Variation in the essential oil composition of Calendula Officinalis L
- Authors: Okoh, Omobola Oluranti
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Calendula (Genus) , Essences and essential oils , Medicinal plants , Calendula officinalis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11334 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001150 , Calendula (Genus) , Essences and essential oils , Medicinal plants , Calendula officinalis
- Description: Variations in the yield, chemical composition, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties of the essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis L. cultivated in Alice, Eastern Cape of South Africa over a period of 12 months using the solvent-free microwave extraction and traditional hydrodistillation methods were evaluated. The GC-MS analyses of the essential oils revealed the presence of 33 compounds with 1,8-cineole, a-pinene, camphor, verbenone, bornyl acetate and camphene constituting about 80 percent of the oils throughout the period of investigation, with the solvent-free microwave extraction method generally yielding more of the major components than the hydrodistillation method. Each of the major components of the oils varied in quantity and quality of yield at different periods of the year. The method of extraction and time of harvest are of importance to the quantity and quality of essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis. Higher amounts of oxygenated monoterpenes such as borneol, camphor, terpene- 4-ol, linalool, a-terpeneol were present in the oil of SFME in comparison with HD. However, HD oil contained more monoterpene hydrocarbons such as a-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, myrcene, a-phellanderene, 1,8-cineole, trans- β-ocimene, γ-teprinene, and cis-sabinene hydrate than SFME extracted oil. Accumulation of monoterpene alcohols and ketones was observed during maturation process of Rosmarinus leaves. Quantitative evaluation of antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration values were determined using a serial microplate dilution method. The essential oils obtained using both methods of extraction were active against all the bacteria tested at a concentration of 10 mg mL-1. The minimum inhibitory concentrations for the SFME extracted oils ranged between 0.23 and 1.88 mg mL-1, while those of the HD extracted oils varied between 0.94 and 7.5 mg mL-1, thus suggesting that the oil obtained by solvent free microwave extraction was more active against bacteria than the oil obtained through hydrodistillation. The antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of the obtained oils were tested by means of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH+) assay and β- carotene bleaching test. In the DPPH+ assay, while the free radical scavenging activity of the oil obtained by SFME method showed percentage inhibitions of between 48.8 percent and 67 percent, the HD derived oil showed inhibitions of between 52.2 percent and 65.30 percent at concentrations of 0.33, 0.50 and 1.0 mg mL-1, respectively. In the β-carotene bleaching assay, the percentage inhibition increased with increasing concentration of both oils with a higher antioxidant activity of the oil obtained through the SFME than the HD method. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was used to analyze the chemical composition of the extracts using three eluent solvent systems of varying polarities i. e. CEF, BEA and EMW and sprayed with vanillin-sulfuric acid. The chemical composition of the different extracts was similar with the exception of methanol and water extracts which had only one or two visible compounds after treating with vanillin-spray reagent. To evaluate the number of antibacterial compounds present in the fractions, bioautography was used against two most important nosocomial microorganisms. S. aureus (Gram positive) and E. coli (Gram negative). Nearly all the crude serial extraction fractions contained compounds that inhibited the growth of E. coli. The hexane extract had the most lines of inhibition followed by ethyl acetate. Bioassay-guided fractionation against E. coli was used to isolate antibacterial compounds. The largest number of antibacterial compounds occurred in the hexane fraction. Furthermore we tried to complete the characterization by extracting and studying other biologically important plant metabolites such as phenolic compounds to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of Rosmarinus extracts
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Okoh, Omobola Oluranti
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Calendula (Genus) , Essences and essential oils , Medicinal plants , Calendula officinalis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11334 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001150 , Calendula (Genus) , Essences and essential oils , Medicinal plants , Calendula officinalis
- Description: Variations in the yield, chemical composition, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties of the essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis L. cultivated in Alice, Eastern Cape of South Africa over a period of 12 months using the solvent-free microwave extraction and traditional hydrodistillation methods were evaluated. The GC-MS analyses of the essential oils revealed the presence of 33 compounds with 1,8-cineole, a-pinene, camphor, verbenone, bornyl acetate and camphene constituting about 80 percent of the oils throughout the period of investigation, with the solvent-free microwave extraction method generally yielding more of the major components than the hydrodistillation method. Each of the major components of the oils varied in quantity and quality of yield at different periods of the year. The method of extraction and time of harvest are of importance to the quantity and quality of essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis. Higher amounts of oxygenated monoterpenes such as borneol, camphor, terpene- 4-ol, linalool, a-terpeneol were present in the oil of SFME in comparison with HD. However, HD oil contained more monoterpene hydrocarbons such as a-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, myrcene, a-phellanderene, 1,8-cineole, trans- β-ocimene, γ-teprinene, and cis-sabinene hydrate than SFME extracted oil. Accumulation of monoterpene alcohols and ketones was observed during maturation process of Rosmarinus leaves. Quantitative evaluation of antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration values were determined using a serial microplate dilution method. The essential oils obtained using both methods of extraction were active against all the bacteria tested at a concentration of 10 mg mL-1. The minimum inhibitory concentrations for the SFME extracted oils ranged between 0.23 and 1.88 mg mL-1, while those of the HD extracted oils varied between 0.94 and 7.5 mg mL-1, thus suggesting that the oil obtained by solvent free microwave extraction was more active against bacteria than the oil obtained through hydrodistillation. The antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of the obtained oils were tested by means of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH+) assay and β- carotene bleaching test. In the DPPH+ assay, while the free radical scavenging activity of the oil obtained by SFME method showed percentage inhibitions of between 48.8 percent and 67 percent, the HD derived oil showed inhibitions of between 52.2 percent and 65.30 percent at concentrations of 0.33, 0.50 and 1.0 mg mL-1, respectively. In the β-carotene bleaching assay, the percentage inhibition increased with increasing concentration of both oils with a higher antioxidant activity of the oil obtained through the SFME than the HD method. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was used to analyze the chemical composition of the extracts using three eluent solvent systems of varying polarities i. e. CEF, BEA and EMW and sprayed with vanillin-sulfuric acid. The chemical composition of the different extracts was similar with the exception of methanol and water extracts which had only one or two visible compounds after treating with vanillin-spray reagent. To evaluate the number of antibacterial compounds present in the fractions, bioautography was used against two most important nosocomial microorganisms. S. aureus (Gram positive) and E. coli (Gram negative). Nearly all the crude serial extraction fractions contained compounds that inhibited the growth of E. coli. The hexane extract had the most lines of inhibition followed by ethyl acetate. Bioassay-guided fractionation against E. coli was used to isolate antibacterial compounds. The largest number of antibacterial compounds occurred in the hexane fraction. Furthermore we tried to complete the characterization by extracting and studying other biologically important plant metabolites such as phenolic compounds to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of Rosmarinus extracts
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The impact of the broadcast legislative reforms on the newsroom staff's perceptions of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC)'s editorial operations and news content
- Authors: Hamasaka, Clayson
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Public broadcasting -- Zambia Mass media -- Management -- Zambia Broadcasting -- Law and legislation -- Zambia Broadcasting -- Political aspects -- Zambia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3432 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002886
- Description: The 1980s and 1990s saw major changes in the political landscape of the media in many countries that were either reverting or emerging from repressive nondemocratic regimes. Among the notable changes in media industry was the opening up of the national airwaves, which had been a state monopoly, to private sector and community participation. The democratic dispensation also put state broadcasters in the spot-light regarding their editorial content which was previously ‘institutionalised’ as belonging to the ruling regimes. This study set out to investigate the extent to which broadcasting reform legislation meant to address the unfair coverage of contending voices on Zambia’s public broadcaster has had an impact in reversing the situation in the newsroom. Using qualitative methods of investigation, the study established that while the ZNBC staff understand aspects of their role in their newsroom in relation to the principles of public service broadcasting and in line with the enacted legislation, they perceive that, in practice, they have to ensure that the news content still remains a reserve of a few voices in favour of the ruling regime. This was evidenced by testimonies from the news staff’s complaints of continued editorial interference in their work by government leaders and government appointed gatekeepers, as well as selfcensorship. The study recommends, among other things, the full implementation of the recently enacted laws on the operations of ZNBC in order to achieve some minimum levels of being a public broadcaster. It further recommends a serious re-orientation of the ZNBC newsroom and management staff to the current legislative requirements so as to shift their mindset away from their traditionally-held views of thinking that news at that station is only for the ruling regime.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Hamasaka, Clayson
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Public broadcasting -- Zambia Mass media -- Management -- Zambia Broadcasting -- Law and legislation -- Zambia Broadcasting -- Political aspects -- Zambia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3432 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002886
- Description: The 1980s and 1990s saw major changes in the political landscape of the media in many countries that were either reverting or emerging from repressive nondemocratic regimes. Among the notable changes in media industry was the opening up of the national airwaves, which had been a state monopoly, to private sector and community participation. The democratic dispensation also put state broadcasters in the spot-light regarding their editorial content which was previously ‘institutionalised’ as belonging to the ruling regimes. This study set out to investigate the extent to which broadcasting reform legislation meant to address the unfair coverage of contending voices on Zambia’s public broadcaster has had an impact in reversing the situation in the newsroom. Using qualitative methods of investigation, the study established that while the ZNBC staff understand aspects of their role in their newsroom in relation to the principles of public service broadcasting and in line with the enacted legislation, they perceive that, in practice, they have to ensure that the news content still remains a reserve of a few voices in favour of the ruling regime. This was evidenced by testimonies from the news staff’s complaints of continued editorial interference in their work by government leaders and government appointed gatekeepers, as well as selfcensorship. The study recommends, among other things, the full implementation of the recently enacted laws on the operations of ZNBC in order to achieve some minimum levels of being a public broadcaster. It further recommends a serious re-orientation of the ZNBC newsroom and management staff to the current legislative requirements so as to shift their mindset away from their traditionally-held views of thinking that news at that station is only for the ruling regime.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The potential use of e-learning to support teaching, learning and assessment in Information Systems at Walter Sisulu University
- Authors: Sabalele, Tabisa
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Walter Sisulu University for Technology & Science Information technology -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa Educational technology -- South Africa Education, Higher -- Computer-assisted instruction Universities and colleges -- Computer networking Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa Internet in higher education Educational tests and measurements
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1899 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006209
