The influence of societal marketing on green products consumer awareness in Polokwane City, South Africa
- Authors: Kutama, Zwannda Norman
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Markets-Social aspects , green consumerism , Marketing, Polokwane City -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:62370
- Description: Rapid economic growth has resulted in excessive consumption of natural resources, which has intensified the deterioration of the ecological environment. There have been increasing public and consumer concerns about environmental issues, which has resulted in an increasing demand for green products. Despite these concerns, businesses in South Africa are not adequately utilising the societal marketing concept to influence consumer awareness of green products. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the influence of societal marketing on consumer awareness of green products in South Africa. A survey-based method was used to test a theoretically grounded set of hypotheses. Convenience sampling was used to select respondents for the study and data was collected using a 64-item online questionnaire issued to 410 respondents in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 26.0, was used to analyse data, through descriptive, spearman rank order correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, independent sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The empirical results revealed that respondents’ perceptions of the items in the 6 P’s marketing scale and the consumer awareness five factor model were positive overall. Results of the reliability test revealed that all the reported Cronbach Alpha values (0.51 - 0.71) were above the recommended guideline value of 0.7, or at least, 0.5 in the early stages of research, an indication that the constructs were reliable. All the means of the constructs seemed reasonable. With the exception of product, the results of the spearman rank order correlation analysis revealed that the correlations between price, promotion, policy and partnership with consumer awareness of green products were practically significant (r = 0.50) and practically visible (0.30). Furthermore, with the exception of product, results of the regression analysis revealed a positive significant relationship between price, place, promotion, policy and partnerships with regard to consumer awareness of green products. This implies that price, promotion, policy and partnership significantly influence consumer awareness of green products. There was no significant difference between gender, age, area of residence and level of income with regard to consumer awareness of green products. With regard to the v level of education, results of the one-way ANOVA revealed a practically visible difference between the means of respondents with high school education and vocational education or its equivalent (d=39), a Bachelor’s (d=46) and Master’s degree or higher (d=42). This is an indication that consumers with vocational education or its equivalent, a Bachelor’s, Master's degree, or a higher qualification, were more aware of green products compared to those with a high school level of education. This research provides valuable insights into consumer awareness of green products in South Africa, with emphasis on the influence of societal marketing on consumer awareness of green products. Thus, there is a need for modern-day organisations to consider societal marketing as one of the organisation's competitive marketing strategies to influence society’s awareness of recent environmental challenges, and the benefits of consuming eco-friendly products. Recommendations with regard to areas for future research are provided in the study. , Thesis (MCOM) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Kutama, Zwannda Norman
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Markets-Social aspects , green consumerism , Marketing, Polokwane City -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:62370
- Description: Rapid economic growth has resulted in excessive consumption of natural resources, which has intensified the deterioration of the ecological environment. There have been increasing public and consumer concerns about environmental issues, which has resulted in an increasing demand for green products. Despite these concerns, businesses in South Africa are not adequately utilising the societal marketing concept to influence consumer awareness of green products. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the influence of societal marketing on consumer awareness of green products in South Africa. A survey-based method was used to test a theoretically grounded set of hypotheses. Convenience sampling was used to select respondents for the study and data was collected using a 64-item online questionnaire issued to 410 respondents in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 26.0, was used to analyse data, through descriptive, spearman rank order correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, independent sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The empirical results revealed that respondents’ perceptions of the items in the 6 P’s marketing scale and the consumer awareness five factor model were positive overall. Results of the reliability test revealed that all the reported Cronbach Alpha values (0.51 - 0.71) were above the recommended guideline value of 0.7, or at least, 0.5 in the early stages of research, an indication that the constructs were reliable. All the means of the constructs seemed reasonable. With the exception of product, the results of the spearman rank order correlation analysis revealed that the correlations between price, promotion, policy and partnership with consumer awareness of green products were practically significant (r = 0.50) and practically visible (0.30). Furthermore, with the exception of product, results of the regression analysis revealed a positive significant relationship between price, place, promotion, policy and partnerships with regard to consumer awareness of green products. This implies that price, promotion, policy and partnership significantly influence consumer awareness of green products. There was no significant difference between gender, age, area of residence and level of income with regard to consumer awareness of green products. With regard to the v level of education, results of the one-way ANOVA revealed a practically visible difference between the means of respondents with high school education and vocational education or its equivalent (d=39), a Bachelor’s (d=46) and Master’s degree or higher (d=42). This is an indication that consumers with vocational education or its equivalent, a Bachelor’s, Master's degree, or a higher qualification, were more aware of green products compared to those with a high school level of education. This research provides valuable insights into consumer awareness of green products in South Africa, with emphasis on the influence of societal marketing on consumer awareness of green products. Thus, there is a need for modern-day organisations to consider societal marketing as one of the organisation's competitive marketing strategies to influence society’s awareness of recent environmental challenges, and the benefits of consuming eco-friendly products. Recommendations with regard to areas for future research are provided in the study. , Thesis (MCOM) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
An exploration of teachers’ views and experiences on the effects of community Violence on learners at Lusikisiki
- Authors: Gwarubana, Nolufefe
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Kerr-Soltis model -- Lusikisiki , Posttraumatic Stress Disorder -- Lusikisiki
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60144 , vital:63206
- Description: A significant number of children in the South African context are exposed to community violence and become traumatised. In South Africa, many learners bring trauma histories into the classroom. To attend to this problem, it is important to understand how Exposure to Community Violence (ECV) affects learners, how this exposure is manifested in the classroom, and how teachers and schools can best support and mitigate adverse outcomes for trauma-impacted learners. The study aimed to understand teachers’ views and experiences on the effects of community violence on learners and the nature of the support that they offer to learners with trauma related to community violence. An exploratory design was used within which qualitative data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Data was gathered from Mkhankomo Full Service School, which is located in Lusikisiki. A maximum number of 10 teachers participated in the study and interviews were audio-recorded. Results of this study provide insight into the effects of community violence on the learners who were victims either directly or as witnesses. Based on thematic analysis, the results clearly showed that the effects of community violence were found to be mainly emotional, behavioural and psychological. All these effects were seen to affect the learners’ performance at school in the long run. In addition, the findings point to the teachers showing a willingness to support learners exposed to community violence, however, they felt ill-equipped to do so given that they had never worked with learners exposed to trauma. Also, in their attempts to support learners, teachers implemented support systems such as offering individual lessons to learners and additionally assuming supportive roles such as that of mentor and mother. Moreover, the findings indicated that teachers were not provided with any v training to help them work with learners exposed to trauma and their expectations for the Department of Basic Education to assist were not met. Consequently, the study provides an understanding of the effects of community violence on learners from the perspectives of teachers in the school. It also assists with information regarding teachers’ preparedness and ability to respond to learners’ chronic exposure to community violence. Furthermore, this study gives an understanding of teachers’ approach to supporting learners experiencing traumatic stress in the classroom. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Gwarubana, Nolufefe
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Kerr-Soltis model -- Lusikisiki , Posttraumatic Stress Disorder -- Lusikisiki
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60144 , vital:63206
- Description: A significant number of children in the South African context are exposed to community violence and become traumatised. In South Africa, many learners bring trauma histories into the classroom. To attend to this problem, it is important to understand how Exposure to Community Violence (ECV) affects learners, how this exposure is manifested in the classroom, and how teachers and schools can best support and mitigate adverse outcomes for trauma-impacted learners. The study aimed to understand teachers’ views and experiences on the effects of community violence on learners and the nature of the support that they offer to learners with trauma related to community violence. An exploratory design was used within which qualitative data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Data was gathered from Mkhankomo Full Service School, which is located in Lusikisiki. A maximum number of 10 teachers participated in the study and interviews were audio-recorded. Results of this study provide insight into the effects of community violence on the learners who were victims either directly or as witnesses. Based on thematic analysis, the results clearly showed that the effects of community violence were found to be mainly emotional, behavioural and psychological. All these effects were seen to affect the learners’ performance at school in the long run. In addition, the findings point to the teachers showing a willingness to support learners exposed to community violence, however, they felt ill-equipped to do so given that they had never worked with learners exposed to trauma. Also, in their attempts to support learners, teachers implemented support systems such as offering individual lessons to learners and additionally assuming supportive roles such as that of mentor and mother. Moreover, the findings indicated that teachers were not provided with any v training to help them work with learners exposed to trauma and their expectations for the Department of Basic Education to assist were not met. Consequently, the study provides an understanding of the effects of community violence on learners from the perspectives of teachers in the school. It also assists with information regarding teachers’ preparedness and ability to respond to learners’ chronic exposure to community violence. Furthermore, this study gives an understanding of teachers’ approach to supporting learners experiencing traumatic stress in the classroom. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
The principle of fairness in South African criminal trials
- Authors: Ndude, Tembinkosi
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Criminal law , Criminal law -- cases , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60090 , vital:62984
- Description: The purpose of this research is to determine the presence of the principle of fairness during criminal trials in South Africa. In determining the presence of the principle, this research will provide a short background on both the historical pre-constitution situation on the principle of fairness and the present situation on how courts in South Africa conduct themselves in the adjudication of criminal cases in ensuring fair criminal trials. The historical background partially highlights certain provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act in curtailing both the application of due processes and entrenchment of fairness during criminal trials. The arguments on the principle of fairness during criminal trials are discussed in tandem with the principle of the rule of law in the determination of the resolve our justice system has, and the use of designated legal instruments to assert the principle of fairness, for example, section 35(3) of the Constitution and the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977(herein referred "the Act") including the determination of the level of judicial interference, independence, and impartiality. The challenges of unfair trials are also explained against the concept of ubuntu which is a foundational element of fairness expressed and interpreted as such by the indigenous people living in South Africa. In the Port Elizabeth Municipality v Various Occupiers, the court describes the concept of ubuntu as part of a deep cultural heritage central to fairness and fair treatment of humans. The principle of fairness in our criminal trials is a transformative element shaped by our historical background. This is evident in S v Zuma which refers to section 25 of the Interim Constitution. The transformative element shaping principle of fairness is discussed in conjunction with section 35(3) of the new Constitution and case law. This research also notes the adversarial element of our criminal trials having considered some of the evidentiary burdens, for example, the onus of proof, rebuttal of evidence, proof beyond reasonable doubt, reverse onus, circumstantial evidence, presumption, and the adverse inference. However, these evidentiary burdens are addressed by section 35(3) of the Constitution and case law, for example the right to remain silent, the right to be presumed innocent, the right not to be compelled to give self-incriminating evidence, to be informed of the charge with sufficient detail to answer it, to choose, and be represented by a legal practitioner and to be informed of this right promptly. This work views the principle of fairness as a mechanism focussing on relegating unjustness and the ill treatment of accused persons during criminal trials to the dustbin of history. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, Department Criminal and Procedural Law, 2022
