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Factors contributing to a positive work experience for domestic workers

  • Authors: Taylor, Michelle Tracey
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Household employees -- South Africa , Employment relations Psychology, Industrial
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43877 , vital:37069
  • Description: Despite entrenched legislation directed at protecting the rights of domestic workers, many still endure menial working conditions, receive low wages and are even subject to exploitation and abuse. At the same time, domestic workers are charged with the major responsibility of caring for their employers’ homes and families. All of this may lead to a work experience that is regarded as less than positive. The aim of this study was to identify the factors that contribute to a more humanising and positive working experience for domestic workers. A qualitative approach was adopted, and data was obtained by conducting semi-structured interviews with seven domestic workers, and a separate group of seven employers of domestic workers, all of whom were located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Data was collected through interviews held with individuals in the two groups of participants and was processed by transcribing notes from audio tape recordings captured during the interviews. Data analysis took the form of a thematic analysis to identify recurring themes. The findings of the study revealed that domestic workers concerns regarding their work environment relate to job security, wages, working conditions and the relationship with their employer. The employers felt that legislation, being part of the family, retirement planning and respect were important themes that impact on a domestic worker’s work experience. This study endeavors to contribute to a better understanding of what is needed to provide a more humanising work experience for female domestic workers in South Africa who may have experienced a sense of marginalisation within, and exclusion from, the dynamics of the open labour market.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Factors driving the staff turnover in the motor retail industry

  • Authors: Monakali, Phatuxolo
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Labor turnover -- South Africa , Job satisfaction -- South Africa Employee motivation -- South Africa Motor vehicle industry -- Employees -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42008 , vital:36617
  • Description: Organisations in large have been featured by large competition and this necessitates that organisations continuously improve on their competitive advantage in order to capture and retain market share. This is no different from whether the organisation render services or sell products. Employees become key in assisting organisations to ensure that they deliver quality services or products to these customers, as they are mostly the ones that liaise with these customers. Attracting and retaining employees that are able to identify the needs of the customer and deliver the products and services to the customer’s satisfaction is one of the ways to improve the competitive advantage. Staff turnover becomes an important matter that needs to be understood together with the factors that drive the staff turnover. The aim of this research is to assist organisations to improve the retention rate of quality employees by investigating the factors that drives staff turnover and provide recommendations to avoid it. This research is specifically looking at the staff turnover at the motor car dealership level of the motor retail industry focusing on human resource management, management styles, organisational culture and remuneration as the key pre-identified drivers of high staff turnover. A quantitative research, consisting of online mail survey was conducted amongst sixty (60) people who voluntarily resigned from a motor retail group named company A in the Eastern Cape. The key findings indicated that management styles, organisational culture and remuneration were found to be the significant factors that drive the staff turnover at the dealership level of the motor retail industry. Recommendations were made to management to develop policies and procedures to address the factors in order to reduce the staff turnover.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Factors impacting the design of a mobile application for soil management: a case study of the Eastern Cape crops

  • Authors: Botha, Stephan
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Mobile soil management application
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MIT
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44581 , vital:38127
  • Description: Some of the biggest challenges the global community has to face are the ever-dwindling levels of freshwater resources, the drastic impact of the greenhouse gases on the global climate and the loss of non-renewable fertile soil. South African agriculture contributes a total of 12.7% to the overall South African GDP (gross domestic product). Only a small portion of the South African soil is considered as being able to grow healthy and nutritious crops. The world of information communication technology (ICT) is extremely vast and growing daily with newly created tools, to accommodate the needs of a specific sector, such as agriculture. As the ICT-based agricultural solutions increase and improve, the uptake of these solutions within the South African agricultural sector becomes even smaller. The reasons for the low uptake of mobile soil management solutions for crop growing farmers are unknown, due to limited research conducted. The identified problem was a lack of understanding of the way mobile technologies can be designed to adequately support farmers to correctly manage their soil to produce the best possible crops. The primary objective of this research study was to identify factors, which may have a significant impact on the design of a mobile soil management application for crop farmers in the Eastern Cape (South Africa). The secondary objectives were as follows: (i) to determine what soil management is and which aspects are required to implement soil management effectively; (ii) to identify possible mobile technologies suitable to act as an effective support structure for a mobile soil management application; and (iii) to identify which user experience guidelines are key for the development of an effective mobile soil management solution and to compile a user experience guideline for an effective mobile soil management solution. Achieving these objectives, resulted in a better understanding of the identified problem. The problem was addressed by conducting a thorough literature review and a case study to better grasp the different aspects of the identified problem. Quantitative data was collected by conducting a user interface evaluation. Qualitative data were also gathered by means of a field test using the mobile soil management application. The field test was done in conjunction with a heuristic evaluation, completed by the participants. Data triangulation was used to compare the results of the gathered data. The results from the data triangulation were used to confirm the factors, which made the most significant impact on the success of the soil management application. These confirmed design factors were used to produce a list of guidelines to improve the design of future mobile ICT soil management applications.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Factors impacting the design of a mobile application for soil management: a case study of the Eastern Cape crops