- Description: This research is an investigation of the potential means to make the Information Systems (IS) course more accessible to Walter Sisulu University (WSU) students. As some IS students at this institution are unable to attend classes on a regular basis, this study aims to establish if and how the WSU Accounting Department (which offers the IS course) could use e-Iearning to support the teaching, learning and assessment of IS. This qualitative study was approached from an interpretive perspective. The study has undergone one cycle of an action research approach. The methods used in the study include surveys, an expert review and focus group interviews. The data was elicited from participants using questionnaires and an interview schedule. A staff questionnaire was used to elicit information from IS staff from four contact universities in South Africa to determine their experience of using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for e-learning in an IS course. A student questionnaire was used to determine the WSU IS students' reasons for absenteeism, their learning needs, and their current computer access and skills. Data from both of these surveys informed the development of the WSU IS pilot website. An expert review questionnaire ascertained the subject expert's opinions about the newly developed WSU IS pilot website. The website was found to be of good quality with respect to the four aspects that Harvey and Green (J 993 cited in Lomas 2002) use to define quality. Some modifications were made to the WSU IS pilot website as a result of the expert's comments. After the website was used by the IS students, two focus group interviews were conducted to determine the students' perceptions of the value of the website. The data was analyzed, interpreted and linked to the literature surveyed. The main findings indicate that the WSU IS pilot website could be part of a more globalised higher education offering than the paper-based IS course offered before. However, the staff and the student surveys revealed that ICT has opened the gap in equity at the higher education institutions, highlighting that access to a university does not mean equal access to lectures and computers. The WSU IS pilot website endeavoured to capitalise on students' physical access to computers by supporting epistemological access to the curriculum, by encouraging them to exercise control over their learning. This study has ideally enabled the Accounting Department to deliver its services to students and this in turn will hopefully help WSU retain its part-time students and improve the student pass rates.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Sabalele, Tabisa
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Walter Sisulu University for Technology & Science Information technology -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa Educational technology -- South Africa Education, Higher -- Computer-assisted instruction Universities and colleges -- Computer networking Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa Internet in higher education Educational tests and measurements
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1899 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006209
- Description: This research is an investigation of the potential means to make the Information Systems (IS) course more accessible to Walter Sisulu University (WSU) students. As some IS students at this institution are unable to attend classes on a regular basis, this study aims to establish if and how the WSU Accounting Department (which offers the IS course) could use e-Iearning to support the teaching, learning and assessment of IS. This qualitative study was approached from an interpretive perspective. The study has undergone one cycle of an action research approach. The methods used in the study include surveys, an expert review and focus group interviews. The data was elicited from participants using questionnaires and an interview schedule. A staff questionnaire was used to elicit information from IS staff from four contact universities in South Africa to determine their experience of using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for e-learning in an IS course. A student questionnaire was used to determine the WSU IS students' reasons for absenteeism, their learning needs, and their current computer access and skills. Data from both of these surveys informed the development of the WSU IS pilot website. An expert review questionnaire ascertained the subject expert's opinions about the newly developed WSU IS pilot website. The website was found to be of good quality with respect to the four aspects that Harvey and Green (J 993 cited in Lomas 2002) use to define quality. Some modifications were made to the WSU IS pilot website as a result of the expert's comments. After the website was used by the IS students, two focus group interviews were conducted to determine the students' perceptions of the value of the website. The data was analyzed, interpreted and linked to the literature surveyed. The main findings indicate that the WSU IS pilot website could be part of a more globalised higher education offering than the paper-based IS course offered before. However, the staff and the student surveys revealed that ICT has opened the gap in equity at the higher education institutions, highlighting that access to a university does not mean equal access to lectures and computers. The WSU IS pilot website endeavoured to capitalise on students' physical access to computers by supporting epistemological access to the curriculum, by encouraging them to exercise control over their learning. This study has ideally enabled the Accounting Department to deliver its services to students and this in turn will hopefully help WSU retain its part-time students and improve the student pass rates.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Characterization of polarization effects on deployed aerial optical fibre in South Africa
- Authors: Mudau, Azwitamisi Eric
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Polarization (Light) , Fiber optics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10521 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1060 , Polarization (Light) , Fiber optics
- Description: In this study, two polarization effects, namely the state of polarization (SOP) and polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in optical fibre cable are investigated. The change in polarization effects introduces errors in optical fibre communication system. We find that the SOP drifts slowly in buried cables, and rapidly in aerial cables. This is because buried cables are located in a static environment, whereas aerial cables are exposed directly to a dynamic environment. The SOP change in aerial cable shows significant correlation with its environment (the global radiation, temperature and wind). The autocorrelation function (ACF) was not performed in buried cable, since they do not satisfy the ACF assumption, whereas in aerial cable it is found that the ACF of the SOP decorrelates quite quickly during the day. The 50 percent decorrelation time during the day and night are 9.6 and 30.4 minutes, respectively. During the day the properties of the optical fibre change rapidly as a result of the rapidly changing environmental conditions, whereas at night the environmental conditions change relatively slowly. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of the SOP fluctuations show discrete peaks, which corresponds to the wind induced vibrational frequency of the cable. The PMD fluctuations for undeployed and deployed aerial optical fibre cable are monitored using the generalized interferometric technique (GINTY). It is found that the PMD measured with polarization scrambling is more scattered but more reliable than the PMD measured without polarization scrambling. This is because the PMD obtained with polarization scrambling is averaged over different input and output (I/O) SOP pairs. For deployed aerial cable, it is found that the PMD measured without polarization scrambling fluctuates rapidly during high wind speed conditions. Furthermore, there is a correlation between the measured PMD and the change in temperature. It is found that the change in temperature has a stronger influence than the wind on the PMD of the optical fibre link.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Mudau, Azwitamisi Eric
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Polarization (Light) , Fiber optics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10521 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1060 , Polarization (Light) , Fiber optics
- Description: In this study, two polarization effects, namely the state of polarization (SOP) and polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in optical fibre cable are investigated. The change in polarization effects introduces errors in optical fibre communication system. We find that the SOP drifts slowly in buried cables, and rapidly in aerial cables. This is because buried cables are located in a static environment, whereas aerial cables are exposed directly to a dynamic environment. The SOP change in aerial cable shows significant correlation with its environment (the global radiation, temperature and wind). The autocorrelation function (ACF) was not performed in buried cable, since they do not satisfy the ACF assumption, whereas in aerial cable it is found that the ACF of the SOP decorrelates quite quickly during the day. The 50 percent decorrelation time during the day and night are 9.6 and 30.4 minutes, respectively. During the day the properties of the optical fibre change rapidly as a result of the rapidly changing environmental conditions, whereas at night the environmental conditions change relatively slowly. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of the SOP fluctuations show discrete peaks, which corresponds to the wind induced vibrational frequency of the cable. The PMD fluctuations for undeployed and deployed aerial optical fibre cable are monitored using the generalized interferometric technique (GINTY). It is found that the PMD measured with polarization scrambling is more scattered but more reliable than the PMD measured without polarization scrambling. This is because the PMD obtained with polarization scrambling is averaged over different input and output (I/O) SOP pairs. For deployed aerial cable, it is found that the PMD measured without polarization scrambling fluctuates rapidly during high wind speed conditions. Furthermore, there is a correlation between the measured PMD and the change in temperature. It is found that the change in temperature has a stronger influence than the wind on the PMD of the optical fibre link.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
A study of professionalism and the professionalisation of journalists in Uganda from 1995 to 2008
- Authors: Mayiga, John Bosco
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Journalists -- Uganda Journalism -- Political aspects -- Uganda Mass media -- Political aspects -- Uganda Journalism -- Sociological aspects -- Uganda Journalism, Commercial -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3461 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002916
- Description: This study seeks to examine how Ugandan journalists’ and politicians’ views on journalism professionalisation in Uganda relate to the broad theoretical arguments about professionalism within sociology and media studies. It also seeks to examine how such views impact on the democratic role of the media. The study finds out that there are two sets of distinct ideas on journalism professionalisation. The idea espoused by politicians is statutory professionalisation in which the state plays a major role through regulation and control, hence professionalisation is seen primarily as a control system. On the other hand, journalists perceive professionalisation as nurtured by voluntarily and socially inculcated professional values, hence as a value system. The study however, finds that both sets of understandings have their own complexities. While the statutory approach has complexities like how core elements of professionalism such as professional values can be imposed through legislation, the voluntary approach to professionalism also exhibits tensions within, especially stemming from the relationship between the professional and the news organisation regarding what constitutes professionalism. The study concludes that both sets of ideas have implications for the democratic role of the media, with both perceptions of professionalism curtailing this role. Statutory professionalisation in the Ugandan political context where the state is the dominant institution brings media institutions within its control, which leads to suppression of content of democratic value through a number of means. On the other hand, the self-regulatory perception does not protect media professionalism from the assault of commercial imperatives, especially when fused with state patronage in regard to broadcasting licences and placement of advertising.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Mayiga, John Bosco
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Journalists -- Uganda Journalism -- Political aspects -- Uganda Mass media -- Political aspects -- Uganda Journalism -- Sociological aspects -- Uganda Journalism, Commercial -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3461 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002916
- Description: This study seeks to examine how Ugandan journalists’ and politicians’ views on journalism professionalisation in Uganda relate to the broad theoretical arguments about professionalism within sociology and media studies. It also seeks to examine how such views impact on the democratic role of the media. The study finds out that there are two sets of distinct ideas on journalism professionalisation. The idea espoused by politicians is statutory professionalisation in which the state plays a major role through regulation and control, hence professionalisation is seen primarily as a control system. On the other hand, journalists perceive professionalisation as nurtured by voluntarily and socially inculcated professional values, hence as a value system. The study however, finds that both sets of understandings have their own complexities. While the statutory approach has complexities like how core elements of professionalism such as professional values can be imposed through legislation, the voluntary approach to professionalism also exhibits tensions within, especially stemming from the relationship between the professional and the news organisation regarding what constitutes professionalism. The study concludes that both sets of ideas have implications for the democratic role of the media, with both perceptions of professionalism curtailing this role. Statutory professionalisation in the Ugandan political context where the state is the dominant institution brings media institutions within its control, which leads to suppression of content of democratic value through a number of means. On the other hand, the self-regulatory perception does not protect media professionalism from the assault of commercial imperatives, especially when fused with state patronage in regard to broadcasting licences and placement of advertising.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Integer optimization for the selection of a twenty20 cricket team
- Authors: Lourens, Mark
