The effects of carbon nanotubes on the electrocatalysis of hydrogen peroxide by metallo-phthalocyanines
- Mashazi, Philani N, Mugadza, Tawanda, Sosibo, Ndabenhle, Mdluli, Phumlani, Vilakazi, Sibulelo, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Mashazi, Philani N , Mugadza, Tawanda , Sosibo, Ndabenhle , Mdluli, Phumlani , Vilakazi, Sibulelo , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/247174 , vital:51553 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2011.07.069"
- Description: The pre-grafted screen-printed gold electrode modified with phenyl-amino monolayer was investigated for covalent immobilization of phenyl-amine functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (PA-SWCNT) and metal tetra-amino phthalocyanine (MTAPc) using Schiff-base reactions with benzene-1,4-dicarbaldehyde (BDCA) as cross-linker. The PA-SWCNT and MTAPc modified electrodes were applied as hybrids for electrochemical sensing of H2O2. The step-by-step fabrication of the electrode was followed using electrochemistry, impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy and all these techniques confirmed the fabrication and the immobilization of PA-SWCNT, MnTAPc and CoTAPc onto gold surfaces. The apparent electron transfer constant (kapp) showed that the carbon nanotubes and metallo-phthalocyanines hybrids possess good electron transfer properties compared to the bare, pre-grafted and the MTAPc modified gold electrode surfaces without PA-SWCNT. The electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide was successful with PA-SWCNT–MTAPc hybrid systems showing higher electrocatalytic currents compared to the other electrodes. The analytical parameters obtained using chronoamperometry gave good linearity at H2O2 concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 30.0 μmol L−1. The values for the limit of detection (LoD) were found to be of the orders of 10−7 M using the 3δ for all the electrodes. The PA-SWCNT–MTAPc modified SPAuEs were much more sensitive compared to PA–MTAPc modified SPAuEs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Mashazi, Philani N , Mugadza, Tawanda , Sosibo, Ndabenhle , Mdluli, Phumlani , Vilakazi, Sibulelo , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/247174 , vital:51553 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2011.07.069"
- Description: The pre-grafted screen-printed gold electrode modified with phenyl-amino monolayer was investigated for covalent immobilization of phenyl-amine functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (PA-SWCNT) and metal tetra-amino phthalocyanine (MTAPc) using Schiff-base reactions with benzene-1,4-dicarbaldehyde (BDCA) as cross-linker. The PA-SWCNT and MTAPc modified electrodes were applied as hybrids for electrochemical sensing of H2O2. The step-by-step fabrication of the electrode was followed using electrochemistry, impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy and all these techniques confirmed the fabrication and the immobilization of PA-SWCNT, MnTAPc and CoTAPc onto gold surfaces. The apparent electron transfer constant (kapp) showed that the carbon nanotubes and metallo-phthalocyanines hybrids possess good electron transfer properties compared to the bare, pre-grafted and the MTAPc modified gold electrode surfaces without PA-SWCNT. The electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide was successful with PA-SWCNT–MTAPc hybrid systems showing higher electrocatalytic currents compared to the other electrodes. The analytical parameters obtained using chronoamperometry gave good linearity at H2O2 concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 30.0 μmol L−1. The values for the limit of detection (LoD) were found to be of the orders of 10−7 M using the 3δ for all the electrodes. The PA-SWCNT–MTAPc modified SPAuEs were much more sensitive compared to PA–MTAPc modified SPAuEs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Perceptions of Chinese students on the quality of the academic programmes and services offered at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- Authors: Song, Junli
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Curricula -- Chinese students , Chinese students -- Education (Higher) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Strategic planning , Service industries -- Marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9359 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1368 , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Curricula -- Chinese students , Chinese students -- Education (Higher) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Strategic planning , Service industries -- Marketing
- Description: With English as the medium of academic exchange, Chinese students are the largest single overseas student group in the English speaking countries (2010). Relative to the outbound education market of other countries, the Chinese education market is large, and it is currently receiving much attention globally. Not only is South Africa one of countries where English is spoken, it has relatively speaking, low study fees and easily-accessed visas compared with countries in Europe and the United States. Therefore, South African universities have a virtually unlimited potential for receiving Chinese students. For South African education providers, particularly NMMU as the host university for the research in question, in order to render the expected education quality and to cater for the Chinese education market effectively, it is of utmost importance that the institutions have a clear understanding of Chinese students’ expectations as well as their actual academic experiences (in the broadest context) when studying at this university. The above is closely linked to the expected educational quality, the actual educational delivery as experienced by Chinese students, as well as the levels of satisfaction they experience as students at NMMU. The purpose of this research project is twofold. Firstly, it aims to construct a theoretical model showing the variables and relationships pertaining to expected and actual educational delivery as experienced by Chinese students. Having assessed the perceptions of the respondents based on the findings, another purpose is to design appropriate educational marketing strategies suitable to address the academic needs and expectations of Chinese students in the broadest context. By designing appropriate education strategies, the potential to develop the Chinese education market in South Africa will be enhanced. Given the purpose and nature of the research in question, methodological triangulation strategies were used. A Likert seven-point scale research instrument was developed and administered. Due to the limited number of respondents (n=61), the Likert scale instrument was further subjected to enrich the data by means of face-to-face interviews with 61 Chinese students (respondents), who shared their perceptions on the expectations and actual experiences of NMMU academic programme quality encounters. By following the methodological triangulation strategies, the validity of the findings is enhanced. The phenomenological dimension of the research was conducted according to guidelines as documented in secondary sources. The findings of the matched pair t-tests indicated that significant statistical differences do exist between the ‘expectations’ and ‘actual experiences’ of Chinese students’ perceived academic programme quality. Sufficient evidence is available at the 95 percent level of significance to support the hypothesis H1, namely: “There are differences between Chinese students’ ‘expected’ and ‘perceived’ academic programme quality (actual experience) of NMMU”. Besides the matched pair t-tests, further statistical analyses were performed by means of calculating Cohen’s ‘d’ values and relative percentage ratings to assess the magnitude of the “gap” between expectations and actual experiences of Chinese students studying at NMMU. The findings revealed that the Chinese students were not completely satisfied with their actual experiences when studying at NMMU. The above statistical findings were endorsed by the qualitative findings. Three sets of conclusions and recommendations were identified for this research. Firstly, conclusions emanating from secondary sources on service quality and students’ satisfaction literature were provided, such that students satisfaction is seen more as a psychological state which reveals an overall feeling of the students’ purchase and consumption experience. Secondly, the conclusions linked to the empirical findings revealed significant statistical differences between the expectations and perceptions (actual experiences) of Chinese students’ perceived academic programme quality. Finally, recommendations on relevant NMMU educational marketing objectives/ strategies can be grouped into four domains: - To build a customer-led education business which adheres to the principles of true marketing orientation with the focus on Chinese students. To achieve this objective a high level of understanding of Chinese students’ specific needs and wants when studying at NMMU is of utmost importance. The effective marketing positioning of NMMU can render leverage benefits to themselves and their clientele. - Findings from the biographic data analyses are significant to the positioning strategies and market segmentation strategies of NMMU. - The decision on a proper positioning strategy entails the choice of target market segments, which will determine where and how the education business competes and its choice of differential advantages. - The South African education providers should have appropriate educational brands to entice the Chinese students’ support.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Song, Junli
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Curricula -- Chinese students , Chinese students -- Education (Higher) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Strategic planning , Service industries -- Marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9359 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1368 , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Curricula -- Chinese students , Chinese students -- Education (Higher) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Strategic planning , Service industries -- Marketing
- Description: With English as the medium of academic exchange, Chinese students are the largest single overseas student group in the English speaking countries (2010). Relative to the outbound education market of other countries, the Chinese education market is large, and it is currently receiving much attention globally. Not only is South Africa one of countries where English is spoken, it has relatively speaking, low study fees and easily-accessed visas compared with countries in Europe and the United States. Therefore, South African universities have a virtually unlimited potential for receiving Chinese students. For South African education providers, particularly NMMU as the host university for the research in question, in order to render the expected education quality and to cater for the Chinese education market effectively, it is of utmost importance that the institutions have a clear understanding of Chinese students’ expectations as well as their actual academic experiences (in the broadest context) when studying at this university. The above is closely linked to the expected educational quality, the actual educational delivery as experienced by Chinese students, as well as the levels of satisfaction they experience as students at NMMU. The purpose of this research project is twofold. Firstly, it aims to construct a theoretical model showing the variables and relationships pertaining to expected and actual educational delivery as experienced by Chinese students. Having assessed the perceptions of the respondents based on the findings, another purpose is to design appropriate educational marketing strategies suitable to address the academic needs and expectations of Chinese students in the broadest context. By designing appropriate education strategies, the potential to develop the Chinese education market in South Africa will be enhanced. Given the purpose and nature of the research in question, methodological triangulation strategies were used. A Likert seven-point scale research instrument was developed and administered. Due to the limited number of respondents (n=61), the Likert scale instrument was further subjected to enrich the data by means of face-to-face interviews with 61 Chinese students (respondents), who shared their perceptions on the expectations and actual experiences of NMMU academic programme quality encounters. By following the methodological triangulation strategies, the validity of the findings is enhanced. The phenomenological dimension of the research was conducted according to guidelines as documented in secondary sources. The findings of the matched pair t-tests indicated that significant statistical differences do exist between the ‘expectations’ and ‘actual experiences’ of Chinese students’ perceived academic programme quality. Sufficient evidence is available at the 95 percent level of significance to support the hypothesis H1, namely: “There are differences between Chinese students’ ‘expected’ and ‘perceived’ academic programme quality (actual experience) of NMMU”. Besides the matched pair t-tests, further statistical analyses were performed by means of calculating Cohen’s ‘d’ values and relative percentage ratings to assess the magnitude of the “gap” between expectations and actual experiences of Chinese students studying at NMMU. The findings revealed that the Chinese students were not completely satisfied with their actual experiences when studying at NMMU. The above statistical findings were endorsed by the qualitative findings. Three sets of conclusions and recommendations were identified for this research. Firstly, conclusions emanating from secondary sources on service quality and students’ satisfaction literature were provided, such that students satisfaction is seen more as a psychological state which reveals an overall feeling of the students’ purchase and consumption experience. Secondly, the conclusions linked to the empirical findings revealed significant statistical differences between the expectations and perceptions (actual experiences) of Chinese students’ perceived academic programme quality. Finally, recommendations on relevant NMMU educational marketing objectives/ strategies can be grouped into four domains: - To build a customer-led education business which adheres to the principles of true marketing orientation with the focus on Chinese students. To achieve this objective a high level of understanding of Chinese students’ specific needs and wants when studying at NMMU is of utmost importance. The effective marketing positioning of NMMU can render leverage benefits to themselves and their clientele. - Findings from the biographic data analyses are significant to the positioning strategies and market segmentation strategies of NMMU. - The decision on a proper positioning strategy entails the choice of target market segments, which will determine where and how the education business competes and its choice of differential advantages. - The South African education providers should have appropriate educational brands to entice the Chinese students’ support.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
A framework for the development of a personal information security agent
- Authors: Stieger, Ewald Andreas
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Computer networks -- Security measures , Information storage and retrieval systems , Artificial intelligence
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9803 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012326 , Computer networks -- Security measures , Information storage and retrieval systems , Artificial intelligence
