Attitudes to affirmative action and the perceived impact of affirmative action programmes in the South African business environment : a comparative study based on race and gender
- Authors: Wright, Sarah-Ann L
- Date: 1994
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:3250 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015715
- Description: Affirmative action is a sensitive and controversial topic evoking a host of emotional reactions regarding tokenism, reverse discrimination, lowering of standards, quota systems and a disregard for meritocracy (Gatherer & Erikson, 1992). It is also a topic receiving considerable attention in the context of a changing South Africa and will be one of the first steps taken in the labour arena under a new government (Charoux, 1991 ). The goals of the research were firstly, to detail and compare the attitudes of men and women, black and white to affirmative action and secondly, to examine the perceived impact of an affirmative action programme on beneficiaries as well as non-beneficiaries. The research was of a quantitative and qualitative nature, so as to provide the scope and depth desired in such an investigation. A survey was conducted using the data collection techniques of a mail questionnaire (quantitative focus) and individual in-depth interviews (qualitative focus). A pilot study was conducted. The majority of the questions in the questionnaire conformed to the conventions of the Likert Scale (Oppenheim, 1992) and data was analysed using percentile frequencies. Data from the interviews was analysed using the qualitative methods of noting themes and patterns, and clustering as proposed by Miles and Hubem1an (1984). The research was conducted in one large organisation in the infomation services industry, situated in the PWV area. Four key sample groups of white men, white women, black men and black women were used. The results of the research indicate that respondents perceive affirmative action as a policy to primarily address the educational disadvantages of black people in South Africa. Initial attitudes to affirmative action reflected a negative orientation amongst whites but a positive orientation amongst blacks. However, probing into the issues indicated that whilst there is an acceptance of the philosophy of and the need for affirmative action for black people, disagreement existed over which implementation methods of affirmative action (preferential treatment and quota systems) were acceptable and at what interfaces (hiring, training and development, promotion), implementation was acceptable. Attitudes on these various issues were often not divided along racial or gender lines and considerable divergence of attitudes also existed within the sample groups. Gender in affirmative action received less consideration by all four sample groups. Results also indicate that beneficiaries of affirmative action do not perceive affirmative action policies and programmes as stigmatising or negatively affecting their self-esteem. Nonbeneficiaries communicated that affirmative action could result in white resentment if blacks benefit at the expense of whites. Low levels of resentment were evident in the research. The organisation's affirmative action programme was seen to be ineffective due to the lack of communication about the programme, no evidence of its progress in terms of significant representation of blacks at senior levels in company XXX and the inequities that were seen to be still pervading the organisation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Wright, Sarah-Ann L
- Date: 1994
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:3250 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015715
- Description: Affirmative action is a sensitive and controversial topic evoking a host of emotional reactions regarding tokenism, reverse discrimination, lowering of standards, quota systems and a disregard for meritocracy (Gatherer & Erikson, 1992). It is also a topic receiving considerable attention in the context of a changing South Africa and will be one of the first steps taken in the labour arena under a new government (Charoux, 1991 ). The goals of the research were firstly, to detail and compare the attitudes of men and women, black and white to affirmative action and secondly, to examine the perceived impact of an affirmative action programme on beneficiaries as well as non-beneficiaries. The research was of a quantitative and qualitative nature, so as to provide the scope and depth desired in such an investigation. A survey was conducted using the data collection techniques of a mail questionnaire (quantitative focus) and individual in-depth interviews (qualitative focus). A pilot study was conducted. The majority of the questions in the questionnaire conformed to the conventions of the Likert Scale (Oppenheim, 1992) and data was analysed using percentile frequencies. Data from the interviews was analysed using the qualitative methods of noting themes and patterns, and clustering as proposed by Miles and Hubem1an (1984). The research was conducted in one large organisation in the infomation services industry, situated in the PWV area. Four key sample groups of white men, white women, black men and black women were used. The results of the research indicate that respondents perceive affirmative action as a policy to primarily address the educational disadvantages of black people in South Africa. Initial attitudes to affirmative action reflected a negative orientation amongst whites but a positive orientation amongst blacks. However, probing into the issues indicated that whilst there is an acceptance of the philosophy of and the need for affirmative action for black people, disagreement existed over which implementation methods of affirmative action (preferential treatment and quota systems) were acceptable and at what interfaces (hiring, training and development, promotion), implementation was acceptable. Attitudes on these various issues were often not divided along racial or gender lines and considerable divergence of attitudes also existed within the sample groups. Gender in affirmative action received less consideration by all four sample groups. Results also indicate that beneficiaries of affirmative action do not perceive affirmative action policies and programmes as stigmatising or negatively affecting their self-esteem. Nonbeneficiaries communicated that affirmative action could result in white resentment if blacks benefit at the expense of whites. Low levels of resentment were evident in the research. The organisation's affirmative action programme was seen to be ineffective due to the lack of communication about the programme, no evidence of its progress in terms of significant representation of blacks at senior levels in company XXX and the inequities that were seen to be still pervading the organisation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
Local government and coloured residential segregation in Port Elizabeth, 1964-1976
- Authors: Taylor, Beverley J
- Date: 1994
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: vital:7108 , https://doi.org/10.1080/03736245.1994.9713566 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1010736
- Description: preprint , Studies of racial territorial segregation affecting the coloured population in Port Elizabeth tend to perceive it as an outcome of a power struggle between central and local government over the implementation of apartheid legislation. This paper explores the underlying economic forces on the local government to bring about residential segregation and address the coloured housing crisis in the city. It is proposed that whereas central government motives for segregation were primarily political, local government was influenced largely by economic considerations. Local government objectives were severely compromised through both local industrial interests and the implementation of central government Group Areas policies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Taylor, Beverley J
- Date: 1994
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: vital:7108 , https://doi.org/10.1080/03736245.1994.9713566 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1010736
- Description: preprint , Studies of racial territorial segregation affecting the coloured population in Port Elizabeth tend to perceive it as an outcome of a power struggle between central and local government over the implementation of apartheid legislation. This paper explores the underlying economic forces on the local government to bring about residential segregation and address the coloured housing crisis in the city. It is proposed that whereas central government motives for segregation were primarily political, local government was influenced largely by economic considerations. Local government objectives were severely compromised through both local industrial interests and the implementation of central government Group Areas policies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
A combination of a stationary and non-stationary model to predict corporate failure in South Africa
- Authors: Court, Philip Wathen
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Bankruptcy -- South Africa Business planning -- South Africa Business failures -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1183 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002800
