to practise the art of blacksmithing, sourcing of the materials, and the application of blacksmithing to make pleasing artefacts. The document includes the processes of forge tool-making, providing an avenue for future students to fabricate tools and use the processes for art-making as well as list of suppliers and list of blacksmiths in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A comparison of different strategies to control pests and diseases in Brassica spp. production in the Western Cape
- Van Niekerk, Abraham Johannes
- Authors: Van Niekerk, Abraham Johannes
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Pesticides , Pests -- Control Agricultural pests , Plant diseases
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44122 , vital:37113
- Description: Brassica spp. are cultivated all over the world, commercial species include: cabbage, broccoli, kale, kohlrabi and turnip. In this study the focus was on broccoli (Brassica oleracea) production in the Western Cape province of South Africa and its economically important pests and diseases: sugar beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii), diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), white blister (Albugo candida) and clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae), and the different methods to control these pests and diseases. The control methods focused on in this study included a commercial chemical control programme, a biological control programme and a holistic approach. Other factors were bio-fumigation and chemical fumigation and different crop rotation practices including rotation crops versus no rotation crops. The experimental design was a strip split plot design, with different pest and disease management strategies as the main plot treatment and fumigation and rotation treatment combinations arranged in strips across the main plot treatments. The main plot design was a randomized complete block with four programmes (Control, Holistic, Chemical and Biological) replicated four times and laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatment design of the strip plot factors was a 2x2 factorial with two fumigations (fumigated chemically and fumigated biologically) and two rotations (crop rotated and monoculture) randomly allocated across main plot treatments. Each experimental unit consisted of 40 plants. Plants were evaluated weekly for the incidence of white blister and diamondback moth. Incidences of clubroot and white blister infection of heads of broccoli were recorded 78 days after planting. Baseline soil samples were analysed to establish the soil chemical properties. Post-trial soil samples were also analysed to investigate the effect of the different practices and programmes on the soil chemical properties. Nematodes were extracted pre-trial and post-trial, and the effect of fumigation and crop rotation on plant parasitic nematodes and the nematode population diversity investigated. In the post-trial soil chemical analysis, a significantly higher concentration of Na was recorded for the biological programme when crop rotation was included compared to the no rotation treatment. The concentration of K was also significantly higher in the no rotation compared to the rotation treatment. The nematode results showed very high numbers of bacterial feeders in all the samples. Overall nematode diversity was lacking and showed very few fungal feeders, omnivores and predators. The nematode indices for all of the samples showed that nematodes were highly enriched and unstructured. Of the plant parasitic nematodes, only Heterodera spp. were obtained in the pre-trial analysis, and incidences of these nematodes were lower at the end of the trial. Low numbers of other plant parasitic nematodes viz. Pratylenchus, Paratrichodorus and Tylenchorhynchus were reported for the post-trial analysis of the soil. Because of the low numbers of plant parasitic nematodes, it was not possible to analyse the data statistically. With regard to diamondback moth and the fungal diseases, crop rotation and fumigation did not significantly affect the incidence of white blister and diamondback moth. A significant “days after planting by control programme” interaction was reported for the incidence of white blister on foliage and the incidence of diamondback moth. All three control programmes significantly reduced the incidence of diamondback moth with the chemical programme being significantly more effective than the other two programmes. All three programmes also significantly reduced the incidence of white blister on foliage and the holistic and biological programmes significantly reduced the incidence of white blister on broccoli heads with the holistic programme being significantly more effective than the biological programme. There was no clubroot infection in the trial for any of the treatments. Results of this study showed that it is possible to manage diseases and pests of broccoli using a holistic approach. However, long term trials are needed to confirm the results obtained in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Van Niekerk, Abraham Johannes
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Pesticides , Pests -- Control Agricultural pests , Plant diseases
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44122 , vital:37113
- Description: Brassica spp. are cultivated all over the world, commercial species include: cabbage, broccoli, kale, kohlrabi and turnip. In this study the focus was on broccoli (Brassica oleracea) production in the Western Cape province of South Africa and its economically important pests and diseases: sugar beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii), diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), white blister (Albugo candida) and clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae), and the different methods to control these pests and diseases. The control methods focused on in this study included a commercial chemical control programme, a biological control programme and a holistic approach. Other factors were bio-fumigation and chemical fumigation and different crop rotation practices including rotation crops versus no rotation crops. The experimental design was a strip split plot design, with different pest and disease management strategies as the main plot treatment and fumigation and rotation treatment combinations arranged in strips across the main plot treatments. The main plot design