A causal analysis to investigate low production efficiency in the tyre manufacturing industry in South Africa
- Authors: Bruinders, Bramwill Bertram
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Industrial efficiency , Production management , Lean manufacturing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50977 , vital:43177
- Description: The evolution of tyre manufacturing in South Africa went back to the early 1930s and matured technologically, becoming automated in the 1960s. The tyre industry in South Africa is worth approximately R30bn per annum and is one of the major supporting industries for domestic vehicle manufacturers. The local industry manufactures only 11 million tyres but can manufacture 18 million tyres per annum. The tyre industry thus plays a crucial role in South Africa’s economic development. Consumers are opting to buy cheaper imported tyres even though tyres are essential purchases. Therefore, the major tyre manufacturers must compete against an estimated 200 importers of various brands, most from China and Japan. The excess local capacity and increasing volume of imports put the local tyre manufacturers under severe pressure to grow their market share, reduce operational cost and achieve economies of scale. The study’s general objective was to conduct a root cause analysis of South African tyre manufacturers’ underlying issues resulting in low production efficiencies. This study used critical manufacturing principles such as traceability, knowledge of lean principles, lean implementation challenges, Total Quality Management, organisational buy-in, waste and rework and maintenance planning that constitute tools of lean practices. These principles provided an opportunity to adopt efficient manufacturing practices in tyre manufacturing companies and help organisations identify improvement areas. A questionnaire was developed and distributed electronically to 93 respondents employed in the tyre manufacturing industry in South Africa. The study addressed product traceability, investigated the quality measures in place, and examined the influence of the workforce’s attitude and morale on productivity, and determined management’s influence on decision-making. The key findings indicated that traceability, lean implementation challenges and organisational buy-in played a significant role in improving production efficiency. Recommendations were made to management to ensure that they lead by example and enhance these key constructs to foster their growth. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration , 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Bruinders, Bramwill Bertram
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Industrial efficiency , Production management , Lean manufacturing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50977 , vital:43177
- Description: The evolution of tyre manufacturing in South Africa went back to the early 1930s and matured technologically, becoming automated in the 1960s. The tyre industry in South Africa is worth approximately R30bn per annum and is one of the major supporting industries for domestic vehicle manufacturers. The local industry manufactures only 11 million tyres but can manufacture 18 million tyres per annum. The tyre industry thus plays a crucial role in South Africa’s economic development. Consumers are opting to buy cheaper imported tyres even though tyres are essential purchases. Therefore, the major tyre manufacturers must compete against an estimated 200 importers of various brands, most from China and Japan. The excess local capacity and increasing volume of imports put the local tyre manufacturers under severe pressure to grow their market share, reduce operational cost and achieve economies of scale. The study’s general objective was to conduct a root cause analysis of South African tyre manufacturers’ underlying issues resulting in low production efficiencies. This study used critical manufacturing principles such as traceability, knowledge of lean principles, lean implementation challenges, Total Quality Management, organisational buy-in, waste and rework and maintenance planning that constitute tools of lean practices. These principles provided an opportunity to adopt efficient manufacturing practices in tyre manufacturing companies and help organisations identify improvement areas. A questionnaire was developed and distributed electronically to 93 respondents employed in the tyre manufacturing industry in South Africa. The study addressed product traceability, investigated the quality measures in place, and examined the influence of the workforce’s attitude and morale on productivity, and determined management’s influence on decision-making. The key findings indicated that traceability, lean implementation challenges and organisational buy-in played a significant role in improving production efficiency. Recommendations were made to management to ensure that they lead by example and enhance these key constructs to foster their growth. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration , 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
An exploration of burnout among health Professions academics employed in Health sciences faculties at a south African university
- Authors: Burger, Jeanine
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Health care personnel -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58665 , vital:59979
- Description: The label of ‘stress factories’ is becoming a way to collectively refer to higher education institutions due to the changing academic landscape. Academics within health professions face key stressors related to excessive workloads, and insufficient resources resulting in burnout. Some of the most pertinent consequences of burnout include deterioration in physical and mental health, incline in absenteeism and a negative impact on the well-being and performance of students, patients, and organisations. There is a lack of research conducted on health professions academics in South Africa. The overall aim of this study was, therefore, to explore burnout among health professions academic staff who worked within the Community and Health Sciences (CHS) and Dentistry faculties (collectively referred to as Health sciences faculties) at a historically disadvantaged university. The study adopted an online survey design. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Frequency tables were used to summarise and describe the participants, while correlation analysis was used to test associative relationships. ANOVA was used to test group differences and Scheffé tests were used for posthoc analysis. Ethics clearance was obtained from the Bio-Medical Research Ethics Committee of UWC. Permission to conduct the study was given by the Registrar of UWC. Informed consent was sought from participants for their voluntary participation. Their identities were kept anonymous and responses confidential. Overall findings from the current study indicated that this sample of Health Professional Academics (HPAs) experienced moderate to high levels of burnout, as measured by the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory. No demographic factors were found to correlate with the total score of burnout. Two variables were significantly related to exhaustion, namely the level of qualification and whether participants were studying at the time of completing the survey. Furthermore, nurses and participants currently studying towards a PhD reported significantly higher levels of burnout than the rest of the sample of HPAs. The impact of this study shows HPAs’ experience of moderate to high levels of burnout require interventions to decrease job demands and increase job resources. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Burger, Jeanine
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Health care personnel -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58665 , vital:59979
- Description: The label of ‘stress factories’ is becoming a way to collectively refer to higher education institutions due to the changing academic landscape. Academics within health professions face key stressors related to excessive workloads, and insufficient resources resulting in burnout. Some of the most pertinent consequences of burnout include deterioration in physical and mental health, incline in absenteeism and a negative impact on the well-being and performance of students, patients, and organisations. There is a lack of research conducted on health professions academics in South Africa. The overall aim of this study was, therefore, to explore burnout among health professions academic staff who worked within the Community and Health Sciences (CHS) and Dentistry faculties (collectively referred to as Health sciences faculties) at a historically disadvantaged university. The study adopted an online survey design. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Frequency tables were used to summarise and describe the participants, while correlation analysis was used to test associative relationships. ANOVA was used to test group differences and Scheffé tests were used for posthoc analysis. Ethics clearance was obtained from the Bio-Medical Research Ethics Committee of UWC. Permission to conduct the study was given by the Registrar of UWC. Informed consent was sought from participants for their voluntary participation. Their identities were kept anonymous and responses confidential. Overall findings from the current study indicated that this sample of Health Professional Academics (HPAs) experienced moderate to high levels of burnout, as measured by the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory. No demographic factors were found to correlate with the total score of burnout. Two variables were significantly related to exhaustion, namely the level of qualification and whether participants were studying at the time of completing the survey. Furthermore, nurses and participants currently studying towards a PhD reported significantly higher levels of burnout than the rest of the sample of HPAs. The impact of this study shows HPAs’ experience of moderate to high levels of burnout require interventions to decrease job demands and increase job resources. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Towards the provision of relevant, Secondary schools building types through the design of a high schools STEM Centre in Zwide, Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Burger, Sean
- Date: 2020-09
- Subjects: Landscape architecture -- Nelson Mandela Bay
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59194 , vital:60279
- Description: The topic of education in South Africa has always been an area of much debate and contention. The quality of education environments provided in townships in generally always lacking as these facilities are composed of a standardized set of functions. As a result of a budget constraints and poor resources management, most schools lack the required specialised facilities to provide for a full learning experience. With a focus on the development specialised skills in the field of science, mathematics technology and engineering, learners attending these schools are unable to complete with those ore more affluent schools , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2020
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2020-09
- Authors: Burger, Sean
- Date: 2020-09
- Subjects: Landscape architecture -- Nelson Mandela Bay
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59194 , vital:60279
- Description: The topic of education in South Africa has always been an area of much debate and contention. The quality of education environments provided in townships in generally always lacking as these facilities are composed of a standardized set of functions. As a result of a budget constraints and poor resources management, most schools lack the required specialised facilities to provide for a full learning experience. With a focus on the development specialised skills in the field of science, mathematics technology and engineering, learners attending these schools are unable to complete with those ore more affluent schools , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2020
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2020-09
An assessment of different methods for measuring mammal diversity in two Southern African arid ecosystems.