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Cricket -- Coaching , Teamwork (Sports) , Cricket players , Sports -- Research -- Methodology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10568 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1000 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009631 , Cricket -- Coaching , Teamwork (Sports) , Cricket players , Sports -- Research -- Methodology
- Description: During the last few years, much effort has been devoted to measuring the ability of sport teams, as well as that of the individual players. Much research has been on the game of cricket, and the comparison, or ranking, of players according to their abilities. This study continues preceding research using an optimization approach, namely, a binary integer programme, to select an SA domestic Pro20 cricket team.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Lourens, Mark
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Cricket -- Coaching , Teamwork (Sports) , Cricket players , Sports -- Research -- Methodology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10568 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1000 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009631 , Cricket -- Coaching , Teamwork (Sports) , Cricket players , Sports -- Research -- Methodology
- Description: During the last few years, much effort has been devoted to measuring the ability of sport teams, as well as that of the individual players. Much research has been on the game of cricket, and the comparison, or ranking, of players according to their abilities. This study continues preceding research using an optimization approach, namely, a binary integer programme, to select an SA domestic Pro20 cricket team.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
An investigation of the provision of the water and sanitation services after the devolution of powers and functions in 2003 to selected municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Mama, Mandisa Wongiwe
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water-supply, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sanitation, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal water supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11646 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/215 , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water-supply, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sanitation, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal water supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The Republic of South Africa embarked on devolution of specific powers to municipal authorities due to the fact that municipalities are a sphere of government which is at the door step of the citizens. Among the powers that were devolved was the authority to regulate on the rendering of water and services to communities. From now henceforth in this study, water and sanitation services will be referred to as water services. The rural villages that had no access to water services during the previous dispensation were rapidly rendered with these services when the transformed Department of Water Affairs and Forestry took a decision to provide the services on its own in order to give space for the transformation of the local sphere of government such that these municipal X authorities are able to manage the load of the allocation of such functions mainly and to close the vacuum so that there is no gap as to who should be responsible for water provision in rural villages whilst the restructuring of municipalities to include the rural villages as part of the transformation process takes place. A decline in the pace rendering water services to the previously disadvantaged rural communities was noticed after the devolution of water services to municipal authorities and by implication once hands were changed. This left those rural communities that had no access to water services still without the desired water services and those that had water services provided left midway with dry water schemes and dysfunctional infrastructure. This study therefore seeks to uproot the cause for the deceleration of water services once it was devolved to municipal authorities. This decline was noticed by the researcher hence the study seeks to attempt providing alternatives and lasting solutions primarily because water services are essential services and water is life. The main objective of the study is to investigate factors that cause the deceleration of water supply and the slow movement in the acceleration of sanitation services in order to provide alternatives that may yield results. Given the above broad objective this study further aims at examining the following factors: The correlation in funding made available by the central government and the financial resources available to municipalities to perform the function in order to render this service properly. Technical support available to municipalities. Relevant legislation, its policies and its impact on the implementation of the service XI. The correlation between accountability, democratization and community participation on standards and quality of the service to actual outputs. Improvement of service delivery and its relationship with transparency and efficiency. Relatedness of poverty to non provision of water services. The relatedness of poverty, lack of basic services to influx in the cities. Relatedness of the quality of the water services to the outbreak of diseases
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Mama, Mandisa Wongiwe
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water-supply, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sanitation, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal water supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11646 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/215 , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water-supply, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sanitation, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal water supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The Republic of South Africa embarked on devolution of specific powers to municipal authorities due to the fact that municipalities are a sphere of government which is at the door step of the citizens. Among the powers that were devolved was the authority to regulate on the rendering of water and services to communities. From now henceforth in this study, water and sanitation services will be referred to as water services. The rural villages that had no access to water services during the previous dispensation were rapidly rendered with these services when the transformed Department of Water Affairs and Forestry took a decision to provide the services on its own in order to give space for the transformation of the local sphere of government such that these municipal X authorities are able to manage the load of the allocation of such functions mainly and to close the vacuum so that there is no gap as to who should be responsible for water provision in rural villages whilst the restructuring of municipalities to include the rural villages as part of the transformation process takes place. A decline in the pace rendering water services to the previously disadvantaged rural communities was noticed after the devolution of water services to municipal authorities and by implication once hands were changed. This left those rural communities that had no access to water services still without the desired water services and those that had water services provided left midway with dry water schemes and dysfunctional infrastructure. This study therefore seeks to uproot the cause for the deceleration of water services once it was devolved to municipal authorities. This decline was noticed by the researcher hence the study seeks to attempt providing alternatives and lasting solutions primarily because water services are essential services and water is life. The main objective of the study is to investigate factors that cause the deceleration of water supply and the slow movement in the acceleration of sanitation services in order to provide alternatives that may yield results. Given the above broad objective this study further aims at examining the following factors: The correlation in funding made available by the central government and the financial resources available to municipalities to perform the function in order to render this service properly. Technical support available to municipalities. Relevant legislation, its policies and its impact on the implementation of the service XI. The correlation between accountability, democratization and community participation on standards and quality of the service to actual outputs. Improvement of service delivery and its relationship with transparency and efficiency. Relatedness of poverty to non provision of water services. The relatedness of poverty, lack of basic services to influx in the cities. Relatedness of the quality of the water services to the outbreak of diseases
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The "other" Africans : re-examining representations of sexuality in the work of Nicholas Hlobo and Zanele Muholi
- Authors: Makhubu, Nomusa
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Hlobo, Nicholas Muholi, Zanele Women in art Photography, Artistic Homosexuality in art Sex in art Performance art Art, African
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2410 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002206
- Description: Nicholas Hlobo, a sculptor and performance artist, and Zanele Muholi, a photographer and activist, explore different ways of representing sexuality, particularly homosexuality. It is extremely difficult to discuss African sexuality in light of the stain of colonial attitudes that have exoticised and ascribed hypersexuality to African bodies. Moreover, sexuality is often not discussed in the construction of so-called African traditions and this has contributed to rendering African-ness as an exclusive identity. Tensions within and between categories of African-ness are compounded by constituted regulations. For example, Hlobo investigates the obligation of circumcision which seems to contrast the lifestyle and contexts in which he works and resides, and Muholi represents the existence of homosexual and transgender relations, even within conservative categories. The visual imagery of these two artists investigates the boundaries set by different social constructs. These set boundaries have also affected crimes against bisexual, transgender and homosexual individuals, which are reaching an alarming rate. Hlobo questions the validity of structures that marginalise homosexual individuals through drawing attention to the ambivalence of certain statutes. Muholi seeks to publicise the injustices imposed upon homosexual individuals in order to demonstrate the weight of that crisis. Although the South African legal system condones liberated expressions of sexual identity, due to social prejudices homosexual individuals are still treated as if they are not entitled to basic human rights. As a result, hate-crimes are not reported, and when they are they are not taken seriously. Hlobo and Muholi not only bring these issues to light, but also point out the dilemma inscribed in the social and political history of (South) Africa with regards to collective and individual identities. This thesis seeks to provide an analysis of the visual language used by Hlobo and Muholi to subvert the notion that homosexuality is “un-African” and to complicate concepts of gender, sexuality and identity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Makhubu, Nomusa
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Hlobo, Nicholas Muholi, Zanele Women in art Photography, Artistic Homosexuality in art Sex in art Performance art Art, African
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2410 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002206
- Description: Nicholas Hlobo, a sculptor and performance artist, and Zanele Muholi, a photographer and activist, explore different ways of representing sexuality, particularly homosexuality. It is extremely difficult to discuss African sexuality in light of the stain of colonial attitudes that have exoticised and ascribed hypersexuality to African bodies. Moreover, sexuality is often not discussed in the construction of so-called African traditions and this has contributed to rendering African-ness as an exclusive identity. Tensions within and between categories of African-ness are compounded by constituted regulations. For example, Hlobo investigates the obligation of circumcision which seems to contrast the lifestyle and contexts in which he works and resides, and Muholi represents the existence of homosexual and transgender relations, even within conservative categories. The visual imagery of these two artists investigates the boundaries set by different social constructs. These set boundaries have also affected crimes against bisexual, transgender and homosexual individuals, which are reaching an alarming rate. Hlobo questions the validity of structures that marginalise homosexual individuals through drawing attention to the ambivalence of certain statutes. Muholi seeks to publicise the injustices imposed upon homosexual individuals in order to demonstrate the weight of that crisis. Although the South African legal system condones liberated expressions of sexual identity, due to social prejudices homosexual individuals are still treated as if they are not entitled to basic human rights. As a result, hate-crimes are not reported, and when they are they are not taken seriously. Hlobo and Muholi not only bring these issues to light, but also point out the dilemma inscribed in the social and political history of (South) Africa with regards to collective and individual identities. This thesis seeks to provide an analysis of the visual language used by Hlobo and Muholi to subvert the notion that homosexuality is “un-African” and to complicate concepts of gender, sexuality and identity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Business process security maturity: a paradigm convergence
- Authors: Box, Debra
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Management information systems , Reengineering (Management) , Organizational change , Systems engineering , Information resources management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9785 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/722 , Management information systems , Reengineering (Management) , Organizational change , Systems engineering , Information resources management