- Description: Business failure should be of concern in most industralised countries and the importance of accurately evaluating the phenomenon from a management and investment point of view is enormous. Were it possible to predict failure with a certain degree of confidence, steps could be taken to rectify the situation and the benefit would accrue to all of the stakeholders in the macroenvironment. In essence, the profitability of a business is influenced by two sets of variables. In the first instance, it is influenced by a variety of internal (microeconomic) variables which are firm- specific and which management is generally able to control. A further distinction in this regard may be made between the financial and non-financial variables. In the second instance, it is generally accepted that profitability will be influenced by a number of external (macroeconomic) variables which are generally beyond the control of management. In the main, however, the profitability of the firm is generally determined by a combination of both sets of factors. To date, a great deal of research has been undertaken in an attempt to establish a reliable model which may be used to predict failure. This has mainly been confined to the microeconomic variables which can be used to predict failure and attempts have been made to isolate either a single financial ratio or a number of financial and non-financial variables which can be used to model corporate failure. The research has met with a certain degree of success although this appears to be confined to the economic environment to which the models have been applied. The models are less successful when applied to other macroenvironments. Limited research has been undertaken into the macroeconomic variables which contribute to business failure or to a combination of the two types of variables. It is appropriate therefore that further consideration be given to the establishment of a model incorporating ALL the variables which could contribute to corporate failure. The purpose of this research is to undertake an investigation of micro- and macroeconomic variables that are freely available to reserachers and which may be used in a failure prediction model. The intention is to obtain a comprehensive, yet simple model which can be used as an overall predictor of PENDING failure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Court, Philip Wathen
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Bankruptcy -- South Africa Business planning -- South Africa Business failures -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1183 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002800
- Description: Business failure should be of concern in most industralised countries and the importance of accurately evaluating the phenomenon from a management and investment point of view is enormous. Were it possible to predict failure with a certain degree of confidence, steps could be taken to rectify the situation and the benefit would accrue to all of the stakeholders in the macroenvironment. In essence, the profitability of a business is influenced by two sets of variables. In the first instance, it is influenced by a variety of internal (microeconomic) variables which are firm- specific and which management is generally able to control. A further distinction in this regard may be made between the financial and non-financial variables. In the second instance, it is generally accepted that profitability will be influenced by a number of external (macroeconomic) variables which are generally beyond the control of management. In the main, however, the profitability of the firm is generally determined by a combination of both sets of factors. To date, a great deal of research has been undertaken in an attempt to establish a reliable model which may be used to predict failure. This has mainly been confined to the microeconomic variables which can be used to predict failure and attempts have been made to isolate either a single financial ratio or a number of financial and non-financial variables which can be used to model corporate failure. The research has met with a certain degree of success although this appears to be confined to the economic environment to which the models have been applied. The models are less successful when applied to other macroenvironments. Limited research has been undertaken into the macroeconomic variables which contribute to business failure or to a combination of the two types of variables. It is appropriate therefore that further consideration be given to the establishment of a model incorporating ALL the variables which could contribute to corporate failure. The purpose of this research is to undertake an investigation of micro- and macroeconomic variables that are freely available to reserachers and which may be used in a failure prediction model. The intention is to obtain a comprehensive, yet simple model which can be used as an overall predictor of PENDING failure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
Behavioural model debugging in Linda
- Authors: Sewry, David Andrew
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: LINDA (Computer system) Debugging in computer science
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4674 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006697
- Description: This thesis investigates event-based behavioural model debugging in Linda. A study is presented of the Linda parallel programming paradigm, its amenability to debugging, and a model for debugging Linda programs using Milner's CCS. In support of the construction of expected behaviour models, a Linda program specification language is proposed. A behaviour recognition engine that is based on such specifications is also discussed. It is shown that Linda's distinctive characteristics make it amenable to debugging without the usual problems associated with paraUel debuggers. Furthermore, it is shown that a behavioural model debugger, based on the proposed specification language, effectively exploits the debugging opportunity. The ideas developed in the thesis are demonstrated in an experimental Modula-2 Linda system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Sewry, David Andrew
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: LINDA (Computer system) Debugging in computer science
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4674 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006697
- Description: This thesis investigates event-based behavioural model debugging in Linda. A study is presented of the Linda parallel programming paradigm, its amenability to debugging, and a model for debugging Linda programs using Milner's CCS. In support of the construction of expected behaviour models, a Linda program specification language is proposed. A behaviour recognition engine that is based on such specifications is also discussed. It is shown that Linda's distinctive characteristics make it amenable to debugging without the usual problems associated with paraUel debuggers. Furthermore, it is shown that a behavioural model debugger, based on the proposed specification language, effectively exploits the debugging opportunity. The ideas developed in the thesis are demonstrated in an experimental Modula-2 Linda system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
A cultural analysis of Venda guitar songs
- Authors: Kruger, Jaco Hentie
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Ethnomusicology Venda (African people) -- Music -- Social aspects Songs with guitar Music -- Social aspects Music -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Venda Symbolism in music
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2644 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002309
- Description: This thesis focuses on the articulation in music of human worldviews, and the social contexts in which they emerge. It suggests that people project various forms of social reality through symbolic systems which operate dynamically to maintain and recreate cultural patterns. The symbolic system investigated in support of this suggestion is that constituted by Venda guitar songs. In the performance of these songs, social reality emerges in a combination of symbolic forms: verbal, musical and somatic. The combination of these symbolic forms serves as a medium for individual self-awareness basic to the establishment of social reality and identity, and the drive for social power and legitimacy. A study of these symbolic forms and their performance indicates that musicians invoke the potential of communal music to increase social support for certain principles on which survival strategies in a turbulently changing society might be based. The discourse of Venda guitar songs incorporates modes of popular expression and consciousness, and thus attempts to invoke states of intensified emotion to promote these survival strategies. Performance occasions emerge as a focus for community orientation and the exploration of social networks. They promote stabilizing social and economic interaction, and serve as a basis for moral and cooperative action. Social reality also emerges in musical style, which is treated as the audible articulation of human thought and emotion. Stylistic choices are treated as integral to the conceptualization of contemporary existence. A study of these choices reveals varying degrees of cultural resistance and assimilation, ranging from musical styles which are essentially rooted in traditional social patterns, to styles which integrate traditional and adopted musical elements as articulations of changing self-perceptions, social aspirations, and quests for new social identity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Kruger, Jaco Hentie
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Ethnomusicology Venda (African people) -- Music -- Social aspects Songs with guitar Music -- Social aspects Music -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Venda Symbolism in music
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2644 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002309
- Description: This thesis focuses on the articulation in music of human worldviews, and the social contexts in which they emerge. It suggests that people project various forms of social reality through symbolic systems which operate dynamically to maintain and recreate cultural patterns. The symbolic system investigated in support of this suggestion is that constituted by Venda guitar songs. In the performance of these songs, social reality emerges in a combination of symbolic forms: verbal, musical and somatic. The combination of these symbolic forms serves as a medium for individual self-awareness basic to the establishment of social reality and identity, and the drive for social power and legitimacy. A study of these symbolic forms and their performance indicates that musicians invoke the potential of communal music to increase social support for certain principles on which survival strategies in a turbulently changing society might be based. The discourse of Venda guitar songs incorporates modes of popular expression and consciousness, and thus attempts to invoke states of intensified emotion to promote these survival strategies. Performance occasions emerge as a focus for community orientation and the exploration of social networks. They promote stabilizing social and economic interaction, and serve as a basis for moral and cooperative action. Social reality also emerges in musical style, which is treated as the audible articulation of human thought and emotion. Stylistic choices are treated as integral to the conceptualization of contemporary existence. A study of these choices reveals varying degrees of cultural resistance and assimilation, ranging from musical styles which are essentially rooted in traditional social patterns, to styles which integrate traditional and adopted musical elements as articulations of changing self-perceptions, social aspirations, and quests for new social identity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