- Authors: Burt, Chloe
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Biodiversity -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52338 , vital:43591
- Description: A current critical environmental problem is the loss of biodiversity. To allow for adaptive management and effective conservation interventions, reliable data needs to be readily available and effectively collected. To gather reliable data, the most appropriate method must be used. The aim of this thesis was to compare the effectiveness and efficiency of different mammal diversity sampling techniques, including discussing specificities and complementarity of each. I also assessed the limitation of methods in terms of the influence of species traits on detectability. I used standard mammal field methods such as block transects, camera traps, track plates, spotlight surveys, mist nets, acoustic surveys, and live traps for a wide range of mammal taxa, and also included the use of local knowledge in the comparison. I assessed the cost-efficiency of each method by determining the cost per species. The efficiency of each method was assessed by observing when the species accumulation curve reached an asymptote. The effectiveness was determined by the species richness and the taxonomic groups the method detected. My results indicated that block transects were the most efficient and effective method to assess species richness. However, a combination of methods allowed for a more comprehensive survey and my results indicate that block transects and live traps were the best combination. It is important to note, not only the effectiveness and efficiency of methods be assessed, but also their limitations. I therefore also assessed the influence of species traits on the detectability of five methods. The species traits that I tested were body size, diet, activity, and if they lived in groups. On both study areas, body size was the main trait that influenced detectability with most field methods. Diet and activity had varying influence on detectability depending on the method. Group living did not significantly influence detectability. Based on my results, I provide guidelines for choosing the most appropriate survey method for targeted studies on mammals in arid ecosystems as well as guidelines for choosing the most appropriate methods for a terrestrial mammal inventory. Survey methods selection and guidelines provided here can allow for effective monitoring and therefore effective and adaptive management and having reliable and repeatable outcomes from surveys. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Burt, Chloe
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Biodiversity -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52338 , vital:43591
- Description: A current critical environmental problem is the loss of biodiversity. To allow for adaptive management and effective conservation interventions, reliable data needs to be readily available and effectively collected. To gather reliable data, the most appropriate method must be used. The aim of this thesis was to compare the effectiveness and efficiency of different mammal diversity sampling techniques, including discussing specificities and complementarity of each. I also assessed the limitation of methods in terms of the influence of species traits on detectability. I used standard mammal field methods such as block transects, camera traps, track plates, spotlight surveys, mist nets, acoustic surveys, and live traps for a wide range of mammal taxa, and also included the use of local knowledge in the comparison. I assessed the cost-efficiency of each method by determining the cost per species. The efficiency of each method was assessed by observing when the species accumulation curve reached an asymptote. The effectiveness was determined by the species richness and the taxonomic groups the method detected. My results indicated that block transects were the most efficient and effective method to assess species richness. However, a combination of methods allowed for a more comprehensive survey and my results indicate that block transects and live traps were the best combination. It is important to note, not only the effectiveness and efficiency of methods be assessed, but also their limitations. I therefore also assessed the influence of species traits on the detectability of five methods. The species traits that I tested were body size, diet, activity, and if they lived in groups. On both study areas, body size was the main trait that influenced detectability with most field methods. Diet and activity had varying influence on detectability depending on the method. Group living did not significantly influence detectability. Based on my results, I provide guidelines for choosing the most appropriate survey method for targeted studies on mammals in arid ecosystems as well as guidelines for choosing the most appropriate methods for a terrestrial mammal inventory. Survey methods selection and guidelines provided here can allow for effective monitoring and therefore effective and adaptive management and having reliable and repeatable outcomes from surveys. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The contribution of urban agriculture to food sovereignty and household food security in Lingelihle
- Authors: Buso, Lelethu
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food sovereignty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Urban agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53834 , vital:46005
- Description: Most urban households in South Africa are food insecure even though poor households spend 60–80% of their income on food. Most of these households are low-income households who depend on social grants and whose main source of food are markets. This research assessed the contribution of urban agriculture to food sovereignty and household food security in Lingelihle Township, Cradock, in the Chris Hani district, South Africa. The research data were collected both from households that practise farming in Lingelihle Township and those that do not. The study used Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods such as observation, transect walks, resource mapping, food consumption diaries, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews to collect data. The research findings revealed that urban agriculture has the potential to contribute to achieving food sovereignty and household food security. The comparison between households that farm and households that do not farm proved that households that farm are more food secure and have more disposable income than households that do not farm. The study offers recommendations on how urban agriculture can be supported to contribute to household food security and food sovereignty. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Buso, Lelethu
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food sovereignty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Urban agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53834 , vital:46005
- Description: Most urban households in South Africa are food insecure even though poor households spend 60–80% of their income on food. Most of these households are low-income households who depend on social grants and whose main source of food are markets. This research assessed the contribution of urban agriculture to food sovereignty and household food security in Lingelihle Township, Cradock, in the Chris Hani district, South Africa. The research data were collected both from households that practise farming in Lingelihle Township and those that do not. The study used Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods such as observation, transect walks, resource mapping, food consumption diaries, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews to collect data. The research findings revealed that urban agriculture has the potential to contribute to achieving food sovereignty and household food security. The comparison between households that farm and households that do not farm proved that households that farm are more food secure and have more disposable income than households that do not farm. The study offers recommendations on how urban agriculture can be supported to contribute to household food security and food sovereignty. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Ranked factors influencing the sustainability and growth of SMMEs in the city of Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Bussy, Matthew
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Small business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51050 , vital:43204
- Description: SMMEs are the backbone of both established and developing economies with their ability to contribute to a country’s GDP, create employment, stimulate innovation and create new revenue streams. In South Africa the majority of SMMEs do not reach the critical threshold period for sustainability, defined by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) as three years. This study explores twenty-five barriers and influences (nine external and sixteen internal) as experienced by small businesses operating in the city of Port Elizabeth, and their effect on the sustainability and success of the small business. The internal barriers and influences are ranked according to their relative importance to business sustainability and success as viewed by small businesses in the city of Port Elizabeth. The research is exploratory in nature and was conducted using a structured questionnaire. The findings show that the nineteen barriers and influencers that are controllable within the business are all important to the success and sustainability of small businesses. Of these internal factors, the most important one relatively speaking is found to be the general management abilities of management, and the least important, relatively speaking, is the education levels of the non-management employees. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Bussy, Matthew
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Small business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51050 , vital:43204
- Description: SMMEs are the backbone of both established and developing economies with their ability to contribute to a country’s GDP, create employment, stimulate innovation and create new revenue streams. In South Africa the majority of SMMEs do not reach the critical threshold period for sustainability, defined by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) as three years. This study explores twenty-five barriers and influences (nine external and sixteen internal) as experienced by small businesses operating in the city of Port Elizabeth, and their effect on the sustainability and success of the small business. The internal barriers and influences are ranked according to their relative importance to business sustainability and success as viewed by small businesses in the city of Port Elizabeth. The research is exploratory in nature and was conducted using a structured questionnaire. The findings show that the nineteen barriers and influencers that are controllable within the business are all important to the success and sustainability of small businesses. Of these internal factors, the most important one relatively speaking is found to be the general management abilities of management, and the least important, relatively speaking, is the education levels of the non-management employees. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Assessing the economic impact and legal standing of expropriation of land without compensation policy and the effects on farm investment of selected farmers in South Africa
- Authors: Buthelezi, Sithabiso
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Land tenure , Economic impact analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57557 , vital:58073
- Description: South Africa’s agricultural sector is still labour- intensive and with South Africa’s high unemployment levels, this sector becomes crucial for employment creation. Moreover, the sector assists in eradicating poverty and ensuring food security. The African National Congress (ANC) has introduced the Draft Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill, 2019 in the National Assembly. The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure issued a notice indicating the government’s intention to introduce the Expropriation Bill, 2020 in the National Assembly for debate. After these Bills were issued, there has been a debate in the public, including legal and economic scholars about the potential impact that these policy proposals will have on investment, specifically the agricultural industry. This treatise investigates the potential impact of expropriation of land without compensation on farm investment and assess the legality of the policy. The supporting theoretical literature in this treatise is the property rights theory, efficiency theories and transactional costs theory. The study used various cases and interpretations of legislation across different jurisdictions, to assess the legality of this policy. To test the impact of expropriation of land on farm investment, the study uses a survey collected from 22 farmers, registered with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) who responded to the request to participate. Once collected, the data were coded and analysed through the Stata statistical package. The results from descriptive statistics show that several independent variables that were included in the model had an influence on investment decisions. The study also found that the influence of title deeds differs between rural and semiurban dwellers. Semi-urban dwellers are likely to regard their property as insecure without title deeds, whereas rural dwellers indicated strong security of tenure despite staying on leased land. The study also found that the influence of collateral credit differs between small and commercial farmers. Some small farmers, who had collateral assets, did not use it when seeking credit or were denied even after using it. That is due to other factors such as cash flow and affordability. These factors, combined with the low value of collateral assets for small farmers prevent them from accessing additional credit. The results from the regression analysis revealed that certain independent variables have an influence on the dependent variable (farm investment). The regression vi | P a g e analysis results also prove that there is a significant positive correlation between the security of tenure and farm investment. However, the results from the respondents show that the proposed policy (expropriation of land without compensation) has not decreased their security of tenure as yet. The majority of respondents reported knowing about the policy, but still indicated that they intend to increase their farm investment in the coming three years. Therefore, there is no evidence that the proposed legislation had a negative impact on planned investment from a data analysis perspective. However, planned investments are decreased because of the current policy uncertainty. Those participants who indicated that they will decrease their investment, did so because they were not sure if their property will be targeted or not. This policy uncertainty is the source of disinvestment. Government should finalise this policy. It must be clear, indicate the circumstances under which someone’s property will be targeted. This is likely to put everyone at ease and be certain if their property will be expropriated or not. Government should be cautious of putting a policy that is not definite enough and leaves the final decisions to the court to determine the amount to be paid as compensation, as is currently the case. This court-determined compensation increases transactions costs and also creates uncertainty because one does not know how much are they entitled to until the final court determination. This contributes to policy uncertainty and procrastination on investment. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Buthelezi, Sithabiso