- Description: Information technology developments in software and hardware have enabled radical changes in information systems, culminating in the paradigm Business Process Management. There has been a concomitant rise in the importance of information security and security engineering due to the increased reliance by society on information. Information is seen as a critical success factor which needs protection. Information security is the response to increased hazards created through recent innovations in Web technology and the advent of intra and inter enterprise-wide systems. Security engineering is based on a variety of codes of practice and security metrics which aim at ameliorating these increased security hazards. Its aim is to produce a balanced set of security needs which are integrated into the system activities to establish confidence in the effectiveness of the security counter-measures. It is generally accepted that security should be applied in an integrated approach, for example, in Information Systems development. This has proved to be a noble thought but is the exception to the rule. Security, historically, is generally applied as an after-thought in an Information Technology implementation. This motivated the concept of formulating a model of integrating security inherently within the paradigm of BPM. The overarching requirements of the model are to align the overall organisational security initiatives and ensure continuous improvement through constant evaluation and adaptation of the security processes. It is the intention of this research to show that these requirements are achievable through aligning the process management methodology of BPM, with the security paradigms of Information Security Management (using the ISO 17799 standard) and security engineering (using the Systems Security Engineering Capability Maturity Model – SSE-CMM). The aim of the Business Process Security Maturity model as the output of this research, is to link the SSE-CMM, as the security metric and appraisal method, to the ISO 17799 security standard, which provides the guidance for the information security management framework and security control selection, within the Business Process Management environment. The SSE-CMM, as the security version of the Capability Maturity Model, provides the necessary strategy to control the security engineering processes that support the information systems and it maintains that as processes mature they become more predictable, effective and manageable. The aim of the model is to provide an integrated, mature security strategy within the business process and monitor and correct the security posture of the implemented counter-measures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Box, Debra
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Management information systems , Reengineering (Management) , Organizational change , Systems engineering , Information resources management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9785 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/722 , Management information systems , Reengineering (Management) , Organizational change , Systems engineering , Information resources management
- Description: Information technology developments in software and hardware have enabled radical changes in information systems, culminating in the paradigm Business Process Management. There has been a concomitant rise in the importance of information security and security engineering due to the increased reliance by society on information. Information is seen as a critical success factor which needs protection. Information security is the response to increased hazards created through recent innovations in Web technology and the advent of intra and inter enterprise-wide systems. Security engineering is based on a variety of codes of practice and security metrics which aim at ameliorating these increased security hazards. Its aim is to produce a balanced set of security needs which are integrated into the system activities to establish confidence in the effectiveness of the security counter-measures. It is generally accepted that security should be applied in an integrated approach, for example, in Information Systems development. This has proved to be a noble thought but is the exception to the rule. Security, historically, is generally applied as an after-thought in an Information Technology implementation. This motivated the concept of formulating a model of integrating security inherently within the paradigm of BPM. The overarching requirements of the model are to align the overall organisational security initiatives and ensure continuous improvement through constant evaluation and adaptation of the security processes. It is the intention of this research to show that these requirements are achievable through aligning the process management methodology of BPM, with the security paradigms of Information Security Management (using the ISO 17799 standard) and security engineering (using the Systems Security Engineering Capability Maturity Model – SSE-CMM). The aim of the Business Process Security Maturity model as the output of this research, is to link the SSE-CMM, as the security metric and appraisal method, to the ISO 17799 security standard, which provides the guidance for the information security management framework and security control selection, within the Business Process Management environment. The SSE-CMM, as the security version of the Capability Maturity Model, provides the necessary strategy to control the security engineering processes that support the information systems and it maintains that as processes mature they become more predictable, effective and manageable. The aim of the model is to provide an integrated, mature security strategy within the business process and monitor and correct the security posture of the implemented counter-measures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
WISC-IV performance of South African grade 7 English and Xhosa speaking children with advantaged versus disadvantaged education
- Authors: Van Tonder, Phia
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Intelligence tests -- South Africa Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa Psychological tests -- Cross-cultural studies Educational psychology -- South Africa Language and languages -- Ability testing Educational evaluation -- South Africa Education, Elementary -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3098 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003920
- Description: Research reveals that the level as well as the quality of education plays a role in the determination of an individual's intellectual capacity. Substantial differences in quality of education for black and white individuals were experienced in South Africa due to Apartheid. Compared to the traditionally white Private and Model C schools, Township/ DET schools had limited resources, as well as a separate syllabus and examination system, a situation that has not improved substantially since democratisation in 1994. Research on black South African adults with the WAIS-III has confirmed significant influences on IQ in association with exposure to either such advantaged (Private/Model C) schooling, or disadvantaged (Township/DET) schooling. However to date there has been no published research on the use of the Wechsler intelligence tests on a black South African child population similarly stratified for quality of education. Therefore, for the purposes of this study, the latest Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) was administered to a sample of 36 Grade 7 learners between the ages of 12-13 (mean 13.01 years), stratified for quality of education to form three comparative groups. Data analyses revealed significant differences on the WISC-IV Factor Indices and Full Scale IQ with the English speaking Private/Model C school group performing the best, followed by the Xhosa speaking Private/ Model C school group, and the Xhosa speaking Township/ DET school group performing the worst. This continuum of lowering is understood to occur abreast of a continuum of decreased exposure to relatively advantaged education. These normative indications are considered to have vital implications for the use of the WISC-IV in the South African cross-cultural situation where vastly differential educational opportunities continue to exist.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Van Tonder, Phia
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Intelligence tests -- South Africa Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa Psychological tests -- Cross-cultural studies Educational psychology -- South Africa Language and languages -- Ability testing Educational evaluation -- South Africa Education, Elementary -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3098 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003920
- Description: Research reveals that the level as well as the quality of education plays a role in the determination of an individual's intellectual capacity. Substantial differences in quality of education for black and white individuals were experienced in South Africa due to Apartheid. Compared to the traditionally white Private and Model C schools, Township/ DET schools had limited resources, as well as a separate syllabus and examination system, a situation that has not improved substantially since democratisation in 1994. Research on black South African adults with the WAIS-III has confirmed significant influences on IQ in association with exposure to either such advantaged (Private/Model C) schooling, or disadvantaged (Township/DET) schooling. However to date there has been no published research on the use of the Wechsler intelligence tests on a black South African child population similarly stratified for quality of education. Therefore, for the purposes of this study, the latest Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) was administered to a sample of 36 Grade 7 learners between the ages of 12-13 (mean 13.01 years), stratified for quality of education to form three comparative groups. Data analyses revealed significant differences on the WISC-IV Factor Indices and Full Scale IQ with the English speaking Private/Model C school group performing the best, followed by the Xhosa speaking Private/ Model C school group, and the Xhosa speaking Township/ DET school group performing the worst. This continuum of lowering is understood to occur abreast of a continuum of decreased exposure to relatively advantaged education. These normative indications are considered to have vital implications for the use of the WISC-IV in the South African cross-cultural situation where vastly differential educational opportunities continue to exist.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Home range dynamics of spotted grunter, pomadasys commersonnii, in a South African intermittently open estuary
- Authors: O'Connell, Bronwyn Anne
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Grunts (Fishes) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Pomadasys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine fishes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine fishes -- Habitat -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fishery management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fishes -- Home range , Fishes -- Home range -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5286 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005130 , Grunts (Fishes) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Pomadasys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine fishes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine fishes -- Habitat -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fishery management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fishes -- Home range , Fishes -- Home range -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The spotted grunter (Pomadasys commersonnii) is an important, estuarine-dependent, fishery species in southern Africa. Since estuaries are essential habitats in the life history of this species, the quantification of area use patterns and movements is important for fisheries management. In this study, acoustic telemetry was used to investigate movements, use of habitat and home range dynamics of spotted grunter in the small intermittently open East Kleinemonde Estuary on the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa. Nine spotted grunter (range: 326-489mm TL) were surgically equipped with uniquely coded acoustic transmitters. Positional fixes were obtained by manual tracking tagged individuals on six days and six nights during five tracking sessions from March to November 2004. In addition, five stationary data-logging receivers, moored at specific locations from the mouth to the top of the estuary provided additional long-term monitoring. Kernel home ranges (95% UD) varied in size (26 296-165 321m²) but were all located in a common high use area situated between 300-1 300m from the estuary mouth, which coincided with the highest abundance of prey items. There was no significant variation in home range size [C² (N = 9, df = 4) = 4.18; p = 0.38] between the temporally segregated tracking sessions (over nine months). The persistence of these home range estimates were confirmed by the long-term data-logging receivers. There was no significant diel variation in home range size [F(4, 64) = 0.05, p = 0.99] or core area size [F(4, 64) = 1.40, p = 0.25]. Fish length showed negative, although not significant, relationships between home range size (p = 0.225); number of home range areas (p = 0.065); core area size (p = 0.512) and home range length (p = 0.320). Use of habitat and home range dynamics of spotted grunter in the East Kleinemonde Estuary were consistent over the nine month study period, and they appeared to be influenced more by biotic than abiotic factors. However, when the mouth opened at the end of the study, most tagged fish vacated their home ranges and emigrated to sea.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: O'Connell, Bronwyn Anne