was a randomized complete block with four programmes (Control, Holistic, Chemical and Biological) replicated four times and laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatment design of the strip plot factors was a 2x2 factorial with two fumigations (fumigated chemically and fumigated biologically) and two rotations (crop rotated and monoculture) randomly allocated across main plot treatments. Each experimental unit consisted of 40 plants. Plants were evaluated weekly for the incidence of white blister and diamondback moth. Incidences of clubroot and white blister infection of heads of broccoli were recorded 78 days after planting. Baseline soil samples were analysed to establish the soil chemical properties. Post-trial soil samples were also analysed to investigate the effect of the different practices and programmes on the soil chemical properties. Nematodes were extracted pre-trial and post-trial, and the effect of fumigation and crop rotation on plant parasitic nematodes and the nematode population diversity investigated. In the post-trial soil chemical analysis, a significantly higher concentration of Na was recorded for the biological programme when crop rotation was included compared to the no rotation treatment. The concentration of K was also significantly higher in the no rotation compared to the rotation treatment. The nematode results showed very high numbers of bacterial feeders in all the samples. Overall nematode diversity was lacking and showed very few fungal feeders, omnivores and predators. The nematode indices for all of the samples showed that nematodes were highly enriched and unstructured. Of the plant parasitic nematodes, only Heterodera spp. were obtained in the pre-trial analysis, and incidences of these nematodes were lower at the end of the trial. Low numbers of other plant parasitic nematodes viz. Pratylenchus, Paratrichodorus and Tylenchorhynchus were reported for the post-trial analysis of the soil. Because of the low numbers of plant parasitic nematodes, it was not possible to analyse the data statistically. With regard to diamondback moth and the fungal diseases, crop rotation and fumigation did not significantly affect the incidence of white blister and diamondback moth. A significant “days after planting by control programme” interaction was reported for the incidence of white blister on foliage and the incidence of diamondback moth. All three control programmes significantly reduced the incidence of diamondback moth with the chemical programme being significantly more effective than the other two programmes. All three programmes also significantly reduced the incidence of white blister on foliage and the holistic and biological programmes significantly reduced the incidence of white blister on broccoli heads with the holistic programme being significantly more effective than the biological programme. There was no clubroot infection in the trial for any of the treatments. Results of this study showed that it is possible to manage diseases and pests of broccoli using a holistic approach. However, long term trials are needed to confirm the results obtained in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The visual communication of environmental awareness issues in Jeff Orlowski's,Chasing Ice (2012) and Yann Arthurs -Bertrand's home (2009)
- Authors: Van der Walt, Nadia Elize
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Visual communication , Environmentalism in motion pictures Documentary films -- History and critism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45547 , vital:38665
- Description: This study presents an investigation into the visual communication complexities within the genre of documentary film, specifically aimed at the development of a set of criteria of cinematic techniques for the visual communication of environmental awareness issues. This process utilises a theoretical approach to understanding the development and communicative possibilities of documentary film, as well as an analytical interpretation structured on semiotic film theory. The theoretical investigation reveals Bill Nichols’ (2010) documentary modes as an established analytical model. This study engages with four of Nichols’ six modes – namely, the poetic, the expository, the observational and the participatory modes, as the criteria for the extraction of scenes and/or images from Chasing Ice (2012) by Jeff Orlowski and Home (2009) by Yann Arthurs-Bertrand. Once Nichols’ modes have been identified, a semiotic reading is conducted. Gillian Rose’s (2016) visual analysis framework underpinned by Pieter J. Fourie’s (1988) sociological approach to film analysis, is utilised to read the selected film texts. A comparative analysis of Chasing Ice (2012) and Home (2009) reveals that the inclusion of different and multiple modes constructs the visualisation of environmental awareness issues in the documentary film genre. The cinematic techniques specific to the documentary modes represented in Chasing Ice (2012) and Home (2009) are appropriated in the construction of three film shorts within the researcher’s documentary film study, Karoo (2017). This combination of theory and practice yields the researcher a considered and informed approach to constructing documentary imagery aimed at visualising the current environment of the Karoo Basin prior to the possibility of shale gas exploration and/or exploitation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Van der Walt, Nadia Elize
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Visual communication , Environmentalism in motion pictures Documentary films -- History and critism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45547 , vital:38665