Raymond Mhlaba, the Premier of the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Orie, Tembeka
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Mhlaba, Raymond, 1920- African National Congress -- History African National Congress -- Youth League Africans -- Government relations Banning of persons -- South Africa Government, Resistance to -- South Africa Labor unions -- South Africa Mhlaba family New Brighton (Port Elizabeth, South Africa) -- History Political prisoners -- South Africa Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Manuscript , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2769 , vital:20324
- Description: Raymond Mpakamisi Mhlaba remains a mystery to tire public. Little is known about his, background and bow he has earned his premiership. The public is presently perplexed by his leadership qualities; his inaccessibility and his co-ordinating abilities to provide direction and leadership in the Eastern Cape province. What his vision is on implementing die reconstruction and development program, seems to be one of die anxieties experienced by the public presently. This paper endeavours to illuminate Mhlaba's past in order to explain and clarify who he is. This would help to see if there are any discrepancies between his past and the present, and what die challenges are to Mhlaba and to the public. , Digitised by Rhodes University Library on behalf of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Orie, Tembeka
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Mhlaba, Raymond, 1920- African National Congress -- History African National Congress -- Youth League Africans -- Government relations Banning of persons -- South Africa Government, Resistance to -- South Africa Labor unions -- South Africa Mhlaba family New Brighton (Port Elizabeth, South Africa) -- History Political prisoners -- South Africa Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Manuscript , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2769 , vital:20324
- Description: Raymond Mpakamisi Mhlaba remains a mystery to tire public. Little is known about his, background and bow he has earned his premiership. The public is presently perplexed by his leadership qualities; his inaccessibility and his co-ordinating abilities to provide direction and leadership in the Eastern Cape province. What his vision is on implementing die reconstruction and development program, seems to be one of die anxieties experienced by the public presently. This paper endeavours to illuminate Mhlaba's past in order to explain and clarify who he is. This would help to see if there are any discrepancies between his past and the present, and what die challenges are to Mhlaba and to the public. , Digitised by Rhodes University Library on behalf of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
NUMSA - Gender and Globalisation group discussion
- NUMSA
- Authors: NUMSA
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: NUMSA
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/117816 , vital:34561
- Description: In the past, the government in many countries provided social welfare benefits to people. These benefits included things like public health care and free education. This is now changing in many countries. Governments today provide fewer services and benefits to people. Instead they hand this job over the private sector. This means that people have to start paying before they get a service. If families can’t afford to pay private companies for these services, then someone in the family has to fill the gap. Generally it is women who have to: care for the sick when it is too expensive to take them to hospital, collect firewood because electricity is too expensive, walk miles to collect water from the river because piped water is too expensive. Many governments have been forced to change the role they play in the economy by the structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) imposes on them as one of the conditions for lending them money
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: NUMSA
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: NUMSA
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/117816 , vital:34561
- Description: In the past, the government in many countries provided social welfare benefits to people. These benefits included things like public health care and free education. This is now changing in many countries. Governments today provide fewer services and benefits to people. Instead they hand this job over the private sector. This means that people have to start paying before they get a service. If families can’t afford to pay private companies for these services, then someone in the family has to fill the gap. Generally it is women who have to: care for the sick when it is too expensive to take them to hospital, collect firewood because electricity is too expensive, walk miles to collect water from the river because piped water is too expensive. Many governments have been forced to change the role they play in the economy by the structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) imposes on them as one of the conditions for lending them money
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
Africa
- Tidiane Gaye (lead vocal), Assane Diop (solo guitar), Niankou Sembene (keyboards), Ousseynou Diop (drums), Moussa Sene, Mor Sourang, Thio Mbaye (percussion), Mada Ba (chorus), Galissa (kora), Mamane Thiam (tama), Studio 2000, Samassa Records
- Authors: Tidiane Gaye (lead vocal) , Assane Diop (solo guitar) , Niankou Sembene (keyboards) , Ousseynou Diop (drums) , Moussa Sene, Mor Sourang, Thio Mbaye (percussion) , Mada Ba (chorus) , Galissa (kora) , Mamane Thiam (tama) , Studio 2000 , Samassa Records
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Popular music--Africa, West , Africa Senegal Dakar f-sg
- Language: Wolof
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/130074 , vital:36373 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , SDC37-04
- Description: Popular Senegalese music incorporating pop, funk, Congolese ndombolo, cut-shifted Ivorian or Afro-dance
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Tidiane Gaye (lead vocal) , Assane Diop (solo guitar) , Niankou Sembene (keyboards) , Ousseynou Diop (drums) , Moussa Sene, Mor Sourang, Thio Mbaye (percussion) , Mada Ba (chorus) , Galissa (kora) , Mamane Thiam (tama) , Studio 2000 , Samassa Records
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Popular music--Africa, West , Africa Senegal Dakar f-sg
- Language: Wolof
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/130074 , vital:36373 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa , SDC37-04
- Description: Popular Senegalese music incorporating pop, funk, Congolese ndombolo, cut-shifted Ivorian or Afro-dance
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1994
'People's English' in South Africa : theory and practice
- Authors: Butler, Ian
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Second language acquisition -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1691 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003574
- Description: Communicative Language Teaching, an approach to language teaching currently widely prescribed, has been criticised for its unquestioning acceptance of the cultural and political norms of the target language. People's English (an aspect of the larger People's Education movement), on the other hand, offers a philosophy and methodology that takes an actively critical view of language and its relationship to power. In the context of South African society, this stance has had clear political implications. Although still imprecisely defined , the concepts of People's Education and People's English have been debated and discussed by various ant-apartheid movements in recent years. Attempts have also been made to translate the evolving theory into practice through the development of materials and methodologies. This has been achieved on a relatively small scale, with varying degrees of success. Recent reform measures by the South African government have, however, prompted the proponents of People's Education to reassess their position. This thesis presents a historical overview and critical assessment of the development of People's English in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Butler, Ian
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Second language acquisition -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1691 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003574
- Description: Communicative Language Teaching, an approach to language teaching currently widely prescribed, has been criticised for its unquestioning acceptance of the cultural and political norms of the target language. People's English (an aspect of the larger People's Education movement), on the other hand, offers a philosophy and methodology that takes an actively critical view of language and its relationship to power. In the context of South African society, this stance has had clear political implications. Although still imprecisely defined , the concepts of People's Education and People's English have been debated and discussed by various ant-apartheid movements in recent years. Attempts have also been made to translate the evolving theory into practice through the development of materials and methodologies. This has been achieved on a relatively small scale, with varying degrees of success. Recent reform measures by the South African government have, however, prompted the proponents of People's Education to reassess their position. This thesis presents a historical overview and critical assessment of the development of People's English in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
Investigating an environmental education curriculum to a developing society's needs: a case study of the programme offered at the Pilanesberg National Park, Bophuthatswana