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Grunts (Fishes) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Pomadasys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine fishes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine fishes -- Habitat -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fishery management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fishes -- Home range , Fishes -- Home range -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5286 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005130 , Grunts (Fishes) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Pomadasys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine fishes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine fishes -- Habitat -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fishery management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fishes -- Home range , Fishes -- Home range -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The spotted grunter (Pomadasys commersonnii) is an important, estuarine-dependent, fishery species in southern Africa. Since estuaries are essential habitats in the life history of this species, the quantification of area use patterns and movements is important for fisheries management. In this study, acoustic telemetry was used to investigate movements, use of habitat and home range dynamics of spotted grunter in the small intermittently open East Kleinemonde Estuary on the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa. Nine spotted grunter (range: 326-489mm TL) were surgically equipped with uniquely coded acoustic transmitters. Positional fixes were obtained by manual tracking tagged individuals on six days and six nights during five tracking sessions from March to November 2004. In addition, five stationary data-logging receivers, moored at specific locations from the mouth to the top of the estuary provided additional long-term monitoring. Kernel home ranges (95% UD) varied in size (26 296-165 321m²) but were all located in a common high use area situated between 300-1 300m from the estuary mouth, which coincided with the highest abundance of prey items. There was no significant variation in home range size [C² (N = 9, df = 4) = 4.18; p = 0.38] between the temporally segregated tracking sessions (over nine months). The persistence of these home range estimates were confirmed by the long-term data-logging receivers. There was no significant diel variation in home range size [F(4, 64) = 0.05, p = 0.99] or core area size [F(4, 64) = 1.40, p = 0.25]. Fish length showed negative, although not significant, relationships between home range size (p = 0.225); number of home range areas (p = 0.065); core area size (p = 0.512) and home range length (p = 0.320). Use of habitat and home range dynamics of spotted grunter in the East Kleinemonde Estuary were consistent over the nine month study period, and they appeared to be influenced more by biotic than abiotic factors. However, when the mouth opened at the end of the study, most tagged fish vacated their home ranges and emigrated to sea.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
An assessment of information systems supporting procurement reforms in the Eastern Cape provincial government
- Authors: Bosire, Samuel Mobisa
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Government purchasing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public finance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11620 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/214 , Government purchasing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public finance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: As part of the on going financial management reforms, the South African Government introduced the Supply Chain Management (SCM) Framework. Since 2004, The Eastern Cape Provincial Government embarked on a process of ensuring that procurement reforms wrought by the advent of SCM are seamlessly ushered in. Information Technology (IT) and systems are a sine qua non in supporting the implementation of the SCM Framework. However, IT does not operate in a vacuum. Many other factors complement, supplement and influence the objectives sought through the use of Information Technology and systems. It is the confluence of this factors that eventually will determine that success or failure of using technology to support procurement reforms in government. The research investigates the factors affecting the success of the Information systems underlying SCM in the Eastern Cape Provincial government. Data for the research was gathered using a questionnaire administered to all Eastern Cape Provincial Government departments. The research borrows from Heeks’ ITPOSMO model in assessing SCM and Information Systems structures and processes and gauging their state of readiness to embrace procurement reforms envisaged through the SCM Framework. Because of the importance of having a strong IT functional unit in any government department, the study highlights IT issues that typically confront IT managers, especially in the public sector. Heeks’ ITPOSMO model emerges as a sufficient framework for identifying gaps that currently exist between the reality and perceptions on the readiness of IT to adequately support government procurement reforms. The dissertation concludes that the success of the system is dependent not only on the technological component of the system, but also on other factors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Bosire, Samuel Mobisa
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Government purchasing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public finance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11620 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/214 , Government purchasing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public finance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: As part of the on going financial management reforms, the South African Government introduced the Supply Chain Management (SCM) Framework. Since 2004, The Eastern Cape Provincial Government embarked on a process of ensuring that procurement reforms wrought by the advent of SCM are seamlessly ushered in. Information Technology (IT) and systems are a sine qua non in supporting the implementation of the SCM Framework. However, IT does not operate in a vacuum. Many other factors complement, supplement and influence the objectives sought through the use of Information Technology and systems. It is the confluence of this factors that eventually will determine that success or failure of using technology to support procurement reforms in government. The research investigates the factors affecting the success of the Information systems underlying SCM in the Eastern Cape Provincial government. Data for the research was gathered using a questionnaire administered to all Eastern Cape Provincial Government departments. The research borrows from Heeks’ ITPOSMO model in assessing SCM and Information Systems structures and processes and gauging their state of readiness to embrace procurement reforms envisaged through the SCM Framework. Because of the importance of having a strong IT functional unit in any government department, the study highlights IT issues that typically confront IT managers, especially in the public sector. Heeks’ ITPOSMO model emerges as a sufficient framework for identifying gaps that currently exist between the reality and perceptions on the readiness of IT to adequately support government procurement reforms. The dissertation concludes that the success of the system is dependent not only on the technological component of the system, but also on other factors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
An evaluation of the questions posed to child witnesses in court to determine whether they are developmentally appropriate
- Authors: Erasmus, Ronell
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Child witnesses -- South Africa , Law -- Language
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10267 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/747 , Child witnesses -- South Africa , Law -- Language
- Description: Children are often required to testify viva voce in criminal trials. The question arises whether children understand what is communicated to them during their testimony in court. In the courtroom, the witness serves as a source of information. In child abuse cases in particular, the meaningful participation of the child in court proceedings is crucial due to the fact that the child is often the key witness, or the only witness, for the prosecution. The proper evaluation of the child’s evidence, however, requires that all role-players involved in the judicial process have a sound knowledge of those aspects which deal with child psychology, especially the cognitive and language abilities of children who testify. The procedure that is followed in court is not understood by the ordinary lay person, even less by children, and the language used is formalistic and very specialized. Legal language in general often contains cognitively and linguistically inappropriate questions which prevent children from relating their stories. Furthermore their responses do not sufficiently reflect their knowledge and experience of the incident of alleged sexual assault. Court language creates serious problems for children and accordingly prevents them from being effective witnesses and taking part in the judicial process in a meaningful way. The researcher, in her capacity as a Regional Court Magistrate, realized that children have limited understanding of the criminal trial process and often become secondary victims as a result of a system that does not acknowledge their cognitive and linguistic developmental levels. The purpose of this research was therefore to test the validity of the following hypotheses: • During the examination of children in a criminal trial developmentally and linguistically inappropriate questions are posed to them; and This results in ineffective communication. Eight court transcripts of criminal cases heard in the regional courts of the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga by different presiding officers were chosen at random. These transcripts were analyzed and evaluated in order to determine whether questions posed to children when they testify are cognitively and linguistically appropriate. Each question in each of the eight transcripts was numbered and analyzed. The findings of the analysis were categorized in terms of whether they were cognitively and linguistically inappropriate questions. It was clear that the majority of questions put to the child witnesses were cognitively and linguistically inappropriate. It is evident from the evaluation that the manner in which the children’s evidence in court was presented and the way in which they were questioned created a communication barrier which placed a distorted version of events before the court. It is therefore recommended that full account be taken of the cognitive and language capabilities of each particular child in order to elicit reliable information during the child’s testimony. It is of the utmost importance that questioning be conducted in such a fashion so as to ensure that the child witness understands not only the content of the questions, but also what answers or responses are expected from them. At present, acknowledgement of linguistic and cognitive developmental appropriateness, concern and comprehension for the psychology of the child witness are ignored at best, and totally exploited at worst. This lack of knowledge about child development impacts adversely upon the child’s credibility in court. To elevate and enhance the credibility of children, it is of the utmost importance for society in general and court role-players in particular to appreciate the various stages and faces of child development. The main recommendation is that court role-players should make a paradigm shift and children, including victims of sexual assault, should be given the opportunity to tell their own stories in their own language supported by other methods of communication. In evaluating any possible changes, it is necessary to adopt and develop a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach based on scientific principles. A specialized system is required to deal with children in the criminal justice system and innovative methods to achieve this are necessary. There is a strong need to change or adjust the present manner in which the criminal justice system accommodates child witnesses. Such a change or adjustment will be in the best interests of children as envisaged in section 28 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Erasmus, Ronell
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Child witnesses -- South Africa , Law -- Language
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10267 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/747 , Child witnesses -- South Africa , Law -- Language
- Description: Children are often required to testify viva voce in criminal trials. The question arises whether children understand what is communicated to them during their testimony in court. In the courtroom, the witness serves as a source of information. In child abuse cases in particular, the meaningful participation of the child in court proceedings is crucial due to the fact that the child is often the key witness, or the only witness, for the prosecution. The proper evaluation of the child’s evidence, however, requires that all role-players involved in the judicial process have a sound knowledge of those aspects which deal with child psychology, especially the cognitive and language abilities of children who testify. The procedure that is followed in court is not understood by the ordinary lay person, even less by children, and the language used is formalistic and very specialized. Legal language in general often contains cognitively and linguistically inappropriate questions which prevent children from relating their stories. Furthermore their responses do not sufficiently reflect their knowledge and experience of the incident of alleged sexual assault. Court language creates serious problems for children and accordingly prevents them from being effective witnesses and taking part in the judicial process in a meaningful way. The researcher, in her capacity as a Regional Court Magistrate, realized that children have limited understanding of the criminal trial process and often become secondary victims as a result of a system that does not acknowledge their cognitive and linguistic developmental levels. The purpose of this research was therefore to test the validity of the following hypotheses: • During the examination of children in a criminal trial developmentally and linguistically inappropriate questions are posed to them; and This results in ineffective communication. Eight court transcripts of criminal cases heard in the regional courts of the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga by different presiding officers were chosen at random. These transcripts were analyzed and evaluated in order to determine whether questions posed to children when they testify are cognitively and linguistically appropriate. Each question in each of the eight transcripts was numbered and analyzed. The findings of the analysis were categorized in terms of whether they were cognitively and linguistically inappropriate questions. It was clear that the majority of questions put to the child witnesses were cognitively and linguistically inappropriate. It is evident from the evaluation that the manner in which the children’s evidence in court was presented and the way in which they were questioned created a communication barrier which placed a distorted version of events before the court. It is therefore recommended that full account be taken of the cognitive and language capabilities of each particular child in order to elicit reliable information during the child’s testimony. It is of the utmost importance that questioning be conducted in such a fashion so as to ensure that the child witness understands not only the content of the questions, but also what answers or responses are expected from them. At present, acknowledgement of linguistic and cognitive developmental appropriateness, concern and comprehension for the psychology of the child witness are ignored at best, and totally exploited at worst. This lack of knowledge about child development impacts adversely upon the child’s credibility in court. To elevate and enhance the credibility of children, it is of the utmost importance for society in general and court role-players in particular to appreciate the various stages and faces of child development. The main recommendation is that court role-players should make a paradigm shift and children, including victims of sexual assault, should be given the opportunity to tell their own stories in their own language supported by other methods of communication. In evaluating any possible changes, it is necessary to adopt and develop a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach based on scientific principles. A specialized system is required to deal with children in the criminal justice system and innovative methods to achieve this are necessary. There is a strong need to change or adjust the present manner in which the criminal justice system accommodates child witnesses. Such a change or adjustment will be in the best interests of children as envisaged in section 28 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