- Description: Nowadays information is everywhere. Organisations process, store and create information in unprecedented quantities to support their business processes. Similarly, people use, share and synthesise information to accomplish their daily tasks. Indeed, information and information technology are the core of business activities, and a part of daily life. Information has become a crucial resource in today‘s information age and any corruption, destruction or leakage of information can have a serious negative impact on an organisation. Thus, information should be kept safe. This requires the successful implementation of information security, which ensures that information assets are only used, modified and accessed by authorised people. Information security faces many challenges; and organisations still have not successfully addressed them. One of the main challenges is the human element. Information security depends to a large extent on people and their ability to follow and apply sound security practices. Unfortunately, people are often not very security-conscious in their behaviour; and this is the cause of many security breaches. There are a variety of reasons for this such as a lack of knowledge and a negative attitude to security. Many organisations are aware of this; and they attempt to remedy the situation by means of information security awareness programs. These programs aim to educate, train and increase the security awareness of individuals. However, information security awareness programs are not always successful. They are not a once-off remedy that can quickly cure information security. The programs need to be implemented effectively, and they require an ongoing effort. Unfortunately, this is where many organisations fail. Furthermore, changing individuals‘ security behaviour is difficult due to the complexity of factors that influence everyday behaviour. In view of the above, this research project proposes an alternative approach in the form of a personal information security agent. The goal of this agent is to influence individuals to adopt more secure behaviour. There are a variety of factors that need to be considered, in order to achieve this goal, and to positively influence security behaviour. Consequently, this research establishes criteria and principles for such an agent, based on the theory and practice. From a theoretical point of view, a variety of factors that influence human behaviour such as self-efficacy and normative beliefs were investigated. Furthermore, the field of persuasive technology has provided for strategies that can be used by technology to influence individuals. On the practical side, a prototype of a personal information security agent was created and evaluated through a technical software review process. The evaluation of the prototype showed that the theoretical criteria have merit but their effectiveness is largely dependent on how they are implemented. The criteria were thus revised, based on the practical findings. The findings also suggest that a personal information security agent, based on the criteria, may be able to positively influence individuals to be more secure in their behaviour. The insights gained by the research are presented in the form of a framework that makes both theoretical and practical recommendations for developing a personal information security agent. One may, consequently, conclude that the purpose of this research is to provide a foundation for the development of a personal information security agent to positively influence computer users to be more security-conscious in their behavior.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Stieger, Ewald Andreas
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Computer networks -- Security measures , Information storage and retrieval systems , Artificial intelligence
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9803 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012326 , Computer networks -- Security measures , Information storage and retrieval systems , Artificial intelligence
- Description: Nowadays information is everywhere. Organisations process, store and create information in unprecedented quantities to support their business processes. Similarly, people use, share and synthesise information to accomplish their daily tasks. Indeed, information and information technology are the core of business activities, and a part of daily life. Information has become a crucial resource in today‘s information age and any corruption, destruction or leakage of information can have a serious negative impact on an organisation. Thus, information should be kept safe. This requires the successful implementation of information security, which ensures that information assets are only used, modified and accessed by authorised people. Information security faces many challenges; and organisations still have not successfully addressed them. One of the main challenges is the human element. Information security depends to a large extent on people and their ability to follow and apply sound security practices. Unfortunately, people are often not very security-conscious in their behaviour; and this is the cause of many security breaches. There are a variety of reasons for this such as a lack of knowledge and a negative attitude to security. Many organisations are aware of this; and they attempt to remedy the situation by means of information security awareness programs. These programs aim to educate, train and increase the security awareness of individuals. However, information security awareness programs are not always successful. They are not a once-off remedy that can quickly cure information security. The programs need to be implemented effectively, and they require an ongoing effort. Unfortunately, this is where many organisations fail. Furthermore, changing individuals‘ security behaviour is difficult due to the complexity of factors that influence everyday behaviour. In view of the above, this research project proposes an alternative approach in the form of a personal information security agent. The goal of this agent is to influence individuals to adopt more secure behaviour. There are a variety of factors that need to be considered, in order to achieve this goal, and to positively influence security behaviour. Consequently, this research establishes criteria and principles for such an agent, based on the theory and practice. From a theoretical point of view, a variety of factors that influence human behaviour such as self-efficacy and normative beliefs were investigated. Furthermore, the field of persuasive technology has provided for strategies that can be used by technology to influence individuals. On the practical side, a prototype of a personal information security agent was created and evaluated through a technical software review process. The evaluation of the prototype showed that the theoretical criteria have merit but their effectiveness is largely dependent on how they are implemented. The criteria were thus revised, based on the practical findings. The findings also suggest that a personal information security agent, based on the criteria, may be able to positively influence individuals to be more secure in their behaviour. The insights gained by the research are presented in the form of a framework that makes both theoretical and practical recommendations for developing a personal information security agent. One may, consequently, conclude that the purpose of this research is to provide a foundation for the development of a personal information security agent to positively influence computer users to be more security-conscious in their behavior.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Race, class and inequality: an exploration of the scholarship of Professor Bernard Magubane
- Authors: Tanyanyiwa, Precious
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Magubane, Bernard -- Knowledge and learning , South Africa -- Race relations , Sociology -- South Africa , Race -- South Africa , Equality -- South Africa , Research -- South Africa , South Africa -- Social policy , Social classes -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3324 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003112 , Magubane, Bernard -- Knowledge and learning , South Africa -- Race relations , Sociology -- South Africa , Race -- South Africa , Equality -- South Africa , Research -- South Africa , South Africa -- Social policy , Social classes -- South Africa
- Description: This thesis begins with the assumption that the theory of academic dependency provides an adequate framework within which the relationship between social science communities in the North and South can be understood. Present problems of social scientists in the South have very often been attributed to this dependence and it has been concluded that academic dependence has resulted in an uncritical and imitative approach to ideas and concepts from the West (Alatas, 2000). This dependence has also resulted in the general regression among social scientists based in the South and in a marginalisation of their works within the social science community no matter how significant and original they may be. The problematic invisibility of the works of prominent South African scholars is a dimension of a wider crisis of academic dependence, if unchecked this current trend will also reinforce academic dependence. From the nature of the problems generated by academic dependence, it is obvious that there is a need for an intellectual emancipation movement. This movement may take different forms that may range from but are not limited to a commitment to endogeneity which involves among other things, knowledge production that takes South African local conditions seriously enough to be the basis for the development of distinct conceptual ideas and theories. This requires transcending the tendency to use ‘the local’ primarily as a tool for data collection and theoretical framing done from the global north. Secondly, there is a need to take the local, indigenous, ontological narratives seriously enough to serve as source codes for works of distinct epistemological value and exemplary ideas within the global project of knowledge production. Endogeneity in the context of African knowledge production should also involve an intellectual standpoint derived from a rootedness in the African conditions; a centring of African ontological discourses and experiences as the basis of intellectual work (Adesina, 2008: 135). In this study, it is suggested that the recommendations highlighted above can only succeed if scholars make an effort to actually engage with locally produced knowledge. There is therefore a need to make greater efforts to know each other’s work on Africa. This demand is not to appease individual egos but it is essential for progress in scientific work. African communities will benefit from drawing with greater catholicity from the well–spring of knowledge about Africa generated by Africans. In the South African context, transcending academic dependence in the new generation of young academics requires engagement with the work of our local scholars who have devoted their lives to knowledge production. This thesis explores the scholarship of Professor Bernard Magubane by engaging with his works on race, class and inequality by locating his works within the wider debates on race, class and inequality in South Africa. The specific contributions of Professor Magubane to the enterprise of knowledge production are identified and discussed in relation to his critique of Western social science in its application to Africa. The making of Professor Magubane’s life, his career, scholarship and biography details are analysed with the intention of showing their influence on Magubane as a Scholar. The examination of Professor Magubane’s intellectual and biographical accounts help to explain the details, contexts and implications of his theoretical paradigm shifts. This helps prove that Professor Magubane’s experiences and theoretical positions were socially and historically constituted. The research from which this thesis derives is part of an NRF-funded project, on Endogeneity and Modern Sociology in South Africa, under the direction of Professor Jimi Adesina.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Tanyanyiwa, Precious
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Magubane, Bernard -- Knowledge and learning , South Africa -- Race relations , Sociology -- South Africa , Race -- South Africa , Equality -- South Africa , Research -- South Africa , South Africa -- Social policy , Social classes -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3324 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003112 , Magubane, Bernard -- Knowledge and learning , South Africa -- Race relations , Sociology -- South Africa , Race -- South Africa , Equality -- South Africa , Research -- South Africa , South Africa -- Social policy , Social classes -- South Africa
- Description: This thesis begins with the assumption that the theory of academic dependency provides an adequate framework within which the relationship between social science communities in the North and South can be understood. Present problems of social scientists in the South have very often been attributed to this dependence and it has been concluded that academic dependence has resulted in an uncritical and imitative approach to ideas and concepts from the West (Alatas, 2000). This dependence has also resulted in the general regression among social scientists based in the South and in a marginalisation of their works within the social science community no matter how significant and original they may be. The problematic invisibility of the works of prominent South African scholars is a dimension of a wider crisis of academic dependence, if unchecked this current trend will also reinforce academic dependence. From the nature of the problems generated by academic dependence, it is obvious that there is a need for an intellectual emancipation movement. This movement may take different forms that may range from but are not limited to a commitment to endogeneity which involves among other things, knowledge production that takes South African local conditions seriously enough to be the basis for the development of distinct conceptual ideas and theories. This requires transcending the tendency to use ‘the local’ primarily as a tool for data collection and theoretical framing done from the global north. Secondly, there is a need to take the local, indigenous, ontological narratives seriously enough to serve as source codes for works of distinct epistemological value and exemplary ideas within the global project of knowledge production. Endogeneity in the context of African knowledge production should also involve an intellectual standpoint derived from a rootedness in the African conditions; a centring of African ontological discourses and experiences as the basis of intellectual work (Adesina, 2008: 135). In this study, it is suggested that the recommendations highlighted above can only succeed if scholars make an effort to actually engage with locally produced knowledge. There is therefore a need to make greater efforts to know each other’s work on Africa. This demand is not to appease individual egos but it is essential for progress in scientific work. African communities will benefit from drawing with greater catholicity from the well–spring of knowledge about Africa generated by Africans. In the South African context, transcending academic dependence in the new generation of young academics requires engagement with the work of our local scholars who have devoted their lives to knowledge production. This thesis explores the scholarship of Professor Bernard Magubane by engaging with his works on race, class and inequality by locating his works within the wider debates on race, class and inequality in South Africa. The specific contributions of Professor Magubane to the enterprise of knowledge production are identified and discussed in relation to his critique of Western social science in its application to Africa. The making of Professor Magubane’s life, his career, scholarship and biography details are analysed with the intention of showing their influence on Magubane as a Scholar. The examination of Professor Magubane’s intellectual and biographical accounts help to explain the details, contexts and implications of his theoretical paradigm shifts. This helps prove that Professor Magubane’s experiences and theoretical positions were socially and historically constituted. The research from which this thesis derives is part of an NRF-funded project, on Endogeneity and Modern Sociology in South Africa, under the direction of Professor Jimi Adesina.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Entrepreneurship education at a FET college
- Authors: Cook, Vania Saretta
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- Study and teaching , Business education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8637 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008071 , Entrepreneurship -- Study and teaching , Business education