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Ndude, Tembinkosi
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Criminal law , Criminal law -- cases , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60090 , vital:62984
- Description: The purpose of this research is to determine the presence of the principle of fairness during criminal trials in South Africa. In determining the presence of the principle, this research will provide a short background on both the historical pre-constitution situation on the principle of fairness and the present situation on how courts in South Africa conduct themselves in the adjudication of criminal cases in ensuring fair criminal trials. The historical background partially highlights certain provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act in curtailing both the application of due processes and entrenchment of fairness during criminal trials. The arguments on the principle of fairness during criminal trials are discussed in tandem with the principle of the rule of law in the determination of the resolve our justice system has, and the use of designated legal instruments to assert the principle of fairness, for example, section 35(3) of the Constitution and the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977(herein referred "the Act") including the determination of the level of judicial interference, independence, and impartiality. The challenges of unfair trials are also explained against the concept of ubuntu which is a foundational element of fairness expressed and interpreted as such by the indigenous people living in South Africa. In the Port Elizabeth Municipality v Various Occupiers, the court describes the concept of ubuntu as part of a deep cultural heritage central to fairness and fair treatment of humans. The principle of fairness in our criminal trials is a transformative element shaped by our historical background. This is evident in S v Zuma which refers to section 25 of the Interim Constitution. The transformative element shaping principle of fairness is discussed in conjunction with section 35(3) of the new Constitution and case law. This research also notes the adversarial element of our criminal trials having considered some of the evidentiary burdens, for example, the onus of proof, rebuttal of evidence, proof beyond reasonable doubt, reverse onus, circumstantial evidence, presumption, and the adverse inference. However, these evidentiary burdens are addressed by section 35(3) of the Constitution and case law, for example the right to remain silent, the right to be presumed innocent, the right not to be compelled to give self-incriminating evidence, to be informed of the charge with sufficient detail to answer it, to choose, and be represented by a legal practitioner and to be informed of this right promptly. This work views the principle of fairness as a mechanism focussing on relegating unjustness and the ill treatment of accused persons during criminal trials to the dustbin of history. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, Department Criminal and Procedural Law, 2022
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Investigation of thermal and electrical characteristics of crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules under varying operational conditions
- Authors: Vumbugwa, Monphias
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Photovoltaic power generation -- South Africa , Silicon crystals -- South Africa , Solar cells
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60014 , vital:62733
- Description: Solar energy has become an attractive and environmentally mindful method in electrical power generation as it contributes significantly to meeting the high demand for the power needed for socio and economic developments. The rise in deployment of Photovoltaic (PV) facilities with large capacity creates the need for accurate and reliable PV inspection techniques for optimum performance, the longevity of PV modules and quick return on PV investment. The performance of PV modules in the field is often monitored through several inspection methods that require a rapid throughput such as Thermal Infrared (TIR) imaging and current-voltage (I-V) measurements. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based TIR imaging is widely applied in large PV plants since it is cost-effective and is usually conducted in-situ while the plant is operating at irradiance levels above 600 W.m-2 . One of the outcomes of the interpretations of TIR images is an attempt to quantify the energy loss in PV plants associated with the abnormal thermal signatures identified on TIR images. No standard procedure has yet outlined the quantification of energy loss related to TIR images of underperforming modules since the interpretation of TIR images remains a challenge. PV modules operate under dynamic operating conditions which can influence the results and interpretation of thermal and electrical characterisation measurements. Dynamic operation conditions refer to any disorders in the operation of the modules and cells which cause a change in the current and voltage characteristics of the PV source. These dynamic operation conditions include; changesin load conditions, irradiance, soiling and shading levels. The tests were done under steady state conditions. Although measurements are generally done while the operating conditions are as steady as possible, some changes in conditions have a profound effect on thermal and electrical measurements. In this study, these effects and some of the changes in conditions that cause them were studied. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Vumbugwa, Monphias
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Photovoltaic power generation -- South Africa , Silicon crystals -- South Africa , Solar cells
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60014 , vital:62733
- Description: Solar energy has become an attractive and environmentally mindful method in electrical power generation as it contributes significantly to meeting the high demand for the power needed for socio and economic developments. The rise in deployment of Photovoltaic (PV) facilities with large capacity creates the need for accurate and reliable PV inspection techniques for optimum performance, the longevity of PV modules and quick return on PV investment. The performance of PV modules in the field is often monitored through several inspection methods that require a rapid throughput such as Thermal Infrared (TIR) imaging and current-voltage (I-V) measurements. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based TIR imaging is widely applied in large PV plants since it is cost-effective and is usually conducted in-situ while the plant is operating at irradiance levels above 600 W.m-2 . One of the outcomes of the interpretations of TIR images is an attempt to quantify the energy loss in PV plants associated with the abnormal thermal signatures identified on TIR images. No standard procedure has yet outlined the quantification of energy loss related to TIR images of underperforming modules since the interpretation of TIR images remains a challenge. PV modules operate under dynamic operating conditions which can influence the results and interpretation of thermal and electrical characterisation measurements. Dynamic operation conditions refer to any disorders in the operation of the modules and cells which cause a change in the current and voltage characteristics of the PV source. These dynamic operation conditions include; changesin load conditions, irradiance, soiling and shading levels. The tests were done under steady state conditions. Although measurements are generally done while the operating conditions are as steady as possible, some changes in conditions have a profound effect on thermal and electrical measurements. In this study, these effects and some of the changes in conditions that cause them were studied. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
The Preparation of Expert Witnesses to testify in Medical Negligence Cases
- Authors: Witi, Bulelani
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Medical personnel--Malpractice--Cases , Expect Witness Preparation
- Language: English
- Type: Master , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60432 , vital:64875
- Description: This research seeks to consider whether the preparation of expert witnesses to testify can be said to be fair and not infringe on Constitutional rights. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, Department Procedural Law
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Witi, Bulelani
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Medical personnel--Malpractice--Cases , Expect Witness Preparation
- Language: English
- Type: Master , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60432 , vital:64875
- Description: This research seeks to consider whether the preparation of expert witnesses to testify can be said to be fair and not infringe on Constitutional rights. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, Department Procedural Law
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Residential private property valuation accuracy in south Africa: A case study of Knysna in the Western Cape province
- Authors: Qusheka, Siphokazi
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Real property -- Valuation -- Knysna , Right of property -- Knysna
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59876 , vital:62482
- Description: a Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong b Faculty of Built Environment, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Property valuation end-users generally rely on property value opinion provided by valuers in making informed real estate investment decisions. However, the inaccuracy of valuation estimates could be attributed to the adoption of inappropriate property valuation methods and such inaccurate estimates could mislead real estate investors and stakeholders. This could result in individual loss and national loss due to the importance of the real estate sector to the national economy. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Qusheka, Siphokazi
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Real property -- Valuation -- Knysna , Right of property -- Knysna
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59876 , vital:62482
- Description: a Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong b Faculty of Built Environment, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Property valuation end-users generally rely on property value opinion provided by valuers in making informed real estate investment decisions. However, the inaccuracy of valuation estimates could be attributed to the adoption of inappropriate property valuation methods and such inaccurate estimates could mislead real estate investors and stakeholders. This could result in individual loss and national loss due to the importance of the real estate sector to the national economy. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Different dimensions of inequality and sustainable economic growth in Africa
- Authors: Raimi, Rasaq Being
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Inequality , Sustainable development , Economic growth -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59884 , vital:62483
- Description: The recent unprecedented economic growth across Africa for over two decades has been anticipated to alleviate poverty and close up the wide inequality gap in the continent; its impact, however, on the vast majority of people in Africa appears to be insignificant as more households are still battling with poverty and the inequality gap is still wide. This has, however, raised empirical questions regarding the nature of the relationship that exists between economic growth and inequality in Africa. Hence, these questions have created gaps in the literature as some studies found positive relationship while other results state otherwise. The study fills the existing gap by re-examining the relationship between dimensions of inequality and sustainable growth in Africa. The study applied parametric and non-parametric econometric techniques on more recent inequalities data covering 28 African countries. Specifically, the study examined the relationship between income inequality and sustainable growth in Africa, investigated the relationship between education inequality and sustainable growth in Africa, analysed the relationship between gender inequality and sustainable growth in Africa and discussed the relationship between land inequality and sustainable growth in Africa. The study covered the period of 1998-2020 and the data for the study were sourced from Standardised World Income Inequality Data Base (SWIID), World Economic Forum, World Bank Online Data Base, Benaabdelaali et al‘s (2012) paper and Ziesemer, THW‘s (2016) paper. Result from the analysis of income inequality and sustainable growth indicates a positive unidirectional relationship between the two variables. The findings suggest that African growth promotes more income inequality and income inequality does not interrupt the growth potential of the continent. The findings further reveal a positive relationship between sustainable growth and poverty rate in African region. This suggests that African economic growth alone cannot solve African poverty problem. Analysis of sustainable growth and education inequality shows an inverse relationship between the two variables. The result indicates that sustainable growth helps in reducing education inequality but a further increase in education inequality drags down sustainable growth in the long-run. Also, poverty is found to have a positive relationship with education inequality in Africa. However, no causal relationship is found between sustainable growth and education inequality but rather a unidirectional causality running from poverty to education inequality in Africa. iv In relation to the gender inequality analysis, the study also found a negative relationship between the two variables. Specifically, while sustainable growth is found to be bridging gender gap, gender inequality on the other hand is found to be a limiting factor on sustainable growth in Africa. The results also indicate a strong positive significant relationship between poverty and gender inequality in Africa. The analysis reveals the vulnerability of African women to poverty and also suggests that many African countries are yet to harness the enormous potentials possessed by women for their regional development. Furthermore, the study found a negative relationship between sustainable growth and land inequality in Africa. The result indicates that unequal land distribution is among the factors preventing Africa from achieving its high dream of sustainable growth and it is further responsible for the severe poverty especially among the rural dwellers where agricultural land is considered as an important determinant of family income. One way causality running from land inequality to sustainable growth is also established via granger causality result which further indicates that uneven land distribution has effects on sustainable growth. Based on these findings, the study concludes that economic growth though has been helping in bridging some dimensions of inequality in Africa, income related inequality is exempted. Also, it is evident that economic growth alone is not adequate to close the wide inequality gap that has persisted for so long in Africa. In conclusion, the study recommended among other things that many African policy makers need to intensify their developmental efforts to reach everyone in their countries so as to effectively fight the ugly poverty situation across the continent. Also, salary structure needs to be revisited across Africa via introduction of appropriate tax to redistribute income and help the low income earners to relatively meet up with the higher income earners. This will help in closing income gap and at the same time alleviate poverty. , Thesis (PHD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Raimi, Rasaq Being