- Authors: Johnson, Steven Robert
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Environmental education Environmental education -- Curricula -- South Africa -- Bophuthatswana Environmental education -- Curricula -- Case studies Pilanesberg National Park (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1585 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003467
- Description: The Environmental Education programme offered at the Gold Fields Environmental Education Centre (GFEE Centre) in the Pilanesberg National Park, Bophuthatswana, was initiated in response to requests from schools in Bophuthatswana to visit game reserves as 'syllabus related school activities'. Evaluative research into the GFEE Centre programme by an external researcher indicated that the learning experiences largely concentrated on cognitive development, and neglected to influence affective and psychomotor development. After a number of adaptations to the programme, which emphasised a more child-centred approach it was realised that little was known about the background and learning needs of the predominantly BaTswana school children. It was felt by the researcher that the learning activities provided at the GFEE Centre could also possibly be biased by a Western, scientific orientation which possibly lacked relevance to the cultural backgrounds of the pupils. The researcher used an action research approach in a number of workshops with a purposive sample of BaTswana primary school teachers, to gather data. The teachers were encouraged to critically reflect on the background and learning-needs of BaTswana children, with specific regard to environmental issues and worldviews. The information provided by the teachers' reflective deliberations and a seperate research project with school children, indicated that primary school children in Bophuthatswana tend to follow accepted human development patterns in their perceptions of the environment. The influence of either a predominantly rural or urban upbringing during a child's early formative years was considered by the teachers to be significant in determining worldviews, and culture was considered to have an influence on children's learning processes. Their beliefs and experiences were used by them in generating suggestions to correct the GFEE Centre programme. The teachers' also highlighted the fact that there were a number of socio-cultural and institutional issues which influenced the effectiveness of the GFEE Centre programme.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Johnson, Steven Robert
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Environmental education Environmental education -- Curricula -- South Africa -- Bophuthatswana Environmental education -- Curricula -- Case studies Pilanesberg National Park (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1585 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003467
- Description: The Environmental Education programme offered at the Gold Fields Environmental Education Centre (GFEE Centre) in the Pilanesberg National Park, Bophuthatswana, was initiated in response to requests from schools in Bophuthatswana to visit game reserves as 'syllabus related school activities'. Evaluative research into the GFEE Centre programme by an external researcher indicated that the learning experiences largely concentrated on cognitive development, and neglected to influence affective and psychomotor development. After a number of adaptations to the programme, which emphasised a more child-centred approach it was realised that little was known about the background and learning needs of the predominantly BaTswana school children. It was felt by the researcher that the learning activities provided at the GFEE Centre could also possibly be biased by a Western, scientific orientation which possibly lacked relevance to the cultural backgrounds of the pupils. The researcher used an action research approach in a number of workshops with a purposive sample of BaTswana primary school teachers, to gather data. The teachers were encouraged to critically reflect on the background and learning-needs of BaTswana children, with specific regard to environmental issues and worldviews. The information provided by the teachers' reflective deliberations and a seperate research project with school children, indicated that primary school children in Bophuthatswana tend to follow accepted human development patterns in their perceptions of the environment. The influence of either a predominantly rural or urban upbringing during a child's early formative years was considered by the teachers to be significant in determining worldviews, and culture was considered to have an influence on children's learning processes. Their beliefs and experiences were used by them in generating suggestions to correct the GFEE Centre programme. The teachers' also highlighted the fact that there were a number of socio-cultural and institutional issues which influenced the effectiveness of the GFEE Centre programme.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
The potential of the township landscape for fieldwork in the teaching of senior secondary school geography: a case study in Duncan Village/Gompo, East London
- Authors: King, Llewellyn
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Geography -- Fieldwork -- Study and teaching Geography -- Study and teaching (Secondary) Children with social disabilities -- Education (Secondary) -- South Africa Duncan Village (East London, South Africa) -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1709 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003592
- Description: The research emerged out of a need to address firsthand classroom concerns. The problem identified was that the D.E.T. geography syllabus had a Western-orientated world-view and, as such, was largely inappropriate to the experiences of township pupils. As a result, education in townships tends to maintain the status quo and the marginal position of the majority of South Africans. Recent unpublished research has shown that fieldwork is an effective compensatory tool. If fieldwork is used in the township , it can utilize the local environment which is familiar to pupils. Fieldwork, as an approach, has an additional advantage of being a vehicle for the empowerment of users. The research sets out to explore the potential of the township environment as a site in which fieldwork can be undertaken. Numerous opportunities are identified and these have been developed into fieldwork exercises. Out of the preparatory work, a need arose to establish the viability of doing township fieldwork. The concern is that, in spite of fieldwork appearing in the secondary school syllabus for a number of years, it is a largely unexplored teaching approach. This necessitated the testing and evaluation of fieldwork opportunities in the township environment. The chaotic conditions of township education impinged upon the research process, causing its premature termination. The latter part of the research process raises questions of an ethical nature. Notwithstanding these problems, several positive factors emerge; the negative aspects should not be allowed to overshadow the benefits of the research. An emancipatory action research framework is used to evaluate the research process. The study concludes by highlighting the main issues raised in the research and makes recommendations concerning topics requiring further investigation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: King, Llewellyn
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Geography -- Fieldwork -- Study and teaching Geography -- Study and teaching (Secondary) Children with social disabilities -- Education (Secondary) -- South Africa Duncan Village (East London, South Africa) -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1709 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003592
- Description: The research emerged out of a need to address firsthand classroom concerns. The problem identified was that the D.E.T. geography syllabus had a Western-orientated world-view and, as such, was largely inappropriate to the experiences of township pupils. As a result, education in townships tends to maintain the status quo and the marginal position of the majority of South Africans. Recent unpublished research has shown that fieldwork is an effective compensatory tool. If fieldwork is used in the township , it can utilize the local environment which is familiar to pupils. Fieldwork, as an approach, has an additional advantage of being a vehicle for the empowerment of users. The research sets out to explore the potential of the township environment as a site in which fieldwork can be undertaken. Numerous opportunities are identified and these have been developed into fieldwork exercises. Out of the preparatory work, a need arose to establish the viability of doing township fieldwork. The concern is that, in spite of fieldwork appearing in the secondary school syllabus for a number of years, it is a largely unexplored teaching approach. This necessitated the testing and evaluation of fieldwork opportunities in the township environment. The chaotic conditions of township education impinged upon the research process, causing its premature termination. The latter part of the research process raises questions of an ethical nature. Notwithstanding these problems, several positive factors emerge; the negative aspects should not be allowed to overshadow the benefits of the research. An emancipatory action research framework is used to evaluate the research process. The study concludes by highlighting the main issues raised in the research and makes recommendations concerning topics requiring further investigation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
The first Bothriolepsis-associated Devonian fish fauna from Africa
- Anderson, M Eric, Hiller, Norton, Gess, Robert W
- Authors: Anderson, M Eric , Hiller, Norton , Gess, Robert W
- Date: 1994
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/73852 , vital:30235 , https://journals.co.za/content/sajsci/90/7/AJA00382353_5900
- Description: An advanced diplacanthid (Climatiiformes) is described from a Famennian estuarine environment of South Africa. It is characterized by having exceptionally long thin fin spines and a deep body form. Unusual details of the fins and fin spine insertions are preserved. This is the first record of a diplacanthid from the Southern Hemisphere.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Anderson, M Eric , Hiller, Norton , Gess, Robert W