- Description: The previous economic structure in South Africa was well served by the FET College institutions in that they provided a resource pool for large companies and organisations. This however, developed a student mindset of becoming an employee instead of the employer of an organisation. With an economy in transition, privately owned companies or organisations now account for an increasing proportion of economic development. Hence, FET Colleges need to redefine their role in the economy and society, specifically in the type of entrepreneurship courses they offer. This study examines the provision of entrepreneurship education at a FET College in the Eastern Cape with special reference to the levels of provision, support mechanisms, course objectives, contents, teaching and assessment methods to ascertain whether they are appropriately developed to prepare students for entrepreneurship as a career option. This study followed a qualitative research paradigm, implementing a case study approach during the research. In order to analyse the above, the New Venture Creation and Entrepreneurship and Business Management students were selected for this study. Data were collected by handing out questionnaires to a sample of 200 students to assess entrepreneurship courses and pedagogies. The results of this study, indicate that entrepreneurship education at a specific FET College is not enabling the students with sufficient knowledge and skills to start their own business. The results indicate a low level of entrepreneurship education and a weak standing of entrepreneurship courses, which tend to only be part of the Finance course offered within the Business Studies Department at a FET College. Contributing factors to this low level of entrepreneurship education have been identified by lack of support mechanisms by management, the theoretical orientation of entrepreneurship curriculum, teaching methods and assessment of tasks. Based on these findings, it is strongly suggested that this FET College should: (1) develop specialised entrepreneurship programmes for all students; (2) receive special funding for entrepreneurship education; (3) integrate experiential learning in the curriculum; and (4) give special consideration to training entrepreneurship educators.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Cook, Vania Saretta
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- Study and teaching , Business education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8637 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008071 , Entrepreneurship -- Study and teaching , Business education
- Description: The previous economic structure in South Africa was well served by the FET College institutions in that they provided a resource pool for large companies and organisations. This however, developed a student mindset of becoming an employee instead of the employer of an organisation. With an economy in transition, privately owned companies or organisations now account for an increasing proportion of economic development. Hence, FET Colleges need to redefine their role in the economy and society, specifically in the type of entrepreneurship courses they offer. This study examines the provision of entrepreneurship education at a FET College in the Eastern Cape with special reference to the levels of provision, support mechanisms, course objectives, contents, teaching and assessment methods to ascertain whether they are appropriately developed to prepare students for entrepreneurship as a career option. This study followed a qualitative research paradigm, implementing a case study approach during the research. In order to analyse the above, the New Venture Creation and Entrepreneurship and Business Management students were selected for this study. Data were collected by handing out questionnaires to a sample of 200 students to assess entrepreneurship courses and pedagogies. The results of this study, indicate that entrepreneurship education at a specific FET College is not enabling the students with sufficient knowledge and skills to start their own business. The results indicate a low level of entrepreneurship education and a weak standing of entrepreneurship courses, which tend to only be part of the Finance course offered within the Business Studies Department at a FET College. Contributing factors to this low level of entrepreneurship education have been identified by lack of support mechanisms by management, the theoretical orientation of entrepreneurship curriculum, teaching methods and assessment of tasks. Based on these findings, it is strongly suggested that this FET College should: (1) develop specialised entrepreneurship programmes for all students; (2) receive special funding for entrepreneurship education; (3) integrate experiential learning in the curriculum; and (4) give special consideration to training entrepreneurship educators.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Investigating the challenges in school infrastructure delivery in the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education
- Authors: Madumane, Maud
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: South Africa -- Deptartment of Education , School facilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Finance , School facilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Planning , Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8995 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011031 , South Africa -- Deptartment of Education , School facilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Finance , School facilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Planning , Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: In the Eastern Cape department of Education, there are a variety of failures within the delivery of the school infrastructure. The department is faced with the problem of the infrastructure backlog. The study looked into planning, controls, leadership management style and the locus of control of officials dealing with the delivery of the school infrastructure in the department of education. Objective is to investigate the factors hindering the school infrastructure service delivery in the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education. It was imperative that there was a need for more emphasis in ensuring that Education infrastructure planning base stabilized in order to effectively address infrastructure service delivery. The empirical study was conducted through semi-structured questionnaires. The sample was drawn from the infrastructure unit in Zwelitsha offices as well as from the officials that were implementing the infrastructure plans and from officials who provided support and monitoring. The empirical results showed that the department had no credible plans, no sound systems, or controls to track the non- service delivery. Management style was perceived as unconsultative and do not promote good co-operate governance. There is no retention strategy whilst there is a shortage of technical skills. It is recommended that the department should established a cross functional team which gives the strategic direction to the management of the school infrastructure delivery. The team should comprise of the top management of the department and as well the implementing agent and must be chaired by the Head of the department. The management should undergo a developmental training on charisma techniques which is associated with aspiration of officials in order to argument the unconsultative style of management which is perceived as more of instructing. Officials are to be capacited with the technical skills relevant to the built environment. The department should also implement the infrastructure delivery management system (IDMS) as prescribed in the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Toolkit Guide. The Toolkit provides a documented body of knowledge and a set of processes that represent generally recognised best practices in the delivery management of infrastructure (CIDB Toolkit Guide).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Madumane, Maud
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: South Africa -- Deptartment of Education , School facilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Finance , School facilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Planning , Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8995 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011031 , South Africa -- Deptartment of Education , School facilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Finance , School facilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Planning , Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: In the Eastern Cape department of Education, there are a variety of failures within the delivery of the school infrastructure. The department is faced with the problem of the infrastructure backlog. The study looked into planning, controls, leadership management style and the locus of control of officials dealing with the delivery of the school infrastructure in the department of education. Objective is to investigate the factors hindering the school infrastructure service delivery in the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education. It was imperative that there was a need for more emphasis in ensuring that Education infrastructure planning base stabilized in order to effectively address infrastructure service delivery. The empirical study was conducted through semi-structured questionnaires. The sample was drawn from the infrastructure unit in Zwelitsha offices as well as from the officials that were implementing the infrastructure plans and from officials who provided support and monitoring. The empirical results showed that the department had no credible plans, no sound systems, or controls to track the non- service delivery. Management style was perceived as unconsultative and do not promote good co-operate governance. There is no retention strategy whilst there is a shortage of technical skills. It is recommended that the department should established a cross functional team which gives the strategic direction to the management of the school infrastructure delivery. The team should comprise of the top management of the department and as well the implementing agent and must be chaired by the Head of the department. The management should undergo a developmental training on charisma techniques which is associated with aspiration of officials in order to argument the unconsultative style of management which is perceived as more of instructing. Officials are to be capacited with the technical skills relevant to the built environment. The department should also implement the infrastructure delivery management system (IDMS) as prescribed in the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Toolkit Guide. The Toolkit provides a documented body of knowledge and a set of processes that represent generally recognised best practices in the delivery management of infrastructure (CIDB Toolkit Guide).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The distribution, abundance and composition of street trees in selected towns of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Kuruneri-Chitepo, C, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Kuruneri-Chitepo, C , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6639 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006865
- Description: Street trees are an important component of the urban forest as they provide critical ecosystem services which contribute to human health and environmental quality. However, little is known about the distribution, diversity and density of street trees, particularly in the developing world where urbanisation is most rapid. Thus, the aim of this paper was to assess the distribution, composition and abundance of street trees across three towns along an environmental gradient in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, and identify the key challenges faced by local officials concerned with the provision of street trees. In each town, streets were randomly sampled in the commercial, affluent residential, township settlement and low cost housing areas under the Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP). Attributes recorded per tree were species, circumference, height and health, while semi-structured interviews were conducted with the municipal officials involved in the establishment and maintenance of street trees. A total of 1,485 trees were encountered, comprising 61 species. The majority (56%) of trees were alien species. Noticeable differences in tree density and species richness were evident across suburbs, being highest in the more affluent suburbs and poorly represented in the low income township and RDP areas. There was a decreasing mean tree height and health score along the environmental gradient from the coastal town to the inland town. Although awareness of the benefits of street trees was high, as was the need to reduce the proportion of alien species, the primary constraint to establishment and maintenance of street trees in the three towns was limited budget and human resources.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Kuruneri-Chitepo, C , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6639 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006865
- Description: Street trees are an important component of the urban forest as they provide critical ecosystem services which contribute to human health and environmental quality. However, little is known about the distribution, diversity and density of street trees, particularly in the developing world where urbanisation is most rapid. Thus, the aim of this paper was to assess the distribution, composition and abundance of street trees across three towns along an environmental gradient in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, and identify the key challenges faced by local officials concerned with the provision of street trees. In each town, streets were randomly sampled in the commercial, affluent residential, township settlement and low cost housing areas under the Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP). Attributes recorded per tree were species, circumference, height and health, while semi-structured interviews were conducted with the municipal officials involved in the establishment and maintenance of street trees. A total of 1,485 trees were encountered, comprising 61 species. The majority (56%) of trees were alien species. Noticeable differences in tree density and species richness were evident across suburbs, being highest in the more affluent suburbs and poorly represented in the low income township and RDP areas. There was a decreasing mean tree height and health score along the environmental gradient from the coastal town to the inland town. Although awareness of the benefits of street trees was high, as was the need to reduce the proportion of alien species, the primary constraint to establishment and maintenance of street trees in the three towns was limited budget and human resources.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Aerial view of Rhodes University campus
- Authors: Greaves, Duncan R
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Rhodes University -- Aerial photographs , Rhodes University -- Photographs
- Type: Image
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/37609 , vital:24678 , This image is held at the Cory Library for Humanities Research at Rhodes University. For further information contact cory@ru.ac.za. The digitisation of this image was made possible through a generous grant received from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation 2014-2017. , PIC/S 4930
- Description: Aerial view of Rhodes University campus produced to accompany graduation photographs, circa 2011.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Greaves, Duncan R
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Rhodes University -- Aerial photographs , Rhodes University -- Photographs
- Type: Image
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/37609 , vital:24678 , This image is held at the Cory Library for Humanities Research at Rhodes University. For further information contact cory@ru.ac.za. The digitisation of this image was made possible through a generous grant received from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation 2014-2017. , PIC/S 4930
- Description: Aerial view of Rhodes University campus produced to accompany graduation photographs, circa 2011.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2011
An assessment of the quality of family planning services rendered to adolescents by health workers at Mdantsane clinics, Mdantsane, Eastern Cape Province, S.A.