- Description: This study presents an investigation into the visual communication complexities within the genre of documentary film, specifically aimed at the development of a set of criteria of cinematic techniques for the visual communication of environmental awareness issues. This process utilises a theoretical approach to understanding the development and communicative possibilities of documentary film, as well as an analytical interpretation structured on semiotic film theory. The theoretical investigation reveals Bill Nichols’ (2010) documentary modes as an established analytical model. This study engages with four of Nichols’ six modes – namely, the poetic, the expository, the observational and the participatory modes, as the criteria for the extraction of scenes and/or images from Chasing Ice (2012) by Jeff Orlowski and Home (2009) by Yann Arthurs-Bertrand. Once Nichols’ modes have been identified, a semiotic reading is conducted. Gillian Rose’s (2016) visual analysis framework underpinned by Pieter J. Fourie’s (1988) sociological approach to film analysis, is utilised to read the selected film texts. A comparative analysis of Chasing Ice (2012) and Home (2009) reveals that the inclusion of different and multiple modes constructs the visualisation of environmental awareness issues in the documentary film genre. The cinematic techniques specific to the documentary modes represented in Chasing Ice (2012) and Home (2009) are appropriated in the construction of three film shorts within the researcher’s documentary film study, Karoo (2017). This combination of theory and practice yields the researcher a considered and informed approach to constructing documentary imagery aimed at visualising the current environment of the Karoo Basin prior to the possibility of shale gas exploration and/or exploitation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A profile of selected enterprises and their adopted cost allocation systems in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Vellem, Masixole
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Cost accounting , Budget Business enterprises
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13568 , vital:27239
- Description: Activity-based costing is a cost allocation method which appears to have many benefits when compared to traditional costing systems. However, there is limited academic research demonstrating this superiority. There is thus a need to investigate and profile the characteristics of selected enterprises and their adopted cost allocation systems. The main objective of this study was to profile and compare the characteristics of companies in Nelson Mandela Bay that use the activity-based costing system, versus those using traditional costing methods. The research methodology used for this research study is descriptive and quantitative, using various techniques for data analysis. An electronic internet based questionnaire was distributed to companies and the response automatically recorded for analysis with the help of Nelson Mandela University statistics department. The findings of the empirical study revealed that most (38%) of the respondents use a combination of both activity-based costing and traditional costing methods, followed by traditional costing methods (35%), and purely activity-based costing (27%). Data analysis revealed that companies in construction and manufacturing seemed to prefer activity-based costing over traditional costing methods. The findings raise the question as to whether the preference in cost allocation methods is based solely on the benefits of cost allocation, lack of new knowledge, adaptability within companies, or cost of change versus the benefit.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Vellem, Masixole
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Cost accounting , Budget Business enterprises
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13568 , vital:27239
- Description: Activity-based costing is a cost allocation method which appears to have many benefits when compared to traditional costing systems. However, there is limited academic research demonstrating this superiority. There is thus a need to investigate and profile the characteristics of selected enterprises and their adopted cost allocation systems. The main objective of this study was to profile and compare the characteristics of companies in Nelson Mandela Bay that use the activity-based costing system, versus those using traditional costing methods. The research methodology used for this research study is descriptive and quantitative, using various techniques for data analysis. An electronic internet based questionnaire was distributed to companies and the response automatically recorded for analysis with the help of Nelson Mandela University statistics department. The findings of the empirical study revealed that most (38%) of the respondents use a combination of both activity-based costing and traditional costing methods, followed by traditional costing methods (35%), and purely activity-based costing (27%). Data analysis revealed that companies in construction and manufacturing seemed to prefer activity-based costing over traditional costing methods. The findings raise the question as to whether the preference in cost allocation methods is based solely on the benefits of cost allocation, lack of new knowledge, adaptability within companies, or cost of change versus the benefit.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
A study of procurement and administration in the Department of Health in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Xatula, Meyisi Sigqibo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Government purchasing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Management -- Procurement
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13458 , vital:27205
- Description: The study investigated issues concerning procurement and administration in the Department of Health (DoH) in the Eastern Cape and has further investigated the role of the implementation of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), Act 1 of 1999 in the department. That included issues associated with the administration and procurement in relation to service providers from the private sector. The DoH in the Eastern Cape Province delivers:“ … a quality health service to the people of the Eastern Cape Province promoting a better life for all and ensures accessible, comprehensive, and integrated services in the province, emphasising the primary health care approach, as well as utilising and developing all resources to enable present and future generations to enjoy good health and quality of life” (Department of Health [DoH], Eastern Cape, Departmental Annual Performance Plan, 2013:3). Various researchers have investigated the implementation of the PFM Act 1 of 1999 and have identified gaps and made recommendations regarding the identified gaps. The study is based on the following reports from various authors: According to Pillay (2013), since 1994 every public sector department has lost approximately R385 billion to fraud, corruption and maladministration. Government employees