- Date: 1994
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/73852 , vital:30235 , https://journals.co.za/content/sajsci/90/7/AJA00382353_5900
- Description: An advanced diplacanthid (Climatiiformes) is described from a Famennian estuarine environment of South Africa. It is characterized by having exceptionally long thin fin spines and a deep body form. Unusual details of the fins and fin spine insertions are preserved. This is the first record of a diplacanthid from the Southern Hemisphere.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
The effect of appetite suppressants on pineal function
- Authors: Mchunu, Bongani Isaac
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Pineal gland -- Research , Pineal gland -- Secretions , Appetite depressants -- Physiological effect
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4038 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004098 , Pineal gland -- Research , Pineal gland -- Secretions , Appetite depressants -- Physiological effect
- Description: The pineal gland has become the subject of considerable investigation as it provides a productive experimental model for studying circadian rhythms and regulation of end organs. In the rat, the pineal gland provides a convenient model for investigating the noradrenergic receptor system and the effects of various drugs on this system. The effect of appetite suppressants on the rat pineal gland function is described. Appetite suppressants increase melatonin synthesis in organ cultures of rat pineal glands. This effect appears to be mediated by noradrenaline acting on β-adrenoceptors on the pinealocyte membrane. When β-adrenoceptors are blocked, the appetite suppressant-induced rise in melatonin synthesis is prevented. Depletion of noradrenaline in sympathetic nerve terminals also prevented the appetite suppressant-induced rise in melatonin synthesis. Activation of β-adrenoceptors is followed by a rise in N-acetyltransferase activity via a cyclic adenosine monophosphate second messenger system. The effect of appetite suppressants on the activity of liver tryptophan pyrrolase was also investigated. The activity of this enzyme is an important determinant of tryptophan availability to the brain and consequently of brain serotonin levels. The results show that appetite suppressants inhibit both holoenzyme and total enzyme activities of tryptophan pyrrolase. This finding suggests that appetite suppressants may act by inhibiting tryptophan pyrrolase activity thereby increasing brain serotonin, a phenomenon known to be associated with anorexia. There are two possible mechanisms by which appetite suppressants inhibit tryptophan pyrrolase activity. Firstly, these agents, being drugs of dependence, may increase liver NADPH concentrations which inhibit pyrrolase activity. Secondly, appetite suppressants may act on the pineal gland to stimulate melatonin synthesis. Melatonin inhibits pyrrolase activity in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibition will elevate plasma tryptophan levels which result in a rise in brain serotonin synthesis. The present study suggests a possible relationship between the pineal gland and appetite centres in the hypothalamus. Melatonin may have a direct effect on appetite centres since food restriction is associated with an increased melatonin binding in the hypothalamus. If this possible relationship can be extended, melatonin can open new possibilities for the control of food intake and consequently, of pathological obesity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Mchunu, Bongani Isaac
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Pineal gland -- Research , Pineal gland -- Secretions , Appetite depressants -- Physiological effect
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4038 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004098 , Pineal gland -- Research , Pineal gland -- Secretions , Appetite depressants -- Physiological effect
- Description: The pineal gland has become the subject of considerable investigation as it provides a productive experimental model for studying circadian rhythms and regulation of end organs. In the rat, the pineal gland provides a convenient model for investigating the noradrenergic receptor system and the effects of various drugs on this system. The effect of appetite suppressants on the rat pineal gland function is described. Appetite suppressants increase melatonin synthesis in organ cultures of rat pineal glands. This effect appears to be mediated by noradrenaline acting on β-adrenoceptors on the pinealocyte membrane. When β-adrenoceptors are blocked, the appetite suppressant-induced rise in melatonin synthesis is prevented. Depletion of noradrenaline in sympathetic nerve terminals also prevented the appetite suppressant-induced rise in melatonin synthesis. Activation of β-adrenoceptors is followed by a rise in N-acetyltransferase activity via a cyclic adenosine monophosphate second messenger system. The effect of appetite suppressants on the activity of liver tryptophan pyrrolase was also investigated. The activity of this enzyme is an important determinant of tryptophan availability to the brain and consequently of brain serotonin levels. The results show that appetite suppressants inhibit both holoenzyme and total enzyme activities of tryptophan pyrrolase. This finding suggests that appetite suppressants may act by inhibiting tryptophan pyrrolase activity thereby increasing brain serotonin, a phenomenon known to be associated with anorexia. There are two possible mechanisms by which appetite suppressants inhibit tryptophan pyrrolase activity. Firstly, these agents, being drugs of dependence, may increase liver NADPH concentrations which inhibit pyrrolase activity. Secondly, appetite suppressants may act on the pineal gland to stimulate melatonin synthesis. Melatonin inhibits pyrrolase activity in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibition will elevate plasma tryptophan levels which result in a rise in brain serotonin synthesis. The present study suggests a possible relationship between the pineal gland and appetite centres in the hypothalamus. Melatonin may have a direct effect on appetite centres since food restriction is associated with an increased melatonin binding in the hypothalamus. If this possible relationship can be extended, melatonin can open new possibilities for the control of food intake and consequently, of pathological obesity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
Towards developing a long term stratergy for COSATU
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176133 , vital:42662
- Description: The aim of this discussion document is to begin a debate about the future role of COSATU. Its success will depend on concrete debate, discussion by membership and criticism of issues and/or direction. The analysis of the past three years will be addressed in a separate paper in preparation for the CEC and 5th National Congress] Since our inception, our guiding principle has been to bring about the transfer of power to the people. The present political settlement, no matter how flawed, takes us a step closer to that goal. All polls indicate that barring a miracle, the ANC will have around 60% representation in the next parliament and Government of National Unity and Reconstruction. This will indeed represent a break with the past and a real victory for workers and the country as a whole.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176133 , vital:42662
- Description: The aim of this discussion document is to begin a debate about the future role of COSATU. Its success will depend on concrete debate, discussion by membership and criticism of issues and/or direction. The analysis of the past three years will be addressed in a separate paper in preparation for the CEC and 5th National Congress] Since our inception, our guiding principle has been to bring about the transfer of power to the people. The present political settlement, no matter how flawed, takes us a step closer to that goal. All polls indicate that barring a miracle, the ANC will have around 60% representation in the next parliament and Government of National Unity and Reconstruction. This will indeed represent a break with the past and a real victory for workers and the country as a whole.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
The effects of particle precipitation on the ionosphere in the South Atlantic Anomaly Region
- Authors: Haggard, Raymond
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Precipitation (Chemistry) Ionosphere Ionospheric electron density
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5463 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005248
- Description: The first ground based observations of aeronomic phenomena in the South Atlantic Anomaly Region are presented. These data show that enhancements in foF2 and foE can be directly attributed to precipitated electron energy fluxes in the Anomaly Region. The regular occurrence of particle induced sporadic-E ionization is also presented together with the first measurable 391.4 nm airglow radiation of about 16 R. The first comprehensive survey of energy fluxes carried by energetic particles using satellites is also presented for both daytime and nighttime as well as the seasonal fluctuations. We found that the nocturnally precipitated electron energy fluxes varied between 1 x 10⁻⁴ and 38 x 10⁻⁴ erg cm²s⁻¹, depending upon magnetic activity and season, whereas the daytime precipitated electron energy fluxes tended to vary between 1 x 10⁻³ and 8 x 10⁻³ erg cm⁻²s⁻¹, with a tendency to decrease during magnetically active periods. Electron density and temperature contours as well as NO⁺ and 0⁺ ions contours for nighttime are also presented. The main conclusion of the study is that precipitating electrons provide a significant and sometimes dominant source of ionization in the ionosphere over the South Atlantic Anomaly Region.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Haggard, Raymond
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Precipitation (Chemistry) Ionosphere Ionospheric electron density
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5463 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005248