- Authors: Ndlebe, Siphokazi
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Health promotion -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sex instruction for youth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11892 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/407 , Health promotion -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sex instruction for youth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Family planning services are rendered at no cost in all clinics in Mdantsane. Mdantsane is situated in the Eastern Cape and falls under Amathole District Municipality. The high rate of adolescent pregnancy in the area raises a question as to whether the family planning services are adequate. This issue reflects on the quality of family planning service delivery. According to Roux (1995:94), a quality service is a safe, easily available and readily acceptable service, delivered by well trained family planning personnel through well planned programmes. Aims and Objectives: To assess the quality of family planning service delivery by health providers to adolescents; determine the opinions of adolescents regarding accessibility, friendliness of staff, privacy, confidentiality, reproductive health information and resources at Mdantsane clinics from June to July 2009. Method: A questionnaire was designed to collect data. The questionnaire was administered on the adolescents utilizing the reproductive health services at eleven primary health clinics in Mdantsane. A sample consisting of 110 adolescent youth between 19 and 24 years was selected by using random sampling. A response of “yes” will indicate that the participant is satisfied with the specific item, while a response of “no” will indicate dissatisfaction with that item. A specially designed spreadsheet was developed to analyze the data. Data was analyzed by using the Microsoft Excel 2007 Version 6. Results: The results from this research study suggest that there is a definite need for improvement of adolescent reproductive health services at Mdantsane clinics. It is clear that the current available maternal and child health programmes, school health services and reproductive health services are not able to meet the adolescent sexual and reproductive needs. Conclusion: The research findings from this study indicated the constraints to good quality family planning health care service delivery. Satisfaction responses from the five categories: health facility amenities, accessibility, staff characteristics, availability of sexual and reproductive health services and availability of educational material accessibility were mostly below 70%. The responses regarding the question on the “full information about the available contraceptives”showed the least level of satisfaction. Deficiencies in physical facilities and equipment, disruptions in supplies, insufficient information provided to clients and providers‟ insensitivity to the feelings and needs of the clients are issues that discourage adolescents from utilizing contraceptive services. Recommendations: Adolescents need a safe and supportive environment that offers information and skills to equip them on all aspects related to sexual and reproductive health issues. To satisfy adolescent reproductive needs, the following key elements should be improved: accessibility of reproductive health services, friendliness of clinic staff, availability of information about reproduction and sexuality and maintenance of issues regarding confidentiality and anonymity. Quality requires the presence of trained personnel in well-equipped clinics where clients are treated courteously. To avoid issues of courtesy bias, there is a need to conduct a similar survey utilizing alternative community settings, namely homes of participants or a school.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Ndlebe, Siphokazi
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Health promotion -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sex instruction for youth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11892 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/407 , Health promotion -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sex instruction for youth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Family planning services are rendered at no cost in all clinics in Mdantsane. Mdantsane is situated in the Eastern Cape and falls under Amathole District Municipality. The high rate of adolescent pregnancy in the area raises a question as to whether the family planning services are adequate. This issue reflects on the quality of family planning service delivery. According to Roux (1995:94), a quality service is a safe, easily available and readily acceptable service, delivered by well trained family planning personnel through well planned programmes. Aims and Objectives: To assess the quality of family planning service delivery by health providers to adolescents; determine the opinions of adolescents regarding accessibility, friendliness of staff, privacy, confidentiality, reproductive health information and resources at Mdantsane clinics from June to July 2009. Method: A questionnaire was designed to collect data. The questionnaire was administered on the adolescents utilizing the reproductive health services at eleven primary health clinics in Mdantsane. A sample consisting of 110 adolescent youth between 19 and 24 years was selected by using random sampling. A response of “yes” will indicate that the participant is satisfied with the specific item, while a response of “no” will indicate dissatisfaction with that item. A specially designed spreadsheet was developed to analyze the data. Data was analyzed by using the Microsoft Excel 2007 Version 6. Results: The results from this research study suggest that there is a definite need for improvement of adolescent reproductive health services at Mdantsane clinics. It is clear that the current available maternal and child health programmes, school health services and reproductive health services are not able to meet the adolescent sexual and reproductive needs. Conclusion: The research findings from this study indicated the constraints to good quality family planning health care service delivery. Satisfaction responses from the five categories: health facility amenities, accessibility, staff characteristics, availability of sexual and reproductive health services and availability of educational material accessibility were mostly below 70%. The responses regarding the question on the “full information about the available contraceptives”showed the least level of satisfaction. Deficiencies in physical facilities and equipment, disruptions in supplies, insufficient information provided to clients and providers‟ insensitivity to the feelings and needs of the clients are issues that discourage adolescents from utilizing contraceptive services. Recommendations: Adolescents need a safe and supportive environment that offers information and skills to equip them on all aspects related to sexual and reproductive health issues. To satisfy adolescent reproductive needs, the following key elements should be improved: accessibility of reproductive health services, friendliness of clinic staff, availability of information about reproduction and sexuality and maintenance of issues regarding confidentiality and anonymity. Quality requires the presence of trained personnel in well-equipped clinics where clients are treated courteously. To avoid issues of courtesy bias, there is a need to conduct a similar survey utilizing alternative community settings, namely homes of participants or a school.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
HIV-related stigma amongst service staff in Grahamstown: a comparison of Hi-Tec security guards and Rhodes catering in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mazorodze, Tasara
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: AIDS phobia -- Research -- South Africa -- Grahamstown HIV infections -- Employees -- Research -- South Africa AIDS (Disease) -- Employees -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3016 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002525
- Description: Despite the acknowledged reality that HIV-related stigma is a major barrier to effective HIV prevention and treatment, and perhaps because it is complex in nature, few local empirical scales have been developed to measure stigma and to be able evaluate the impact of anti-stigma interventions. Whilst the development of two recent South African HIV-related stigma scales can be celebrated as a major breakthrough, the reliability and validity of these scales across contexts remains largely unknown. This research project employs these two local, and competing, HIV-related personal stigma scales - the first developed by Kalichman et al. (2005) and the second developed by Visser, Kershaw, Makin and Forsyth (2008)-to compare the psychometric properties of the scales and to obtain a measure of HIV-related stigma with a sample of 246 service staff employed at either Rhodes University Catering Division or the Hi-Tec Security company, both organisations located in Grahamstown, a small town in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Both organisations are major employers of semi-skilled workers in this local context. The results suggest that the Visser et al. scale (2008) reports slightly better psychometric properties than the Kalichman et al. (2005) scale for this sample. Furthermore, the security guards appear to be more stigmatising than the caterers, and it is suggested that this might be a consequence of the combined influences of normative occupational roles and workplace context. Results also show that participants who practices safe sex, know someone with HIV and/or who have been tested for HIV show lower levels of HIV-related stigma. Finally, personal stigma scores are generally lower than attributed stigma scores, which might offer a useful point of intervention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Mazorodze, Tasara
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: AIDS phobia -- Research -- South Africa -- Grahamstown HIV infections -- Employees -- Research -- South Africa AIDS (Disease) -- Employees -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3016 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002525
- Description: Despite the acknowledged reality that HIV-related stigma is a major barrier to effective HIV prevention and treatment, and perhaps because it is complex in nature, few local empirical scales have been developed to measure stigma and to be able evaluate the impact of anti-stigma interventions. Whilst the development of two recent South African HIV-related stigma scales can be celebrated as a major breakthrough, the reliability and validity of these scales across contexts remains largely unknown. This research project employs these two local, and competing, HIV-related personal stigma scales - the first developed by Kalichman et al. (2005) and the second developed by Visser, Kershaw, Makin and Forsyth (2008)-to compare the psychometric properties of the scales and to obtain a measure of HIV-related stigma with a sample of 246 service staff employed at either Rhodes University Catering Division or the Hi-Tec Security company, both organisations located in Grahamstown, a small town in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Both organisations are major employers of semi-skilled workers in this local context. The results suggest that the Visser et al. scale (2008) reports slightly better psychometric properties than the Kalichman et al. (2005) scale for this sample. Furthermore, the security guards appear to be more stigmatising than the caterers, and it is suggested that this might be a consequence of the combined influences of normative occupational roles and workplace context. Results also show that participants who practices safe sex, know someone with HIV and/or who have been tested for HIV show lower levels of HIV-related stigma. Finally, personal stigma scores are generally lower than attributed stigma scores, which might offer a useful point of intervention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Identity, belonging and ecological crisis in South African speculative fiction
- Authors: Steenkamp, Elzette Lorna
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: South African fiction -- History and criticism Identity (Philosophical concept) in literature Group identity in literature Ecology in literature Science fiction, South African -- History and criticism Fantasy fiction, South African -- History and criticism Ecofiction -- History and criticism Ecocriticism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2219 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002262
- Description: This study examines a range of South African speculative novels which situate their narratives in futuristic or ‘alternative’ milieus, exploring how these narratives not only address identity formation in a deeply divided and rapidly changing society, but also the ways in which human beings place themselves in relation to Nature and form notions of ‘ecological’ belonging. It offers close readings of these speculative narratives in order to investigate the ways in which they evince concerns which are rooted in the natural, social and political landscapes which inform them. Specific attention is paid to the texts’ treatment of the intertwined issues of identity, belonging and ecological crisis. This dissertation draws on the fields of Ecocriticism, Postcolonial Studies and Science Fiction Studies, and assumes a culturally specific approach to primary texts while investigating possible cross-cultural commonalities between Afrikaans and English speculative narratives, as well as the cross-fertilisation of global SF/speculative features. It is suggested that South African speculative fiction presents a socio-historically situated, rhizomatic approach to ecology – one that is attuned to the tension between humanistic- and ecological concerns.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Steenkamp, Elzette Lorna
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: South African fiction -- History and criticism Identity (Philosophical concept) in literature Group identity in literature Ecology in literature Science fiction, South African -- History and criticism Fantasy fiction, South African -- History and criticism Ecofiction -- History and criticism Ecocriticism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2219 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002262
- Description: This study examines a range of South African speculative novels which situate their narratives in futuristic or ‘alternative’ milieus, exploring how these narratives not only address identity formation in a deeply divided and rapidly changing society, but also the ways in which human beings place themselves in relation to Nature and form notions of ‘ecological’ belonging. It offers close readings of these speculative narratives in order to investigate the ways in which they evince concerns which are rooted in the natural, social and political landscapes which inform them. Specific attention is paid to the texts’ treatment of the intertwined issues of identity, belonging and ecological crisis. This dissertation draws on the fields of Ecocriticism, Postcolonial Studies and Science Fiction Studies, and assumes a culturally specific approach to primary texts while investigating possible cross-cultural commonalities between Afrikaans and English speculative narratives, as well as the cross-fertilisation of global SF/speculative features. It is suggested that South African speculative fiction presents a socio-historically situated, rhizomatic approach to ecology – one that is attuned to the tension between humanistic- and ecological concerns.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Comparative study of the feeding damage caused by the South African biotypes of the Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia Kurdjumov) on resistant and non-resistant lines of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
- Authors: Jimoh, Mahboob Adekilekun
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Aphids Russian wheat aphid -- Research -- South Africa Barley -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4201 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003770