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Inequality , Sustainable development , Economic growth -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59884 , vital:62483
- Description: The recent unprecedented economic growth across Africa for over two decades has been anticipated to alleviate poverty and close up the wide inequality gap in the continent; its impact, however, on the vast majority of people in Africa appears to be insignificant as more households are still battling with poverty and the inequality gap is still wide. This has, however, raised empirical questions regarding the nature of the relationship that exists between economic growth and inequality in Africa. Hence, these questions have created gaps in the literature as some studies found positive relationship while other results state otherwise. The study fills the existing gap by re-examining the relationship between dimensions of inequality and sustainable growth in Africa. The study applied parametric and non-parametric econometric techniques on more recent inequalities data covering 28 African countries. Specifically, the study examined the relationship between income inequality and sustainable growth in Africa, investigated the relationship between education inequality and sustainable growth in Africa, analysed the relationship between gender inequality and sustainable growth in Africa and discussed the relationship between land inequality and sustainable growth in Africa. The study covered the period of 1998-2020 and the data for the study were sourced from Standardised World Income Inequality Data Base (SWIID), World Economic Forum, World Bank Online Data Base, Benaabdelaali et al‘s (2012) paper and Ziesemer, THW‘s (2016) paper. Result from the analysis of income inequality and sustainable growth indicates a positive unidirectional relationship between the two variables. The findings suggest that African growth promotes more income inequality and income inequality does not interrupt the growth potential of the continent. The findings further reveal a positive relationship between sustainable growth and poverty rate in African region. This suggests that African economic growth alone cannot solve African poverty problem. Analysis of sustainable growth and education inequality shows an inverse relationship between the two variables. The result indicates that sustainable growth helps in reducing education inequality but a further increase in education inequality drags down sustainable growth in the long-run. Also, poverty is found to have a positive relationship with education inequality in Africa. However, no causal relationship is found between sustainable growth and education inequality but rather a unidirectional causality running from poverty to education inequality in Africa. iv In relation to the gender inequality analysis, the study also found a negative relationship between the two variables. Specifically, while sustainable growth is found to be bridging gender gap, gender inequality on the other hand is found to be a limiting factor on sustainable growth in Africa. The results also indicate a strong positive significant relationship between poverty and gender inequality in Africa. The analysis reveals the vulnerability of African women to poverty and also suggests that many African countries are yet to harness the enormous potentials possessed by women for their regional development. Furthermore, the study found a negative relationship between sustainable growth and land inequality in Africa. The result indicates that unequal land distribution is among the factors preventing Africa from achieving its high dream of sustainable growth and it is further responsible for the severe poverty especially among the rural dwellers where agricultural land is considered as an important determinant of family income. One way causality running from land inequality to sustainable growth is also established via granger causality result which further indicates that uneven land distribution has effects on sustainable growth. Based on these findings, the study concludes that economic growth though has been helping in bridging some dimensions of inequality in Africa, income related inequality is exempted. Also, it is evident that economic growth alone is not adequate to close the wide inequality gap that has persisted for so long in Africa. In conclusion, the study recommended among other things that many African policy makers need to intensify their developmental efforts to reach everyone in their countries so as to effectively fight the ugly poverty situation across the continent. Also, salary structure needs to be revisited across Africa via introduction of appropriate tax to redistribute income and help the low income earners to relatively meet up with the higher income earners. This will help in closing income gap and at the same time alleviate poverty. , Thesis (PHD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Development of a continuous flow process towards the synthesis of fluvastatin: a lipid lowering drug
- Authors: Singata, Mzuvukile
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Drug development – South Africa , Drugs --Law and legislation , Pharmaceutical technology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59587 , vital:62175
- Description: Access to pharmaceuticals in low to middle income countries affects not only the health of a nation, but also the economy. Global pandemics such as the SARS COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated this disparity. A potential solution to this crisis is an efficient and reliable means of local production of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Current manufacturing plants heavily rely on batch processes as their primary form of production. Batch production has been shown to have numerous disadvantages that impede the reliable production of drugs. Flow chemistry presents a possible solution to this impediment. Numerous advantages of flow chemistry make this technology a better and safer option for production; these include improved safety, faster reaction times and improved reaction control. In this research we present the use of flow chemistry towards the synthesis of fluvastatin, a lipid lowering drug for individuals that suffer from hypercholesterolemia, which is characterised by elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein that is sometimes referred to as bad cholesterol. Chapter 1 provides a detailed description of the background to the problem of hypercholesterolemia; in this chapter the role of cholesterol in the body and how it can end up becoming a problem is outlined. An in-depth analysis of flow chemistry is provided and finally the problem statement, aims and objectives are presented. Chapter 2 give a detailed description of the instrumentation and chemicals used in the research. A description of experimental methodology towards the synthesis of all intermediates in batch and flow systems is provided. Chapter 3 provides all the data collected from the research and describes a multivariate optimization of the intermediates towards the synthesis of fluvastatin. The first intermediate was successfully synthesized in batch (60%) and flow systems at an improved conversion of 98% in a residence time of 15 minutes. The second intermediate was also obtained in batch (32%) and using continuous flow systems at a conversion of 75% and a residence time of 25 minutes. The third intermediate was successfully cyclized in batch using ZnCl2 (50%) and via continuous flow using Amberlite IR120 in a packed column reactor at a residence time of 15 minutes at 95°C, to obtain a conversion of 98%. The final intermediate was successfully synthesized in batch (62%) and in flow; it was obtained at 98% at a residence time of 15 minutes using continuous flow. Chapter 4 provides a conclusion of the study; it also provides a description of the future work and recommendations for this research. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Development of a continuous flow process towards the synthesis of fluvastatin: a lipid lowering drug
- Authors: Singata, Mzuvukile
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Drug development – South Africa , Drugs --Law and legislation , Pharmaceutical technology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59587 , vital:62175
- Description: Access to pharmaceuticals in low to middle income countries affects not only the health of a nation, but also the economy. Global pandemics such as the SARS COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated this disparity. A potential solution to this crisis is an efficient and reliable means of local production of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Current manufacturing plants heavily rely on batch processes as their primary form of production. Batch production has been shown to have numerous disadvantages that impede the reliable production of drugs. Flow chemistry presents a possible solution to this impediment. Numerous advantages of flow chemistry make this technology a better and safer option for production; these include improved safety, faster reaction times and improved reaction control. In this research we present the use of flow chemistry towards the synthesis of fluvastatin, a lipid lowering drug for individuals that suffer from hypercholesterolemia, which is characterised by elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein that is sometimes referred to as bad cholesterol. Chapter 1 provides a detailed description of the background to the problem of hypercholesterolemia; in this chapter the role of cholesterol in the body and how it can end up becoming a problem is outlined. An in-depth analysis of flow chemistry is provided and finally the problem statement, aims and objectives are presented. Chapter 2 give a detailed description of the instrumentation and chemicals used in the research. A description of experimental methodology towards the synthesis of all intermediates in batch and flow systems is provided. Chapter 3 provides all the data collected from the research and describes a multivariate optimization of the intermediates towards the synthesis of fluvastatin. The first intermediate was successfully synthesized in batch (60%) and flow systems at an improved conversion of 98% in a residence time of 15 minutes. The second intermediate was also obtained in batch (32%) and using continuous flow systems at a conversion of 75% and a residence time of 25 minutes. The third intermediate was successfully cyclized in batch using ZnCl2 (50%) and via continuous flow using Amberlite IR120 in a packed column reactor at a residence time of 15 minutes at 95°C, to obtain a conversion of 98%. The final intermediate was successfully synthesized in batch (62%) and in flow; it was obtained at 98% at a residence time of 15 minutes using continuous flow. Chapter 4 provides a conclusion of the study; it also provides a description of the future work and recommendations for this research. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
A stakeholder framework for sustainable Supply chain management in the Zimbabwean food industry
- Authors: Munuhwa,Shakerod
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Stakeholder , Supply chain management , Food industry -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60315 , vital:64397
- Description: The food supply chain plays an important role in the Zimbabwean food industry. More so sustainable food supply chain management (SFSCM) is a subject that has not received much attention, and yet it is so pertinent in determining food security in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has faced episodes of inadequate grain/cereal food reserves, hence the urgent need to develop a stakeholder framework for sustainable food supply chain management. The main objective of the study was to develop a stakeholder framework for SFSCM in the food industry. To accomplish the main objective, the research intended to achieve the following sub-objectives, namely to: establish the drivers for SFSCM; identify SFSCM practices within the food industry; identify the key stakeholders’ dynamic capabilities (SDCs) in the food industry and identify challenges faced by stakeholders in implementing SFSCM. The study also sought to establish the influence of: SFSCM drivers on implementing SFSCM practices; SFSCM drivers on SDCs; SFSCM practices on SDCs; SFSCM practices on SFSCM performance; SFSCM drivers on SFSCM performance; and SDCs on SFSCM performance. This study further sought to assess the mediation effect of: SFSCM drivers on the relationship between SFSCM practices and SDCs; SDCs on the relationship between SFSCM practices and SFSCM performance; SFSCM drivers on the relationship between SDCs and SFSCM performance and finally to assess the mediation effect of SDCs on the relationship between SFSCM drivers and SFSCM performance. This study employed a pragmatic philosophy that allowed for the collection of primary data using a fixed concurrent mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) approach. The data analysis for this research included qualitative data from 22 participants and quantitative data from 292 respondents, all of whom were recruited through nine gatekeepers (Grain Marketing Board, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, Food and Nutrition Association of Zimbabwe, Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, Food and Agriculture Organization in Zimbabwe, Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers and Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce). A thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. For the quantitative