have accepted kickbacks in exchange for rigging tenders, including focusing on high levels of corruption (Albert, 2011:1). The fraud and corruption in the Eastern Cape DoH, which involves nepotism, corruption and fraud amounting to a million rand in the audit report of 2013, have prompted calls by the opposition for interventions (PricewaterhouseCoopers [PWC], 2013:9). Departmental Annual Performance Plan for 2013/2014. Impact of accountability and ethics on public service delivery: a South African perspective which involves accountability stating that all government departments have to be efficient to ensure value for public funds including the qualitative and value-laden expectations of the society (Raga & Taylor, 2008:1). EC (2010:9), Audit Report: Health Department, Eastern Cape. King III Report (2009) – Corporate Governance. The study has built on previous research conducted by other researchers who have conducted research on the issue of the implementation of the Public Finance Management Act 1 (PFM Act 1) of 1999, and had identify further gaps not previously identified by other researchers or in the audits. In addition, this study aims to also identify shortcomings that have been described in the recent audits 2013/2014 of the DoH, Eastern Cape. Together with the new gaps identified in the PFM Act 1 of 1999, the researcher aims to make a number of recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the implementation of the PFM Act 1 of 1999. The PFM Act 1 of 1999 was promulgated by the South African government in 1999. The Act promotes the objective of good financial management in order to maximise service delivery through effective and efficient use of available limited resources as well as credible interaction with private sector service providers. A key objective of this Act is to put in place a more effective financial accountability system over public entities. The objectives of the Act are to: Modernise the system of financial management, Enable public sector managers to manage, while at the same time being accountable, Ensure timely provision of quality information, To eliminate waste and corruption in the use of public assets.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Xatula, Meyisi Sigqibo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Government purchasing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Management -- Procurement
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13458 , vital:27205
- Description: The study investigated issues concerning procurement and administration in the Department of Health (DoH) in the Eastern Cape and has further investigated the role of the implementation of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), Act 1 of 1999 in the department. That included issues associated with the administration and procurement in relation to service providers from the private sector. The DoH in the Eastern Cape Province delivers:“ … a quality health service to the people of the Eastern Cape Province promoting a better life for all and ensures accessible, comprehensive, and integrated services in the province, emphasising the primary health care approach, as well as utilising and developing all resources to enable present and future generations to enjoy good health and quality of life” (Department of Health [DoH], Eastern Cape, Departmental Annual Performance Plan, 2013:3). Various researchers have investigated the implementation of the PFM Act 1 of 1999 and have identified gaps and made recommendations regarding the identified gaps. The study is based on the following reports from various authors: According to Pillay (2013), since 1994 every public sector department has lost approximately R385 billion to fraud, corruption and maladministration. Government employees have accepted kickbacks in exchange for rigging tenders, including focusing on high levels of corruption (Albert, 2011:1). The fraud and corruption in the Eastern Cape DoH, which involves nepotism, corruption and fraud amounting to a million rand in the audit report of 2013, have prompted calls by the opposition for interventions (PricewaterhouseCoopers [PWC], 2013:9). Departmental Annual Performance Plan for 2013/2014. Impact of accountability and ethics on public service delivery: a South African perspective which involves accountability stating that all government departments have to be efficient to ensure value for public funds including the qualitative and value-laden expectations of the society (Raga & Taylor, 2008:1). EC (2010:9), Audit Report: Health Department, Eastern Cape. King III Report (2009) – Corporate Governance. The study has built on previous research conducted by other researchers who have conducted research on the issue of the implementation of the Public Finance Management Act 1 (PFM Act 1) of 1999, and had identify further gaps not previously identified by other researchers or in the audits. In addition, this study aims to also identify shortcomings that have been described in the recent audits 2013/2014 of the DoH, Eastern Cape. Together with the new gaps identified in the PFM Act 1 of 1999, the researcher aims to make a number of recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the implementation of the PFM Act 1 of 1999. The PFM Act 1 of 1999 was promulgated by the South African government in 1999. The Act promotes the objective of good financial management in order to maximise service delivery through effective and efficient use of available limited resources as well as credible interaction with private sector service providers. A key objective of this Act is to put in place a more effective financial accountability system over public entities. The objectives of the Act are to: Modernise the system of financial management, Enable public sector managers to manage, while at the same time being accountable, Ensure timely provision of quality information, To eliminate waste and corruption in the use of public assets.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Top-soil water retention in organic and conventional farming systems in South Africa’s Southern Cape
- Authors: Eckert, Catherine Jessica
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Water harvesting , Soil moisture conservation Organic farming Sustainable agriculture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39885 , vital:35500