- Description: Cereal crop productivity is hampered when these plants are infested by phloem feeding aphids. A great deal of research has been carried out with the direct aim of a clearer understanding of the mechanism involved in the interaction between aphids and their host plants. Research has directly or indirectly been geared towards enhanced plant productivity and achieving sustainable agriculture. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important small grain crop in South Africa, whose crop performance is negatively affected by fluctuations in weather patterns as well as by agricultural pests. One of the insect pests infesting barley is the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia Kurdjumov (RWA), of which the two South African biotypes, codenamed RWASA1 and RWASA2, were studied in this thesis. During dry spells, RWA infestation becomes a more serious threat to barley productivity. Resistant plants have been used to combat RWA infestation of small grains. In South Africa, 27 RWA-resistant wheat cultivars are currently used in commercial cultivation, but no resistant barley lines have, unfortunately, been developed, in spite of this grain’s significant economic importance. This informed the study in this thesis, and this interest particularly focussed on three RWA-resistant lines developed by the USDA, testing their performance against South African RWA biotypes, for possible adaptation to South Africa. The aim was thus to examine the plant-aphid interactions, aphid breeding rates, plant damage and sustainability, evidence of resistance or tolerance and finally potential performance under elevated CO2 (a very real climate change threat). Two major avenues of research were undertaken. The first aspect involved examination of structural and functional damage caused by RWASA1 and RWASA2 on the three resistant and a non-resistant line. Aphid population growth and damage symptoms (chlorosis and leaf roll) of infestation by these aphid biotypes were evaluated. This was followed by a structural and functional approach in which the effects of feeding on the transport systems (phloem and xylem) of barley were investigated. Fluorescence microscopy techniques (using aniline blue fluorochrome, a specific stain for callose and 5,6-CFDA, a phloem-mobile probe) were applied to investigate the feeding-related damage caused by the aphids, through an examination of wound callose formation and related to this, the resultant reduction in phloem transport capacity. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques provided evidence of the extent of the feeding-related cell damage. The second aspect involved a study of the effect of changing CO2 concentrations ([CO2]) on the resistant and susceptible barley cultivars to feeding by the two RWA biotypes. Leaves of plants grown at ambient and two elevated levels of [CO2] were analysed to investigate the effect of changing [CO2] on biomass, leaf nitrogen content and C:N ratio of control (uninfested) and infested plants. The population growth studies showed that the populations of the two RWA biotypes as well as bird cherry-oat aphid (BCA, Rhopalosiphum padi L.) increased substantially on the four barley lines. BCA was included here, as it had been the subject of several previous studies. RWASA2 bred faster than RWASA1 on all lines. The breeding rates of the two RWA biotypes were both suppressed and at near-equivalent levels on the three resistant lines, compared to the non-resistant PUMA. This suggests that the resistant lines possessed an antibiosis resistance mechanism against the feeding aphids. Feeding by the aphids manifested in morphological damage symptoms of chlorosis and leaf roll. The two biotypes inflicted severe chlorosis and leaf roll on the non-resistant PUMA. In the resistant plants, leaf rolling was more severe because of RWASA2 feeding compared to RWASA1 feeding. In contrast, chlorosis symptoms were more severe during RWASA1 feeding than was the case with RWASA2 feeding. Investigation of the effect of aphid feeding on the plants showed that callose was deposited within 24h and that this increased with longer feeding exposure. Wound callose distribution is more extensive in the non-resistant PUMA than in the resistant plants. RWASA2 feeding on the resistant lines caused deposition of more callose than was evident with RWASA1 feeding. During long-term feeding, it was evident that variation in the intensity and amount of wound callose was visible in the longitudinal and transverse veins of the resistant plants. Of the three STARS plants, STARS-9301B had the least callose. Interestingly, wound callose occurred in both resistant and non-resistant plants, in sharp contrast to what has been reported on resistant wheat cultivars that were developed in South Africa. The relative reduction in the wound callose deposited in the resistant line, when compared to the non-resistant lines, suggests the presence of a mechanism in the resistant lines, which may prevent excessive callose formation. Alternatively, the mechanism may stimulate callose breakdown. RWASA2 feeding on the resistant lines deposited more wound callose than RWASA1 feeding. This evidence supports the hypothesis that RWASA2 is a resistance breaking and more aggressive feeder than RWASA1 is; and further underscores the urgent need for development of RWA-resistant barley cultivars. The ultrastructural investigation of the feeding damage showed that the two biotypes caused extensive vascular damage in non-resistant plants. There was extensive and severe cell disruption and often obliteration of cell structure of the vascular parenchyma, xylem and phloem elements. In sharp contrast, among the resistant plants, feeding-related cell damage appeared to be substantially reduced compared to the non-resistant PUMA. Low frequency of damaged cells indicated that majority of the cell components of the vascular tissues were intact and presumed functional. There was evidence of salivary material lining the secondary walls of the vascular tissue, which resulted in severe damage. Within xylem vessels, saliva material impregnated half-bordered pit pairs between the vessels and adjacent xylem parenchyma. This is believed to prevent solute exchange through this interface, thereby inducing leaf stress and vi leaf roll. A notable finding is that RWASA2 effectively induced more cell damage to vascular tissues in the resistant lines than did RWASA1. In general the experimental evidence (see Chapter 5) suggests that the resistant lines are possibly more tolerant (or able to cope with) to RWA feeding. Evidence for this is the reduction of wound callose and at the TEM level, a comparatively less obvious cell damage in the resistant lines, which suggests that they possess antibiosis and tolerance capacity. The apparent reduction of feeding-related cell damage from the TEM study confirmed the disruptive action of the feeding aphids in experiments using the phloem-mobile probe, 5,6-CF. Results showed that feeding by RWASA1 and RWASA2 reducedthe transport functionality of the phloem in all cases, but that RWASA2 feeding caused a more obvious reduction in the rate and distance that 5,6-carboxyfluorescein was transported, than did RWASA1. Investigation of the effect of changing [CO2] on the barley cultivars showed that in the absence of aphids and under elevated CO2 conditions, the plants grew more vigorously. In this series of experiments, the infested plants suffered significant reduction in biomass under ambient (as was expected) and under the two elevated CO2 regimes. Biomass loss was greater at elevated CO2 than under ambient [CO2]. The infested nonresistant PUMA plants showed a more significant biomass loss than did the resistant cultivars. Clearly, the benefits derived from elevated CO2 enrichment was thus redirected to the now-advantaged aphids. Uninfested vii plants showed an increase in leaf nitrogen under the experimental conditions. However, feeding aphids depleted leaf nitrogen content and this was more apparent on plants exposed to RWASA2 than was the case with RWASA1. The end result of this was that C:N ratio of infested plants were higher than uninfested plants. Clearly, the faster breeding rates of the aphids at elevated CO2 caused depletion of N and a resultant deficiency exacerbated chlorosis as well as leaf rolling due to the higher aphid population density under elevated CO2 than at ambient. By 28 days after infestation (DAI), majority of the plants exposed to enriched CO2 treatments had died. A major finding here was thus that although this study demonstrated that elevated CO2 resulted in an increase in biomass, this was detrimentally offset in plants infested by the aphids, with a decline in biomass and loss of functionality leading to plant death at 28DAI. The overriding conclusion from this study is a clear signal that the twin effects of CO2 enrichment (a feature of current climate change) and aphid infestations may precipitate potential grain shortages. A disastrous food security threat looms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Jimoh, Mahboob Adekilekun
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Aphids Russian wheat aphid -- Research -- South Africa Barley -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4201 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003770
- Description: Cereal crop productivity is hampered when these plants are infested by phloem feeding aphids. A great deal of research has been carried out with the direct aim of a clearer understanding of the mechanism involved in the interaction between aphids and their host plants. Research has directly or indirectly been geared towards enhanced plant productivity and achieving sustainable agriculture. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important small grain crop in South Africa, whose crop performance is negatively affected by fluctuations in weather patterns as well as by agricultural pests. One of the insect pests infesting barley is the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia Kurdjumov (RWA), of which the two South African biotypes, codenamed RWASA1 and RWASA2, were studied in this thesis. During dry spells, RWA infestation becomes a more serious threat to barley productivity. Resistant plants have been used to combat RWA infestation of small grains. In South Africa, 27 RWA-resistant wheat cultivars are currently used in commercial cultivation, but no resistant barley lines have, unfortunately, been developed, in spite of this grain’s significant economic importance. This informed the study in this thesis, and this interest particularly focussed on three RWA-resistant lines developed by the USDA, testing their performance against South African RWA biotypes, for possible adaptation to South Africa. The aim was thus to examine the plant-aphid interactions, aphid breeding rates, plant damage and sustainability, evidence of resistance or tolerance and finally potential performance under elevated CO2 (a very real climate change threat). Two major avenues of research were undertaken. The first aspect involved examination of structural and functional damage caused by RWASA1 and RWASA2 on the three resistant and a non-resistant line. Aphid population growth and damage symptoms (chlorosis and leaf roll) of infestation by these aphid biotypes were evaluated. This was followed by a structural and functional approach in which the effects of feeding on the transport systems (phloem and xylem) of barley were investigated. Fluorescence microscopy techniques (using aniline blue fluorochrome, a specific stain for callose and 5,6-CFDA, a phloem-mobile probe) were applied to investigate the feeding-related damage caused by the aphids, through an examination of wound callose formation and related to this, the resultant reduction in phloem transport capacity. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques provided evidence of the extent of the feeding-related cell damage. The second aspect involved a study of the effect of changing CO2 concentrations ([CO2]) on the resistant and susceptible barley cultivars to feeding by the two RWA biotypes. Leaves of plants grown at ambient and two elevated levels of [CO2] were analysed to investigate the effect of changing [CO2] on biomass, leaf nitrogen content and C:N ratio of control (uninfested) and infested plants. The population growth studies showed that the populations of the two RWA biotypes as well as bird cherry-oat aphid (BCA, Rhopalosiphum padi L.) increased substantially on the four barley lines. BCA was included here, as it had been the subject of several previous studies. RWASA2 bred faster than RWASA1 on all lines. The breeding rates of the two RWA biotypes were both suppressed and at near-equivalent levels on the three resistant lines, compared to the non-resistant PUMA. This suggests that the resistant lines possessed an antibiosis resistance mechanism against the feeding aphids. Feeding by the aphids manifested in morphological damage symptoms of chlorosis and leaf roll. The two biotypes inflicted severe chlorosis and leaf roll on the non-resistant PUMA. In the resistant plants, leaf rolling was more severe because of RWASA2 feeding compared to RWASA1 feeding. In contrast, chlorosis symptoms were more severe during RWASA1 feeding than was the case with RWASA2 feeding. Investigation of the effect of aphid feeding on the plants showed that callose was deposited within 24h and that this increased with longer feeding exposure. Wound callose distribution is more extensive in the non-resistant PUMA than in the resistant plants. RWASA2 feeding on the resistant lines caused deposition of more callose than was evident with RWASA1 feeding. During long-term feeding, it was evident that variation in the intensity and amount of wound callose was visible in the longitudinal and transverse veins of the resistant plants. Of the three STARS plants, STARS-9301B had the least callose. Interestingly, wound callose occurred in both resistant and non-resistant plants, in sharp contrast to what has been reported on resistant wheat cultivars that were developed in South Africa. The relative reduction in the wound callose deposited in the resistant line, when compared to the non-resistant lines, suggests the presence of a mechanism in the resistant lines, which may prevent excessive callose formation. Alternatively, the mechanism may stimulate callose breakdown. RWASA2 feeding on the resistant lines deposited more wound callose than RWASA1 feeding. This evidence supports the hypothesis that RWASA2 is a resistance breaking and more aggressive feeder than RWASA1 is; and further underscores the urgent need for development of RWA-resistant barley cultivars. The ultrastructural investigation of the feeding damage showed that the two biotypes caused extensive vascular damage in non-resistant plants. There was extensive and severe cell disruption and often obliteration of cell structure of the vascular parenchyma, xylem and phloem elements. In sharp contrast, among the resistant plants, feeding-related cell damage appeared to be substantially reduced compared to the non-resistant PUMA. Low frequency of damaged cells indicated that majority of the cell components of the vascular tissues were intact and presumed functional. There was evidence of salivary material lining the secondary walls of the vascular tissue, which resulted in severe damage. Within xylem vessels, saliva material impregnated half-bordered pit pairs between the vessels and adjacent xylem parenchyma. This is believed to prevent solute exchange through this interface, thereby inducing leaf stress and vi leaf roll. A notable finding is that RWASA2 effectively induced more cell damage to vascular tissues in the resistant lines than did RWASA1. In general the experimental evidence (see Chapter 5) suggests that the resistant lines are possibly more tolerant (or able to cope with) to RWA feeding. Evidence for this is the reduction of wound callose and at the TEM level, a comparatively less obvious cell damage in the resistant lines, which suggests that they possess antibiosis and tolerance capacity. The apparent reduction of feeding-related cell damage from the TEM study confirmed the disruptive action of the feeding aphids in experiments using the phloem-mobile probe, 5,6-CF. Results showed that feeding by RWASA1 and RWASA2 reducedthe transport functionality of the phloem in all cases, but that RWASA2 feeding caused a more obvious reduction in the rate and distance that 5,6-carboxyfluorescein was transported, than did RWASA1. Investigation of the effect of changing [CO2] on the barley cultivars showed that in the absence of aphids and under elevated CO2 conditions, the plants grew more vigorously. In this series of experiments, the infested plants suffered significant reduction in biomass under ambient (as was expected) and under the two elevated CO2 regimes. Biomass loss was greater at elevated CO2 than under ambient [CO2]. The infested nonresistant PUMA plants showed a more significant biomass loss than did the resistant cultivars. Clearly, the benefits derived from elevated CO2 enrichment was thus redirected to the now-advantaged aphids. Uninfested vii plants showed an increase in leaf nitrogen under the experimental conditions. However, feeding aphids depleted leaf nitrogen content and this was more apparent on plants exposed to RWASA2 than was the case with RWASA1. The end result of this was that C:N ratio of infested plants were higher than uninfested plants. Clearly, the faster breeding rates of the aphids at elevated CO2 caused depletion of N and a resultant deficiency exacerbated chlorosis as well as leaf rolling due to the higher aphid population density under elevated CO2 than at ambient. By 28 days after infestation (DAI), majority of the plants exposed to enriched CO2 treatments had died. A major finding here was thus that although this study demonstrated that elevated CO2 resulted in an increase in biomass, this was detrimentally offset in plants infested by the aphids, with a decline in biomass and loss of functionality leading to plant death at 28DAI. The overriding conclusion from this study is a clear signal that the twin effects of CO2 enrichment (a feature of current climate change) and aphid infestations may precipitate potential grain shortages. A disastrous food security threat looms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Legionella risk management in business firms within the East London and border areas of the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mahwehwe, Christopher
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Employee health promotion -- South Africa -- East London , Legionella -- South Africa -- East London , Communicable diseases -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8765 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011817 , Employee health promotion -- South Africa -- East London , Legionella -- South Africa -- East London , Communicable diseases -- South Africa -- East London