data, the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 package was used to perform descriptive analysis, and principal component analysis for factor reduction and dimensional groups. Analysis of a Moment Structures (AMOS 26) program was used viii to perform structural equation modelling (SEM) for model fit evaluations and hypothesis tests. The mixed methods approach (both qualitative and quantitative) results identified regulatory pressure, market pressure, societal pressure, availability of resources, organisational culture and corporate objectives as some of the key SFSCM drivers. Additionally, the results identified the following as the key SFSCM practices: waste management, carbon emission reduction, logistics optimisation, water conservation, energy conservation, cost reduction and price efficiency, employment of competent people, cultivation of profitable grain crops, corporate social responsibility, fair distribution of food, human development on nutritious food consumption, food donations and continuously conducting consumer tastes surveys. Further, the mixed methods approach results cited the following key SDCs: sensing, seizing, reconfiguration, reflexive control, partner development, co-evolving and supply chain integration capabilities. Major challenges faced by stakeholders when implementing SFSCM were also identified and these involved lack of resources, lack of top management commitment, poor information sharing, lack of mutual trust amongst stakeholders, unmotivated employees, lack of government support, ever-changing food regulations, poor customer demand for sustainable and healthy foods, corruption and economic hardship challenges. The study also sought to establish relationships amongst variables. The mixed methods approach results revealed that SFSCM drivers have a positive influence on SFSCM practices, SDCs and SFSCM performance. The results also report a positive and significant influence of SFSCM practices on SDCs. The results further indicate that SDCs have a positive and significant influence on SFSCM performance. Although the qualitative findings reported a positive influence of SFSCM practices on SFSCM performance, the quantitative results from the SEM path analysis reported a very weak positive and insignificant influence of SFSCM practices on SFSCM performance. Mediation analysis was also performed using the quantitative data analysis only, and the results revealed that SFSCM drivers have significant partial mediation effect on the relationship between SFSCM practices and SDCs. The results also report that SDCs have a significant full mediation effect on the relationship between SFSCM practices and SFSCM performance. SFSCM drivers were found to have a significant ix partial mediation influence on the relationship between SDCs and SFSCM performance. Lastly, SDCs have a significant partial mediation effect on the relationship between SFSCM drivers and SFSCM performance. Based on the empirical results, conclusions were drawn, and recommendations were made. The research proposes a new stakeholder framework for SFSCM in the food industry. The study recommends that stakeholders consider providing training and education to all employees about the critical role of SFSCM in ensuring Zimbabwe's food security. Additionally, policymakers are urged to implement supply chain anticorruption and fair-trading policies in order to boost SFSCM performance. Stakeholder institutions are also urged to reward internal stakeholders who perform exceptionally well in terms of SFSCM in order to positively motivate all staff, and ultimately improve SFSCM. , Thesis (PHD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Munuhwa,Shakerod
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Stakeholder , Supply chain management , Food industry -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60315 , vital:64397
- Description: The food supply chain plays an important role in the Zimbabwean food industry. More so sustainable food supply chain management (SFSCM) is a subject that has not received much attention, and yet it is so pertinent in determining food security in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has faced episodes of inadequate grain/cereal food reserves, hence the urgent need to develop a stakeholder framework for sustainable food supply chain management. The main objective of the study was to develop a stakeholder framework for SFSCM in the food industry. To accomplish the main objective, the research intended to achieve the following sub-objectives, namely to: establish the drivers for SFSCM; identify SFSCM practices within the food industry; identify the key stakeholders’ dynamic capabilities (SDCs) in the food industry and identify challenges faced by stakeholders in implementing SFSCM. The study also sought to establish the influence of: SFSCM drivers on implementing SFSCM practices; SFSCM drivers on SDCs; SFSCM practices on SDCs; SFSCM practices on SFSCM performance; SFSCM drivers on SFSCM performance; and SDCs on SFSCM performance. This study further sought to assess the mediation effect of: SFSCM drivers on the relationship between SFSCM practices and SDCs; SDCs on the relationship between SFSCM practices and SFSCM performance; SFSCM drivers on the relationship between SDCs and SFSCM performance and finally to assess the mediation effect of SDCs on the relationship between SFSCM drivers and SFSCM performance. This study employed a pragmatic philosophy that allowed for the collection of primary data using a fixed concurrent mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) approach. The data analysis for this research included qualitative data from 22 participants and quantitative data from 292 respondents, all of whom were recruited through nine gatekeepers (Grain Marketing Board, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, Food and Nutrition Association of Zimbabwe, Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, Food and Agriculture Organization in Zimbabwe, Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers and Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce). A thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. For the quantitative data, the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 package was used to perform descriptive analysis, and principal component analysis for factor reduction and dimensional groups. Analysis of a Moment Structures (AMOS 26) program was used viii to perform structural equation modelling (SEM) for model fit evaluations and hypothesis tests. The mixed methods approach (both qualitative and quantitative) results identified regulatory pressure, market pressure, societal pressure, availability of resources, organisational culture and corporate objectives as some of the key SFSCM drivers. Additionally, the results identified the following as the key SFSCM practices: waste management, carbon emission reduction, logistics optimisation, water conservation, energy conservation, cost reduction and price efficiency, employment of competent people, cultivation of profitable grain crops, corporate social responsibility, fair distribution of food, human development on nutritious food consumption, food donations and continuously conducting consumer tastes surveys. Further, the mixed methods approach results cited the following key SDCs: sensing, seizing, reconfiguration, reflexive control, partner development, co-evolving and supply chain integration capabilities. Major challenges faced by stakeholders when implementing SFSCM were also identified and these involved lack of resources, lack of top management commitment, poor information sharing, lack of mutual trust amongst stakeholders, unmotivated employees, lack of government support, ever-changing food regulations, poor customer demand for sustainable and healthy foods, corruption and economic hardship challenges. The study also sought to establish relationships amongst variables. The mixed methods approach results revealed that SFSCM drivers have a positive influence on SFSCM practices, SDCs and SFSCM performance. The results also report a positive and significant influence of SFSCM practices on SDCs. The results further indicate that SDCs have a positive and significant influence on SFSCM performance. Although the qualitative findings reported a positive influence of SFSCM practices on SFSCM performance, the quantitative results from the SEM path analysis reported a very weak positive and insignificant influence of SFSCM practices on SFSCM performance. Mediation analysis was also performed using the quantitative data analysis only, and the results revealed that SFSCM drivers have significant partial mediation effect on the relationship between SFSCM practices and SDCs. The results also report that SDCs have a significant full mediation effect on the relationship between SFSCM practices and SFSCM performance. SFSCM drivers were found to have a significant ix partial mediation influence on the relationship between SDCs and SFSCM performance. Lastly, SDCs have a significant partial mediation effect on the relationship between SFSCM drivers and SFSCM performance. Based on the empirical results, conclusions were drawn, and recommendations were made. The research proposes a new stakeholder framework for SFSCM in the food industry. The study recommends that stakeholders consider providing training and education to all employees about the critical role of SFSCM in ensuring Zimbabwe's food security. Additionally, policymakers are urged to implement supply chain anticorruption and fair-trading policies in order to boost SFSCM performance. Stakeholder institutions are also urged to reward internal stakeholders who perform exceptionally well in terms of SFSCM in order to positively motivate all staff, and ultimately improve SFSCM. , Thesis (PHD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Exploring a humanising pedagogy in the teaching of mathematics in engineering related subjects at TVET colleges
- Vimbelo, Siphokazi Winniefred
- Authors: Vimbelo, Siphokazi Winniefred
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Mathematics--Study and teaching--Research , Mathematics--engineering , Pepagogy
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60523 , vital:65641
- Description: Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is the practical avenue for acquiring employability skills for the world of work. Employability skills can be acquired through engineering programmes as engineering programmes at TVET colleges are amongst those in the highest demand category of employability. Mathematics is the fundamental subject for engineering. However, the learning environment at TVET colleges is not suitable for vocational students. The mathematics curriculum at TVET is also less related to real-life vocational education and the teaching approaches are not conducive to TVET students’ needs. Teaching approaches employed are often not positioned in a socially just way in that lecturers focus more on what is important for the examinations rather than using the students’ background as a resource. These challenges can be related to the kind of pedagogies employed by TVET college lecturers in the teaching of mathematics. The current study investigates this essential space by focusing on exploring a Humanising Pedagogy (HP) in the teaching of mathematics at a TVET college. A HP was used to explore current pedagogies employed by TVET lecturers in their mathematics classroom at South West Gauteng College (SWGC) – Molapo Campus in Gauteng, South Africa. A qualitative approach was used, and data was collected through lesson observations and narratives obtained from the lecturers. Narrative inquiry was also used as the research design, as well as Interpretivism which is the research paradigm for this study. The data were collected from ten TVET mathematics lecturers. Five lecturers were from the National Certificate Vocational (NCV) and the other five from the NATED programmes. Lesson observations were analysed using deductive thematic analysis and paradigmatic analysis was used for narratives. The findings revealed that TVET college lecturers use a traditional approach in a sense that they are the only ones doing the talking. Student engagement is minimal as they do not relate mathematical principles under study to students’ lives. However, the results after exploring a HP revealed that teaching transformed from the teacher-centred approach to the humanistic student-centred approach which related mathematical principles to students’ real lived experience. A HP mathematics approach was taught using a social justice lens. Lecturers experienced HP as the approach that enhances mathematics understanding, values students’ voices, is relevant to vocational students, and is student-centred. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, School of Post Graduate Education, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Vimbelo, Siphokazi Winniefred
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Mathematics--Study and teaching--Research , Mathematics--engineering , Pepagogy
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60523 , vital:65641
- Description: Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is the practical avenue for acquiring employability skills for the world of work. Employability skills can be acquired through engineering programmes as engineering programmes at TVET colleges are amongst those in the highest demand category of employability. Mathematics is the fundamental subject for engineering. However, the learning environment at TVET colleges is not suitable for vocational students. The mathematics curriculum at TVET is also less related to real-life vocational education and the teaching approaches are not conducive to TVET students’ needs. Teaching approaches employed are often not positioned in a socially just way in that lecturers focus more on what is important for the examinations rather than using the students’ background as a resource. These challenges can be related to the kind of pedagogies employed by TVET college lecturers in the teaching of mathematics. The current study investigates this essential space by focusing on exploring a Humanising Pedagogy (HP) in the teaching of mathematics at a TVET college. A HP was used to explore current pedagogies employed by TVET lecturers in their mathematics classroom at South West Gauteng College (SWGC) – Molapo Campus in Gauteng, South Africa. A qualitative approach was used, and data was collected through lesson observations and narratives obtained from the lecturers. Narrative inquiry was also used as the research design, as well as Interpretivism which is the research paradigm for this study. The data were collected from ten TVET mathematics lecturers. Five lecturers were from the National Certificate Vocational (NCV) and the other five from the NATED programmes. Lesson observations were analysed using deductive thematic analysis and paradigmatic analysis was used for narratives. The findings revealed that TVET college lecturers use a traditional approach in a sense that they are the only ones doing the talking. Student engagement is minimal as they do not relate mathematical principles under study to students’ lives. However, the results after exploring a HP revealed that teaching transformed from the teacher-centred approach to the humanistic student-centred approach which related mathematical principles to students’ real lived experience. A HP mathematics approach was taught using a social justice lens. Lecturers experienced HP as the approach that enhances mathematics understanding, values students’ voices, is relevant to vocational students, and is student-centred. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, School of Post Graduate Education, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Amendments to the labour relations act to curb violent and intractable strikes