- Description: The first ground based observations of aeronomic phenomena in the South Atlantic Anomaly Region are presented. These data show that enhancements in foF2 and foE can be directly attributed to precipitated electron energy fluxes in the Anomaly Region. The regular occurrence of particle induced sporadic-E ionization is also presented together with the first measurable 391.4 nm airglow radiation of about 16 R. The first comprehensive survey of energy fluxes carried by energetic particles using satellites is also presented for both daytime and nighttime as well as the seasonal fluctuations. We found that the nocturnally precipitated electron energy fluxes varied between 1 x 10⁻⁴ and 38 x 10⁻⁴ erg cm²s⁻¹, depending upon magnetic activity and season, whereas the daytime precipitated electron energy fluxes tended to vary between 1 x 10⁻³ and 8 x 10⁻³ erg cm⁻²s⁻¹, with a tendency to decrease during magnetically active periods. Electron density and temperature contours as well as NO⁺ and 0⁺ ions contours for nighttime are also presented. The main conclusion of the study is that precipitating electrons provide a significant and sometimes dominant source of ionization in the ionosphere over the South Atlantic Anomaly Region.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
Pollution caused by mine dumps and its control
- Chikusa, Chimwemwe Mainsfield
- Authors: Chikusa, Chimwemwe Mainsfield
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Pollution , Pollution -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Mineral industries -- Waste disposal , Slimes (Mining)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4991 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005603 , Pollution , Pollution -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Mineral industries -- Waste disposal , Slimes (Mining)
- Description: All mine dumps are a point source of either physical, chemical or both forms of pollution. Physical pollution includes the physical site coverage of the dump, slumping of parts of the dams and dust that may originate from it (air pollution). Chemical pollution from, or related to the mine dumps include the dominant acid drainage (which contains heavy metals), radioactivity, electromagnetic radiation, noise and chemicals released from the mineral processing stage. In one way or the other, exposure to these pollution forms is detrimental to the human health and his environment. It is this fact that urges the public, government and the responsible mining companies to find ways of monitoring the pollution and stopping it, preferably at the source. Where it can not be stopped, techniques of reducing it, or containing it have been, and are still being developed. Personal protection is the priority. Pollution exposure to the general public is minimised as much as possible. Pollution control techniques that employ less expensive, natural, self-sustaining elements suitable for the environment such as wetlands and vegetation are recommended. The artificial short term and often expensive alternatives are of secondary priority. However, choice of which technique to use is based on the merit of each problem, knowing that chemicals act faster but are effective for a short period as compared to the natural systems. Pollution management is the critical part of the whole process. This involves decision making on courses of action and financial allocation on the part of both the polluter and the monitoring department/agent. The ability to effectively manage pollution programmes is achieved these days with the aid of computers. It is emphasised that pollution control should be handled in an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach manner. This is because pollution is a question of life and death, hence every individual remains accountable to it. Keeping the public and the concerned parties educated, informed and welcoming their concerns on the environmental issues related to the mine dumps generated in a mining venture is essential in the modern days of environmental public awareness, or otherwise face the public lath.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Chikusa, Chimwemwe Mainsfield
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Pollution , Pollution -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Mineral industries -- Waste disposal , Slimes (Mining)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4991 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005603 , Pollution , Pollution -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Mineral industries -- Waste disposal , Slimes (Mining)
- Description: All mine dumps are a point source of either physical, chemical or both forms of pollution. Physical pollution includes the physical site coverage of the dump, slumping of parts of the dams and dust that may originate from it (air pollution). Chemical pollution from, or related to the mine dumps include the dominant acid drainage (which contains heavy metals), radioactivity, electromagnetic radiation, noise and chemicals released from the mineral processing stage. In one way or the other, exposure to these pollution forms is detrimental to the human health and his environment. It is this fact that urges the public, government and the responsible mining companies to find ways of monitoring the pollution and stopping it, preferably at the source. Where it can not be stopped, techniques of reducing it, or containing it have been, and are still being developed. Personal protection is the priority. Pollution exposure to the general public is minimised as much as possible. Pollution control techniques that employ less expensive, natural, self-sustaining elements suitable for the environment such as wetlands and vegetation are recommended. The artificial short term and often expensive alternatives are of secondary priority. However, choice of which technique to use is based on the merit of each problem, knowing that chemicals act faster but are effective for a short period as compared to the natural systems. Pollution management is the critical part of the whole process. This involves decision making on courses of action and financial allocation on the part of both the polluter and the monitoring department/agent. The ability to effectively manage pollution programmes is achieved these days with the aid of computers. It is emphasised that pollution control should be handled in an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach manner. This is because pollution is a question of life and death, hence every individual remains accountable to it. Keeping the public and the concerned parties educated, informed and welcoming their concerns on the environmental issues related to the mine dumps generated in a mining venture is essential in the modern days of environmental public awareness, or otherwise face the public lath.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
National Labour and Economic Development Institute Annual report
- NALEDI
- Authors: NALEDI
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: NALEDI
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/151179 , vital:39036
- Description: The National Labour & Economic Development Institute (NALEDI) opened its doors in October 1993 and began its research programme at the beginning of 1994. NALEDI is an initiative of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu). Its aim is to conduct policy-relevant research of interest to the labour movement. The origins of the institute date back to Cosatu's 1991 national congress which recognised the need to improve the research capacity of the federation. A feasibility study was conducted. This attempted to define the research needs of the federation and its affiliates. It also examined the experience of other union- linked institutes such as FAFO in Norway and DESEP in Brazil, and explored Cosatu's experience with service organisations and associated research groups. In early 1993 Cosatu's central executive committee endorsed the establishment of a labour research institute and raised funds (primarily from the Dutch union movement the FNV) to commence operations. Jeremy Baskin was appointed to get the institute functioning and a board was appointed to assist.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: NALEDI
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: NALEDI
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/151179 , vital:39036
- Description: The National Labour & Economic Development Institute (NALEDI) opened its doors in October 1993 and began its research programme at the beginning of 1994. NALEDI is an initiative of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu). Its aim is to conduct policy-relevant research of interest to the labour movement. The origins of the institute date back to Cosatu's 1991 national congress which recognised the need to improve the research capacity of the federation. A feasibility study was conducted. This attempted to define the research needs of the federation and its affiliates. It also examined the experience of other union- linked institutes such as FAFO in Norway and DESEP in Brazil, and explored Cosatu's experience with service organisations and associated research groups. In early 1993 Cosatu's central executive committee endorsed the establishment of a labour research institute and raised funds (primarily from the Dutch union movement the FNV) to commence operations. Jeremy Baskin was appointed to get the institute functioning and a board was appointed to assist.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
Ecology of the ichthyofauna in three temporarily open/closed estuaries on the Natal coast
- Authors: Harrison, Trevor D