'The Most Amazing Show': performative interactions with postelection South African society and culture
- Authors: Scholtz, Brink
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Performing arts , Drama -- Study and teaching , Recreational activities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/57527 , vital:26963
- Description: This research investigates contemporary South African performance within the context of prominent social and cultural change following the political transition from an apartheid state to democracy. Specifically, it looks at the relationship between a popular comic variety show The Most Amazing Show (TMAS), and aspects of contemporary South African society and culture, particularly relating to prominent efforts to affect post-election transformation of South African society and culture through the construction of a South African 'rainbow nation'. By analysing TMAS in terms of broader historical, performative and discursive contexts, it engages a relational reading of the performance. The study argues that TMAS both challenges and participates in the manner in which rainbow nation discourse constructs South African society and culture. Firstly, it considers the performance's construction of hybrid South African identities, including white Afrikaans, white English and white masculine identities. It argues that these reconstructions undermine the tendency within rainbow nation discourse to construct cultural hybridity in terms of stereotypically distinct identities. Secondly, it considers TMAS' construction of collective experience and social integration, which subverts the often glamorised and superficial representations of social healing and integration that are constructed within rainbow nation discourse. The analysis makes prominent reference to the notion of 'liminality' in order to describe the manner in which TMAS constructs significance within the tension that it establishes between oppositional, and often contradictory, positions. Furthermore, it attempts to establish a link between this notion of liminality and notions of theatrical syncretism that are prominent in contemporary South African theatre scholarship, and emphasise processes of signification that are constantly shifting and unstable.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Scholtz, Brink
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Performing arts , Drama -- Study and teaching , Recreational activities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/57527 , vital:26963
- Description: This research investigates contemporary South African performance within the context of prominent social and cultural change following the political transition from an apartheid state to democracy. Specifically, it looks at the relationship between a popular comic variety show The Most Amazing Show (TMAS), and aspects of contemporary South African society and culture, particularly relating to prominent efforts to affect post-election transformation of South African society and culture through the construction of a South African 'rainbow nation'. By analysing TMAS in terms of broader historical, performative and discursive contexts, it engages a relational reading of the performance. The study argues that TMAS both challenges and participates in the manner in which rainbow nation discourse constructs South African society and culture. Firstly, it considers the performance's construction of hybrid South African identities, including white Afrikaans, white English and white masculine identities. It argues that these reconstructions undermine the tendency within rainbow nation discourse to construct cultural hybridity in terms of stereotypically distinct identities. Secondly, it considers TMAS' construction of collective experience and social integration, which subverts the often glamorised and superficial representations of social healing and integration that are constructed within rainbow nation discourse. The analysis makes prominent reference to the notion of 'liminality' in order to describe the manner in which TMAS constructs significance within the tension that it establishes between oppositional, and often contradictory, positions. Furthermore, it attempts to establish a link between this notion of liminality and notions of theatrical syncretism that are prominent in contemporary South African theatre scholarship, and emphasise processes of signification that are constantly shifting and unstable.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The role of experience in the development of bar managers' social competencies
- Authors: Dhaya, Jateen
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Hospitality Industry -- Management , Bars (Drinking establishments) -- Management , Social skills , Executive ability , Interpersonal communication , Experience
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1177 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002794 , Hospitality Industry -- Management , Bars (Drinking establishments) -- Management , Social skills , Executive ability , Interpersonal communication , Experience
- Description: This research study analysed the role that experience played in the development of bar managers’ social competencies. Given the social nature of the bar environment, social competencies were perceived to be essential managerial competencies that enable bar managers to manage employees and consumers to ensure that employee and consumer satisfaction is maintained. The literature reviewed discussed the importance of managerial competencies and the composition of social competencies. Experience was conceptualized to develop an understanding of the informal learning method through which competency development occurs. Data was captured through face-to-face interviews, which were based on the Critical Incident Technique (CIT). The data was analysed using the open coding procedures of grounded theory. This research study proposed a process to explain how experience contributed to the development of social competencies. The proposed process, which is called the Social Competency Cache Development Process (SCCD Process), ultimately indicated that experience contributed to bar managers’ social competencies through a reflection process, the residues of experience, and through the familiarity of situations and results. This research study found that experience contributed to the development of bar managers’ social competencies within a process that established an awareness of unfamiliar social competencies or reinforced the effects of familiar effective social competencies. Experience was also found to promote the transition between novel situations and familiar situations, which in turn enabled bar managers to effectively assess social situations and select effective responses to social situations. Consequently, experience improved the probability of bar managers implementing effective social competencies to ensure employee and consumer satisfaction. In essence, experience shaped bar managers’ accumulation of social competencies by promoting the addition of new social competencies or the reinforcement of existing social competencies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Dhaya, Jateen
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Hospitality Industry -- Management , Bars (Drinking establishments) -- Management , Social skills , Executive ability , Interpersonal communication , Experience
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1177 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002794 , Hospitality Industry -- Management , Bars (Drinking establishments) -- Management , Social skills , Executive ability , Interpersonal communication , Experience
- Description: This research study analysed the role that experience played in the development of bar managers’ social competencies. Given the social nature of the bar environment, social competencies were perceived to be essential managerial competencies that enable bar managers to manage employees and consumers to ensure that employee and consumer satisfaction is maintained. The literature reviewed discussed the importance of managerial competencies and the composition of social competencies. Experience was conceptualized to develop an understanding of the informal learning method through which competency development occurs. Data was captured through face-to-face interviews, which were based on the Critical Incident Technique (CIT). The data was analysed using the open coding procedures of grounded theory. This research study proposed a process to explain how experience contributed to the development of social competencies. The proposed process, which is called the Social Competency Cache Development Process (SCCD Process), ultimately indicated that experience contributed to bar managers’ social competencies through a reflection process, the residues of experience, and through the familiarity of situations and results. This research study found that experience contributed to the development of bar managers’ social competencies within a process that established an awareness of unfamiliar social competencies or reinforced the effects of familiar effective social competencies. Experience was also found to promote the transition between novel situations and familiar situations, which in turn enabled bar managers to effectively assess social situations and select effective responses to social situations. Consequently, experience improved the probability of bar managers implementing effective social competencies to ensure employee and consumer satisfaction. In essence, experience shaped bar managers’ accumulation of social competencies by promoting the addition of new social competencies or the reinforcement of existing social competencies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Conceptualisations of 'the community' and 'community knowledge' among community radio volunteers in Katutura, Namibia
- Authors: Ellis, Hugh
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Katutura Community Radio Community radio -- Namibia Radio broadcasting -- Namibia Radio stations -- Namibia Radio journalism -- Namibia Volunteers -- Namibia Radio in community development -- Namibia Mass media -- Social aspects -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3428 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002882
- Description: Community radio typically relies on volunteers to produce and present stations’ programming. Volunteers are generally drawn from stations’ target communities and are seen as “representatives” of those communities. It is with such volunteers and their role as representatives of stations’ target communities that this study is concerned. It poses the question: “what are the central concepts that typically inform volunteers’ knowledge of their target community, and how do these concepts impact on their perception of how they have gained this knowledge, and how they justify their role as representatives of this community?” The dissertation teases out the implications of these conceptualisations for a volunteer team’s ability to contribute to the establishment of a media environment that operates as a Habermasian ‘critical public sphere’. It argues that this can only be achieved if volunteers have detailed and in-depth knowledge of their target community. In order to acquire this knowledge, volunteers should make use of systematic ways of learning about the community, rather than relying solely on knowledge obtained by living there. In a case study of Katutura Community Radio (KCR), one of the bestknown community radio stations in Namibia, the study identifies key differences in the way in which different groups of volunteers conceptualise “the community”. The study focuses, in particular, on such difference as it applies to those who are volunteers in their personal capacity and those who represent non-governmental and community-based organisations at the station. It is argued that two strategies would lead to significant improvement in such a station’s ability to serve as a public sphere. Firstly, the station would benefit from an approach in which different sections of the volunteer team share knowledge of the target community with each other. Secondly, volunteers should undertake further systematic research into their target community. It is also argued that in order to facilitate such processes, radio stations such as KCR should recognise the inevitability of differences between different versions of “community knowledge”.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Ellis, Hugh
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Katutura Community Radio Community radio -- Namibia Radio broadcasting -- Namibia Radio stations -- Namibia Radio journalism -- Namibia Volunteers -- Namibia Radio in community development -- Namibia Mass media -- Social aspects -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3428 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002882