- Description: With the world’s growing population and limited natural resources, there is a need to produce more food using less inputs. A major limiting factor to meeting the agricultural production needs of the growing population is fresh water. Water is a critical resource in agriculture and may be more of a limiting factor than other crop growth requirements in some areas. Furthermore, water availability is being impacted by climate change and competition from other industries. Methods of improving crop water use efficiency through conservation of water and the enhancement of crop growth need to be employed to meet the growing demand sustainably. The purpose of the research was to assess the differences in soil water status between organically farmed crops with a grass mulch and conventionally farmed crops without mulch, with a view to making more efficient use of the water resource. This research was conducted at the Mandela long term organic farming systems research trial site at Nelson Mandela University, George campus in the southern Cape, South Africa. It is part of a larger research project (the Mandela Trials) in which various researchers have been involved in different aspects of this trial including agronomy, microbiology and pest and disease control. This research took place over two seasons, namely, 2016-2017 season and 2017-2018 season. The soil water content (SWC) of organic and conventional plots were measured using fixed capacitance probes that recorded continuous data, every half hour, at depths of 10, 30 and 50 cm. A handheld theta probe was also used to measure the SWC in the top 6 cm of the soil at 7 to14 day intervals. The organic treatment had a significantly higher SWC than the conventional treatment over the two seasons in which this research was conducted. In addition, soil carbon was significantly higher in the organic treatment, than the conventional. Organic farming methods preserve and promote an increase in soil organic matter, thus improving the soil structure and increasing the soil’s water holding capacity. From this research, it is concluded that organic farming practices can be used to help conserve SWC, keeping it available to crops for longer and helping farmers make more efficient use of this scarce resource. This is especially relevant for low rainfall areas which are affected by water shortages. The improved SWC availability should be coupled with good agronomic practices to increase productive water losses and the conversion of water to yields, thus increasing water use efficiency. In addition, adding organic matter to the soil will improve resilience of the soil and help sequester carbon and thus help in mitigating climate change.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Top-soil water retention in organic and conventional farming systems in South Africa’s Southern Cape
- Authors: Eckert, Catherine Jessica
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Water harvesting , Soil moisture conservation Organic farming Sustainable agriculture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39885 , vital:35500
- Description: With the world’s growing population and limited natural resources, there is a need to produce more food using less inputs. A major limiting factor to meeting the agricultural production needs of the growing population is fresh water. Water is a critical resource in agriculture and may be more of a limiting factor than other crop growth requirements in some areas. Furthermore, water availability is being impacted by climate change and competition from other industries. Methods of improving crop water use efficiency through conservation of water and the enhancement of crop growth need to be employed to meet the growing demand sustainably. The purpose of the research was to assess the differences in soil water status between organically farmed crops with a grass mulch and conventionally farmed crops without mulch, with a view to making more efficient use of the water resource. This research was conducted at the Mandela long term organic farming systems research trial site at Nelson Mandela University, George campus in the southern Cape, South Africa. It is part of a larger research project (the Mandela Trials) in which various researchers have been involved in different aspects of this trial including agronomy, microbiology and pest and disease control. This research took place over two seasons, namely, 2016-2017 season and 2017-2018 season. The soil water content (SWC) of organic and conventional plots were measured using fixed capacitance probes that recorded continuous data, every half hour, at depths of 10, 30 and 50 cm. A handheld theta probe was also used to measure the SWC in the top 6 cm of the soil at 7 to14 day intervals. The organic treatment had a significantly higher SWC than the conventional treatment over the two seasons in which this research was conducted. In addition, soil carbon was significantly higher in the organic treatment, than the conventional. Organic farming methods preserve and promote an increase in soil organic matter, thus improving the soil structure and increasing the soil’s water holding capacity. From this research, it is concluded that organic farming practices can be used to help conserve SWC, keeping it available to crops for longer and helping farmers make more efficient use of this scarce resource. This is especially relevant for low rainfall areas which are affected by water shortages. The improved SWC availability should be coupled with good agronomic practices to increase productive water losses and the conversion of water to yields, thus increasing water use efficiency. In addition, adding organic matter to the soil will improve resilience of the soil and help sequester carbon and thus help in mitigating climate change.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Phytochemical analysis and biological activity studies of an Eastern Cape medicinal plant, Strychnos Henningsii
- Authors: Mngoma, Mondeli
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22758 , vital:30074