- Description: The pace at which change is occurring in the life of human beings, due to technological advancement, could be described as logarithmic. This fast-paced change is not just of consequence to the individual, but to countries, governments, companies, big and small systems like villages and sports clubs and the like, as well. This study case was inspired by the fact that what was a little-known threat yesterday, could suddenly become a crippling matter. It is, therefore, critical for individuals and businesses to consider risk not just in the usual context but with an open mind. This is especially true for systems in the Third World or developing nations where evolutionary stages of advancement and development are known to have been skipped due to forced or influenced adoption by the advanced or First World dictates. An example is the adoption of Carbon Emission Minimisa tion Pacts that have also been mooted for developing nations, even though their participation in causing the past Industrial Revolution pollution was minimal. A small operation in the Eastern Cape may, today, see no need to attract an overseas customer, not realising that the local customer may enter a merger or be bought out by an international organisation which would demand international protocols on the local supplier. Such is the risk with Globalisation. Local businesses should embrace global competitive practices for sustainability in the global business arena that is surely upon the business place today and the short term. South African businesses are no longer protected by the country borders, or the government and political systems such as the apartheid-born sanctions and tariff regimes. The objective of this study of Legionella bacteria risk management by business firms in the Eastern Cape (East London and Border Areas) is to obtain an insight into how they fare on one of the risks that, in Europe, is legislated and, in many parts of the First World, is regarded as fundamental. Beside the globalisation issues mentioned above, the South African workforce has been noted as highly affected by HIV and TB, which are symptomatic of people susceptible to Legionnaire‟s Disease. The high cost and skills shortage in the South African industry demand great care in order to prevent further loss, due to sick absenteeism or the death of workers. The study included a comprehensive literature review of issues around Legionella bacteria in industrial operations and how ill effects could be prevented and managed. A questionnaire was then drawn up and used to check for awareness, capability and ascertain what motivational factors could influence Legionella risk management by businesses in the geographical study area. All businesses with facilities utilising water cooling towers, safety showers, waste water treatment plants, humidifier air conditioning and water fountains, were presented with the questionnaire. A 56 percent return was achieved and responses were processed and analysed using Microsoft Excel on a Windows XP computer package. The findings showed that there was a poor awareness of Legionella bacteria and the risk they posed, a factor that may be used to explain the poor questionnaire returns. The capability assessment also showed a weak status. Legislation, proof of outbreak and fines were determined as effective would-be motivators for full Legionella risk management. The study concluded with recommendations for awareness programmes by interested bodies like the Legionella Action Group, Department of Labour and companies providing Legionella consulting services. While legislation and, therefore, fines, were not yet applied in South Africa, the drive for employee and community welfare should be adequate motivating factors for businesses to manage Legionella risk. Foreign capital inflow into the South African economy was also a factor that should be considered by businesses that looked to expand and need to access these funds through mergers or acquisitions. These funds would require financial as well as technical audits that show adequate risk protection.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Mahwehwe, Christopher
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Employee health promotion -- South Africa -- East London , Legionella -- South Africa -- East London , Communicable diseases -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8765 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011817 , Employee health promotion -- South Africa -- East London , Legionella -- South Africa -- East London , Communicable diseases -- South Africa -- East London
- Description: The pace at which change is occurring in the life of human beings, due to technological advancement, could be described as logarithmic. This fast-paced change is not just of consequence to the individual, but to countries, governments, companies, big and small systems like villages and sports clubs and the like, as well. This study case was inspired by the fact that what was a little-known threat yesterday, could suddenly become a crippling matter. It is, therefore, critical for individuals and businesses to consider risk not just in the usual context but with an open mind. This is especially true for systems in the Third World or developing nations where evolutionary stages of advancement and development are known to have been skipped due to forced or influenced adoption by the advanced or First World dictates. An example is the adoption of Carbon Emission Minimisa tion Pacts that have also been mooted for developing nations, even though their participation in causing the past Industrial Revolution pollution was minimal. A small operation in the Eastern Cape may, today, see no need to attract an overseas customer, not realising that the local customer may enter a merger or be bought out by an international organisation which would demand international protocols on the local supplier. Such is the risk with Globalisation. Local businesses should embrace global competitive practices for sustainability in the global business arena that is surely upon the business place today and the short term. South African businesses are no longer protected by the country borders, or the government and political systems such as the apartheid-born sanctions and tariff regimes. The objective of this study of Legionella bacteria risk management by business firms in the Eastern Cape (East London and Border Areas) is to obtain an insight into how they fare on one of the risks that, in Europe, is legislated and, in many parts of the First World, is regarded as fundamental. Beside the globalisation issues mentioned above, the South African workforce has been noted as highly affected by HIV and TB, which are symptomatic of people susceptible to Legionnaire‟s Disease. The high cost and skills shortage in the South African industry demand great care in order to prevent further loss, due to sick absenteeism or the death of workers. The study included a comprehensive literature review of issues around Legionella bacteria in industrial operations and how ill effects could be prevented and managed. A questionnaire was then drawn up and used to check for awareness, capability and ascertain what motivational factors could influence Legionella risk management by businesses in the geographical study area. All businesses with facilities utilising water cooling towers, safety showers, waste water treatment plants, humidifier air conditioning and water fountains, were presented with the questionnaire. A 56 percent return was achieved and responses were processed and analysed using Microsoft Excel on a Windows XP computer package. The findings showed that there was a poor awareness of Legionella bacteria and the risk they posed, a factor that may be used to explain the poor questionnaire returns. The capability assessment also showed a weak status. Legislation, proof of outbreak and fines were determined as effective would-be motivators for full Legionella risk management. The study concluded with recommendations for awareness programmes by interested bodies like the Legionella Action Group, Department of Labour and companies providing Legionella consulting services. While legislation and, therefore, fines, were not yet applied in South Africa, the drive for employee and community welfare should be adequate motivating factors for businesses to manage Legionella risk. Foreign capital inflow into the South African economy was also a factor that should be considered by businesses that looked to expand and need to access these funds through mergers or acquisitions. These funds would require financial as well as technical audits that show adequate risk protection.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
An investigation into the effect of carbon type addictives on the negative electrode during the partial state of charge capacity cycling of lead acid batteries
- Authors: Snyders, Charmelle
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Lead-acid batteries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10379 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1494 , Lead-acid batteries
- Description: It is well known that a conventional lead acid cell that is exposed to a partial state of charge capacity cycling (PSoCCC) would experience a build-up of irreversible PbSO4 on the negative electrode. This results into a damaged negative electrode due to excessive PbSO4 formation by the typical visual “Venetian Blinds” effect of the active material. This displays the loss of adhesion of the active material with the electrode’s grids thereby making large sections of the material ineffective and reducing the cells useful capacity during high current applications. The addition of certain graphites to the negative paste mix had proven to be successful to reduce this effect. In the first part of the study, the physical and chemical properties of the various additives that are added to the negative electrode paste mix were comparatively studied. This was done to investigate any significant differences between various suppliers that could possibly influence the electrochemical characteristics of the Pb-acid battery performance. This comparative study was done by using the following analytical techniques; BET surface area, laser diffraction particle size, PXRD, TGA-MS and SEM. The study showed that there were no significant differences between the additives supplied from different suppliers except for some anomalies in the usefulness of techniques such as N2 adsorption to study the BET surface area of BaSO4. In order to reduce the sulphation effect from occurring within the Pb-acid battery a number of adjustments are made to the electrode active material. For example, Pb-acid battery manufacturers make use of an inert polymer based material, known as Polymat, to cover the electrode surfaces as part of their continuous electrode pasting process. It is made from a non woven polyester fiber that is applied to the pasted electrodes during the continuous pasting process. In this study the Polymat pasted electrodes has demonstrated a better physical adhesion of the active material to the grid support thereby maintaining the active material’s physical integrity. This however did not reduce the sulphation effect due to the high rate partial state of capacity cycling (HRPSoCCC) test but reduced the physical damage due to the irreversible active material blistering effect. The study investigated what effect the Polymat on the electrodes has on the III battery’s Cold Cranking Ability (CCA) at -18 degree C, the HRPSoCCC cycling and its active material utilization. The study showed that there was little or no differences in the CCA and HRPSoCCC capabilities of cells made with the Polymat when compared to cells without the Polymat, with significant improvement in active material’s adhesion and integrity to the grid wire. This was confirmed by PXRD and SEM analysis. Negative electrodes were made with four types of graphites (natural, flake, expanded and nano fibre) added to the negative paste mixture in order to reduce the effect of sulphation. The study looked at using statistical design of experiment (DoE) principles to investigate the variables (additives) such as different graphites, BaSO4 and Vanisperse to the negative electrode paste mixture where upon measuring the responses (electrochemical tests) a set of controlled experiments were done to study the extent of the variables interaction, dependency and independency on the cells electrochemical properties. This was especially in relation to the improvement of the battery’s ability to work under HRPSoCCC. The statistical analysis showed that there was a notable significant influence of the amounts of vanisperse, BaSO4 and their respective interactions on a number of electrochemical responses, such as the Peukert constant (n), CCA discharge time, material utilization at different discharge rates and the ability to capacity cycle under the simulated HRPSoCCC testing. The study did not suggest an optimized concentration of the additives, but did give an indication that there was a statistical significant trend in certain electrochemical responses with an interaction between the amounts of the additives BaSO4 and Vanisperse. The study also showed that the addition of a small amount of Nano carbon can significantly change the observed crystal morphology of the negative active material and that an improvement in the number of capacity cycles can be achieved during the HRPSoCCC test when compared to the other types of graphite additives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Snyders, Charmelle
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Lead-acid batteries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10379 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1494 , Lead-acid batteries
- Description: It is well known that a conventional lead acid cell that is exposed to a partial state of charge capacity cycling (PSoCCC) would experience a build-up of irreversible PbSO4 on the negative electrode. This results into a damaged negative electrode due to excessive PbSO4 formation by the typical visual “Venetian Blinds” effect of the active material. This displays the loss of adhesion of the active material with the electrode’s grids thereby making large sections of the material ineffective and reducing the cells useful capacity during high current applications. The addition of certain graphites to the negative paste mix had proven to be successful to reduce this effect. In the first part of the study, the physical and chemical properties of the various additives that are added to the negative electrode paste mix were comparatively studied. This was done to investigate any significant differences between various suppliers that could possibly influence the electrochemical characteristics of the Pb-acid battery performance. This comparative study was done by using the following analytical techniques; BET surface area, laser diffraction particle size, PXRD, TGA-MS and SEM. The study showed that there were no significant differences between the additives supplied from different suppliers except for some anomalies in the usefulness of techniques such as N2 adsorption to study the BET surface area of BaSO4. In order to reduce the sulphation effect from occurring within the Pb-acid battery a number of adjustments are made to the electrode active material. For example, Pb-acid battery manufacturers make use of an inert polymer based material, known as Polymat, to cover the electrode surfaces as part of their continuous electrode pasting process. It is made from a non woven polyester fiber that is applied to the pasted electrodes during the continuous pasting process. In this study the Polymat pasted electrodes has demonstrated a better physical adhesion of the active material to the grid support thereby maintaining the active material’s physical integrity. This however did not reduce the sulphation effect due to the high rate partial state of capacity cycling (HRPSoCCC) test but reduced the physical damage due to the irreversible active material blistering effect. The study investigated what effect the Polymat on the electrodes has on the III battery’s Cold Cranking Ability (CCA) at -18 degree C, the HRPSoCCC cycling and its active material utilization. The study showed that there was little or no differences in the CCA and HRPSoCCC capabilities of cells made with the Polymat when compared to cells without the Polymat, with significant improvement in active material’s adhesion and integrity to the grid wire. This was confirmed by PXRD and SEM analysis. Negative electrodes were made with four types of graphites (natural, flake, expanded and nano fibre) added to the negative paste mixture in order to reduce the effect of sulphation. The study looked at using statistical design of experiment (DoE) principles to investigate the variables (additives) such as different graphites, BaSO4 and Vanisperse to the negative electrode paste mixture where upon measuring the responses (electrochemical tests) a set of controlled experiments were done to study the extent of the variables interaction, dependency and independency on the cells electrochemical properties. This was especially in relation to the improvement of the battery’s ability to work under HRPSoCCC. The statistical analysis showed that there was a notable significant influence of the amounts of vanisperse, BaSO4 and their respective interactions on a number of electrochemical responses, such as the Peukert constant (n), CCA discharge time, material utilization at different discharge rates and the ability to capacity cycle under the simulated HRPSoCCC testing. The study did not suggest an optimized concentration of the additives, but did give an indication that there was a statistical significant trend in certain electrochemical responses with an interaction between the amounts of the additives BaSO4 and Vanisperse. The study also showed that the addition of a small amount of Nano carbon can significantly change the observed crystal morphology of the negative active material and that an improvement in the number of capacity cycles can be achieved during the HRPSoCCC test when compared to the other types of graphite additives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