- Description: Community radio typically relies on volunteers to produce and present stations’ programming. Volunteers are generally drawn from stations’ target communities and are seen as “representatives” of those communities. It is with such volunteers and their role as representatives of stations’ target communities that this study is concerned. It poses the question: “what are the central concepts that typically inform volunteers’ knowledge of their target community, and how do these concepts impact on their perception of how they have gained this knowledge, and how they justify their role as representatives of this community?” The dissertation teases out the implications of these conceptualisations for a volunteer team’s ability to contribute to the establishment of a media environment that operates as a Habermasian ‘critical public sphere’. It argues that this can only be achieved if volunteers have detailed and in-depth knowledge of their target community. In order to acquire this knowledge, volunteers should make use of systematic ways of learning about the community, rather than relying solely on knowledge obtained by living there. In a case study of Katutura Community Radio (KCR), one of the bestknown community radio stations in Namibia, the study identifies key differences in the way in which different groups of volunteers conceptualise “the community”. The study focuses, in particular, on such difference as it applies to those who are volunteers in their personal capacity and those who represent non-governmental and community-based organisations at the station. It is argued that two strategies would lead to significant improvement in such a station’s ability to serve as a public sphere. Firstly, the station would benefit from an approach in which different sections of the volunteer team share knowledge of the target community with each other. Secondly, volunteers should undertake further systematic research into their target community. It is also argued that in order to facilitate such processes, radio stations such as KCR should recognise the inevitability of differences between different versions of “community knowledge”.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Aspects of the breeding biology of the African penguin on Bird Island, Algoa Bay
- Authors: Ralph, Mark Shaun
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Penguins -- South Africa -- Conservation , Penguins -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10716 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/840 , Penguins -- South Africa -- Conservation , Penguins -- South Africa
- Description: It is important to the survival of the Africa Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) population that breeding at the nest site is successful and that large numbers of chicks are fledged into the breeding population. Nest distribution on Bird Island is not random and locality preferences for breeding exist. Although it seems that sufficient area exists on Bird Island for penguin nests, it can hardly be considered as suitable to optimise breeding. During prolonged heat conditions, breeders relocated to nest sites that were sheltered. Nests that were below ground in burrows was the only habitat that did not suffer nest desertion whilst all the other habitat types (including those that were sheltered) experienced 2-3 fold declines in nest numbers. Nests density and the selection of suitable nest sites are significantly influenced by the stage of breeding that the majority of birds are in, yet nests that are shaded, well-ventilated and protected seem to be the most preferred sites for breeding. Adults that attempt to breed are considered then to be in a healthy condition and will usually lay a double clutch (Randell 1983). The frequency of double clutches being laid during the peak breeding attempt was significantly higher compared to the replacement one. Breeding failure was fairly similar to breeding success during the incubation stage for nests with double clutches however, was substantially higher in single clutches. The growth rate of chicks was best fit to the von Bertalanffy growth curve in 90 percent of the cases. The overall growth rate of chicks from double broods was faster than from single broods, however was not significant. A-chicks maitain a high growth rate until they fledged. Yet, the sibling B-chick recorded the lowest growth rate of the successfully fledged chicks and up to until day 30 recorded a similar weight to those chicks that failed to fledge. Contrary to findings of Randall (1983), chicks from single broods delayed fledging, recorded lowest overall growth rates and experienced the greatest weight loss of all groups, yet fledged successfully. In order for chicks to fledge successfully, they needed to obtain a weight of 1060 g before day 30.5 in their growth cycles to avoid death due to startvation later on. Single chicks that are raised from a double cluth, fledged more other than chicks raised from a single clutch. Unfit or ill-adapted breeders that are marginal in the capabilities of raising offspring, already manifest in a small clutch size and offspring unable to obtain adequate weights during the initial stages of growth.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Ralph, Mark Shaun
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Penguins -- South Africa -- Conservation , Penguins -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10716 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/840 , Penguins -- South Africa -- Conservation , Penguins -- South Africa
- Description: It is important to the survival of the Africa Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) population that breeding at the nest site is successful and that large numbers of chicks are fledged into the breeding population. Nest distribution on Bird Island is not random and locality preferences for breeding exist. Although it seems that sufficient area exists on Bird Island for penguin nests, it can hardly be considered as suitable to optimise breeding. During prolonged heat conditions, breeders relocated to nest sites that were sheltered. Nests that were below ground in burrows was the only habitat that did not suffer nest desertion whilst all the other habitat types (including those that were sheltered) experienced 2-3 fold declines in nest numbers. Nests density and the selection of suitable nest sites are significantly influenced by the stage of breeding that the majority of birds are in, yet nests that are shaded, well-ventilated and protected seem to be the most preferred sites for breeding. Adults that attempt to breed are considered then to be in a healthy condition and will usually lay a double clutch (Randell 1983). The frequency of double clutches being laid during the peak breeding attempt was significantly higher compared to the replacement one. Breeding failure was fairly similar to breeding success during the incubation stage for nests with double clutches however, was substantially higher in single clutches. The growth rate of chicks was best fit to the von Bertalanffy growth curve in 90 percent of the cases. The overall growth rate of chicks from double broods was faster than from single broods, however was not significant. A-chicks maitain a high growth rate until they fledged. Yet, the sibling B-chick recorded the lowest growth rate of the successfully fledged chicks and up to until day 30 recorded a similar weight to those chicks that failed to fledge. Contrary to findings of Randall (1983), chicks from single broods delayed fledging, recorded lowest overall growth rates and experienced the greatest weight loss of all groups, yet fledged successfully. In order for chicks to fledge successfully, they needed to obtain a weight of 1060 g before day 30.5 in their growth cycles to avoid death due to startvation later on. Single chicks that are raised from a double cluth, fledged more other than chicks raised from a single clutch. Unfit or ill-adapted breeders that are marginal in the capabilities of raising offspring, already manifest in a small clutch size and offspring unable to obtain adequate weights during the initial stages of growth.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Determinants of household food security in the semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe: a case study of irrigation and non-irrigation farmers in Lupane and Hwange districts
- Authors: Sikwela, Misery Mpuzu
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Food -- Safety measures , Irrigation farming -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11163 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/90 , Food -- Safety measures , Irrigation farming -- Zimbabwe
- Description: Lupane and Hwange districts fall under natural region IV and V and lie in the semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe with low and erratic mean annual rainfall not exceeding 600mm. Seventy percent of Zimbabwe’s population lives in communal areas, whose livelihood is based on agriculture. The communities in these areas mainly practice mixed farming systems. However, crop production is constrained by water availability and suitable production techniques. As a result households in these areas are experiencing worsening levels of household food insecurity. Two irrigation schemes were identified for this study and these are located in these two districts. Tshongokwe irrigation scheme is located in Lupane district and Lukosi irrigation scheme is located in Hwange district and these irrigation schemes are about 25 hectares in size. Lupane and Hwange districts are considered to be one of the most food insecure areas in the country because of the frequent droughts and unreliable rainfall in the region. The major tool of enquiry in this study was the questionnaire which was used to collect data from the households that farm on irrigated land and those that farm on dryland farming. Household and farm characteristics were collected using structured questionnaires with the help of locally recruited and trained enumerators. Agricultural production, household consumption and marketing of agricultural produce were accessed using the questionnaire to establish problems experienced by farmers. The main objective of this study was to investigate the determinants of household food security using a logistic regression model. The model was initially fitted with thirteen variables, selected from factors identified by previous researchers that affect food security in communal areas. Six variables were found to be significant at 1, 5 and 10 percent significance level and all had the expected signs except farm size. These factors include access to irrigation, farm size, cattle ownership, fertilizer application, household size and per capita aggregate production. The results obtained were further analyzed to compute partial effects on continuous variables and change in probabilities on the discrete variables for the significant factors in the logistic regression model. Analysis of partial effects revealed that household size, farm size, cattle ownership and per capita aggregate production lead to a greater probability of household being food secure. Change in probability results showed that having access to irrigation and using fertilizer can increase the probability of household being food secure The findings of this study highlight a positive and significant relationship between access to irrigation, fertilizer application, cattle ownership, per capita aggregate production to household food security. Household size and farm size have a negative and significant relationship on household food security. This study shows the effectiveness of irrigated farming over dryland farming in the semi-arid areas. The results show increased agricultural production, crop diversification and higher incomes from irrigation farming as compared to dry land farming. Irrigation farming has enabled many households to diversify their source of income and generate more income. Irrigation has enabled households with irrigation not only to feed themselves throughout the year but also to invest on non-agricultural goods and services from incomes received from crop sales Based on the results from the logistic regression model, it can be concluded that household size, farm size, per capita aggregate production, cattle ownership, fertilizer application and access to irrigation have a positive effect on household food security and the magnitude of changes in conditional probabilities have an impact on household food security.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Sikwela, Misery Mpuzu
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Food -- Safety measures , Irrigation farming -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11163 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/90 , Food -- Safety measures , Irrigation farming -- Zimbabwe
- Description: Lupane and Hwange districts fall under natural region IV and V and lie in the semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe with low and erratic mean annual rainfall not exceeding 600mm. Seventy percent of Zimbabwe’s population lives in communal areas, whose livelihood is based on agriculture. The communities in these areas mainly practice mixed farming systems. However, crop production is constrained by water availability and suitable production techniques. As a result households in these areas are experiencing worsening levels of household food insecurity. Two irrigation schemes were identified for this study and these are located in these two districts. Tshongokwe irrigation scheme is located in Lupane district and Lukosi irrigation scheme is located in Hwange district and these irrigation schemes are about 25 hectares in size. Lupane and Hwange districts are considered to be one of the most food insecure areas in the country because of the frequent droughts and unreliable rainfall in the region. The major tool of enquiry in this study was the questionnaire which was used to collect data from the households that farm on irrigated land and those that farm on dryland farming. Household and farm characteristics were collected using structured questionnaires with the help of locally recruited and trained enumerators. Agricultural production, household consumption and marketing of agricultural produce were accessed using the questionnaire to establish problems experienced by farmers. The main objective of this study was to investigate the determinants of household food security using a logistic regression model. The model was initially fitted with thirteen variables, selected from factors identified by previous researchers that affect food security in communal areas. Six variables were found to be significant at 1, 5 and 10 percent significance level and all had the expected signs except farm size. These factors include access to irrigation, farm size, cattle ownership, fertilizer application, household size and per capita aggregate production. The results obtained were further analyzed to compute partial effects on continuous variables and change in probabilities on the discrete variables for the significant factors in the logistic regression model. Analysis of partial effects revealed that household size, farm size, cattle ownership and per capita aggregate production lead to a greater probability of household being food secure. Change in probability results showed that having access to irrigation and using fertilizer can increase the probability of household being food secure The findings of this study highlight a positive and significant relationship between access to irrigation, fertilizer application, cattle ownership, per capita aggregate production to household food security. Household size and farm size have a negative and significant relationship on household food security. This study shows the effectiveness of irrigated farming over dryland farming in the semi-arid areas. The results show increased agricultural production, crop diversification and higher incomes from irrigation farming as compared to dry land farming. Irrigation farming has enabled many households to diversify their source of income and generate more income. Irrigation has enabled households with irrigation not only to feed themselves throughout the year but also to invest on non-agricultural goods and services from incomes received from crop sales Based on the results from the logistic regression model, it can be concluded that household size, farm size, per capita aggregate production, cattle ownership, fertilizer application and access to irrigation have a positive effect on household food security and the magnitude of changes in conditional probabilities have an impact on household food security.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The effect of restricted environments on selected postural, physiological and perceptual responses