- Authors: Mafa, Bonolo
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: labour union , Violence , Labour law
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59841 , vital:62447
- Description: Since the dawn of South Africa’s constitutional democracy, the right to strike has been protected. It is perceived to be fundamental to orderly collective bargaining and the courts have stressed the need to ensure that it is not unjustifiably limited or undermined. In the collective bargaining process, employers and employees have mechanisms at their disposal and a power-play ensues. One such mechanism, for striking employees, is to withhold their labour in an effort to compel employers to succumb to their demands. Newspaper articles and the jurisprudence that has emerged from the courts illustrate that strike-related violence has become a destructive feature of industrial action.[1] Not only are strikes destructive to the economy but they are often associated with violence. The courts have been inundated with claims seeking to interdict violent and protracted strikes. While many commentators are of the view that strike violence is a result of underlying socio-economic issues, which should be addressed by the government, employers and the general public often bear the brunt of the destruction and mayhem left in the wake of violent strikes. In the wake of one of the worst tragedies, the Marikana massacre, which saw 32 striking miners shot and killed when police opened fire at Lonmin's operations in the Northwest province, the South African government, organised labour, and employers were compelled to take swift action to address the deficiencies that existed when it came to the constitutionally entrenched right to strike. The Labour Relations Amendment Act 8 of 2018 seeks to address this. Whilst some of the provisions introduced by the amendments have been the subject matter of litigation resulting in progressive judgments, other provisions are yet to be judicially tested. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, Department of Mercantile law, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Mafa, Bonolo
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: labour union , Violence , Labour law
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59841 , vital:62447
- Description: Since the dawn of South Africa’s constitutional democracy, the right to strike has been protected. It is perceived to be fundamental to orderly collective bargaining and the courts have stressed the need to ensure that it is not unjustifiably limited or undermined. In the collective bargaining process, employers and employees have mechanisms at their disposal and a power-play ensues. One such mechanism, for striking employees, is to withhold their labour in an effort to compel employers to succumb to their demands. Newspaper articles and the jurisprudence that has emerged from the courts illustrate that strike-related violence has become a destructive feature of industrial action.[1] Not only are strikes destructive to the economy but they are often associated with violence. The courts have been inundated with claims seeking to interdict violent and protracted strikes. While many commentators are of the view that strike violence is a result of underlying socio-economic issues, which should be addressed by the government, employers and the general public often bear the brunt of the destruction and mayhem left in the wake of violent strikes. In the wake of one of the worst tragedies, the Marikana massacre, which saw 32 striking miners shot and killed when police opened fire at Lonmin's operations in the Northwest province, the South African government, organised labour, and employers were compelled to take swift action to address the deficiencies that existed when it came to the constitutionally entrenched right to strike. The Labour Relations Amendment Act 8 of 2018 seeks to address this. Whilst some of the provisions introduced by the amendments have been the subject matter of litigation resulting in progressive judgments, other provisions are yet to be judicially tested. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, Department of Mercantile law, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Experiences of Family Caregivers Caring for Mentally Ill Relatives in a Rural District of the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Koti, Tulisile
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Caregivers -- Eastern Cape , Mental illness -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60166 , vital:63208
- Description: Mental illness refers to all diagnosable mental disorders, whether by a medical doctor or a psychiatrist. It includes significant changes in thinking, emotion, and behavior and may result in distress or difficulty functioning in society, work or family. South Africa has been on a de-institutionalization path for several decades, despite this, many mentally ill people are forced to live at home with their families. As a result, family caregivers have been faced with responsibilities for which they are unprepared. The burden of caring for the mentally ill causes distress and challenges for the primary caregiver and the family members involved in the care. This study aimed to explore the experiences and coping of caregivers living with mentally ill relatives. The researcher utilized Lazarus and Folkman's psychological stress and coping theory and other relevant literature to conceptualize the study. The study made use of a qualitative and exploratory design. Seven individual face-to-face interviews were conducted with semi-structured questions. Purposeful and snowball samples were used, and the study was analyzed using thematic analysis. Based on the study's findings, caring for a mentally ill relative had negative and positive outcomes for the caregiver. There were more negative experiences than there were positive ones. However, caregivers found ways to cope with these negative experiences. These findings should contribute to educating health professionals who are the primary contact for mentally ill patients and their family caregivers in rural communities. This will assist in pursuit of the third Sustainable Development goals (SDG3) which aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. This study produced an understanding of the lived experiences of caregivers in a rural Eastern Cape. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Koti, Tulisile
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Caregivers -- Eastern Cape , Mental illness -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60166 , vital:63208
- Description: Mental illness refers to all diagnosable mental disorders, whether by a medical doctor or a psychiatrist. It includes significant changes in thinking, emotion, and behavior and may result in distress or difficulty functioning in society, work or family. South Africa has been on a de-institutionalization path for several decades, despite this, many mentally ill people are forced to live at home with their families. As a result, family caregivers have been faced with responsibilities for which they are unprepared. The burden of caring for the mentally ill causes distress and challenges for the primary caregiver and the family members involved in the care. This study aimed to explore the experiences and coping of caregivers living with mentally ill relatives. The researcher utilized Lazarus and Folkman's psychological stress and coping theory and other relevant literature to conceptualize the study. The study made use of a qualitative and exploratory design. Seven individual face-to-face interviews were conducted with semi-structured questions. Purposeful and snowball samples were used, and the study was analyzed using thematic analysis. Based on the study's findings, caring for a mentally ill relative had negative and positive outcomes for the caregiver. There were more negative experiences than there were positive ones. However, caregivers found ways to cope with these negative experiences. These findings should contribute to educating health professionals who are the primary contact for mentally ill patients and their family caregivers in rural communities. This will assist in pursuit of the third Sustainable Development goals (SDG3) which aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. This study produced an understanding of the lived experiences of caregivers in a rural Eastern Cape. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
The determinants of entrepreneurship in African countries
- Authors: Malungane, Neo
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Determinants , Entrepreneurship -- African countries
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59677 , vital:62349
- Description: This research investigates the determinants of entrepreneurship by examining the statistical relationships between entrepreneurship and macroeconomic, human capital, and institutional quality variables in 50 African countries utilising data from 2000-2018. The study intended to contribute to existing literature with new knowledge on the discipline since there is limited literature on African countries. The Generalised Methods of Moments technique was employed to examine the effect of independent variables on the dependent variable using Stata software. The study findings indicate that domestic credit to the private sector, education and training, the rule of law, political stability and absence of violence/terrorism, regulatory quality have a significant effect on entrepreneurship. The remaining selected variables are insignificant. These findings suggest that smooth access to credit through business loans, trade credits, and other accounts receivables from financial institutions as the primary funding mechanism for businesses. Further encouraging entrepreneurship, the African government should ensure that education and training, particularly entrepreneurial education, is available to all inhabitants. Improving existing laws and regulations and enacting new effective laws and regulations that align with the current African business climate is recommended to protect existing and infant businesses by governing the entire entrepreneurial environment. , Thesis (MEcon) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Science, School of Applied Accounting, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Malungane, Neo
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Determinants , Entrepreneurship -- African countries
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59677 , vital:62349
- Description: This research investigates the determinants of entrepreneurship by examining the statistical relationships between entrepreneurship and macroeconomic, human capital, and institutional quality variables in 50 African countries utilising data from 2000-2018. The study intended to contribute to existing literature with new knowledge on the discipline since there is limited literature on African countries. The Generalised Methods of Moments technique was employed to examine the effect of independent variables on the dependent variable using Stata software. The study findings indicate that domestic credit to the private sector, education and training, the rule of law, political stability and absence of violence/terrorism, regulatory quality have a significant effect on entrepreneurship. The remaining selected variables are insignificant. These findings suggest that smooth access to credit through business loans, trade credits, and other accounts receivables from financial institutions as the primary funding mechanism for businesses. Further encouraging entrepreneurship, the African government should ensure that education and training, particularly entrepreneurial education, is available to all inhabitants. Improving existing laws and regulations and enacting new effective laws and regulations that align with the current African business climate is recommended to protect existing and infant businesses by governing the entire entrepreneurial environment. , Thesis (MEcon) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Science, School of Applied Accounting, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Implementation framework for microgrids as an energy solution to uplift rural communities in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Sibulelokuhle Xulaba
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Renewable energy sources -- Eastern Cape , Microgrids (Smart power grids) -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60071 , vital:62916
- Description: People in remote areas of most developing countries still face economic and environmental challenges despite our more accessible world of technology. Access to reliable and sustainable electricity is the most challenging developmental issue faced by rural communities in South Africa, as grid expansion has dwindled due to business challenges experiences by the state power producer, Eskom. Unless businesses and homeowners in unconnected areas use generators, which are costly to run and environmentally unfriendly, most will continue to remain without electricity for the foreseeable future. The purpose of this study therefore is to provide a model for the successful implementation of renewable energy microgrids to overcome poverty and promote economic development in rural areas of the Eastern Cape. The data for the study was collected from three district municipalities in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape. The province is divided into homeland and farms, with the farms that were sampled for the study situated on State-owned land. The sample group comprised small businesses operating in these rural areas. The study used a mixed-method research design, the methodology being found to be the most suitable for the study. The study uses a questionnaire-variant convergent design that consisted of a mixture of open-ended and close-ended questions. The sample group was situated in areas with limited electricity or internet access, therefore face-toface structured interviews were conducted. Meta-inference was used for data interpretation, and a combination of quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods was used to analyse the data. For the open-ended questions, thematic analysis was used, whilst descriptive statistics were used for the closed-ended questions. The study found that most businesses operating in rural areas do not have access to electricity. Those businesses which do not have electricity must make use of diesel-powered generators to continue to trade, which makes their businesses unprofitable. They spend a large proportion of their earnings purchasing fuel to achieve the desire thermal comfort for their stock, or to pump water via boreholes or piped dam structures. The study showed that implementing a renewable energy microgrids provides a viable option, supporting the literature reviewed. This will promote economic development in these areas of the Eastern Cape. Developing and enhancing the standard of living can assist in reducing the number of people migrating to urban areas whilst providing an opportunity to increase farm yields, grow rural business and change the lives of the poor for the better. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Sibulelokuhle Xulaba