A formative evaluation of the implementation process of the supply chain management policy framework in Eastern Cape Provincial Administration
- Authors: Sandler, Jeanette Louise
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Business logistics -- Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Materials management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Industrial procurement -- Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Administrative law -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:746 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003867
- Description: The Eastern Cape Provincial Administration has, since the promulgation of the Supply Chain Management Policy Framework in 2003, been challenged with the implementation of the said Policy.Some departments have progressed better than others, but all of the provincial departments have been challenged in one way or another.It was therefore, necessary to research the reasons for the erratic implementation process by the different departments. An analysis, based on answers provided by senior officials of the Eastern Cape Provincial Administration in an interviewing process, was needed to get an understanding of the challenges the departments are faced within the implementation process. In order to provide quality goods and services, this dissertation aims to evaluate the implementation process, provide insight to the challenges that the departments are faced with and offer recommendations on how to remedy these challenges. The lessons learned from this research study will assist the provincial departments to re-engineer their implementation processes and move forward to greater success and embracement of the Supply Chain Management policy Framework.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Sandler, Jeanette Louise
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Business logistics -- Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Materials management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Industrial procurement -- Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Administrative law -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:746 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003867
- Description: The Eastern Cape Provincial Administration has, since the promulgation of the Supply Chain Management Policy Framework in 2003, been challenged with the implementation of the said Policy.Some departments have progressed better than others, but all of the provincial departments have been challenged in one way or another.It was therefore, necessary to research the reasons for the erratic implementation process by the different departments. An analysis, based on answers provided by senior officials of the Eastern Cape Provincial Administration in an interviewing process, was needed to get an understanding of the challenges the departments are faced within the implementation process. In order to provide quality goods and services, this dissertation aims to evaluate the implementation process, provide insight to the challenges that the departments are faced with and offer recommendations on how to remedy these challenges. The lessons learned from this research study will assist the provincial departments to re-engineer their implementation processes and move forward to greater success and embracement of the Supply Chain Management policy Framework.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Exchange rate pass-through to domestic prices in Kenya
- Authors: Mnjama, Gladys Susan
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Kenya -- Economic conditions , Kenya -- Economic conditions -- Econometric models , Foreign exchange rates -- Kenya , Stocks -- Prices -- Kenya , Banks and banking -- Kenya , Cointegration , Econometrics , Inflation (Finance) -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:975 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002709 , Kenya -- Economic conditions , Kenya -- Economic conditions -- Econometric models , Foreign exchange rates -- Kenya , Stocks -- Prices -- Kenya , Banks and banking -- Kenya , Cointegration , Econometrics , Inflation (Finance) -- Kenya
- Description: In 1993, Kenya liberalised its trade policy and allowed the Kenyan Shillings to freely float. This openness has left Kenya's domestic prices vulnerable to the effects of exchange rate fluctuations. One of the objectives of the Central Bank of Kenya is to maintain inflation levels at sustainable levels. Thus it has become necessary to determine the influence that exchange rate changes have on domestic prices given that one of the major determinants of inflation is exchange rate movements. For this reason, this thesis examines the magnitude and speed of exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) to domestic prices in Kenya. In addition, it takes into account the direction and size of changes in the exchange rates to determine whether the exchange rate fluctuations are symmetric or asymmetric. The thesis uses quarterly data ranging from 1993:Ql - 2008:Q4 as it takes into account the period when the process of liberalization occurred. The empirical estimation was done in two stages. The first stage was estimated using the Johansen (1991) and (1995) co integration techniques and a vector error correction model (VECM). The second stage entailed estimating the impulse response and variance decomposition functions as well as conducting block exogeneity Wald tests. In determining the asymmetric aspect of the analysis, the study followed Pollard and Coughlin (2004) and Webber (2000) frameworks in analysing asymmetry with respect to appreciation and depreciation and large and small changes in the exchange rate to import prices. The results obtained showed that ERPT to Kenya is incomplete but relatively low at about 36 percent in the long run. In terms of asymmetry, the results showed that ERPT is found to be higher in periods of appreciation than depreciation. This is in support of market share and binding quantity constraints theory. In relation to size changes, the results show that size changes have no significant impact on ERPT in Kenya.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Mnjama, Gladys Susan
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Kenya -- Economic conditions , Kenya -- Economic conditions -- Econometric models , Foreign exchange rates -- Kenya , Stocks -- Prices -- Kenya , Banks and banking -- Kenya , Cointegration , Econometrics , Inflation (Finance) -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:975 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002709 , Kenya -- Economic conditions , Kenya -- Economic conditions -- Econometric models , Foreign exchange rates -- Kenya , Stocks -- Prices -- Kenya , Banks and banking -- Kenya , Cointegration , Econometrics , Inflation (Finance) -- Kenya
- Description: In 1993, Kenya liberalised its trade policy and allowed the Kenyan Shillings to freely float. This openness has left Kenya's domestic prices vulnerable to the effects of exchange rate fluctuations. One of the objectives of the Central Bank of Kenya is to maintain inflation levels at sustainable levels. Thus it has become necessary to determine the influence that exchange rate changes have on domestic prices given that one of the major determinants of inflation is exchange rate movements. For this reason, this thesis examines the magnitude and speed of exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) to domestic prices in Kenya. In addition, it takes into account the direction and size of changes in the exchange rates to determine whether the exchange rate fluctuations are symmetric or asymmetric. The thesis uses quarterly data ranging from 1993:Ql - 2008:Q4 as it takes into account the period when the process of liberalization occurred. The empirical estimation was done in two stages. The first stage was estimated using the Johansen (1991) and (1995) co integration techniques and a vector error correction model (VECM). The second stage entailed estimating the impulse response and variance decomposition functions as well as conducting block exogeneity Wald tests. In determining the asymmetric aspect of the analysis, the study followed Pollard and Coughlin (2004) and Webber (2000) frameworks in analysing asymmetry with respect to appreciation and depreciation and large and small changes in the exchange rate to import prices. The results obtained showed that ERPT to Kenya is incomplete but relatively low at about 36 percent in the long run. In terms of asymmetry, the results showed that ERPT is found to be higher in periods of appreciation than depreciation. This is in support of market share and binding quantity constraints theory. In relation to size changes, the results show that size changes have no significant impact on ERPT in Kenya.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Photocatalytic transformation of chlorophenols under homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions using palladium octadodecylthio phthalocyanine
- Ogunbayo, Taofeek B, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Ogunbayo, Taofeek B , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/246816 , vital:51516 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2011.09.003"
- Description: Homogeneous and heterogeneous photosensitized transformations of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) using palladium octadodecylthiophthalocyanine (PdODPc) were investigated. Under heterogeneous conditions, the photosensitizer was supported on functionalized single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Homogeneous photosensitization proved to be more effective than the heterogeneous reaction in terms of percentage of transformation achieved. The kinetics of heterogeneous catalysis proved that ads-PdODPc–SWCNT–COOH (where SWCNT has been functionalized with COOH groups) was reusable for 4-CP while its activity degenerated when reused for PCP. Singlet oxygen was confirmed as playing an active role in the reactions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Ogunbayo, Taofeek B , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/246816 , vital:51516 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2011.09.003"
- Description: Homogeneous and heterogeneous photosensitized transformations of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) using palladium octadodecylthiophthalocyanine (PdODPc) were investigated. Under heterogeneous conditions, the photosensitizer was supported on functionalized single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Homogeneous photosensitization proved to be more effective than the heterogeneous reaction in terms of percentage of transformation achieved. The kinetics of heterogeneous catalysis proved that ads-PdODPc–SWCNT–COOH (where SWCNT has been functionalized with COOH groups) was reusable for 4-CP while its activity degenerated when reused for PCP. Singlet oxygen was confirmed as playing an active role in the reactions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
'I want to tell the story again': re-telling in selected novels by Jeanette Winterson and Alan Warner
- Authors: Collett, Jenna Lara
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Warner, Alan Criticism and interpretation Winterson, Jeanette, 1959- -- Criticism and interpretation English fiction -- 20th century -- History and criticism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2248 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002291
- Description: This thesis investigates acts of ‘re-telling’ in four selected novels by Jeanette Winterson and Alan Warner.Re-telling, as I have defined it, refers to the re-imagining and re-writing of existing narratives from mythology, fairy tale, and folktale, as well as the re-visioning of scientific discourses and historiography. I argue that this re-telling is representative of a contemporary cultural phenomenon, and is evidence of a postmodern genre that some literary theorists have termed re-visionary fiction. Despite the prevalent re-telling of canonical stories throughout literary history, there is much evidence for the emergence of a specifically contemporary trend of re-visionary literature. Part One of this thesis comprises two chapters which deal with Winterson’s Sexing the Cherry (1989) and Weight (2005) respectively. In these chapters, I argue that, although the feminist and historiographic elements of her work are significant, there exist further motivations for Winterson’s acts of re-telling in both Sexing the Cherry and Weight. In Chapter One, I analyse Winterson’s subversion and re-imagining of historiography, as well as her re-telling of fairy tale, in Sexing the Cherry. Chapter Two provides a discussion of Winterson’s re-telling of the myth of Atlas from Greek mythology, in which she draws on the discourses of science, technology, and autobiography, in Weight. Part Two focuses on Warner’s first two novels, Morvern Callar (1995) and These Demented Lands (1997). In both novels, Warner re-imagines aspects of Christian, Celtic and pagan mythology in order to debunk the validity of biblical archetypes and narratives in a contemporary working-class setting, as well as to endow his protagonist with goddess-like or mythical sensibilities. Chapter Three deals predominantly with Warner’s use of language, which I argue is central to his blending of mythological and contemporary content, while Chapter Four analyses his use of myth in these two novels. This thesis argues that while both Winterson and Warner share many of the aims associated with contemporary re-visionary fiction, their novels also exceed the boundaries of the genre in various ways. Winterson and Warner may, therefore, represent a new class of re-visionary writers, whose aim is not solely to subvert the pre-text but to draw on its generic discourses and thematic conventions in order to demonstrate the generic and discursive possibilities inherent in the act of re-telling.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Collett, Jenna Lara
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Warner, Alan Criticism and interpretation Winterson, Jeanette, 1959- -- Criticism and interpretation English fiction -- 20th century -- History and criticism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2248 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002291
- Description: This thesis investigates acts of ‘re-telling’ in four selected novels by Jeanette Winterson and Alan Warner.Re-telling, as I have defined it, refers to the re-imagining and re-writing of existing narratives from mythology, fairy tale, and folktale, as well as the re-visioning of scientific discourses and historiography. I argue that this re-telling is representative of a contemporary cultural phenomenon, and is evidence of a postmodern genre that some literary theorists have termed re-visionary fiction. Despite the prevalent re-telling of canonical stories throughout literary history, there is much evidence for the emergence of a specifically contemporary trend of re-visionary literature. Part One of this thesis comprises two chapters which deal with Winterson’s Sexing the Cherry (1989) and Weight (2005) respectively. In these chapters, I argue that, although the feminist and historiographic elements of her work are significant, there exist further motivations for Winterson’s acts of re-telling in both Sexing the Cherry and Weight. In Chapter One, I analyse Winterson’s subversion and re-imagining of historiography, as well as her re-telling of fairy tale, in Sexing the Cherry. Chapter Two provides a discussion of Winterson’s re-telling of the myth of Atlas from Greek mythology, in which she draws on the discourses of science, technology, and autobiography, in Weight. Part Two focuses on Warner’s first two novels, Morvern Callar (1995) and These Demented Lands (1997). In both novels, Warner re-imagines aspects of Christian, Celtic and pagan mythology in order to debunk the validity of biblical archetypes and narratives in a contemporary working-class setting, as well as to endow his protagonist with goddess-like or mythical sensibilities. Chapter Three deals predominantly with Warner’s use of language, which I argue is central to his blending of mythological and contemporary content, while Chapter Four analyses his use of myth in these two novels. This thesis argues that while both Winterson and Warner share many of the aims associated with contemporary re-visionary fiction, their novels also exceed the boundaries of the genre in various ways. Winterson and Warner may, therefore, represent a new class of re-visionary writers, whose aim is not solely to subvert the pre-text but to draw on its generic discourses and thematic conventions in order to demonstrate the generic and discursive possibilities inherent in the act of re-telling.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Relations of family and school attachment to forms of learner violence in secondary school communities in Amathole education district, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ncube, Thembinkosi