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Estuarine animals -- South Africa -- Swartkops River Estuary , Fishes -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5269 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005113 , Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Estuarine animals -- South Africa -- Swartkops River Estuary , Fishes -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Description: The ichthyofauna of three small Natal estuaries, the Mhlanga, Damba and Zotsha was sampled over a period of two years. A total of 68 kinds of fishes representing 24 families, 39 genera and 56 species were captured during this study. Forty seven kinds of fishes were recorded in the Mhlanga of which Gilchristella aestuaria,Oreochromis mossambicus, Valamugil cunnesius, Valamugil sp. and juvenile mugilids numerically dominated. In terms of biomass, O. mossambicus, V. cunnesius, Liza alata, Myxus capensis and Mugil cephalus dominated the ichthyofauna of the Mhlanga. In the Damba, 24 kinds of fishes were recorded. The most abundant fishes captured were Glossogobius callidus, M. capensis and O. mossambicus. M. capensis, M. cephalus, O. mossambicus and G. callidus dominated the fish biomass captured in the Damba. A total of 56 kinds of fishes were recorded in the Zotsha during this study. The ichthyofauna of the Zotsha was numerically dominated by juvenile mugilids, G. aestuaria, O. mossambicus, Rhabdosargus holubi, Terapon jarbua, Ambassis productus and G. callidus. The species which dominated the fish biomass in the Zotsha were O. mossambicus, L. alata, Valamugil robustus, Valamugil buchanani, M. capensis, M. cephalus and V. cunnesius. Classifying the species captured according to whether they were resident estuarine species, freshwater species, estuarine-dependent marine species and marine species revealed that the first three groups were all well represented in the systems. The only system in which marine species made any significant contribution to the ichthyofauna was the Zotsha. Oreochromis mossambicus was the dominant freshwater species in all three estuaries during this study. Gilchristella aestuaria and Glossogobius callidus were the principal estuarine species in the Mhlanga and the Damba respectively. Both G. aestuaria and G. callidus were the dominant estuarine species captured in the Zotsha. The principal estuarine-dependent marine fishes captured in the Mhlanga were V. cunnesius, Valamugil sp., juvenile mugilids, M. capensis, M. cephalus and L. alata. In the Damba, M. capensis and M. cephalus were the dominant estuarine-dependent marine species and in the Zotsha juvenile mugilids, R. holubi, T. jarbua, A . productus, M. capensis, V. cunnesius, V. robustus, M. cephalus and L. alata predominated. The results of this study indicate that the estuaries are dominated at different periods by different assemblages of fishes. This is linked to the spawning and migration patterns of the various species as well as the hydrological regime of each estuary. During the winter these systems are normally closed with relatively deep waters and high food resource and habitat availability. Freshwater and estuarine species mainly inhabit the upper reaches of the systems while estuarine-dependent marine species mainly occupy the middle and lower reaches and dominate the fish community. When these systems open with the onset of the spring/summer rains, adult and sub-adult estuarine-dependent marine species emigrate to the marine environment and juveniles begin recruiting into the systems. Spring is also the peak breeding period of resident estuarine and freshwater species, resulting in an increase in the contribution of these fishes to the overall population during this period. When closed estuaries open many of them drain and this results in the fishes concentrating in the lower reaches of the system where moderate water depths are present, thus further contributing to an increase in the proportion of freshwater and estuarine species in this region. The breaching of closed estuaries also results in a slump in food resources and habitat availability. Competition and possible increased vulnerability to avian predation (due to the shallow nature of the systems), may contribute to a decrease in the proportion of estuarine and freshwater species in summer. The prolonged spawning and recruitment of 0+ juveniles of estuarine-dependent marine species results in an increase in the proportion of these fishes present in the estuaries during summer. In autumn, these systems normally close, water levels rise and available food resources and habitat increase. This allows the redistribution of freshwater and estuarine species upstream, leaving estuarine-dependent marine species to dominate the middle and lower reaches. Although temporarily open/closed estuaries along the Natal coast may not be as diverse as permanently open estuaries in terms of their ichthyofauna, their importance must not be underestimated since by providing a continuous sequence of sheltered habitats along the coast they may contribute significantly to the viability of estuarine-dependent marine fish stocks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Harrison, Trevor D
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Estuarine animals -- South Africa -- Swartkops River Estuary , Fishes -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5269 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005113 , Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Estuarine animals -- South Africa -- Swartkops River Estuary , Fishes -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Description: The ichthyofauna of three small Natal estuaries, the Mhlanga, Damba and Zotsha was sampled over a period of two years. A total of 68 kinds of fishes representing 24 families, 39 genera and 56 species were captured during this study. Forty seven kinds of fishes were recorded in the Mhlanga of which Gilchristella aestuaria,Oreochromis mossambicus, Valamugil cunnesius, Valamugil sp. and juvenile mugilids numerically dominated. In terms of biomass, O. mossambicus, V. cunnesius, Liza alata, Myxus capensis and Mugil cephalus dominated the ichthyofauna of the Mhlanga. In the Damba, 24 kinds of fishes were recorded. The most abundant fishes captured were Glossogobius callidus, M. capensis and O. mossambicus. M. capensis, M. cephalus, O. mossambicus and G. callidus dominated the fish biomass captured in the Damba. A total of 56 kinds of fishes were recorded in the Zotsha during this study. The ichthyofauna of the Zotsha was numerically dominated by juvenile mugilids, G. aestuaria, O. mossambicus, Rhabdosargus holubi, Terapon jarbua, Ambassis productus and G. callidus. The species which dominated the fish biomass in the Zotsha were O. mossambicus, L. alata, Valamugil robustus, Valamugil buchanani, M. capensis, M. cephalus and V. cunnesius. Classifying the species captured according to whether they were resident estuarine species, freshwater species, estuarine-dependent marine species and marine species revealed that the first three groups were all well represented in the systems. The only system in which marine species made any significant contribution to the ichthyofauna was the Zotsha. Oreochromis mossambicus was the dominant freshwater species in all three estuaries during this study. Gilchristella aestuaria and Glossogobius callidus were the principal estuarine species in the Mhlanga and the Damba respectively. Both G. aestuaria and G. callidus were the dominant estuarine species captured in the Zotsha. The principal estuarine-dependent marine fishes captured in the Mhlanga were V. cunnesius, Valamugil sp., juvenile mugilids, M. capensis, M. cephalus and L. alata. In the Damba, M. capensis and M. cephalus were the dominant estuarine-dependent marine species and in the Zotsha juvenile mugilids, R. holubi, T. jarbua, A . productus, M. capensis, V. cunnesius, V. robustus, M. cephalus and L. alata predominated. The results of this study indicate that the estuaries are dominated at different periods by different assemblages of fishes. This is linked to the spawning and migration patterns of the various species as well as the hydrological regime of each estuary. During the winter these systems are normally closed with relatively deep waters and high food resource and habitat availability. Freshwater and estuarine species mainly inhabit the upper reaches of the systems while estuarine-dependent marine species mainly occupy the middle and lower reaches and dominate the fish community. When these systems open with the onset of the spring/summer rains, adult and sub-adult estuarine-dependent marine species emigrate to the marine environment and juveniles begin recruiting into the systems. Spring is also the peak breeding period of resident estuarine and freshwater species, resulting in an increase in the contribution of these fishes to the overall population during this period. When closed estuaries open many of them drain and this results in the fishes concentrating in the lower reaches of the system where moderate water depths are present, thus further contributing to an increase in the proportion of freshwater and estuarine species in this region. The breaching of closed estuaries also results in a slump in food resources and habitat availability. Competition and possible increased vulnerability to avian predation (due to the shallow nature of the systems), may contribute to a decrease in the proportion of estuarine and freshwater species in summer. The prolonged spawning and recruitment of 0+ juveniles of estuarine-dependent marine species results in an increase in the proportion of these fishes present in the estuaries during summer. In autumn, these systems normally close, water levels rise and available food resources and habitat increase. This allows the redistribution of freshwater and estuarine species upstream, leaving estuarine-dependent marine species to dominate the middle and lower reaches. Although temporarily open/closed estuaries along the Natal coast may not be as diverse as permanently open estuaries in terms of their ichthyofauna, their importance must not be underestimated since by providing a continuous sequence of sheltered habitats along the coast they may contribute significantly to the viability of estuarine-dependent marine fish stocks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
Parallel implementation of a virtual reality system on a transputer architecture
- Authors: Bangay, Shaun Douglas
- Date: 1994 , 2012-10-11
- Subjects: Virtual reality , Computer simulation , Transputers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4668 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006687 , Virtual reality , Computer simulation , Transputers