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Renewable energy sources -- Eastern Cape , Microgrids (Smart power grids) -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60071 , vital:62916
- Description: People in remote areas of most developing countries still face economic and environmental challenges despite our more accessible world of technology. Access to reliable and sustainable electricity is the most challenging developmental issue faced by rural communities in South Africa, as grid expansion has dwindled due to business challenges experiences by the state power producer, Eskom. Unless businesses and homeowners in unconnected areas use generators, which are costly to run and environmentally unfriendly, most will continue to remain without electricity for the foreseeable future. The purpose of this study therefore is to provide a model for the successful implementation of renewable energy microgrids to overcome poverty and promote economic development in rural areas of the Eastern Cape. The data for the study was collected from three district municipalities in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape. The province is divided into homeland and farms, with the farms that were sampled for the study situated on State-owned land. The sample group comprised small businesses operating in these rural areas. The study used a mixed-method research design, the methodology being found to be the most suitable for the study. The study uses a questionnaire-variant convergent design that consisted of a mixture of open-ended and close-ended questions. The sample group was situated in areas with limited electricity or internet access, therefore face-toface structured interviews were conducted. Meta-inference was used for data interpretation, and a combination of quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods was used to analyse the data. For the open-ended questions, thematic analysis was used, whilst descriptive statistics were used for the closed-ended questions. The study found that most businesses operating in rural areas do not have access to electricity. Those businesses which do not have electricity must make use of diesel-powered generators to continue to trade, which makes their businesses unprofitable. They spend a large proportion of their earnings purchasing fuel to achieve the desire thermal comfort for their stock, or to pump water via boreholes or piped dam structures. The study showed that implementing a renewable energy microgrids provides a viable option, supporting the literature reviewed. This will promote economic development in these areas of the Eastern Cape. Developing and enhancing the standard of living can assist in reducing the number of people migrating to urban areas whilst providing an opportunity to increase farm yields, grow rural business and change the lives of the poor for the better. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Urban space production and sustainable development: a case of waterfall city in Gauteng, South Africa
- Authors: Ntakana, Khulekani
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Sustainable urban development -- Gauteng -- South Africa , Gated Communities -- Gauteng -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59633 , vital:62250
- Description: The year 1994 marked the dawn of the new, democratic South Africa. It also brought its own sets of challenges to the country. One such challenge was urban space. Regrettably, the new dispensation inherited still very much race-based urban areas. Urban space is understood to be a social outcome, the result of an historical process, an unequal accumulation of time, a presupposition, and a milieu of social production (Balbim, 2016). The distinguishing feature of urban space in South Africa is the phenomenon of exclusion, which causes deformity, and disappearance of urban structure. Exclusion has become a permanent visual reality in cities in which walled and gated communities divide the urban tissue and take up a large part of the urban space. The social action and struggle against the exclusionary process of globalisation such as the commodification and privatisation of urban space have always been on the international urban agenda. The study’s literature review suggests that government attitudes towards human settlements should change, particularly in terms of policymaking to combat the contemporary urban disparities such as fragmentation (also known as “enclave urbanism”). Fragmented cities do not function as a system but more and more as juxtaposed and uncoordinated fragments drifting apart (Bénit-Gbaffou, 2008). This has an immense impact on several sustainability influencing variables. Urban fragmentation can also have profound effects on human social dynamics and well-being by reducing the number of green spaces in cities. As loss of biodiversity continues, total core area and habitat cohesion decrease while edge density and shape complexity increase. Cities are required to be more sustainable, more accessible, and equal. Cities are now witnessing the emergence of real estate products that are far from achieving the previously mentioned goals, particularly inclusivity. Inclusivity in cities can be achieved by a contemporary urban development approach referred to as ‘inclusive urban space production’. Inclusive urban space production is a pro-poor approach that equally values and incorporates the contributions of all city stakeholders in addressing development issues, including the marginalised groups. The aim of this inquiry was, therefore, to examine factors that influence urban space production to generate a responsive urban space production model, referred to in this study as the “IUSP model”. The study also aimed at examining the role of the state and xx other stakeholders involved in the production of urban space, including the private sector and the community. Participation by all of them is essential to enhance inclusive urban space production for sustainability. A theoretical model for inclusive urban space production was developed based on an intensive literature review. Also, a concurrent partially mixed method design was employed in this inquiry. A study of Waterfall City was conducted to understand exclusive developments and their effect on the larger urban system. And a survey questionnaire was disseminated using random sampling. This was to measure the postulated model. Results from these two concurrent approaches were merged to yield the final model. The findings from the case study were analysed using ATLAS.ti and the findings from the survey questionnaire were analysed using several analyses techniques including EFA, correlation and regression. Both sets of results indicated that the intention to promote inclusive developments is predicted by seventeen dependent variables categorically presented under urban development characteristics, exclusive development enablers, inclusive development barriers, and sustainability criteria. The results of this inquiry are significant because they bring together the interdisciplinary perspectives to discern comprehensively the idea of inclusivity and sustainability in urban space production. The responsive model developed as a key product of this study aims to assist policymakers, planners, designers, landscapers, and developers as a guideline for facilitating inclusive and sustainable urban development. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Ntakana, Khulekani
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Sustainable urban development -- Gauteng -- South Africa , Gated Communities -- Gauteng -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59633 , vital:62250
- Description: The year 1994 marked the dawn of the new, democratic South Africa. It also brought its own sets of challenges to the country. One such challenge was urban space. Regrettably, the new dispensation inherited still very much race-based urban areas. Urban space is understood to be a social outcome, the result of an historical process, an unequal accumulation of time, a presupposition, and a milieu of social production (Balbim, 2016). The distinguishing feature of urban space in South Africa is the phenomenon of exclusion, which causes deformity, and disappearance of urban structure. Exclusion has become a permanent visual reality in cities in which walled and gated communities divide the urban tissue and take up a large part of the urban space. The social action and struggle against the exclusionary process of globalisation such as the commodification and privatisation of urban space have always been on the international urban agenda. The study’s literature review suggests that government attitudes towards human settlements should change, particularly in terms of policymaking to combat the contemporary urban disparities such as fragmentation (also known as “enclave urbanism”). Fragmented cities do not function as a system but more and more as juxtaposed and uncoordinated fragments drifting apart (Bénit-Gbaffou, 2008). This has an immense impact on several sustainability influencing variables. Urban fragmentation can also have profound effects on human social dynamics and well-being by reducing the number of green spaces in cities. As loss of biodiversity continues, total core area and habitat cohesion decrease while edge density and shape complexity increase. Cities are required to be more sustainable, more accessible, and equal. Cities are now witnessing the emergence of real estate products that are far from achieving the previously mentioned goals, particularly inclusivity. Inclusivity in cities can be achieved by a contemporary urban development approach referred to as ‘inclusive urban space production’. Inclusive urban space production is a pro-poor approach that equally values and incorporates the contributions of all city stakeholders in addressing development issues, including the marginalised groups. The aim of this inquiry was, therefore, to examine factors that influence urban space production to generate a responsive urban space production model, referred to in this study as the “IUSP model”. The study also aimed at examining the role of the state and xx other stakeholders involved in the production of urban space, including the private sector and the community. Participation by all of them is essential to enhance inclusive urban space production for sustainability. A theoretical model for inclusive urban space production was developed based on an intensive literature review. Also, a concurrent partially mixed method design was employed in this inquiry. A study of Waterfall City was conducted to understand exclusive developments and their effect on the larger urban system. And a survey questionnaire was disseminated using random sampling. This was to measure the postulated model. Results from these two concurrent approaches were merged to yield the final model. The findings from the case study were analysed using ATLAS.ti and the findings from the survey questionnaire were analysed using several analyses techniques including EFA, correlation and regression. Both sets of results indicated that the intention to promote inclusive developments is predicted by seventeen dependent variables categorically presented under urban development characteristics, exclusive development enablers, inclusive development barriers, and sustainability criteria. The results of this inquiry are significant because they bring together the interdisciplinary perspectives to discern comprehensively the idea of inclusivity and sustainability in urban space production. The responsive model developed as a key product of this study aims to assist policymakers, planners, designers, landscapers, and developers as a guideline for facilitating inclusive and sustainable urban development. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
An It risk management implementation strategy for a non-profit organisation in south africa
- Authors: Exner, Ulandi
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: ITIL (Information technology management standard) -- South Africa , Nonprofit organizations -- South africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59370 , vital:62075
- Description: All organisations, for-profit or non-profit, have strategic objectives as their raison d’être. The achievement of these objectives is challenged by the occurrence and impact of unexpected events, commonly referred to as risks. The Digital Revolution in the late 70s introduced computers and the internet and opened up a whole new way of life. It also brought new challenges, namely IT risk. IT risk is business risk. Non-profit organisations, whose main priority is to maximise its available resources to serve the needs of their stakeholders and community, do not have adequate IT risk management practices in place because it is not top of mind for them. An effective IT risk management strategy provides several enhanced capabilities for organisations. Non-profit organisations have IT risk management standards, frameworks and methodologies to choose from, but these organisations do not have the required financial means and expertise or possibly the necessary appetite to implement these frameworks successfully. The primary objective of the study is to develop a proposed IT risk management implementation strategy for non-profit organisations to aid in the management of IT risk. The design science research paradigm was used for the study. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to understand the current landscape of a non-profit organisation in so far as their approach to managing IT risk. The findings of the literature review and mixed method research were used to develop a proposed IT risk implementation strategy. The evaluation of the implementation strategy in terms of its effectiveness and utility will form part of a future study. The proposed implementation strategy can be considered as an instrument for the NPO to aid in the management of IT risk. The conclusion of this study contributes to the field of IT risk research of non-profit organisations in South Africa. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Exner, Ulandi
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: ITIL (Information technology management standard) -- South Africa , Nonprofit organizations -- South africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59370 , vital:62075