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Land tenure , Economic impact analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57557 , vital:58073
- Description: South Africa’s agricultural sector is still labour- intensive and with South Africa’s high unemployment levels, this sector becomes crucial for employment creation. Moreover, the sector assists in eradicating poverty and ensuring food security. The African National Congress (ANC) has introduced the Draft Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill, 2019 in the National Assembly. The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure issued a notice indicating the government’s intention to introduce the Expropriation Bill, 2020 in the National Assembly for debate. After these Bills were issued, there has been a debate in the public, including legal and economic scholars about the potential impact that these policy proposals will have on investment, specifically the agricultural industry. This treatise investigates the potential impact of expropriation of land without compensation on farm investment and assess the legality of the policy. The supporting theoretical literature in this treatise is the property rights theory, efficiency theories and transactional costs theory. The study used various cases and interpretations of legislation across different jurisdictions, to assess the legality of this policy. To test the impact of expropriation of land on farm investment, the study uses a survey collected from 22 farmers, registered with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) who responded to the request to participate. Once collected, the data were coded and analysed through the Stata statistical package. The results from descriptive statistics show that several independent variables that were included in the model had an influence on investment decisions. The study also found that the influence of title deeds differs between rural and semiurban dwellers. Semi-urban dwellers are likely to regard their property as insecure without title deeds, whereas rural dwellers indicated strong security of tenure despite staying on leased land. The study also found that the influence of collateral credit differs between small and commercial farmers. Some small farmers, who had collateral assets, did not use it when seeking credit or were denied even after using it. That is due to other factors such as cash flow and affordability. These factors, combined with the low value of collateral assets for small farmers prevent them from accessing additional credit. The results from the regression analysis revealed that certain independent variables have an influence on the dependent variable (farm investment). The regression vi | P a g e analysis results also prove that there is a significant positive correlation between the security of tenure and farm investment. However, the results from the respondents show that the proposed policy (expropriation of land without compensation) has not decreased their security of tenure as yet. The majority of respondents reported knowing about the policy, but still indicated that they intend to increase their farm investment in the coming three years. Therefore, there is no evidence that the proposed legislation had a negative impact on planned investment from a data analysis perspective. However, planned investments are decreased because of the current policy uncertainty. Those participants who indicated that they will decrease their investment, did so because they were not sure if their property will be targeted or not. This policy uncertainty is the source of disinvestment. Government should finalise this policy. It must be clear, indicate the circumstances under which someone’s property will be targeted. This is likely to put everyone at ease and be certain if their property will be expropriated or not. Government should be cautious of putting a policy that is not definite enough and leaves the final decisions to the court to determine the amount to be paid as compensation, as is currently the case. This court-determined compensation increases transactions costs and also creates uncertainty because one does not know how much are they entitled to until the final court determination. This contributes to policy uncertainty and procrastination on investment. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Hydraulic vulnerability of Subtropical Thicket to drought : a remote sensing and physiological perspective
- Authors: Buttner, Daniel Harry
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55455 , vital:52017
- Description: Water availability is one of largest constraints on plant survival, growth, and species distribution globally. The recent escalation in tree mortality coupled with declining precipitation and amplified temperatures has implicated drought as a major cause behind many large-scale dieback events observed across the world. Raising the question, what makes some species more resistant and persist while others dwindle and vanish from the landscape? The observed variability in species drought susceptibility demonstrates the complexity of physiological responses of plants to changes in water availability. Hydraulic dysfunction in plants has been purported to be the key mechanism behind drought-induced mortality provoking interest in hydraulic traits and critical thresholds of xylem physiological function. The capability of species to maintain hydraulic functionality under drought strongly influences the survival and general productivity towards water deficits. Hence, two core objectives, and subsequently aims, of this thesis are firstly to investigate the effect of drought on Subtropical Thicket vegetation health and productivity, and secondly to examine the underpinning physiological mechanisms and functional thresholds relaying speciesspecific drought vulnerability within this semi-arid biome. In first data chapter, this thesis offers an assessment of vegetation change under drought and its influence on plant physiological function and productivity across a subsection of Subtropical Thicket distribution. Additionally, this chapter provides a regional scale perspective of drought on Subtropical Thicket flora in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. A severe anomalous dieback event, which coincided with extreme, accumulative drought conditions was observed in 2020. Employing a combination of field-based approaches and remote sensing, this chapter aimed to provide a comprehensive report of the extent and severity of crown defoliation and canopy dieback following this event, additionally describing predisposing and compounding factors. Based on Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration and Standardized Precipitation Indices this event began in 2015 and coincided with amplified temperatures, exacerbating evaporative demand. Aerial UAV surveys and field-based investigations were undertaken. Remotely sensed (RS) indices provided an avenue for extensive spatiotemporal investigations to uncover the extent of drought-related impact on vegetation productivity and discuss potential underpinning mechanisms behind drought-induced mortality in Subtropical Thicket. Leveraging long-term time series RS data, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellites as a proxy vegetation physiological status in combination with SPI and SPEI describing drought condition and groundbased surveying defining canopy vitality condition this study incidentally addressed the aim of endeavoring to link drought-induced mortality and early warning symptoms observed in the field with RS time series data to describe drought impacts across Subtropical Thicket. Furthermore, the findings of this chapter demonstrate the spatial and temporal heterogeneity in drought impacts on Subtropical Thicket. The recent drought of 2015 till 2021 is the longest documented period for the past 50 years in which there has been no accumulated net positive water availability, this apparently perpetual state of water deficiency has enacted a high cost for vegetation productivity and growth for the study area, exhibited well by average NDVI values of less than -0.5 for over 70% of the research site. The findings of this chapter report, to the contrary of anecdotal suggestions in the literature, on the intrinsic tolerance of Subtropical Thicket and that ii drought has a far more significant role on overall vegetation productivity, growth, and mortality in this region. The second data chapter assess whole-plant physiological functionality during a drought event in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This is the first study in Subtropical Thicket to quantify in situ hydraulic functional integrity under a natural drought event testing the leading hypothesis describing tree mortality – hydraulic dysfunction. This chapter firstly, investigates hydraulic traits (e.g., turgor loss point) and describe key physiological thresholds (e.g., P50) for maintaining function during drought. Secondly, levels of native embolism were determined under drought conditions and combined with measurements of xylem vulnerability to embolism providing an estimation of degree of hydraulic dysfunction experienced by six dominant woody canopy species in Subtropical Thicket – to quantify interspecific drought tolerance and susceptibility. Subtropical Thicket species exhibited remarkable tolerance towards desiccation (TLP from as low as -3MPa) and hydraulic functional resistance to embolism (P50 value as low as -7.89MPa). The observed unexpected drought resilience of subtropical derived lineages highlights the intrinsic evolutionary role aridification had, selecting for greater embolism resistance and community-level conservatism in drought resistance of Subtropical Thicket. The level of native embolism and hydraulic safety margins identified two species (Schotia latifolia and Polyagla myrtifolia) that were the most vulnerable, and a third (Pappea capensis) moderately vulnerable, then the remaining studied species – this could result in community-level adjustments in species composition and structure under future projected climate change scenarios where, increased frequencies of drought events are anticipated. This retrospective assessment of canopy vigor with physiological functional thresholds evokes hydraulic dysfunction as the principal mechanism of observed Subtropical Thicket dieback to drought. This chapter provides crucial in situ data for predictive assertions around drought-induced mortality risk in a phylogenetically diverse and climatically unique biome of southern Africa; and is the first to identify critical hydraulic thresholds for tree species within this region. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Buttner, Daniel Harry
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55455 , vital:52017
- Description: Water availability is one of largest constraints on plant survival, growth, and species distribution globally. The recent escalation in tree mortality coupled with declining precipitation and amplified temperatures has implicated drought as a major cause behind many large-scale dieback events observed across the world. Raising the question, what makes some species more resistant and persist while others dwindle and vanish from the landscape? The observed variability in species drought susceptibility demonstrates the complexity of physiological responses of plants to changes in water availability. Hydraulic dysfunction in plants has been purported to be the key mechanism behind drought-induced mortality provoking interest in hydraulic traits and critical thresholds of xylem physiological function. The capability of species to maintain hydraulic functionality under drought strongly influences the survival and general productivity towards water deficits. Hence, two core objectives, and subsequently aims, of this thesis are firstly to investigate the effect of drought on Subtropical Thicket vegetation health and productivity, and secondly to examine the underpinning physiological mechanisms and functional thresholds relaying speciesspecific drought vulnerability within this semi-arid biome. In first data chapter, this thesis offers an assessment of vegetation change under drought and its influence on plant physiological function and productivity across a subsection of Subtropical Thicket distribution. Additionally, this chapter provides a regional scale perspective of drought on Subtropical Thicket flora in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. A severe anomalous dieback event, which coincided with extreme, accumulative drought conditions was observed in 2020. Employing a combination of field-based approaches and remote sensing, this chapter aimed to provide a comprehensive report of the extent and severity of crown defoliation and canopy dieback following this event, additionally describing predisposing and compounding factors. Based on Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration and Standardized Precipitation Indices this event began in 2015 and coincided with amplified temperatures, exacerbating evaporative demand. Aerial UAV surveys and field-based investigations were undertaken. Remotely sensed (RS) indices provided an avenue for extensive spatiotemporal investigations to uncover the extent of drought-related impact on vegetation productivity and discuss potential underpinning mechanisms behind drought-induced mortality in Subtropical Thicket. Leveraging long-term time series RS data, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellites as a proxy vegetation physiological status in combination with SPI and SPEI describing drought condition and groundbased surveying defining canopy vitality condition this study incidentally addressed the aim of endeavoring to link drought-induced mortality and early warning symptoms observed in the field with RS time series data to describe drought impacts across Subtropical Thicket. Furthermore, the findings of this chapter demonstrate the spatial and temporal heterogeneity in drought impacts on Subtropical Thicket. The recent drought of 2015 till 2021 is the longest documented period for the past 50 years in which there has been no accumulated net positive water availability, this apparently perpetual state of water deficiency has enacted a high cost for vegetation productivity and growth for the study area, exhibited well by average NDVI values of less than -0.5 for over 70% of the research site. The findings of this chapter report, to the contrary of anecdotal suggestions in the literature, on the intrinsic tolerance of Subtropical Thicket and that ii drought has a far more significant role on overall vegetation productivity, growth, and mortality in this region. The second data chapter assess whole-plant physiological functionality during a drought event in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This is the first study in Subtropical Thicket to quantify in situ hydraulic functional integrity under a natural drought event testing the leading hypothesis describing tree mortality – hydraulic dysfunction. This chapter firstly, investigates hydraulic traits (e.g., turgor loss point) and describe key physiological thresholds (e.g., P50) for maintaining function during drought. Secondly, levels of native embolism were determined under drought conditions and combined with measurements of xylem vulnerability to embolism providing an estimation of degree of hydraulic dysfunction experienced by six dominant woody canopy species in Subtropical Thicket – to quantify interspecific drought tolerance and susceptibility. Subtropical Thicket species exhibited remarkable tolerance towards desiccation (TLP from as low as -3MPa) and hydraulic functional resistance to embolism (P50 value as low as -7.89MPa). The observed unexpected drought resilience of subtropical derived lineages highlights the intrinsic evolutionary role aridification had, selecting for greater embolism resistance and community-level conservatism in drought resistance of Subtropical Thicket. The level of native embolism and hydraulic safety margins identified two species (Schotia latifolia and Polyagla myrtifolia) that were the most vulnerable, and a third (Pappea capensis) moderately vulnerable, then the remaining studied species – this could result in community-level adjustments in species composition and structure under future projected climate change scenarios where, increased frequencies of drought events are anticipated. This retrospective assessment of canopy vigor with physiological functional thresholds evokes hydraulic dysfunction as the principal mechanism of observed Subtropical Thicket dieback to drought. This chapter provides crucial in situ data for predictive assertions around drought-induced mortality risk in a phylogenetically diverse and climatically unique biome of southern Africa; and is the first to identify critical hydraulic thresholds for tree species within this region. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