- Description: A Virtual Reality is a computer model of an environment, actual or imagined, presented to a user in as realistic a fashion as possible. Stereo goggles may be used to provide the user with a view of the modelled environment from within the environment, while a data-glove is used to interact with the environment. To simulate reality on a computer, the machine has to produce realistic images rapidly. Such a requirement usually necessitates expensive equipment. This thesis presents an implementation of a virtual reality system on a transputer architecture. The system is general, and is intended to provide support for the development of various virtual environments. The three main components of the system are the output device drivers, the input device drivers, and the virtual world kernel. This last component is responsible for the simulation of the virtual world. The rendering system is described in detail. Various methods for implementing the components of the graphics pipeline are discussed. These are then generalised to make use of the facilities provided by the transputer processor for parallel processing. A number of different decomposition techniques are implemented and compared. The emphasis in this section is on the speed at which the world can be rendered, and the interaction latency involved. In the best case, where almost linear speedup is obtained, a world containing over 250 polygons is rendered at 32 frames/second. The bandwidth of the transputer links is the major factor limiting speedup. A description is given of an input device driver which makes use of a powerglove. Techniques for overcoming the limitations of this device, and for interacting with the virtual world, are discussed. The virtual world kernel is designed to make extensive use of the parallel processing facilities provided by transputers. It is capable of providing support for mUltiple worlds concurrently, and for multiple users interacting with these worlds. Two applications are described that were successfully implemented using this system. The design of the system is compared with other recently developed virtual reality systems. Features that are common or advantageous in each of the systems are discussed. The system described in this thesis compares favourably, particularly in its use of parallel processors. , KMBT_223
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Bangay, Shaun Douglas
- Date: 1994 , 2012-10-11
- Subjects: Virtual reality , Computer simulation , Transputers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4668 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006687 , Virtual reality , Computer simulation , Transputers
- Description: A Virtual Reality is a computer model of an environment, actual or imagined, presented to a user in as realistic a fashion as possible. Stereo goggles may be used to provide the user with a view of the modelled environment from within the environment, while a data-glove is used to interact with the environment. To simulate reality on a computer, the machine has to produce realistic images rapidly. Such a requirement usually necessitates expensive equipment. This thesis presents an implementation of a virtual reality system on a transputer architecture. The system is general, and is intended to provide support for the development of various virtual environments. The three main components of the system are the output device drivers, the input device drivers, and the virtual world kernel. This last component is responsible for the simulation of the virtual world. The rendering system is described in detail. Various methods for implementing the components of the graphics pipeline are discussed. These are then generalised to make use of the facilities provided by the transputer processor for parallel processing. A number of different decomposition techniques are implemented and compared. The emphasis in this section is on the speed at which the world can be rendered, and the interaction latency involved. In the best case, where almost linear speedup is obtained, a world containing over 250 polygons is rendered at 32 frames/second. The bandwidth of the transputer links is the major factor limiting speedup. A description is given of an input device driver which makes use of a powerglove. Techniques for overcoming the limitations of this device, and for interacting with the virtual world, are discussed. The virtual world kernel is designed to make extensive use of the parallel processing facilities provided by transputers. It is capable of providing support for mUltiple worlds concurrently, and for multiple users interacting with these worlds. Two applications are described that were successfully implemented using this system. The design of the system is compared with other recently developed virtual reality systems. Features that are common or advantageous in each of the systems are discussed. The system described in this thesis compares favourably, particularly in its use of parallel processors. , KMBT_223
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
Measures and determinants of productivity growth in the South African manufacturing sector
- Authors: Wright, Anthony John
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Industrial productivity -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1019 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002754 , Industrial productivity -- South Africa
- Description: The neoclassical "sources-of-growth" approach is applied to derive total factor productivity (TFP) growth measures for manufacturing industries in South Africa. Although South Africa's recorded industrial TFP growth measures have been persistently low in absolute terms, this performance is not significantly worse than the industrial TFP growth performance of other developing countries. In some periods there is evidence of a significant variability in TFP performance across industries. The measures also indicate that TFP growth has worsened in the 1980s, particularly in the intermediate-capital intensive and labour intensive industries. However, there are various problems with interpreting neoclassical TFP growth measures as indicators of production efficiency. In fact, as TFP growth is derived as a residual, it may measure many factors besides production efficiency. Alternative growth theories are used to assess the fundamental determinants of productivity growth. These provide a more plausible conceptualisation of the process by which productivity growth is generated than the neoclassical growth theory does. However, this analysis also provides little empirical evidence of which underlying factors have had the most influence on productivity growth in South African manufacturing. Hence, the relative importance of possible candidates can only really be assessed qualitatively and on the basis of micro evidence. However, these assessments, and the assumptions underlying the postulated causal connections (between the identified factors and productivity growth), have a major impact on policy design. In this respect, on the basis of the framework provided by the evolutionary and other recent growth theories, various policy implications are drawn, and these are contrasted with the policy proposals of other South African analysts. This thesis concludes that policies need to be designed with the central objective of enhancing the technological capabilities of South African firms. Trade policies will not be sufficient for achieving this objective. Education and training policies, technology, competition and labour market policies are also crucial. However, since the fundamental causes of productivity growth remain somewhat of a mystery, there is a need to be sceptical of simple policy prescriptions. In this respect, this thesis is highly critical of the World Bank's position that productivity gains will be reaped from the exposure of firms to international competition that trade liberalisation policies entail.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994
- Authors: Wright, Anthony John
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Industrial productivity -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1019 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002754 , Industrial productivity -- South Africa
- Description: The neoclassical "sources-of-growth" approach is applied to derive total factor productivity (TFP) growth measures for manufacturing industries in South Africa. Although South Africa's recorded industrial TFP growth measures have been persistently low in absolute terms, this performance is not significantly worse than the industrial TFP growth performance of other developing countries. In some periods there is evidence of a significant variability in TFP performance across industries. The measures also indicate that TFP growth has worsened in the 1980s, particularly in the intermediate-capital intensive and labour intensive industries. However, there are various problems with interpreting neoclassical TFP growth measures as indicators of production efficiency. In fact, as TFP growth is derived as a residual, it may measure many factors besides production efficiency. Alternative growth theories are used to assess the fundamental determinants of productivity growth. These provide a more plausible conceptualisation of the process by which productivity growth is generated than the neoclassical growth theory does. However, this analysis also provides little empirical evidence of which underlying factors have had the most influence on productivity growth in South African manufacturing. Hence, the relative importance of possible candidates can only really be assessed qualitatively and on the basis of micro evidence. However, these assessments, and the assumptions underlying the postulated causal connections (between the identified factors and productivity growth), have a major impact on policy design. In this respect, on the basis of the framework provided by the evolutionary and other recent growth theories, various policy implications are drawn, and these are contrasted with the policy proposals of other South African analysts. This thesis concludes that policies need to be designed with the central objective of enhancing the technological capabilities of South African firms. Trade policies will not be sufficient for achieving this objective. Education and training policies, technology, competition and labour market policies are also crucial. However, since the fundamental causes of productivity growth remain somewhat of a mystery, there is a need to be sceptical of simple policy prescriptions. In this respect, this thesis is highly critical of the World Bank's position that productivity gains will be reaped from the exposure of firms to international competition that trade liberalisation policies entail.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1994