- Description: All organisations, for-profit or non-profit, have strategic objectives as their raison d’être. The achievement of these objectives is challenged by the occurrence and impact of unexpected events, commonly referred to as risks. The Digital Revolution in the late 70s introduced computers and the internet and opened up a whole new way of life. It also brought new challenges, namely IT risk. IT risk is business risk. Non-profit organisations, whose main priority is to maximise its available resources to serve the needs of their stakeholders and community, do not have adequate IT risk management practices in place because it is not top of mind for them. An effective IT risk management strategy provides several enhanced capabilities for organisations. Non-profit organisations have IT risk management standards, frameworks and methodologies to choose from, but these organisations do not have the required financial means and expertise or possibly the necessary appetite to implement these frameworks successfully. The primary objective of the study is to develop a proposed IT risk management implementation strategy for non-profit organisations to aid in the management of IT risk. The design science research paradigm was used for the study. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to understand the current landscape of a non-profit organisation in so far as their approach to managing IT risk. The findings of the literature review and mixed method research were used to develop a proposed IT risk implementation strategy. The evaluation of the implementation strategy in terms of its effectiveness and utility will form part of a future study. The proposed implementation strategy can be considered as an instrument for the NPO to aid in the management of IT risk. The conclusion of this study contributes to the field of IT risk research of non-profit organisations in South Africa. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Modular Omni-directional AGV Developmental Platform with Integrated Suspension, Power-plant and Control Systems
- Authors: Macfarlane, Alexander B. S
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Automated guided vehicle systems , Electric automobiles--Batteries--Design and construction
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59500 , vital:62123
- Description: The thesis focuses on the development of an industrial automatic guided vehicle (AGV) with omni-directional capabilities. The omni-directional strategy used was the "swerve drive" system, a system whereby a wheel can be rotated about both its y axis (rolling axis) and z axis (vertical axis). Unlike most commonly used swerve drive systems that have swerve capabilities on each wheel attached to the body of the vehicle, this research seeks to reduce cost by only having swerve capabilities on two diagonal wheels. The remaining two wheels will act as castor units. AC drives are used on the system in place of more traditional DC drives, due to their cost vs capability advantage over DC and their prevalence in the industrial environment. Since an AGV is a mobile platform any power source found on it is usually derived from batteries, a DC source. Usage of DC introduces several limitations including difficulty transforming voltage levels for different systems, inability to run AC drives directly from the power source and comparably larger conduction wires. These limitations were overcome by adding a stand-alone power-plant on the AGV in the form of an inverter. The inverter transformed the DC power supplied by a battery bank from 48 volts DC to 230 volts AC. Thus, the primary focus of this research is on the development and validation of a novel two wheel omni-directional drive system that makes use of inexpensive and readily available components that have already been proven to work in industry. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Macfarlane, Alexander B. S
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Automated guided vehicle systems , Electric automobiles--Batteries--Design and construction
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59500 , vital:62123
- Description: The thesis focuses on the development of an industrial automatic guided vehicle (AGV) with omni-directional capabilities. The omni-directional strategy used was the "swerve drive" system, a system whereby a wheel can be rotated about both its y axis (rolling axis) and z axis (vertical axis). Unlike most commonly used swerve drive systems that have swerve capabilities on each wheel attached to the body of the vehicle, this research seeks to reduce cost by only having swerve capabilities on two diagonal wheels. The remaining two wheels will act as castor units. AC drives are used on the system in place of more traditional DC drives, due to their cost vs capability advantage over DC and their prevalence in the industrial environment. Since an AGV is a mobile platform any power source found on it is usually derived from batteries, a DC source. Usage of DC introduces several limitations including difficulty transforming voltage levels for different systems, inability to run AC drives directly from the power source and comparably larger conduction wires. These limitations were overcome by adding a stand-alone power-plant on the AGV in the form of an inverter. The inverter transformed the DC power supplied by a battery bank from 48 volts DC to 230 volts AC. Thus, the primary focus of this research is on the development and validation of a novel two wheel omni-directional drive system that makes use of inexpensive and readily available components that have already been proven to work in industry. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Co-development of online violence against women and girls prevention interventions with school-going adolescents
- Authors: Ndungu, Jane
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Prevention , Transformative communication
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60188 , vital:63214
- Description: Background: Violence against women and girls (VAWG)amongst adolescents remains a global public health problem. Globally, an estimated 24 per cent of girls aged 15-19 are reported to have experienced VAWG before the age of 20. Experience of VAWG has far reaching health and educational consequences. Thus, the prevention of VAWG needs to be a priority. In recent years, there has been an increase in web-based or online violence prevention interventions. However, these interventions are either secondary prevention interventions, or primary prevention interventions, focused on emergency or protective solutions. Current evidence indicates that group-based participatory violence prevention interventions are an important approach to the primary prevention of VAWG but there remains a gap in understanding if these interventions can be delivered online. Further, it remains unclear if co-development of group-based participatory violence prevention interventions with young people – which has been proposed to enhance contextualisation of interventions – can occur online. Goal and specific objectives: This study aimed to explore and understand the feasibility of co-developing an online group-based participatory VAWG prevention intervention for adolescents. The specific objectives of this study were (i) from the perspective of experts understand the feasibility, acceptability and challenges of a group-based participatory VAWG prevention intervention developed and delivered online, (ii) from the perspective of adolescents, understand the feasibility, acceptability and challenges of a group-based participatory VAWG prevention intervention developed and delivered online and (iii) Undertake an online co-development process of an online group-based participatory VAWG prevention intervention with adolescents. ix Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth), in the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study was guided by the intervention development framework: 6 Essential Steps for Quality Intervention Development (6SQuID). Data were collected online using in-depth semi-structured interviews, with 20 experts sampled through convenience and snowball strategies and 18 purposively sampled adolescents, to achieve objectives one and two. This was then followed by a co-development process with high school-going adolescents (ages 18- 19 years) to achieve objective three. In the co-development process, the candidate worked with a small group of adolescents (four adolescents) for five sessions online, over a period of two weeks. In these sessions, the co-development team engaged in discussions on sexual violence, which resulted in creation of a problem tree and populated a theory of change table. Data were transcribed in English, verbatim and analysed using thematic network analyses. Findings: Findings for the first objective about understanding from the perspective of experts the feasibility, acceptability and challenges of a group-based participatory VAWG prevention intervention developed and delivered online, showed experts identified several opportunities for these. Specifically, experts identified the potential of bringing these interventions to scale, which has been a challenge for in-person interventions, as well as accessing hard to reach groups, such as people in conflict settings, those on the move and people with limited mobility. However, experts felt there were many complex questions in the development of an online VAWG prevention intervention that needed resolving. Some of the challenges raised by experts included concerns of achieving privacy, trust, and safety online, which are central to achieving transformative communication. Experts also struggled to grapple with how a sense of community could be achieved online. There were also concerns amongst experts about material challenges such as access to devices, access to data and poor connectivity. x Interestingly, younger experts were more open to online participatory interventions than the more experienced experts. Findings for objective two “from the perspective of adolescents, understand the feasibility, acceptability and challenges of a group-based participatory VAWG prevention intervention developed and delivered online”, young people reported they were keen and open to the idea of online group-based participatory VAWG prevention interventions. They discussed how they enjoyed engaging in online groups and often experienced a sense of belonging in these groups. Yet, like the experts, school-going adolescents were concerned about safety, privacy, and trust in online groups. These concerns shaped adolescents’ willingness to disclose sensitive information online and ability to engage in open dialogue. Concern over privacy, trust and safety online also influenced adolescents’ choices over which apps to engage with, and with whom. Young people were active in thinking through and addressing how they dealt with safety, privacy and trust issues online. The third objective was “to undertake an online co-development process of an online group-based participatory VAWG prevention intervention with adolescents”, which was done over two weeks. A range of positive outcomes were identified. Firstly, young people enjoyed the level of autonomy and their depth of involvement in the process. They had come into the process anticipating being lectured to and were pleasantly surprised to find that their role was central, and they would drive the process. Secondly, adolescents were eager to be involved and appreciated being ‘heard’. This allowed for a more extensive exploration of their understanding on the topic, and development of the intervention activities that emerged. Thirdly, young people found it easy to build rapport online, both amongst each other, and with the facilitator, which made communication in the group easier. Importantly, this group of adolescents had their own laptops, or cell phones to use, and the project provided data for the young people to participate. However, there were also challenges to the process of coxi development. The central challenge was that young people and facilitator often slipped into a form of teacher-learner communication, driven by their prior histories of didactic education, which led the adolescents to ‘fearing’ to give ‘wrong’ responses. The facilitator also struggled on how to maintain adolescents’ autonomy of thought, while also incorporating ‘scientific evidence’ in the emerging intervention activities. Furthermore, the more talkative school-going adolescents took the centre stage in the discussions, with the quieter ones remaining quiet. Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that the feasibility of taking group-based participatory interventions online are possible, but this is shaped by a complex set of factors, that impact on the possibilities for transformative communication, and on the creation of safe social spaces – such as trust, privacy, safety. The central question is whether the theoretical constructs of transformative communication and safe social spaces are achievable online. A significant step in moving towards enabling transformative communication online will be addressing the issues of privacy, safety and trust. Careful training of facilitators around skills to facilitate group-based participatory VAWG prevention interventions online is also recommended. The complexities of delivering online participatory interventions require careful consideration, and this needs to be developed and thought about in conjunction with school-going adolescents (the target group), to ensure that interventions resonate with their needs and requirements. Future directions in this research field are provided. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Ndungu, Jane
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Prevention , Transformative communication
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60188 , vital:63214