- Description: This project sees the chemical investigation of an Eastern Cape medicinal plant, Strychnos henningsii. The aim of this project was to investigate the phytoconstituents and activity of organic extracts of S. henningsii as well as isolation and characterization of single compounds. S. henningsii is one of the most widely used tree bark in the Eastern Cape in treating a variety of ailments. Evaluation of the traditional herbal use of the S. henningsii bark was warranted. Both the ethyl acetate and methanol extract proved to possess non-toxic properties and showed cell growth potential at low concentrations. The anti-inflammatory response of both extracts showed appreciable results, and they did not promote inflammatory due to the alkaloidal presence. Although the extracts both showed the presence of phenols, the anti-oxidant capacity by DPPH, FRAP, and ORAC assays was considerately lower than expected. The ethyl acetate extract presented a compound thought to be a terpenoid (4.1). Three compounds were isolated from the methanol extract; two alkaloidal compounds and one acrylate. The alkaloids were isolated from the methanol extract, stryvomicine (4.2) and an isovomicine derivative (4.3). Their structures were deduced from NMR (1D and 2D experiments) and HRMS spectra. This acrylate was found to be 3-(4-methylphenyl)acrylic acid via single-crystal XRD, and this is the first report of it being isolated from the Strychnos genus. Profiling of S. henningsii was performed via Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectroscopy. Other spectroscopic techniques utilised in the interpretation of isolated compounds included Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Infrared, single-crystal X-Ray Diffraction and High Resolution Mass spectroscopy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Mngoma, Mondeli
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22758 , vital:30074
- Description: This project sees the chemical investigation of an Eastern Cape medicinal plant, Strychnos henningsii. The aim of this project was to investigate the phytoconstituents and activity of organic extracts of S. henningsii as well as isolation and characterization of single compounds. S. henningsii is one of the most widely used tree bark in the Eastern Cape in treating a variety of ailments. Evaluation of the traditional herbal use of the S. henningsii bark was warranted. Both the ethyl acetate and methanol extract proved to possess non-toxic properties and showed cell growth potential at low concentrations. The anti-inflammatory response of both extracts showed appreciable results, and they did not promote inflammatory due to the alkaloidal presence. Although the extracts both showed the presence of phenols, the anti-oxidant capacity by DPPH, FRAP, and ORAC assays was considerately lower than expected. The ethyl acetate extract presented a compound thought to be a terpenoid (4.1). Three compounds were isolated from the methanol extract; two alkaloidal compounds and one acrylate. The alkaloids were isolated from the methanol extract, stryvomicine (4.2) and an isovomicine derivative (4.3). Their structures were deduced from NMR (1D and 2D experiments) and HRMS spectra. This acrylate was found to be 3-(4-methylphenyl)acrylic acid via single-crystal XRD, and this is the first report of it being isolated from the Strychnos genus. Profiling of S. henningsii was performed via Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectroscopy. Other spectroscopic techniques utilised in the interpretation of isolated compounds included Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Infrared, single-crystal X-Ray Diffraction and High Resolution Mass spectroscopy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The evolution of fashion discourse: examining vogue magazine’s role as fashion authority
- Authors: Wissink, Emma Seline
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Fashion -- Research , Fashion -- Forecasting Clothing trade -- Forecasting Advertising -- Fashion Fashion writing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/36026 , vital:33883
- Description: The aim of this study was to investigate the evolution of Vogue magazine’s role as a fashion authority. The methodology of Foucauldian discourse analysis motivated the enquiry into the establishment of Vogue’s fashion authority over time. The corpus of Vogue’s September Point of View editorials between the period of 1960 and 2015 was divided into four epochs using the period of editorship held by the four editors (Jessica Daves, Diana Vreeland, Grace Mirabella and Anna Wintour). Features of Vogue’s discourse were identified in literature and applied to the corpus using a concurrent embedded mixed methods approach, employing the quantitative and qualitative methods of content and discourse analysis respectively. The analysis suggested that Vogue maintained fashion authority through changing its discourse to suit changes occurring in the field of fashion and the evolving needs and perspectives of the reader. Changes in the way Vogue presents itself; addresses the reader; attributes material, commercial, or intellectual features to fashion; addresses concepts of time and novelty; and negotiates the relationship between American fashion and European or global fashion were the focus of the analysis. The findings conceptualise Vogue’s voice as evolving through the four roles of reporting, fictionalizing, translating and connecting fashion. The shift in Vogue’s voice suggests that the conceptualization of fashion in the publication shifts towards a more abstract and general conception of fashion and reader. The results suggest that Vogue’s fashion discourse shifts from a focus on the specific material features of fashion and craft and the conception of fashion as news and Vogue as a reporter towards a focus on the more abstract, general intellectual and commercial properties of fashion and the conception of fashion as commerce promoting Vogue’s role as a facilitating platform.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Wissink, Emma Seline
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Fashion -- Research , Fashion -- Forecasting Clothing trade -- Forecasting Advertising -- Fashion Fashion writing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/36026 , vital:33883