An exploration of attrition of sexual crime cases of child victims from the perspectives of the police officers, prosecutors and advocates in Kouga District, Eastern Cape (SA)
- Authors: Calitz, Karen
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Sex crimes -- Investigation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Criminal justice, Administration of -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51010 , vital:43200
- Description: The successful prosecution of a sex crime case is dependent on the testimony of the victim. Due to the concealed nature of a sexual crime, it is notoriously difficult to prosecute effectively. With child victims, a number of additional obstacles present themselves when it comes to children giving evidence. Attrition is the rate at which cases do not proceed to court. Statistics in South Africa has revealed that rape has one of the lowest conviction rates of all serious crimes. This study is aimed at analysing the factors that cause attrition during the investigation stage in cases where children were victims of any form of sexual crime. In order to obtain the unscripted view of the investigation process, the qualitative study comprises of interviews with investigating officers who investigate these cases and the prosecutors who present these cases to court. The multi-disciplinary team-approach during investigation and its varying limits and challenges, were the main focus. A purposive non-probability sampling technique was utilised, focusing on the Kouga district municipality of the Eastern Cape. Through this study, the factors causing attrition were analysed and presented in such a manner so that change can be conceptualised in order to strive for the rights of children to receive justice for crimes committed against them. Key findings of the study yielded three significant factors which plague the progress of these cases. A significant finding illuminated the lack of required capacity professionals have in working and understanding children throughout the criminal justice process. A further vital finding is the complexities of inter-departmental functioning on implementation level, indicating challenges in collaboration. An integral finding is the measure of time taken to investigate cases of child victims, which the criminal process flow is delayed to its own detriment in aiming for convictions. In general it was found that services to child victims are neglected. Collaborative approaches which are already in place are to be strengthened through capacity building and collaborative knowledge integration in all sectors of professionals. Victim services legislation must include specialized services for the child victim. , Thesis (MSW) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Calitz, Karen
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Sex crimes -- Investigation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Criminal justice, Administration of -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51010 , vital:43200
- Description: The successful prosecution of a sex crime case is dependent on the testimony of the victim. Due to the concealed nature of a sexual crime, it is notoriously difficult to prosecute effectively. With child victims, a number of additional obstacles present themselves when it comes to children giving evidence. Attrition is the rate at which cases do not proceed to court. Statistics in South Africa has revealed that rape has one of the lowest conviction rates of all serious crimes. This study is aimed at analysing the factors that cause attrition during the investigation stage in cases where children were victims of any form of sexual crime. In order to obtain the unscripted view of the investigation process, the qualitative study comprises of interviews with investigating officers who investigate these cases and the prosecutors who present these cases to court. The multi-disciplinary team-approach during investigation and its varying limits and challenges, were the main focus. A purposive non-probability sampling technique was utilised, focusing on the Kouga district municipality of the Eastern Cape. Through this study, the factors causing attrition were analysed and presented in such a manner so that change can be conceptualised in order to strive for the rights of children to receive justice for crimes committed against them. Key findings of the study yielded three significant factors which plague the progress of these cases. A significant finding illuminated the lack of required capacity professionals have in working and understanding children throughout the criminal justice process. A further vital finding is the complexities of inter-departmental functioning on implementation level, indicating challenges in collaboration. An integral finding is the measure of time taken to investigate cases of child victims, which the criminal process flow is delayed to its own detriment in aiming for convictions. In general it was found that services to child victims are neglected. Collaborative approaches which are already in place are to be strengthened through capacity building and collaborative knowledge integration in all sectors of professionals. Victim services legislation must include specialized services for the child victim. , Thesis (MSW) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Fragmentation of the Albany Thicket Biome: consequences for the biodiversity and health of thicket vegetation
- Authors: Carvalho, Shandon Luke
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Fragmented landscapes
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52344 , vital:43599
- Description: The dense impenetrable vegetation of the Albany Thicket Biome is highly resistant to a wide variety of disturbances but, once disturbed, lacks the regenerative qualities that allow it to return to a stable state. Agricultural development is the main cause of degradation in this biome, creating a landscape consisting of patches of thicket vegetation scattered throughout land cleared for crops or transformed through grazing by domestic livestock. The main objective of this study is to determine the health, status and biodiversity of thicket fragments as it relates to elephant impacts. The level of fragmentation and the remaining extent of intact thicket were investigated as its current status is unknown. The findings suggest that the Thicket Biome is highly fragmented as almost 50% of solid thicket has been cleared, transformed or degraded by agricultural or urban development. For Arid Thicket, the level of fragmentation and the remaining extent of intact thicket could not be determined and both could potentially be greater. For the intact thicket of Dune, Mesic and Valley Thicket types, patch sizes ranged between almost 6 and 876 km2 while the weighted mean was between 2 and 251 km2 . Remote sensing methods (NDVI) were used to determine whether the health of thicket could be remotely assessed. The thicket within and beyond the extent of piospheres around watering holes is subjected to different levels of herbivory. These different levels were compared to corresponding NDVI values with the latter accurately measuring the impact of herbivores along a gradient and providing a method to assess the health of thicket vegetation. Ground surveys of the edge effect, along thicket fragments adjacent to open pastures and separated by cut lines, were conducted. Based on these surveys, the extent of the edge effect was established at a distance of 7 m into thicket fragments separated by cut lines but could not be determined for thicket fragments adjacent to open pastures. Ground surveys were also conducted to assess the health of thicket vegetation exposed to different levels of herbivory, including the impact of elephants (Loxodonta africana). Results showed that different elephant densities produced different levels of impact that could be described in terms of changes in species richness, species diversity, plant height and cover, and growth form composition. Lastly, the findings of the health-based assessments were combined with elephant densities to develop a model that could assess the health of thicket vegetation using a range of ecological variables and relate it to an ideal range of elephant densities. This assessment method was tested at the Addo Elephant National Park and results showed that an elephant density of 1 elephant/km2 would maintain the appropriate diversity, structure and composition of thicket. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Department of Botany, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Carvalho, Shandon Luke
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Fragmented landscapes
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52344 , vital:43599
- Description: The dense impenetrable vegetation of the Albany Thicket Biome is highly resistant to a wide variety of disturbances but, once disturbed, lacks the regenerative qualities that allow it to return to a stable state. Agricultural development is the main cause of degradation in this biome, creating a landscape consisting of patches of thicket vegetation scattered throughout land cleared for crops or transformed through grazing by domestic livestock. The main objective of this study is to determine the health, status and biodiversity of thicket fragments as it relates to elephant impacts. The level of fragmentation and the remaining extent of intact thicket were investigated as its current status is unknown. The findings suggest that the Thicket Biome is highly fragmented as almost 50% of solid thicket has been cleared, transformed or degraded by agricultural or urban development. For Arid Thicket, the level of fragmentation and the remaining extent of intact thicket could not be determined and both could potentially be greater. For the intact thicket of Dune, Mesic and Valley Thicket types, patch sizes ranged between almost 6 and 876 km2 while the weighted mean was between 2 and 251 km2 . Remote sensing methods (NDVI) were used to determine whether the health of thicket could be remotely assessed. The thicket within and beyond the extent of piospheres around watering holes is subjected to different levels of herbivory. These different levels were compared to corresponding NDVI values with the latter accurately measuring the impact of herbivores along a gradient and providing a method to assess the health of thicket vegetation. Ground surveys of the edge effect, along thicket fragments adjacent to open pastures and separated by cut lines, were conducted. Based on these surveys, the extent of the edge effect was established at a distance of 7 m into thicket fragments separated by cut lines but could not be determined for thicket fragments adjacent to open pastures. Ground surveys were also conducted to assess the health of thicket vegetation exposed to different levels of herbivory, including the impact of elephants (Loxodonta africana). Results showed that different elephant densities produced different levels of impact that could be described in terms of changes in species richness, species diversity, plant height and cover, and growth form composition. Lastly, the findings of the health-based assessments were combined with elephant densities to develop a model that could assess the health of thicket vegetation using a range of ecological variables and relate it to an ideal range of elephant densities. This assessment method was tested at the Addo Elephant National Park and results showed that an elephant density of 1 elephant/km2 would maintain the appropriate diversity, structure and composition of thicket. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Department of Botany, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Enhancement of domestic solar photovoltaic unit productivity through the use of a cost effective tracking system
- Authors: Cawood, John Henry
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Photovoltaic power systems , Tracking (Engineering)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59215 , vital:60313
- Description: The majority of new and existing small photovoltaic (PV) installations in South Africa are fixed-panel systems, largely due to the cost of photovoltaic panel components having reduced steadily in recent years where an increased requirement is met with a larger number of panels, whilst tracking system costs remain prohibitively expensive. Fixed installations realise only a part of their energy potential as they are truly effective for only short periods of the day. The aim of this study is to investigate and build on the current technology of PV tracking systems with the aim of specifying a simple control and actuation system which performs the tracking function. The eventual purpose of this thesis is to reliably produce more energy from solar photovoltaic installations than similar installations using fixed panels. This would be achieved by the use of an effective and affordable tracking system which yields acceptable accuracy and reliability and opens the potential for the system to be further developed for other purposes. These alternative uses could be the control of sunlight into green buildings, control of dampers for building ventilation and cooling and Trombe wall air control. This study has investigated the potential of several passive and active methods to actuate a sun tracking system. A useful closed loop system, which uses low pressure hydraulics, was developed and tested. The prototype is detailed in the drawings, Appendix D. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Cawood, John Henry
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Photovoltaic power systems , Tracking (Engineering)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59215 , vital:60313