- Description: Background: Violence against women and girls (VAWG)amongst adolescents remains a global public health problem. Globally, an estimated 24 per cent of girls aged 15-19 are reported to have experienced VAWG before the age of 20. Experience of VAWG has far reaching health and educational consequences. Thus, the prevention of VAWG needs to be a priority. In recent years, there has been an increase in web-based or online violence prevention interventions. However, these interventions are either secondary prevention interventions, or primary prevention interventions, focused on emergency or protective solutions. Current evidence indicates that group-based participatory violence prevention interventions are an important approach to the primary prevention of VAWG but there remains a gap in understanding if these interventions can be delivered online. Further, it remains unclear if co-development of group-based participatory violence prevention interventions with young people – which has been proposed to enhance contextualisation of interventions – can occur online. Goal and specific objectives: This study aimed to explore and understand the feasibility of co-developing an online group-based participatory VAWG prevention intervention for adolescents. The specific objectives of this study were (i) from the perspective of experts understand the feasibility, acceptability and challenges of a group-based participatory VAWG prevention intervention developed and delivered online, (ii) from the perspective of adolescents, understand the feasibility, acceptability and challenges of a group-based participatory VAWG prevention intervention developed and delivered online and (iii) Undertake an online co-development process of an online group-based participatory VAWG prevention intervention with adolescents. ix Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth), in the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study was guided by the intervention development framework: 6 Essential Steps for Quality Intervention Development (6SQuID). Data were collected online using in-depth semi-structured interviews, with 20 experts sampled through convenience and snowball strategies and 18 purposively sampled adolescents, to achieve objectives one and two. This was then followed by a co-development process with high school-going adolescents (ages 18- 19 years) to achieve objective three. In the co-development process, the candidate worked with a small group of adolescents (four adolescents) for five sessions online, over a period of two weeks. In these sessions, the co-development team engaged in discussions on sexual violence, which resulted in creation of a problem tree and populated a theory of change table. Data were transcribed in English, verbatim and analysed using thematic network analyses. Findings: Findings for the first objective about understanding from the perspective of experts the feasibility, acceptability and challenges of a group-based participatory VAWG prevention intervention developed and delivered online, showed experts identified several opportunities for these. Specifically, experts identified the potential of bringing these interventions to scale, which has been a challenge for in-person interventions, as well as accessing hard to reach groups, such as people in conflict settings, those on the move and people with limited mobility. However, experts felt there were many complex questions in the development of an online VAWG prevention intervention that needed resolving. Some of the challenges raised by experts included concerns of achieving privacy, trust, and safety online, which are central to achieving transformative communication. Experts also struggled to grapple with how a sense of community could be achieved online. There were also concerns amongst experts about material challenges such as access to devices, access to data and poor connectivity. x Interestingly, younger experts were more open to online participatory interventions than the more experienced experts. Findings for objective two “from the perspective of adolescents, understand the feasibility, acceptability and challenges of a group-based participatory VAWG prevention intervention developed and delivered online”, young people reported they were keen and open to the idea of online group-based participatory VAWG prevention interventions. They discussed how they enjoyed engaging in online groups and often experienced a sense of belonging in these groups. Yet, like the experts, school-going adolescents were concerned about safety, privacy, and trust in online groups. These concerns shaped adolescents’ willingness to disclose sensitive information online and ability to engage in open dialogue. Concern over privacy, trust and safety online also influenced adolescents’ choices over which apps to engage with, and with whom. Young people were active in thinking through and addressing how they dealt with safety, privacy and trust issues online. The third objective was “to undertake an online co-development process of an online group-based participatory VAWG prevention intervention with adolescents”, which was done over two weeks. A range of positive outcomes were identified. Firstly, young people enjoyed the level of autonomy and their depth of involvement in the process. They had come into the process anticipating being lectured to and were pleasantly surprised to find that their role was central, and they would drive the process. Secondly, adolescents were eager to be involved and appreciated being ‘heard’. This allowed for a more extensive exploration of their understanding on the topic, and development of the intervention activities that emerged. Thirdly, young people found it easy to build rapport online, both amongst each other, and with the facilitator, which made communication in the group easier. Importantly, this group of adolescents had their own laptops, or cell phones to use, and the project provided data for the young people to participate. However, there were also challenges to the process of coxi development. The central challenge was that young people and facilitator often slipped into a form of teacher-learner communication, driven by their prior histories of didactic education, which led the adolescents to ‘fearing’ to give ‘wrong’ responses. The facilitator also struggled on how to maintain adolescents’ autonomy of thought, while also incorporating ‘scientific evidence’ in the emerging intervention activities. Furthermore, the more talkative school-going adolescents took the centre stage in the discussions, with the quieter ones remaining quiet. Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that the feasibility of taking group-based participatory interventions online are possible, but this is shaped by a complex set of factors, that impact on the possibilities for transformative communication, and on the creation of safe social spaces – such as trust, privacy, safety. The central question is whether the theoretical constructs of transformative communication and safe social spaces are achievable online. A significant step in moving towards enabling transformative communication online will be addressing the issues of privacy, safety and trust. Careful training of facilitators around skills to facilitate group-based participatory VAWG prevention interventions online is also recommended. The complexities of delivering online participatory interventions require careful consideration, and this needs to be developed and thought about in conjunction with school-going adolescents (the target group), to ensure that interventions resonate with their needs and requirements. Future directions in this research field are provided. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Converged data and sensing over optical fiber networks
- Authors: Shumane, Vela
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Optical fiber subscriber loops -- South Africa , Chemical detectors , Internet -- Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59968 , vital:62722
- Description: Internet connectivity, data and sensors have become increasingly important across all spheres of business and industry, especially in the mining sector. Recent years have seen deeper mining explorations as a result of the depletion of natural resources in shallow strata. Due to complex and unexpected geological conditions as well as significant ground stresses, deep stratum mining operations encounter a number of difficulties. It is essential that the mining industry be more innovative with their equipment and monitoring systems given the rise in expenses caused by energy consumption, concessions to surface integrity, worldwide freshwater shortage, as well as health and safety of miners. Any attempt to eliminate these mining consequences must start with early discovery. An effective plan to anticipate, prevent, or manage geohazards events must be in place because to these complex and unpredictably occurring geological circumstances. Due to their capacity to combine gigabits of data from remote locations within the mine to a centralized control centre, optical fiber offers a variety of distinctive advantages within the mining industry. In order to attain maximum productivity, modern and effective mining operations use enhanced control techniques and increasing mechanization. Additionally, optical fibers can be utilized in a mine to safely monitor seismic activity, methane, roof collapses, rock bursts, explosions, and dangerous underground mine settings. Multimode or multi-core fibers represent a particularly intriguing alternative for transmissions over small distances, especially for broad band local area networks like LANs, as they enable the use of affordable components. Due to the current state of these issues, there is a drive to create fiber optic communication links that can also function as distributed optical fiber sensors, where each point along the fiber can function as a continuous array of sensors. In this thesis, we suggested and experimentally demonstrated a converged solution for precise vibration sensing and high-speed data in mining applications. With wireless access for people and equipment inside cavities, the solution uses multimode fiber to link nearby mining cavities. To track vibrations and earth tremors causing rock falls, polarization-based vibration sensors over multimode fiber is used. With a modal dispersion penalty of just 1.6 dB, photonic data transmission across 100 m of multimode fiber is successfully accomplished. Successful 1.7 GHz wireless transmission across a distance of 1 m is demonstrated, and vibrations between 50 Hz and 1 kHz may be reliably detected to within 0.02 percent of the true value. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Shumane, Vela
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Optical fiber subscriber loops -- South Africa , Chemical detectors , Internet -- Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59968 , vital:62722
- Description: Internet connectivity, data and sensors have become increasingly important across all spheres of business and industry, especially in the mining sector. Recent years have seen deeper mining explorations as a result of the depletion of natural resources in shallow strata. Due to complex and unexpected geological conditions as well as significant ground stresses, deep stratum mining operations encounter a number of difficulties. It is essential that the mining industry be more innovative with their equipment and monitoring systems given the rise in expenses caused by energy consumption, concessions to surface integrity, worldwide freshwater shortage, as well as health and safety of miners. Any attempt to eliminate these mining consequences must start with early discovery. An effective plan to anticipate, prevent, or manage geohazards events must be in place because to these complex and unpredictably occurring geological circumstances. Due to their capacity to combine gigabits of data from remote locations within the mine to a centralized control centre, optical fiber offers a variety of distinctive advantages within the mining industry. In order to attain maximum productivity, modern and effective mining operations use enhanced control techniques and increasing mechanization. Additionally, optical fibers can be utilized in a mine to safely monitor seismic activity, methane, roof collapses, rock bursts, explosions, and dangerous underground mine settings. Multimode or multi-core fibers represent a particularly intriguing alternative for transmissions over small distances, especially for broad band local area networks like LANs, as they enable the use of affordable components. Due to the current state of these issues, there is a drive to create fiber optic communication links that can also function as distributed optical fiber sensors, where each point along the fiber can function as a continuous array of sensors. In this thesis, we suggested and experimentally demonstrated a converged solution for precise vibration sensing and high-speed data in mining applications. With wireless access for people and equipment inside cavities, the solution uses multimode fiber to link nearby mining cavities. To track vibrations and earth tremors causing rock falls, polarization-based vibration sensors over multimode fiber is used. With a modal dispersion penalty of just 1.6 dB, photonic data transmission across 100 m of multimode fiber is successfully accomplished. Successful 1.7 GHz wireless transmission across a distance of 1 m is demonstrated, and vibrations between 50 Hz and 1 kHz may be reliably detected to within 0.02 percent of the true value. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-12
A comparative study of multiculturalism in South Africa and Canada: evaluating successes and failures.
- Authors: Anele Mngadi
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Race discrimination -- Economic aspects – South Africa , Social justice -- South Africa , Xenophobia
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59435 , vital:62114
- Description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the successes and failures of multiculturalism in South Africa and Canada through the lens of critical multiculturalism as its theoretical frame. As Canada is widely-acknowledged as having one of the best multiculturalism policy and implementation programmes in the world, this study aimed to draw lessons from the Canadian model of multiculturalism in order to make recommendations to improve multicultural practices in South Africa. It is worth noting that multiculturalism in Canada is not perfect as government still struggles to implement inclusive and reconciliatory programmes for the previously colonised Indigenous communities. This study used a qualitative thematic analysis to enable a comparison of multiculturalism in these two countries. The findings of this study suggest that having a comprehensive multiculturalism policy is fundamental to ensure that aspirations of a socially cohesive multiculturalism are not merely philosophical, but are formulated into government policies, with guidelines for implementation through the guidance of critical multiculturalism theory. The findings of this study also suggest that the persistent racialised socio-economic inequalities in South Africa continue to undermine multiculturalism and nation-building efforts. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Anele Mngadi
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Race discrimination -- Economic aspects – South Africa , Social justice -- South Africa , Xenophobia
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59435 , vital:62114
- Description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the successes and failures of multiculturalism in South Africa and Canada through the lens of critical multiculturalism as its theoretical frame. As Canada is widely-acknowledged as having one of the best multiculturalism policy and implementation programmes in the world, this study aimed to draw lessons from the Canadian model of multiculturalism in order to make recommendations to improve multicultural practices in South Africa. It is worth noting that multiculturalism in Canada is not perfect as government still struggles to implement inclusive and reconciliatory programmes for the previously colonised Indigenous communities. This study used a qualitative thematic analysis to enable a comparison of multiculturalism in these two countries. The findings of this study suggest that having a comprehensive multiculturalism policy is fundamental to ensure that aspirations of a socially cohesive multiculturalism are not merely philosophical, but are formulated into government policies, with guidelines for implementation through the guidance of critical multiculturalism theory. The findings of this study also suggest that the persistent racialised socio-economic inequalities in South Africa continue to undermine multiculturalism and nation-building efforts. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12