- Description: The aim of this study was to investigate the evolution of Vogue magazine’s role as a fashion authority. The methodology of Foucauldian discourse analysis motivated the enquiry into the establishment of Vogue’s fashion authority over time. The corpus of Vogue’s September Point of View editorials between the period of 1960 and 2015 was divided into four epochs using the period of editorship held by the four editors (Jessica Daves, Diana Vreeland, Grace Mirabella and Anna Wintour). Features of Vogue’s discourse were identified in literature and applied to the corpus using a concurrent embedded mixed methods approach, employing the quantitative and qualitative methods of content and discourse analysis respectively. The analysis suggested that Vogue maintained fashion authority through changing its discourse to suit changes occurring in the field of fashion and the evolving needs and perspectives of the reader. Changes in the way Vogue presents itself; addresses the reader; attributes material, commercial, or intellectual features to fashion; addresses concepts of time and novelty; and negotiates the relationship between American fashion and European or global fashion were the focus of the analysis. The findings conceptualise Vogue’s voice as evolving through the four roles of reporting, fictionalizing, translating and connecting fashion. The shift in Vogue’s voice suggests that the conceptualization of fashion in the publication shifts towards a more abstract and general conception of fashion and reader. The results suggest that Vogue’s fashion discourse shifts from a focus on the specific material features of fashion and craft and the conception of fashion as news and Vogue as a reporter towards a focus on the more abstract, general intellectual and commercial properties of fashion and the conception of fashion as commerce promoting Vogue’s role as a facilitating platform.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Analysis of the reliability for the 132/66/22 KV distribution network within Eskom’s Eastern Cape operating unit
- Authors: Pantshwa, Athini
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Electric power transmission -- Reliability , Electric power distribution Electric power Electric power systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/34722 , vital:33429
- Description: A stable and reliable electrical power supply system is an inevitable pre-requisite for the technological and economic growth of any nation. Due to this, utilities must strive and ensure that the customer’s reliability requirements are met and that the regulators requirements are satisfied at the lowest possible cost. It is known fact around the world that 90% of the customer service interruptions are caused due to failure in distribution system. Therefore, it is worth considering reliability assessments as it provides an opportunity to incorporate the cost or losses incurred by the utilities customer because of power failure. This must be considered in the planning and operating practices. The system modelling and simulation study is carried out on one of the district’s distribution system which consists of 132 kV, 66 kV and 22 kV network in Aliwal North Sector ECOU. The reliability assessment is done on the 22, 66 and 132 kV system to assess the performance of the present system and predictive reliability analysis for the future system considering load growth and system expansion. The alternative which gives low SAIDI, SAIFI and minimum breakeven costs is being assessed and considered. The reliability of 132 kV system could be further improved by constructing a new 132 kV line from a different source of supply and connecting with line coming from another district (reserve) at reasonable break-even cost. The decision base could be further improved by having Aliwal North Sector context interruption cost. However, the historical data which may be used in Aliwal North Sector to acquire interruption costs from the customers are being proposed. The focus should be on improving the power quality on constrained networks first, then the reliability. Therefore, for the Aliwal North power system network it is imperative that Eskom invest on the reliability of this network. This dissertation also analysed load reflected economic benefit versus performance expectations that should be optimized through achieving a balance between network performance (SAIDI) improvement, and total life cycle cost (to Eskom as well as the economy). Reliability analysis conducted in this dissertation used Aliwal North power system network as a case study; the results proved that the system is vulnerable to faults, planned and unplanned outages. Reliability evaluation studies were conducted on the system using DigSilent software in conjunction with FME. These two models gave accurate results with acceptable variance in most indices except for the ENS where the variance was quite significant. It can be concluded that DigSilent results are the most accurate results in all three reliability evaluation scenarios for the Aliwal North Power System, best interpretation being that of DigSilent.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Pantshwa, Athini
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Electric power transmission -- Reliability , Electric power distribution Electric power Electric power systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/34722 , vital:33429
- Description: A stable and reliable electrical power supply system is an inevitable pre-requisite for the technological and economic growth of any nation. Due to this, utilities must strive and ensure that the customer’s reliability requirements are met and that the regulators requirements are satisfied at the lowest possible cost. It is known fact around the world that 90% of the customer service interruptions are caused due to failure in distribution system. Therefore, it is worth considering reliability assessments as it provides an opportunity to incorporate the cost or losses incurred by the utilities customer because of power failure. This must be considered in the planning and operating practices. The system modelling and simulation study is carried out on one of the district’s distribution system which consists of 132 kV, 66 kV and 22 kV network in Aliwal North Sector ECOU. The reliability assessment is done on the 22, 66 and 132 kV system to assess the performance of the present system and predictive reliability analysis for the future system considering load growth and system expansion. The alternative which gives low SAIDI, SAIFI and minimum breakeven costs is being assessed and considered. The reliability of 132 kV system could be further improved by constructing a new 132 kV line from a different source of supply and connecting with line coming from another district (reserve) at reasonable break-even cost. The decision base could be further improved by having Aliwal North Sector context interruption cost. However, the historical data which may be used in Aliwal North Sector to