- Description: The majority of new and existing small photovoltaic (PV) installations in South Africa are fixed-panel systems, largely due to the cost of photovoltaic panel components having reduced steadily in recent years where an increased requirement is met with a larger number of panels, whilst tracking system costs remain prohibitively expensive. Fixed installations realise only a part of their energy potential as they are truly effective for only short periods of the day. The aim of this study is to investigate and build on the current technology of PV tracking systems with the aim of specifying a simple control and actuation system which performs the tracking function. The eventual purpose of this thesis is to reliably produce more energy from solar photovoltaic installations than similar installations using fixed panels. This would be achieved by the use of an effective and affordable tracking system which yields acceptable accuracy and reliability and opens the potential for the system to be further developed for other purposes. These alternative uses could be the control of sunlight into green buildings, control of dampers for building ventilation and cooling and Trombe wall air control. This study has investigated the potential of several passive and active methods to actuate a sun tracking system. A useful closed loop system, which uses low pressure hydraulics, was developed and tested. The prototype is detailed in the drawings, Appendix D. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
South African local labour forums in the municipal sector: Structure, functioning and performance
- Authors: Chabalala, Siphiwe
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Labor productivity -- Public services -- South Africa , Labor disputes -- South Africa , Labor relations
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57567 , vital:58075
- Description: The South African Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 provides for the establishment of statutory, yet voluntary, employee participation structures in the form of Workplace Forums. These Workplace Forums were modelled on the system of German Works Councils. The establishment of Workplace Forums solely lies with a representative trade union in a workplace of more than 100 employees. Trade unions have not been enthusiastic about the idea of Workplace Forums, this is because they view these structures as a mechanism that undermines collective bargaining due to the limitations that come with consultation as a process in decision-making. Trade unions would rather have powers of negotiation, for which Workplace Forums do not cater. Consequently, very few Workplace Forums have been established in South Africa. In the South African Municipal sector, there are Local Labour Forums which are solely for employee participation over and above matters reserved for collective bargaining in the South African Local Government Bargaining Council. Local Labour Forums have powers of consultation and negotiation on matters that affect labour relations and employees in the municipality. Local Labour Forums became an area of interest because of the limited opportunities in South Africa to study Workplace Forums. The aim of the study was to investigate Local Labour Forums as an example of Workplace Forums as employee participation structures. Therefore, the main research question was: how are these Local Labour Forums structured, what are the details of their functioning and what are the perceptions of the participants in these structures of their influence on performance in the workplace? The aim was translated into four objectives. The first objective was to explore the structure and functioning of Local Labour Forums. The second objective was to explore the perception of the parties to Local Labour Forums, namely, councillors, managers, and unions regarding their relationships. The third objective was to explore the agreements concluded by the parties and their levels of satisfaction with the agreements. The fourth objective was to explore the perception of the parties to Local Labour Forums of the contribution of the Local Labour Forums to the service delivery of the municipality. This was an exploratory and descriptive qualitative study. The population of the study was the Local Labour Forums in two metropolitans, six districts and thirty-one Eastern iv Cape municipalities. The sampling method used was non-probability purposive sampling. Primary data was sourced using both interview guidelines and a short survey questionnaire. The data obtained was transcribed and thematically analysed using Tesch’s (1990) content analysis as a method. The findings of the study indicated that while both Workplace Forums and Local Labour Forums are workplace committees, Local Labour Forums operate differently from Workplace Forums in terms of their structure and functioning. A major difference between these two structures is that Local Labour Forums are joint consultation committees, comprising of both the employer and employee representatives; whereas Workplace Forums are structures which only comprise of employees who then meet with the employer on a regular basis. The processes used for both these structures are somewhat different because Local Labour Forums have powers of consultation and negotiation, whereas Workplace Forums only have the powers to consult and jointly make decisions, not to negotiate. Adding to these differences is that Local Labour Forums have powers to establish subcommittees who will report back to this particular structure, whereas nothing about subcommittees is mentioned for Workplace Forums. In terms of the findings gathered on Local Labour Forums based on the abovementioned objectives, it was found that the establishment of these municipal structures are mandated by the South African Local Government Bargaining Council. Local Labour forums discuss matters of mutual interest which pertain to their respective municipalities. The parties to the Local Labour Forums are from both the employer and employee components. The employer component consists of senior municipal management/directorates and councillors. The employee component consists of the two in-house trade unions, the South African Municipal Workers’ Union and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union. The fact that these parties are from different backgrounds in terms of conscience does not affect the relationships and agreements of the forum, because they are all about what is good for the structure. When it comes to performance of the Local Labour Forum, it was discovered that these structures are not directly involved in delivering services to the municipalities, but the decisions taken influence how the municipalities deliver their services. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Chabalala, Siphiwe
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Labor productivity -- Public services -- South Africa , Labor disputes -- South Africa , Labor relations
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57567 , vital:58075
- Description: The South African Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 provides for the establishment of statutory, yet voluntary, employee participation structures in the form of Workplace Forums. These Workplace Forums were modelled on the system of German Works Councils. The establishment of Workplace Forums solely lies with a representative trade union in a workplace of more than 100 employees. Trade unions have not been enthusiastic about the idea of Workplace Forums, this is because they view these structures as a mechanism that undermines collective bargaining due to the limitations that come with consultation as a process in decision-making. Trade unions would rather have powers of negotiation, for which Workplace Forums do not cater. Consequently, very few Workplace Forums have been established in South Africa. In the South African Municipal sector, there are Local Labour Forums which are solely for employee participation over and above matters reserved for collective bargaining in the South African Local Government Bargaining Council. Local Labour Forums have powers of consultation and negotiation on matters that affect labour relations and employees in the municipality. Local Labour Forums became an area of interest because of the limited opportunities in South Africa to study Workplace Forums. The aim of the study was to investigate Local Labour Forums as an example of Workplace Forums as employee participation structures. Therefore, the main research question was: how are these Local Labour Forums structured, what are the details of their functioning and what are the perceptions of the participants in these structures of their influence on performance in the workplace? The aim was translated into four objectives. The first objective was to explore the structure and functioning of Local Labour Forums. The second objective was to explore the perception of the parties to Local Labour Forums, namely, councillors, managers, and unions regarding their relationships. The third objective was to explore the agreements concluded by the parties and their levels of satisfaction with the agreements. The fourth objective was to explore the perception of the parties to Local Labour Forums of the contribution of the Local Labour Forums to the service delivery of the municipality. This was an exploratory and descriptive qualitative study. The population of the study was the Local Labour Forums in two metropolitans, six districts and thirty-one Eastern iv Cape municipalities. The sampling method used was non-probability purposive sampling. Primary data was sourced using both interview guidelines and a short survey questionnaire. The data obtained was transcribed and thematically analysed using Tesch’s (1990) content analysis as a method. The findings of the study indicated that while both Workplace Forums and Local Labour Forums are workplace committees, Local Labour Forums operate differently from Workplace Forums in terms of their structure and functioning. A major difference between these two structures is that Local Labour Forums are joint consultation committees, comprising of both the employer and employee representatives; whereas Workplace Forums are structures which only comprise of employees who then meet with the employer on a regular basis. The processes used for both these structures are somewhat different because Local Labour Forums have powers of consultation and negotiation, whereas Workplace Forums only have the powers to consult and jointly make decisions, not to negotiate. Adding to these differences is that Local Labour Forums have powers to establish subcommittees who will report back to this particular structure, whereas nothing about subcommittees is mentioned for Workplace Forums. In terms of the findings gathered on Local Labour Forums based on the abovementioned objectives, it was found that the establishment of these municipal structures are mandated by the South African Local Government Bargaining Council. Local Labour forums discuss matters of mutual interest which pertain to their respective municipalities. The parties to the Local Labour Forums are from both the employer and employee components. The employer component consists of senior municipal management/directorates and councillors. The employee component consists of the two in-house trade unions, the South African Municipal Workers’ Union and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union. The fact that these parties are from different backgrounds in terms of conscience does not affect the relationships and agreements of the forum, because they are all about what is good for the structure. When it comes to performance of the Local Labour Forum, it was discovered that these structures are not directly involved in delivering services to the municipalities, but the decisions taken influence how the municipalities deliver their services. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
HRM digitalisation and value added in the south African workplace
- Authors: Chapano, Munodani
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Personnel management , Human Resources Assessment
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57578 , vital:58094
- Description: The main objective of this study was to determine the extent and nature of value that HRM digitalisation can add to the South African workplace. Digitalisation is a product of 4IR, which refers to the process of leveraging and applying 4IR technologies within organisational operations, including HRM, with the aim of optimising business processes. HRM digitalisation refers to the adoption and application of digital HRM technologies of the 4IR in the conduct of HRM practices, policies, activities and transactions to optimise the HRM function. Due to a shortage of studies that shed light on the value contributed by HRM digitalisation in the workplace, a need arises to determine the extent and nature of this value and the strategies needed to unlock this potential in the context of the 4IR. Moreover, in most South African (SA) organisations, there has been a lack of a fully integrated approach to digital HRM. Thus, this study aims at exploring HRM digitalisation and the value it contributes to South African organisations, with the expectation of developing an articulated and integrative HRM digital strategy for South African organisations. This study was accomplished by means of a literature and an empirical study. The literature study provided theoretical information related to challenges and opportunities introduced by the 4IR in the world of work, with specific reference to the South African workplace and which therefore impact HRM and necessitate the need for digitalisation of HRM. In addition, the following were explored: HRM Digital Strategies that could be adopted and add value in the South African workplace; the extent and nature of that value; the challenges probably encountered in doing so and possible means to overcome the challenges. The discussion led to the development of a hypothetical, theoretical model of HRM digitalisation in the South African workplace. The hypothetical model was used as the basis for the development of a measuring instrument used to collect empirical data for this study. The empirical study used the online questionnaire survey as the data collection instrument that measured the extent and nature of value that various HRM Digital Strategies could vii | P a g e add to the South African workplace; perceived value and hard evidence of the impact of HRM digitalisation; and the extent and nature of challenges associated with the Adoption of HRM Digital Strategies across the HR value chain. The online survey questionnaire was administered to HR directors, HR managers, HR practitioners and line managers who worked in the automotive manufacturing industry in the municipalities of Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth and Buffalo City in East London in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A non-probability sampling procedure which comprised a combination of purposive and snowball sampling methods was used to select participants for the study (n = 312). The results from the empirical study, computed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (such as paired-sample t-tests, Pearson’s product moment correlation and regression analysis) showed that organisations in South Africa had invested and adopted more of Digital Talent and Digital Media strategies and less of Digital Org (Design & Culture) and Digital ERM HRM strategies across the HR value chain and as a result, had gained more value at relational level, followed by that at operational level. They gained the least value at transformational level. It was therefore revealed that if HRM professionals, managers and leaders within organisations want to boost the contribution of the HRM function towards achieving the strategic goals of the organisation (transformational level), digitalising the function is one of the best ways. They can achieve this by investing more of HRM Digital Strategies related to Digital Org (Design & Culture), followed by Digital Talent and Digital ERM strategies. Challenges related to the adoption of digital strategies across the HR value chain were only found to negatively influence Digital Org (Design & Culture) and Digital ERM strategies, whereas Digital Talent and Digital Media strategies were not negatively influenced. Based on the literature and empirical results of this study, an integrative HRM digitalisation model was designed to provide a framework approach for implementing HRM digitalisation in South African organisations. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Chapano, Munodani