- Authors: Wolfe, Amy
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Human engineering , Posture , Human mechanics , Work environment , Human beings -- Effect of environment on , Musculoskeletal system -- Wounds and injuries , Industrial safety , Work -- Physiological aspects , Stress (Physiology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5115 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005193 , Human engineering , Posture , Human mechanics , Work environment , Human beings -- Effect of environment on , Musculoskeletal system -- Wounds and injuries , Industrial safety , Work -- Physiological aspects , Stress (Physiology)
- Description: Manual lifting tasks are the predominant means of transporting materials in industry with many of these tasks being performed in confined spaces. Research has tended to focus on the biomechanical implications of working in small spaces with a decided lack of information about the physiological and perceptual responses in these environments. This holistic study therefore investigated the manner in which the human operator responded to conditions where the ceiling height was lowered and reach demands increased. Thirty-two young physically active male subjects (age: 21.55yr; stature: 1810mm) were recruited to complete a 2-way repeated measures experiment during which four lifting protocols where different combinations of ceiling height (‘normal’ or reduced to 1460mm in height) and reach demands (400mm or 800mm) were tested. A crude postural analysis was conducted while physiological responses were detailed and continuously monitored. Perceptual responses were also assessed. The tasks with a ‘normal’ ceiling height (mean compression forces: 2615N; mean shearing forces: 388N) and the greatest reach distance (mean compression forces: 3655N; mean shearing forces: 386N) placed individuals under the highest strain. Mean heart rate (HR) responses were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the URN condition when compared to the RF condition. Furthermore, HR responses were statistically significantly affected by the height of the ceiling and the reach depth. Statistically significant differences (p< 0.05) in mean tidal volume (VT) occurred in the least (URN) and most (RF) restrictive conditions. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in mean VE were evident between URN and URF, between URN and RF and between RN and RF. Ceiling height and reach demands had a statistically significant effect on all respiratory responses. There was a statistically significant difference in mean oxygen consumption (VO2) between the URN and all other conditions, and between the most restricted task (RF) and all other conditions. Both the effect of ceiling height and reach demands had a statistically statistically significant impact on VO2. Respiratory quotient (RQ) was significantly higher when loads were moved over 800mm compared to 400mm yet ceiling height did not have a statistically significant effect on RQ. Mean energy expenditure was significantly higher in the RF condition compared to the two least restrictive conditions (URN and RN). Statistically significant differences in EE were also evident between URN and RN, and between URN and URF. EE was significantly affected by reductions in ceiling height and increases in reach demands. Perceptually, the RF task (mean ‘Central’ RPE of 11) was perceived to place significantly greater cardiorespiratory demands on the operator compared to the URN (CRPE: 10) and RN (CRPE: 10) conditions. Statistically significant differences in perceived musculoskeletal strain only occurred between URN and RF. The effect of reach was perceived to have a statistically significant effect on both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal demands whereas ceiling height only had a statistically significant effect on musculoskeletal demands. The greatest discomfort was experienced in the lower back with the most intense discomfort occurring in the RN condition.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Wolfe, Amy
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Human engineering , Posture , Human mechanics , Work environment , Human beings -- Effect of environment on , Musculoskeletal system -- Wounds and injuries , Industrial safety , Work -- Physiological aspects , Stress (Physiology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5115 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005193 , Human engineering , Posture , Human mechanics , Work environment , Human beings -- Effect of environment on , Musculoskeletal system -- Wounds and injuries , Industrial safety , Work -- Physiological aspects , Stress (Physiology)
- Description: Manual lifting tasks are the predominant means of transporting materials in industry with many of these tasks being performed in confined spaces. Research has tended to focus on the biomechanical implications of working in small spaces with a decided lack of information about the physiological and perceptual responses in these environments. This holistic study therefore investigated the manner in which the human operator responded to conditions where the ceiling height was lowered and reach demands increased. Thirty-two young physically active male subjects (age: 21.55yr; stature: 1810mm) were recruited to complete a 2-way repeated measures experiment during which four lifting protocols where different combinations of ceiling height (‘normal’ or reduced to 1460mm in height) and reach demands (400mm or 800mm) were tested. A crude postural analysis was conducted while physiological responses were detailed and continuously monitored. Perceptual responses were also assessed. The tasks with a ‘normal’ ceiling height (mean compression forces: 2615N; mean shearing forces: 388N) and the greatest reach distance (mean compression forces: 3655N; mean shearing forces: 386N) placed individuals under the highest strain. Mean heart rate (HR) responses were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the URN condition when compared to the RF condition. Furthermore, HR responses were statistically significantly affected by the height of the ceiling and the reach depth. Statistically significant differences (p< 0.05) in mean tidal volume (VT) occurred in the least (URN) and most (RF) restrictive conditions. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in mean VE were evident between URN and URF, between URN and RF and between RN and RF. Ceiling height and reach demands had a statistically significant effect on all respiratory responses. There was a statistically significant difference in mean oxygen consumption (VO2) between the URN and all other conditions, and between the most restricted task (RF) and all other conditions. Both the effect of ceiling height and reach demands had a statistically statistically significant impact on VO2. Respiratory quotient (RQ) was significantly higher when loads were moved over 800mm compared to 400mm yet ceiling height did not have a statistically significant effect on RQ. Mean energy expenditure was significantly higher in the RF condition compared to the two least restrictive conditions (URN and RN). Statistically significant differences in EE were also evident between URN and RN, and between URN and URF. EE was significantly affected by reductions in ceiling height and increases in reach demands. Perceptually, the RF task (mean ‘Central’ RPE of 11) was perceived to place significantly greater cardiorespiratory demands on the operator compared to the URN (CRPE: 10) and RN (CRPE: 10) conditions. Statistically significant differences in perceived musculoskeletal strain only occurred between URN and RF. The effect of reach was perceived to have a statistically significant effect on both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal demands whereas ceiling height only had a statistically significant effect on musculoskeletal demands. The greatest discomfort was experienced in the lower back with the most intense discomfort occurring in the RN condition.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
An assessment of the role of ward committees in public participation with reference to the Kouga local municipality
- Authors: Simanga, Linda
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:8230 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/858 , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The Republic of South Africa became a democratic country in 1994 after the historic democratic elections. This year also marks the year when South Africa’s first democratic parliament was convened. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act (no. 108 of 1996) was enacted in 1996. This Constitution provides for the creation of the three spheres of government, namely, the national level, which deals with matters of national importance, the provincial level, which deals with matters of provincial importance, and the local level which deals with matters of local importance. Section 152(1) (e) of the above-mentioned Constitution stipulates that the object of local government, amongst others, is to ensure the involvement of communities and community organizations in the matters of local governance. Section 73 of the Municipal Structures Act (no.117 of 1998) also requires municipalities to establish ward committees in a manner that seeks to enhance participatory democracy at the local level. Municipalities are established in terms of Section 12 of the Municipal Structures Act (no. 117 of 1998), wherein Members of Executive Councils (MEC’s) may, by notice in the Provincial Gazette, establish a municipality in each municipal area which the Demarcation Board demarcates in the province in terms of the Municipal Demarcation Act (no. 27 of 1998). Sections 7 and 8 of the Municipal Structures Act (no. 117 of 1998) further stipulate the categories of municipalities as A, B and C. Category A is a metropolitan municipality with wards and ward committees. B is a local municipality characterized by the existence of wards and ward committees to enhance public participation. C is a district municipality, whose responsibility is to support local municipalities within its area of jurisdiction so that they are self sufficient and can manage their own affairs. This study focuses on the Kouga Local Municipality, which is a Category B Municipality as promulgated by the then MEC for Housing, Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Honourable MEC S. Kwelita in the Provincial Gazette (Gazette No. 1537) dated 23 May 2006. The scenario above indicates that in the Kouga Local Municipality, ward committees are supposed to play a critical role in public participation. The study seeks to assess their role and to establish whether or not the ward committee system is effective in this regard. It is common knowledge that, whilst various pieces of legislation are clear in terms of what the role of ward committees should be, the question remains whether there is any adherence in municipalities to ensure that they fulfill their role in public participation, and hence the study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Simanga, Linda
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:8230 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/858 , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The Republic of South Africa became a democratic country in 1994 after the historic democratic elections. This year also marks the year when South Africa’s first democratic parliament was convened. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act (no. 108 of 1996) was enacted in 1996. This Constitution provides for the creation of the three spheres of government, namely, the national level, which deals with matters of national importance, the provincial level, which deals with matters of provincial importance, and the local level which deals with matters of local importance. Section 152(1) (e) of the above-mentioned Constitution stipulates that the object of local government, amongst others, is to ensure the involvement of communities and community organizations in the matters of local governance. Section 73 of the Municipal Structures Act (no.117 of 1998) also requires municipalities to establish ward committees in a manner that seeks to enhance participatory democracy at the local level. Municipalities are established in terms of Section 12 of the Municipal Structures Act (no. 117 of 1998), wherein Members of Executive Councils (MEC’s) may, by notice in the Provincial Gazette, establish a municipality in each municipal area which the Demarcation Board demarcates in the province in terms of the Municipal Demarcation Act (no. 27 of 1998). Sections 7 and 8 of the Municipal Structures Act (no. 117 of 1998) further stipulate the categories of municipalities as A, B and C. Category A is a metropolitan municipality with wards and ward committees. B is a local municipality characterized by the existence of wards and ward committees to enhance public participation. C is a district municipality, whose responsibility is to support local municipalities within its area of jurisdiction so that they are self sufficient and can manage their own affairs. This study focuses on the Kouga Local Municipality, which is a Category B Municipality as promulgated by the then MEC for Housing, Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Honourable MEC S. Kwelita in the Provincial Gazette (Gazette No. 1537) dated 23 May 2006. The scenario above indicates that in the Kouga Local Municipality, ward committees are supposed to play a critical role in public participation. The study seeks to assess their role and to establish whether or not the ward committee system is effective in this regard. It is common knowledge that, whilst various pieces of legislation are clear in terms of what the role of ward committees should be, the question remains whether there is any adherence in municipalities to ensure that they fulfill their role in public participation, and hence the study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008