acquire interruption costs from the customers are being proposed. The focus should be on improving the power quality on constrained networks first, then the reliability. Therefore, for the Aliwal North power system network it is imperative that Eskom invest on the reliability of this network. This dissertation also analysed load reflected economic benefit versus performance expectations that should be optimized through achieving a balance between network performance (SAIDI) improvement, and total life cycle cost (to Eskom as well as the economy). Reliability analysis conducted in this dissertation used Aliwal North power system network as a case study; the results proved that the system is vulnerable to faults, planned and unplanned outages. Reliability evaluation studies were conducted on the system using DigSilent software in conjunction with FME. These two models gave accurate results with acceptable variance in most indices except for the ENS where the variance was quite significant. It can be concluded that DigSilent results are the most accurate results in all three reliability evaluation scenarios for the Aliwal North Power System, best interpretation being that of DigSilent.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Work-readiness of university graduates: a professional accounting educational expectation gap in South Africa
- Authors: Schoeman, Lynn Antoinette
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Accountants -- Employment -- South Africa -- Students , College graduates -- Employment -- South Africa School-to-work transition -- South Africa Employability -- South Africa -- Students
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20455 , vital:29288
- Description: The constant change in the business environment versus the curriculum content of accounting educational programmes result in a possible gap between the competencies gained by students who complete their degree qualifications compared to the expectations of employers of these entering trainee accountants. However, the universities do endeavour to teach students the syllabus that will provide them with sufficient information and skills to be able to complete the tasks expected from them without much learning following university. Universities face increasing pressure to ensure graduates are equipped with the right employability skills (Osmani, Weerakkody & Hindi, 2017) yet literature show that graduates entering the workforce are not sufficiently equipped with all the necessary non-technical skills required by the accounting profession (Fouché, 2013). The research for this study was guided by the question whether universities sufficiently prepare entering trainee accountants with regards to work-readiness skills and whether a gap exists between the level of work-readiness skills expected by employers in professional accounting practice, and the actual level of capability of these skills transferred through the formal professional accounting educational programmes offered by universities in South Africa. Published literature reviewed on the work-readiness of graduates showed that an educational gap could exist between the skills required by employees and the skills that entering trainee accountants possess. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data from supervisors and/or coordinators from Accredited Training Centres (ATCs) in the Nelson Mandela Bay Region of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) on their perception of the level of capability expected of entering trainee accountants. The findings of this study showed that the universities provide entering trainee accountants with sufficient knowledge insofar as their technical abilities are concerned. However, employers perceive entering trainee accountants‟ capabilities in terms of their work-readiness skills, as insufficient.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Schoeman, Lynn Antoinette
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Accountants -- Employment -- South Africa -- Students , College graduates -- Employment -- South Africa School-to-work transition -- South Africa Employability -- South Africa -- Students
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20455 , vital:29288
- Description: The constant change in the business environment versus the curriculum content of accounting educational programmes result in a possible gap between the competencies gained by students who complete their degree qualifications compared to the expectations of employers of these entering trainee accountants. However, the universities do endeavour to teach students the syllabus that will provide them with sufficient information and skills to be able to complete the tasks expected from them without much learning following university. Universities face increasing pressure to ensure graduates are equipped with the right employability skills (Osmani, Weerakkody & Hindi, 2017) yet literature show that graduates entering the workforce are not sufficiently equipped with all the necessary non-technical skills required by the accounting profession (Fouché, 2013). The research for this study was guided by the question whether universities sufficiently prepare entering trainee accountants with regards to work-readiness skills and whether a gap exists between the level of work-readiness skills expected by employers in professional accounting practice, and the actual level of capability of these skills transferred through the formal professional accounting educational programmes offered by universities in South Africa. Published literature reviewed on the work-readiness of graduates showed that an educational gap could exist between the skills required by employees and the skills that entering trainee accountants possess. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data from supervisors and/or coordinators from Accredited Training Centres (ATCs) in the Nelson Mandela Bay Region of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) on their perception of the level of capability expected of entering trainee accountants. The findings of this study showed that the universities provide entering trainee accountants with sufficient knowledge insofar as their technical abilities are concerned. However, employers perceive entering trainee accountants‟ capabilities in terms of their work-readiness skills, as insufficient.
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- Date Issued: 2017