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Personnel management , Human Resources Assessment
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57578 , vital:58094
- Description: The main objective of this study was to determine the extent and nature of value that HRM digitalisation can add to the South African workplace. Digitalisation is a product of 4IR, which refers to the process of leveraging and applying 4IR technologies within organisational operations, including HRM, with the aim of optimising business processes. HRM digitalisation refers to the adoption and application of digital HRM technologies of the 4IR in the conduct of HRM practices, policies, activities and transactions to optimise the HRM function. Due to a shortage of studies that shed light on the value contributed by HRM digitalisation in the workplace, a need arises to determine the extent and nature of this value and the strategies needed to unlock this potential in the context of the 4IR. Moreover, in most South African (SA) organisations, there has been a lack of a fully integrated approach to digital HRM. Thus, this study aims at exploring HRM digitalisation and the value it contributes to South African organisations, with the expectation of developing an articulated and integrative HRM digital strategy for South African organisations. This study was accomplished by means of a literature and an empirical study. The literature study provided theoretical information related to challenges and opportunities introduced by the 4IR in the world of work, with specific reference to the South African workplace and which therefore impact HRM and necessitate the need for digitalisation of HRM. In addition, the following were explored: HRM Digital Strategies that could be adopted and add value in the South African workplace; the extent and nature of that value; the challenges probably encountered in doing so and possible means to overcome the challenges. The discussion led to the development of a hypothetical, theoretical model of HRM digitalisation in the South African workplace. The hypothetical model was used as the basis for the development of a measuring instrument used to collect empirical data for this study. The empirical study used the online questionnaire survey as the data collection instrument that measured the extent and nature of value that various HRM Digital Strategies could vii | P a g e add to the South African workplace; perceived value and hard evidence of the impact of HRM digitalisation; and the extent and nature of challenges associated with the Adoption of HRM Digital Strategies across the HR value chain. The online survey questionnaire was administered to HR directors, HR managers, HR practitioners and line managers who worked in the automotive manufacturing industry in the municipalities of Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth and Buffalo City in East London in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A non-probability sampling procedure which comprised a combination of purposive and snowball sampling methods was used to select participants for the study (n = 312). The results from the empirical study, computed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (such as paired-sample t-tests, Pearson’s product moment correlation and regression analysis) showed that organisations in South Africa had invested and adopted more of Digital Talent and Digital Media strategies and less of Digital Org (Design & Culture) and Digital ERM HRM strategies across the HR value chain and as a result, had gained more value at relational level, followed by that at operational level. They gained the least value at transformational level. It was therefore revealed that if HRM professionals, managers and leaders within organisations want to boost the contribution of the HRM function towards achieving the strategic goals of the organisation (transformational level), digitalising the function is one of the best ways. They can achieve this by investing more of HRM Digital Strategies related to Digital Org (Design & Culture), followed by Digital Talent and Digital ERM strategies. Challenges related to the adoption of digital strategies across the HR value chain were only found to negatively influence Digital Org (Design & Culture) and Digital ERM strategies, whereas Digital Talent and Digital Media strategies were not negatively influenced. Based on the literature and empirical results of this study, an integrative HRM digitalisation model was designed to provide a framework approach for implementing HRM digitalisation in South African organisations. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Ethical sensitivity of internal audit university students
- Authors: Chauke, Deroul
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Accounting -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa , Ethics , Management -- Moral and ethical aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51074 , vital:43206
- Description: Ethics is an important aspect of business, particularly in the internal audit profession, and especially after the corporate scandals in the twenty-first century. Internal auditors play an important role in business and society as they hold executive directors of organisations accountable on behalf of various stakeholders and shareholders, by reviewing the effectiveness of internal control systems, risk management, and governance processes. Similar to the legal and medical professions, internal auditors are expected by the public and clients they serve, to uphold high ethical standards. The overall objective of this study is to determine whether internal audit university students possess sufficient ethical sensitivity to appropriately respond to ethical challenges they could face when they enter the internal audit profession. To achieve the objective of this study, a qualitative research approach was followed. To collect the primary data, a questionnaire containing six vignettes was administered to internal audit university students at three universities in South Africa. The qualitative data provided the researcher with rich and in-depth evidence about the ethical sensitivity of internal audit university students. The findings of this study revealed that most students have the necessary ethical sensitivity to respond to ethical challenges. The findings also revealed that taking an ethics course enhanced the students’ ethical sensitivity. It has also emerged from the findings that a few participants were not ethically sensitive as they failed to report an unethical activity. They chose instead to detach themselves from the unethical activity by maintaining their silence. This finding indicates the need to conduct further studies on the ethical sensitivity of internal audit university students using different research instruments and more universities or larger samples. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Accounting, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Chauke, Deroul
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Accounting -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa , Ethics , Management -- Moral and ethical aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51074 , vital:43206
- Description: Ethics is an important aspect of business, particularly in the internal audit profession, and especially after the corporate scandals in the twenty-first century. Internal auditors play an important role in business and society as they hold executive directors of organisations accountable on behalf of various stakeholders and shareholders, by reviewing the effectiveness of internal control systems, risk management, and governance processes. Similar to the legal and medical professions, internal auditors are expected by the public and clients they serve, to uphold high ethical standards. The overall objective of this study is to determine whether internal audit university students possess sufficient ethical sensitivity to appropriately respond to ethical challenges they could face when they enter the internal audit profession. To achieve the objective of this study, a qualitative research approach was followed. To collect the primary data, a questionnaire containing six vignettes was administered to internal audit university students at three universities in South Africa. The qualitative data provided the researcher with rich and in-depth evidence about the ethical sensitivity of internal audit university students. The findings of this study revealed that most students have the necessary ethical sensitivity to respond to ethical challenges. The findings also revealed that taking an ethics course enhanced the students’ ethical sensitivity. It has also emerged from the findings that a few participants were not ethically sensitive as they failed to report an unethical activity. They chose instead to detach themselves from the unethical activity by maintaining their silence. This finding indicates the need to conduct further studies on the ethical sensitivity of internal audit university students using different research instruments and more universities or larger samples. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Accounting, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Exploring the Role of minority stress on South African Muslim Women’s Psychological Help-Seeking Behaviour
- Authors: Cheema, Rabia Afzaal
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Muslim women -- Mental health , Muslim women -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51043 , vital:43203
- Description: Minority identities of all types regularly experience poorer mental and physical health due to discrimination based on intersections of race, religion, ethnicity and gender. This process was coined by Meyer (2003) as minority stress and has come to represent the effects that discrimination, based on identity, has on an individual. Amongst the many minority identities that exist, Muslim women have in recent years experienced escalated rates of discriminatory treatment, due to political and social trends. The aim of this study was to explore the role of minority stress on South African Muslim women’s psychological help-seeking behaviour. The study employed a qualitative research design and made use of the purposive sampling method followed by the snowball sampling technique to identify participants. The data was analysed using thematic analysis and four themes were reported. These were: 1) descriptions of life as a Muslim woman 2) challenges faced by Muslim women in South Africa 3) psychological influences on mental health and 4) barriers to seeking psychological help. The researcher found that Muslim women do experience minority stress and it does influence help-seeking behaviour, however, it is not the only factor. Gender was found to be a greater stressor and contributed more to the minority stress experience. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Cheema, Rabia Afzaal
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Muslim women -- Mental health , Muslim women -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51043 , vital:43203
- Description: Minority identities of all types regularly experience poorer mental and physical health due to discrimination based on intersections of race, religion, ethnicity and gender. This process was coined by Meyer (2003) as minority stress and has come to represent the effects that discrimination, based on identity, has on an individual. Amongst the many minority identities that exist, Muslim women have in recent years experienced escalated rates of discriminatory treatment, due to political and social trends. The aim of this study was to explore the role of minority stress on South African Muslim women’s psychological help-seeking behaviour. The study employed a qualitative research design and made use of the purposive sampling method followed by the snowball sampling technique to identify participants. The data was analysed using thematic analysis and four themes were reported. These were: 1) descriptions of life as a Muslim woman 2) challenges faced by Muslim women in South Africa 3) psychological influences on mental health and 4) barriers to seeking psychological help. The researcher found that Muslim women do experience minority stress and it does influence help-seeking behaviour, however, it is not the only factor. Gender was found to be a greater stressor and contributed more to the minority stress experience. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Structure and agency in the age of climate change
- Authors: Cherry, Janet
- Subjects: South Africa -- Economic conditions , South Africa -- Social conditions , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21033 , vital:29429
- Description: What I will present here is based on my grappling over the past three decades with one of the central problems of social science – the relationship between social structure and human agency. This is not a new problem for social scientists; from Karl Marx, who understood that human beings make history, but not in circumstances of their choosing; to the French structuralists who conceived the term ‘relative autonomy’ and ‘overdetermination’; to Anthony Giddens’ ‘structuration theory’ and other contemporary sociologists. What is new are the changing physical circumstances of the world in which we live, which mean that human society can no longer afford to analyse ourselves and our social, political and economic systems independently of the natural world.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Cherry, Janet
- Subjects: South Africa -- Economic conditions , South Africa -- Social conditions , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21033 , vital:29429
- Description: What I will present here is based on my grappling over the past three decades with one of the central problems of social science – the relationship between social structure and human agency. This is not a new problem for social scientists; from Karl Marx, who understood that human beings make history, but not in circumstances of their choosing; to the French structuralists who conceived the term ‘relative autonomy’ and ‘overdetermination’; to Anthony Giddens’ ‘structuration theory’ and other contemporary sociologists. What is new are the changing physical circumstances of the world in which we live, which mean that human society can no longer afford to analyse ourselves and our social, political and economic systems independently of the natural world.