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: School violence -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School discipline -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: vital:16166 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/504 , School violence -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School discipline -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Adolescents in the schools in South Africa have been victims of many social problems such as violence and crime as a result of background influence. They have been both victims and perpetrators of this violence. Problems of attachment to both school and home have always been blamed for the adolescents’ deviance. South African schools are affected by this verbal and physical violence which presumably emanates from learners poor connections with school and home. The background of societies such as economic deprivation has also been presumed to have an impact on the way adolescents conduct themselves in schools. There is no research that has verified the correlation between violence and attachment to bases of attachment - home and school in South Africa, especially in the Eastern Cape Province. A survey was conducted in more than ten schools in the Amathole District where 317 learners’ opinions on their observation of cases of verbal and physical violence in their schools, and on their attachment to both home and school were collected through a 40 item questionnaire. The questionnaire had five sections (a) to (e). The first section (a) required learners to enter their biographical information; gender, age, grade, and quintile classification. The second section (b) required learners to rate their attachment to their homes and to their care givers. The third section (c) required learners to rate their connectedness to their schools. The fourth section (d) required learners to supply information on their observation and involvement in verbal violence. The final section (e) with items adopted from section (d) and customised required learners to rate their observation and involvement in physical violence. Descriptive statistics were used to glean frequencies and the overall levels of attachment and violence amongst learners. The study also looked at significant differences in attachment (both family and school) and violence (both verbal and physical) using gender and socio-economic profiles of the learners and schools (quintile system) as sorting or categorising variables. One major finding which is contrary to most theory and may be as a result of social dynamics is that statistics suggested that gender and socio-economic variables had little bearing on violence and attachment. Through the use of SPSS, the Spearman’s rho correlation coefficients were calculated to answer the sub-questions on the relationship between family and school attachment, and school violence (both verbal and physical). There were notable negative and positive correlations between school attachment and verbal violence; for example there was a positive correlation between teachers making learners hate school and learner-involvement in swearing. There was also a negative correlation between school buildings making learners proud and schools and homes being to blame for the frequency of verbal violence in the schools. There were also notable correlations between attachment to family and verbal violence such as the correlation between the frustration by parents’ lack of concern and learners’ involvement in verbal violence without any clear reason. With regard to physical violence there was a negative correlation between parents having time to discuss life with their children and the frequency of physical violence in the schools. There was however a negative correlation between one’s pride in one’s school and the blame on schools for instigating school violence. From these correlations implications for school violence prevention could be drawn. The study reveals that a lot needs to be done by the schools, parents, the government, and the community to enhance learner attachment to both school and home. However, for all the stake holders to succeed government must take the leading role in speeding up the process of reducing poverty in the communities. This is premised on the fact that some findings reveal that frequency of violence increases in an environment of frustration and anger. Schools as care-givers can also introduce many interventions such as counselling workshops to equip teachers with professional crisis management. The research may encourage the Department of Education and schools to adopt violence prevention programs implemented in countries (like United States of America’s Olweus bullying and violence prevention program) for use in bringing communities together to work against school violence. These findings might strengthen the South African Department of Education’s Safe Schools Programs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Ncube, Thembinkosi
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: School violence -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School discipline -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: vital:16166 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/504 , School violence -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School discipline -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Adolescents in the schools in South Africa have been victims of many social problems such as violence and crime as a result of background influence. They have been both victims and perpetrators of this violence. Problems of attachment to both school and home have always been blamed for the adolescents’ deviance. South African schools are affected by this verbal and physical violence which presumably emanates from learners poor connections with school and home. The background of societies such as economic deprivation has also been presumed to have an impact on the way adolescents conduct themselves in schools. There is no research that has verified the correlation between violence and attachment to bases of attachment - home and school in South Africa, especially in the Eastern Cape Province. A survey was conducted in more than ten schools in the Amathole District where 317 learners’ opinions on their observation of cases of verbal and physical violence in their schools, and on their attachment to both home and school were collected through a 40 item questionnaire. The questionnaire had five sections (a) to (e). The first section (a) required learners to enter their biographical information; gender, age, grade, and quintile classification. The second section (b) required learners to rate their attachment to their homes and to their care givers. The third section (c) required learners to rate their connectedness to their schools. The fourth section (d) required learners to supply information on their observation and involvement in verbal violence. The final section (e) with items adopted from section (d) and customised required learners to rate their observation and involvement in physical violence. Descriptive statistics were used to glean frequencies and the overall levels of attachment and violence amongst learners. The study also looked at significant differences in attachment (both family and school) and violence (both verbal and physical) using gender and socio-economic profiles of the learners and schools (quintile system) as sorting or categorising variables. One major finding which is contrary to most theory and may be as a result of social dynamics is that statistics suggested that gender and socio-economic variables had little bearing on violence and attachment. Through the use of SPSS, the Spearman’s rho correlation coefficients were calculated to answer the sub-questions on the relationship between family and school attachment, and school violence (both verbal and physical). There were notable negative and positive correlations between school attachment and verbal violence; for example there was a positive correlation between teachers making learners hate school and learner-involvement in swearing. There was also a negative correlation between school buildings making learners proud and schools and homes being to blame for the frequency of verbal violence in the schools. There were also notable correlations between attachment to family and verbal violence such as the correlation between the frustration by parents’ lack of concern and learners’ involvement in verbal violence without any clear reason. With regard to physical violence there was a negative correlation between parents having time to discuss life with their children and the frequency of physical violence in the schools. There was however a negative correlation between one’s pride in one’s school and the blame on schools for instigating school violence. From these correlations implications for school violence prevention could be drawn. The study reveals that a lot needs to be done by the schools, parents, the government, and the community to enhance learner attachment to both school and home. However, for all the stake holders to succeed government must take the leading role in speeding up the process of reducing poverty in the communities. This is premised on the fact that some findings reveal that frequency of violence increases in an environment of frustration and anger. Schools as care-givers can also introduce many interventions such as counselling workshops to equip teachers with professional crisis management. The research may encourage the Department of Education and schools to adopt violence prevention programs implemented in countries (like United States of America’s Olweus bullying and violence prevention program) for use in bringing communities together to work against school violence. These findings might strengthen the South African Department of Education’s Safe Schools Programs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Trust building strategies to enhance collective bargaining processes in organisations
- Authors: Ngalo, Osmond Tolo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Trust , Collective bargaining
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DTech
- Identifier: vital:9398 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1312 , Trust , Collective bargaining
- Description: The main research problem in this study was to identify what trust-building strategies can be utilised by organisations to enhance collective bargaining processes. To achieve this objective a theoretical Institutional Arrangements-Based Model of trust-building was conceptualised, developed and presented in Chapter 5. The presentation of this model was the culmination of the research design phases outlined below: -The first phase consisted of a literature survey undertaken to discover the nature and dynamics of the concept "trust". -The second phase consisted of surveying the literature attempting to understand the nature of the collective bargaining process, its elements and types and the environmental factors that tend to impinge on it. -The final phase of the literature survey focused on various trust-building strategies, theories and models that can be utilised by organisations to ii enhance collective bargaining processes. Trust is generally acknowledged as a necessary requirement for effective and successful workplace relationships. Because of this factor it is crucial that South African employer-employee relationships are improved in a conscious and sustainable way in order for our businesses to remain competitive in the face of global competition. With this reality in mind there is still much in the South African labour relations environment that fosters conflict. One of the primary factors that impinge on trust in employer-employee relations in South Africa is the previous government‘s divisive and racist apartheid policies. These policies have resulted in serious structural imbalances in the economy, the skewed distribution of wealth and the general scarcity of resources to address these attendant challenges. Finnemore and van Rensburg (2002, p. 36) surveys the current labour relations scenario and comments about the extent to which it has been severely affected by apartheid. Some of its appalling outcomes are: racial divisions between skilled and unskilled workers, apartheid wage gaps, poorly educated workers, dictatorial management styles and a lack of protection for the most vulnerable workers. As revealed in this research study there are still widely divergent views at the workplace regarding the nature and levels of trust that are prevalent. The overwhelming view, however, is that there is, generally, a lack of trust between managerial and employee collective bargaining teams. This lack of trust which is evident between employer and employee parties will tend to result in collective bargaining processes being embarked upon in a climate imbued with the negative spirit of distrust. The recommended Institutional Arrangements-Based Model of trust-building advocates for a process of trust-building prior to any collective bargaining initiatives. This process, as depicted in the elements of the recommended model, needs to begin with phases which will focus on frame-alignment and the identification of all sources of distrust between the parties. These prescribed sessions seek to culminate in a common understanding, between the contesting parties, of their real divergent issues and concerns as well as their existing commonalities. The next phases of the recommended model entail the parties, jointly, developing proposals and policies that in the short and long term will aim at the resolution of the identified sources of distrust and thereby reduce the psychological distance between them. The final phase of the model entails the implementation of joint problem–solving resolutions and the development of appropriate policies i.e. institutional arrangements, to deal with all conflict-prone areas of the business operations. Simultaneously, there needs to be continuous evaluation and monitoring of organisational trust and the "agreed to" trust-building strategies to ensure that distrust is reduced or eliminated in the long term, allowing the organisation and the individual employees to perform at their optimum in order to achieve their common goals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Ngalo, Osmond Tolo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Trust , Collective bargaining
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DTech
- Identifier: vital:9398 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1312 , Trust , Collective bargaining
- Description: The main research problem in this study was to identify what trust-building strategies can be utilised by organisations to enhance collective bargaining processes. To achieve this objective a theoretical Institutional Arrangements-Based Model of trust-building was conceptualised, developed and presented in Chapter 5. The presentation of this model was the culmination of the research design phases outlined below: -The first phase consisted of a literature survey undertaken to discover the nature and dynamics of the concept "trust". -The second phase consisted of surveying the literature attempting to understand the nature of the collective bargaining process, its elements and types and the environmental factors that tend to impinge on it. -The final phase of the literature survey focused on various trust-building strategies, theories and models that can be utilised by organisations to ii enhance collective bargaining processes. Trust is generally acknowledged as a necessary requirement for effective and successful workplace relationships. Because of this factor it is crucial that South African employer-employee relationships are improved in a conscious and sustainable way in order for our businesses to remain competitive in the face of global competition. With this reality in mind there is still much in the South African labour relations environment that fosters conflict. One of the primary factors that impinge on trust in employer-employee relations in South Africa is the previous government‘s divisive and racist apartheid policies. These policies have resulted in serious structural imbalances in the economy, the skewed distribution of wealth and the general scarcity of resources to address these attendant challenges. Finnemore and van Rensburg (2002, p. 36) surveys the current labour relations scenario and comments about the extent to which it has been severely affected by apartheid. Some of its appalling outcomes are: racial divisions between skilled and unskilled workers, apartheid wage gaps, poorly educated workers, dictatorial management styles and a lack of protection for the most vulnerable workers. As revealed in this research study there are still widely divergent views at the workplace regarding the nature and levels of trust that are prevalent. The overwhelming view, however, is that there is, generally, a lack of trust between managerial and employee collective bargaining teams. This lack of trust which is evident between employer and employee parties will tend to result in collective bargaining processes being embarked upon in a climate imbued with the negative spirit of distrust. The recommended Institutional Arrangements-Based Model of trust-building advocates for a process of trust-building prior to any collective bargaining initiatives. This process, as depicted in the elements of the recommended model, needs to begin with phases which will focus on frame-alignment and the identification of all sources of distrust between the parties. These prescribed sessions seek to culminate in a common understanding, between the contesting parties, of their real divergent issues and concerns as well as their existing commonalities. The next phases of the recommended model entail the parties, jointly, developing proposals and policies that in the short and long term will aim at the resolution of the identified sources of distrust and thereby reduce the psychological distance between them. The final phase of the model entails the implementation of joint problem–solving resolutions and the development of appropriate policies i.e. institutional arrangements, to deal with all conflict-prone areas of the business operations. Simultaneously, there needs to be continuous evaluation and monitoring of organisational trust and the "agreed to" trust-building strategies to ensure that distrust is reduced or eliminated in the long term, allowing the organisation and the individual employees to perform at their optimum in order to achieve their common goals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011