- Full Text:
A project delivery framework within the Construction Industry
- Authors: Chikandiwa,Yeaukai Memory
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Construction --Management -- South Africa , Project Management , Communication
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52594 , vital:43692
- Description: A lack of effective communication has often resulted in information bottlenecks and conflicts in the execution of construction projects and is the primary cause of problems such as delays, increased project cost, reduced roductivity, loss of profit, or damaged professional or business relationships within the construction Industry. Despite all the advancement in the communication and integration tools in a drive to optimize the construction industry, this challenge still remains. In order to address this problem, this research project sought to determine the key elements that constitute effective communication and its importance to the successful projects delivery within the construction industry. A survey design which involved a sample study of a representative population through the use of a questionnaire was used. The research population comprised of all design consultants. The research found that, Common tools and processes, Good change management, PM best practices & Performance KPIs and resources are the main missing elements respectively for effective communication, which foster the conflicts inherent within the industry. The following key factors are however mostly present in project team; well-articulated project scope, quality information exchange and commendable people, cultures and behaviour. Informational asymmetries, misrepresentation, poor PM skills hinders effective communication and often results in project failure. There is therefore need to concertize the design professionals on the importance of effective communication and enlighten them on the dynamics involved. The construction industry is inherently complex, multi-disciplinary, fragmented, sporadic, dynamic and generally resistant to change. Hence, the need for rigorous research and feed back to the design professionals on effective communication especially during the changing times driven by technology, dubbed the 4th revolution. More work is to be done in order to achieve the effective communication, in the following study research area for the construction industry; the alignment of tools and processes, change management and Performance KPIs for the construction industry. These factors present a huge challenge in a fragmented and adversarial industry which is inherently resistant to change. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering,the Built Environment and Information technology,2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Chikandiwa,Yeaukai Memory
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Construction --Management -- South Africa , Project Management , Communication
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52594 , vital:43692
- Description: A lack of effective communication has often resulted in information bottlenecks and conflicts in the execution of construction projects and is the primary cause of problems such as delays, increased project cost, reduced roductivity, loss of profit, or damaged professional or business relationships within the construction Industry. Despite all the advancement in the communication and integration tools in a drive to optimize the construction industry, this challenge still remains. In order to address this problem, this research project sought to determine the key elements that constitute effective communication and its importance to the successful projects delivery within the construction industry. A survey design which involved a sample study of a representative population through the use of a questionnaire was used. The research population comprised of all design consultants. The research found that, Common tools and processes, Good change management, PM best practices & Performance KPIs and resources are the main missing elements respectively for effective communication, which foster the conflicts inherent within the industry. The following key factors are however mostly present in project team; well-articulated project scope, quality information exchange and commendable people, cultures and behaviour. Informational asymmetries, misrepresentation, poor PM skills hinders effective communication and often results in project failure. There is therefore need to concertize the design professionals on the importance of effective communication and enlighten them on the dynamics involved. The construction industry is inherently complex, multi-disciplinary, fragmented, sporadic, dynamic and generally resistant to change. Hence, the need for rigorous research and feed back to the design professionals on effective communication especially during the changing times driven by technology, dubbed the 4th revolution. More work is to be done in order to achieve the effective communication, in the following study research area for the construction industry; the alignment of tools and processes, change management and Performance KPIs for the construction industry. These factors present a huge challenge in a fragmented and adversarial industry which is inherently resistant to change. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering,the Built Environment and Information technology,2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Educational interventions for primary caregivers related to infection prevention and control in stroke patients in a rural setting of Mutasa district, Zimbabwe
- Authors: Chikanya, Violet Kestha
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Educational interventions -- Zimbabwe , Cross infection -- Prevention -- Zimbabwe , Primary caregivers
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60133 , vital:63146
- Description: Infection prevention and control offer safe and effective practices for patients and healthcare workers in any setting, including the home environment. Understanding and applying principles are based on knowledge and training of caregivers. The incidence of stroke has increased significantly in some sub-Saharan countries. Most patients with stroke are admitted into hospital during the acute phase of care, and are then discharged for further care and management at home. Recovery at home after a stroke takes a long time under the care of primary caregivers with either little or no health care training, exposing these patients to a variety of risky infections. Education on infection prevention and control is therefore encouraged to guide primary caregivers in caring for these patients. The study objectives sought to explore and describe knowledge and practices of primary caregivers, and information given by village health workers to primary caregivers to prevent and control chest infections, skin infections and urinary tract infections in home-based stroke patients in a rural setting in Mutasa district, Zimbabwe. The study also sought to develop and validate educational interventions for primary caregivers to prevent and control chest infections, skin infections and urinary tract infections in home-based stroke patients. A quantitative research paradigm was used in the study. Multistage random sampling was used to select 20 wards and 200 villages. Using a margin of error of 5% and 95% confidence, the sample consisted of 200 primary caregivers and 200 village health workers. The study was conducted in three phases. Phase One comprised data collection from primary caregivers and village health workers regarding prevention and control of chest, skin, and urinary tract infections. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire for primary caregivers and a self-administered questionnaire for village health workers. The research instruments collected data on socio-demographics, knowledge, practices and infection prevention and control information given by village health workers to primary caregivers. The Visual Basic for Applications package was used for data analysis. x The study results revealed that a significant number of primary caregivers had low knowledge levels in terms of stroke and infections that frequently occur in home-based stroke patients. About a third of primary caregivers did not know the standard infection prevention and control measures to prevent infections, and a substantial proportion of the primary caregivers did not practise the recommended measures to prevent and control chest, skin and urinary tract infections in home-based stroke patients. It was found that village health workers provided limited health education on stroke, its complications, and measures to prevent and control chest, skin and urinary tract infections to primary caregivers. In Phase Two, educational interventions in the form of a job aid comprising worksheets for primary caregivers to prevent and control chest, skin and urinary tract infections in home-based stroke patients in a rural setting were developed. In Phase Three, the draft job aid was reviewed by an eight-member expert panel. Feedback from the reviewers was used to develop the final job aid for enhancing the knowledge and practices of primary caregivers in terms of infection prevention and control in home-based stroke patients. Throughout the study, the researcher adhered to ethical considerations, namely respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. The quality of data collected was ensured by applying the principles of validity and reliability in the development stage of the questionnaire and by conducting a pilot study. Rigorous evaluation of the developed job aid is required to establish its validity. It is recommended that the job aid be included in nurse training and continuing education programs. The trainings should be cascaded to the village health workers and primary caregivers of other bed-ridden patients. The job aid will also reach more caregivers if translated to other local languages. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Chikanya, Violet Kestha
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Educational interventions -- Zimbabwe , Cross infection -- Prevention -- Zimbabwe , Primary caregivers
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60133 , vital:63146
- Description: Infection prevention and control offer safe and effective practices for patients and healthcare workers in any setting, including the home environment. Understanding and applying principles are based on knowledge and training of caregivers. The incidence of stroke has increased significantly in some sub-Saharan countries. Most patients with stroke are admitted into hospital during the acute phase of care, and are then discharged for further care and management at home. Recovery at home after a stroke takes a long time under the care of primary caregivers with either little or no health care training, exposing these patients to a variety of risky infections. Education on infection prevention and control is therefore encouraged to guide primary caregivers in caring for these patients. The study objectives sought to explore and describe knowledge and practices of primary caregivers, and information given by village health workers to primary caregivers to prevent and control chest infections, skin infections and urinary tract infections in home-based stroke patients in a rural setting in Mutasa district, Zimbabwe. The study also sought to develop and validate educational interventions for primary caregivers to prevent and control chest infections, skin infections and urinary tract infections in home-based stroke patients. A quantitative research paradigm was used in the study. Multistage random sampling was used to select 20 wards and 200 villages. Using a margin of error of 5% and 95% confidence, the sample consisted of 200 primary caregivers and 200 village health workers. The study was conducted in three phases. Phase One comprised data collection from primary caregivers and village health workers regarding prevention and control of chest, skin, and urinary tract infections. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire for primary caregivers and a self-administered questionnaire for village health workers. The research instruments collected data on socio-demographics, knowledge, practices and infection prevention and control information given by village health workers to primary caregivers. The Visual Basic for Applications package was used for data analysis. x The study results revealed that a significant number of primary caregivers had low knowledge levels in terms of stroke and infections that frequently occur in home-based stroke patients. About a third of primary caregivers did not know the standard infection prevention and control measures to prevent infections, and a substantial proportion of the primary caregivers did not practise the recommended measures to prevent and control chest, skin and urinary tract infections in home-based stroke patients. It was found that village health workers provided limited health education on stroke, its complications, and measures to prevent and control chest, skin and urinary tract infections to primary caregivers. In Phase Two, educational interventions in the form of a job aid comprising worksheets for primary caregivers to prevent and control chest, skin and urinary tract infections in home-based stroke patients in a rural setting were developed. In Phase Three, the draft job aid was reviewed by an eight-member expert panel. Feedback from the reviewers was used to develop the final job aid for enhancing the knowledge and practices of primary caregivers in terms of infection prevention and control in home-based stroke patients. Throughout the study, the researcher adhered to ethical considerations, namely respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. The quality of data collected was ensured by applying the principles of validity and reliability in the development stage of the questionnaire and by conducting a pilot study. Rigorous evaluation of the developed job aid is required to establish its validity. It is recommended that the job aid be included in nurse training and continuing education programs. The trainings should be cascaded to the village health workers and primary caregivers of other bed-ridden patients. The job aid will also reach more caregivers if translated to other local languages. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Lived Experiences of Repeat Sex Offenders in a Zimbabwean Juvenile Prison Regarding Secondary Desistance
- Authors: Chingozho, Johnson
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Sex Offender -- Zimbabwe , Prison violence
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58750 , vital:60084
- Description: Juvenile sex offending is a serious crime that represents a social dysfunction for the offender, an injury to the community and a traumatic experience for the victim. Sex offending is generally perceived to be a conscious and intentional decision. Adolescent sex offending may be attributed to emotional immaturity and faulty thinking patterns. While interventions have been developed in Western settings, it appears they have failed to reduce reoffending among juvenile sex offenders in Zimbabwe. This is attributed to a lack of a culturally responsive psychological programme developed for the Zimbabwean adolescent sex offender. The study employed a phenomenological qualitative research approach that is exploratory, descriptive and theory generative in design. The Integrated Theory of Desistance from Sex Offending (ITDSO) underpinned the research study. The ITDSO’s three temporal dimensions namely: decisive momentum, rehabilitation and reentry were instrumental in the framing of the interview questions used in fieldwork and the development of the Zimbabwe Adolescent Sex Offender Psychoeducational Programme (ZASOPP). The research study took place in four phases. Phase 1 of the study constituted an integrative literature review utilising Whittemore and Knafl’s framework. Synthesis of the literature was conducted and analysed in terms of the themes that emerged that were relevant to juvenile sex offending and desistance. Phase 2 employed a qualitative phenomenological approach to understand the lived experiences of repeat juvenile sex offenders regarding secondary desistance in a Zimbabwean juvenile prison. The data collection process involved in-depth semi-structured interviews with 11 male repeat juvenile sex offenders between the ages of 17 and 21 years. The interviews were conducted in the Shona language. The data collected from the semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded, and analysed by the researcher vii utilising the Colaizzi method. Phase 2 revealed a lack of parental guidance, minimisation, poor social skills, poor academic achievement, alcohol, and drug misuse as perceived factors influencing sex reoffending among juvenile sex offenders. The fear of prison, hopelessness, and challenges in adapting to the new reality in prison contributed to pains of imprisonment. Predictably, the study findings further revealed a lack of an appropriate psychological rehabilitation programme targeted at intervention among juvenile sex offenders. Phase 3 of the research study involved the development of a conceptual framework from the synthesis of findings from the integrative literature review, fieldwork and six concepts of the survey list of the Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach theory. The conceptual framework was used as a basis for the development of a psychoeducational programme. Phase 4 of the research study involved the development of a Zimbabwe Adolescent Sex Offender Psychoeducational Programme as informed by the conceptual framework developed in Phase 3 for clinical assessment and intervention among juvenile sex offenders in prison. The formulated programme would be used to intervene among juvenile sex offenders in a Zimbabwean juvenile prison to assist them to have psychological, mental well-being and to enhance secondary desistance. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Chingozho, Johnson
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Sex Offender -- Zimbabwe , Prison violence
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58750 , vital:60084
- Description: Juvenile sex offending is a serious crime that represents a social dysfunction for the offender, an injury to the community and a traumatic experience for the victim. Sex offending is generally perceived to be a conscious and intentional decision. Adolescent sex offending may be attributed to emotional immaturity and faulty thinking patterns. While interventions have been developed in Western settings, it appears they have failed to reduce reoffending among juvenile sex offenders in Zimbabwe. This is attributed to a lack of a culturally responsive psychological programme developed for the Zimbabwean adolescent sex offender. The study employed a phenomenological qualitative research approach that is exploratory, descriptive and theory generative in design. The Integrated Theory of Desistance from Sex Offending (ITDSO) underpinned the research study. The ITDSO’s three temporal dimensions namely: decisive momentum, rehabilitation and reentry were instrumental in the framing of the interview questions used in fieldwork and the development of the Zimbabwe Adolescent Sex Offender Psychoeducational Programme (ZASOPP). The research study took place in four phases. Phase 1 of the study constituted an integrative literature review utilising Whittemore and Knafl’s framework. Synthesis of the literature was conducted and analysed in terms of the themes that emerged that were relevant to juvenile sex offending and desistance. Phase 2 employed a qualitative phenomenological approach to understand the lived experiences of repeat juvenile sex offenders regarding secondary desistance in a Zimbabwean juvenile prison. The data collection process involved in-depth semi-structured interviews with 11 male repeat juvenile sex offenders between the ages of 17 and 21 years. The interviews were conducted in the Shona language. The data collected from the semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded, and analysed by the researcher vii utilising the Colaizzi method. Phase 2 revealed a lack of parental guidance, minimisation, poor social skills, poor academic achievement, alcohol, and drug misuse as perceived factors influencing sex reoffending among juvenile sex offenders. The fear of prison, hopelessness, and challenges in adapting to the new reality in prison contributed to pains of imprisonment. Predictably, the study findings further revealed a lack of an appropriate psychological rehabilitation programme targeted at intervention among juvenile sex offenders. Phase 3 of the research study involved the development of a conceptual framework from the synthesis of findings from the integrative literature review, fieldwork and six concepts of the survey list of the Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach theory. The conceptual framework was used as a basis for the development of a psychoeducational programme. Phase 4 of the research study involved the development of a Zimbabwe Adolescent Sex Offender Psychoeducational Programme as informed by the conceptual framework developed in Phase 3 for clinical assessment and intervention among juvenile sex offenders in prison. The formulated programme would be used to intervene among juvenile sex offenders in a Zimbabwean juvenile prison to assist them to have psychological, mental well-being and to enhance secondary desistance. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
A structural model for sustainable growth of the south African business process outsourcing sector
- Authors: Chinhamo, Edmore
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Outsourcing sector , Contracting out -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58306 , vital:58970
- Description: he total size of the South African Business Process Outsourcing sector is not growing as quickly as other global BPO locations like the Philippines and India. The sector has been identified by the South African government as a key sector for economic growth and for reducing unemployment. Reviewed frameworks are not exhaustive in providing a framework that is suitable for countries with an apartheid history like South Africa, so, the main aim of this study has been, therefore, to develop a structural model for sustainable growth of the South African BPO sector. The research was two phased: Firstly, it interrogated existing theories and models on BPO growth to identify variables for BPO growth. The variables were identified as talent pool, infrastructure, accessibility, lower costs, and legislative framework. The relationships between variables were hypothesised. The reviewed literature discussed the global economy and traced the origins of outsourcing as rooted in the advent of Information Technology and computer-enabled production which enabled fragmented processes which could be in any part of the world. The literature showed that competition for markets, coupled with a glut of products on the market, forced creativity which resulted in companies seeking operations in low-cost locations. The first popular locations for BPO operations were India and the Philippines, with emerging locations, like South Africa, positioning themselves to tap into this global development. Secondly, a quantitative study was performed using a web-based questionnaire which was sent to a sample of BPO executives in the BPO value chain in South Africa to test relationships among between variables. The results of the study showed statistically significant relationships between talent pool, infrastructure, lower costs, accessibility and legislative framework with BPO growth, albeit with varying degrees of strength. Contrary to popular belief, lower costs are no longer the most important driver of BPO location choice. Accessibility and legislative framework have also been confirmed by data as variables affecting BPO growth. After the computation of the relationships, the research concluded that the model developed is a good fit for BPO growth. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Chinhamo, Edmore
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Outsourcing sector , Contracting out -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58306 , vital:58970
- Description: he total size of the South African Business Process Outsourcing sector is not growing as quickly as other global BPO locations like the Philippines and India. The sector has been identified by the South African government as a key sector for economic growth and for reducing unemployment. Reviewed frameworks are not exhaustive in providing a framework that is suitable for countries with an apartheid history like South Africa, so, the main aim of this study has been, therefore, to develop a structural model for sustainable growth of the South African BPO sector. The research was two phased: Firstly, it interrogated existing theories and models on BPO growth to identify variables for BPO growth. The variables were identified as talent pool, infrastructure, accessibility, lower costs, and legislative framework. The relationships between variables were hypothesised. The reviewed literature discussed the global economy and traced the origins of outsourcing as rooted in the advent of Information Technology and computer-enabled production which enabled fragmented processes which could be in any part of the world. The literature showed that competition for markets, coupled with a glut of products on the market, forced creativity which resulted in companies seeking operations in low-cost locations. The first popular locations for BPO operations were India and the Philippines, with emerging locations, like South Africa, positioning themselves to tap into this global development. Secondly, a quantitative study was performed using a web-based questionnaire which was sent to a sample of BPO executives in the BPO value chain in South Africa to test relationships among between variables. The results of the study showed statistically significant relationships between talent pool, infrastructure, lower costs, accessibility and legislative framework with BPO growth, albeit with varying degrees of strength. Contrary to popular belief, lower costs are no longer the most important driver of BPO location choice. Accessibility and legislative framework have also been confirmed by data as variables affecting BPO growth. After the computation of the relationships, the research concluded that the model developed is a good fit for BPO growth. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04