  • Authors: Botha, Stephan
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Mobile applications -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Soil management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44907 , vital:38187
  • Description: Some of the biggest challenges the global community has to face are the ever-dwindling levels of freshwater resources, the drastic impact of the greenhouse gases on the global climate and the loss of non-renewable fertile soil. South African agriculture contributes a total of 12.7% to the overall South African GDP (gross domestic product). Only a small portion of the South African soil is considered as being able to grow healthy and nutritious crops. The world of information communication technology (ICT) is extremely vast and growing daily with newly created tools, to accommodate the needs of a specific sector, such as agriculture. As the ICT-based agricultural solutions increase and improve, the uptake of these solutions within the South African agricultural sector becomes even smaller. The reasons for the low uptake of mobile soil management solutions for crop-growing farmers are unknown, due to limited research conducted. The identified problem was a lack of understanding of the way mobile technologies can be designed to adequately support farmers to correctly manage their soil to produce the best possible crops. The primary objective of this research study was to identify factors, which may have a significant impact on the design of a mobile soil management application for crop farmers in the Eastern Cape (South Africa). The secondary objectives were as follows: (i) to determine what soil management is and which aspects are required to implement soil management effectively; (ii) to identify possible mobile technologies suitable to act as an effective support structure for a mobile soil management application; and (iii) to identify which user experience guidelines are key for the development of an effective mobile soil management solution and to compile a user experience guideline for an effective mobile soil management solution. Achieving these objectives, resulted in a better understanding of the identified problem. The problem was addressed by conducting a thorough literature review and a case study to better grasp the different aspects of the identified problem. Quantitative data was collected by conducting a user interface evaluation. Qualitative data were also gathered by means of a field test using the mobile soil management application. The field test was done in conjunction with a heuristic evaluation, completed by the participants. Data triangulation was used to compare the results of the gathered data. The results from the data triangulation were used to confirm the factors, which made the most significant impact on the success of the soil management application. These confirmed design factors were used to produce a list of guidelines to improve the design of future mobile ICT soil management applications.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Factors influencing English reading competencies of Grade 4 learners in the Libode-Mega District of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

  • Authors: Nomkopo, Cornas Ngephi
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: English reading competency -- School learners Reading(Primary) -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters/Doctoral , M Ed
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/1400 , vital:34371
  • Description: Reading has become the national and international centre of debate as learners persistently read below the required levels and matriculation results are due to learners‟ poor reading competencies. The concerns about poor reading competencies has mounted into inflammatory statements in articles and popular media nationally, continentally and internationally. Without the ability to read learners are deprived access to pertinent information and knowledge that can assist individuals in lifelong learning. Being a language teacher, the researcher in this study strongly believe that every learner can read appropriately and teachers can assist learners to improve their reading competencies. The purpose of the study was to identify the factors contributing to poor reading competencies of grade 4 learners and to provide recommendations to assist in dealing with poor reading competencies. Qualitative research approach was undertaken to deal with all aspects related to research methodology. The data were collected using research instruments such as observation of six learners from three selected primary schools. The observation was conducted during reading of text by learners in the presence of English teachers. The questionnaires were distributed to eleven teachers offering English in grade 4 as another means of data collection instrument. Major findings of the study revealed that factors affecting reading competencies are hugely emanated from schools, teachers, family background, departmental policy and learners themselves. Despite reading problems exist in schools, there are always positive solutions to bring hope and success to the learners.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Factors influencing parents’ decisions when choosing a private school

  • Authors: Arendse, David
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: School choice -- South Africa -- Case studies , Competition -- South Africa , Private schools -- South Africa , Consumer behavior , VRIO framework (Valuable, Rare, Imitable and Organized) , St. Stithians College
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92628 , vital:30738
  • Description: Purpose: Consumers make decisions based on multiple factors that influence their decision-making process. These decisions can be influenced by deep personal reflection to the simple impulsive purchase done to fulfil a need or want. This research study explored the relationship between the resource-based view and the factors considered by parents when selecting a school for their child/children. The Valuable, Rare, Imitable and Organized (VRIO) framework as developed by Barney, J. (1991) outlines the framework through which an organisations resources can be assessed in terms of their potential competitive advantage. The research study was interested in understanding how an educational institution can identify and then leverage its resources to create a competitive advantage. Methodology: Each family that has one or more child enrolled at St Stithians College, which is a private school in Gauteng, South Africa, was invited to participate in the study. This represented a potential population size of 1 700 families, however a sample of 334 was used. The educational institution caters to both boys and girls from Grade R to 12 (Matric). Each family was requested to participate in the study as they had already chosen to have at least one child enrolled. A self-administered close-ended questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection and the questionnaire was broken into two sections. Section A focused on building a profile of the respondent while section B assessed the level of influence the factors had on a parent’s decision. Section B’s questions were structured as Likert-Scale questions requiring a response between 1 and 5, with 5 being the highest influence, and 1 being the lowest. The responses to the questions were then grouped into the factors they spoke to and the average results per factor were assessed via an ANOVA table to test the null hypothesis that parents do not consider factors when choosing a school for their children. Findings: As a paper, this study set out to discover what the competitive advantage was of a private education institution in South Africa. It did so by identifying what the key factors were when parents selected the school of their choice and then analysed these findings against the resources of the given institution. The ANOVA table analysis of the responses identified that parents do consider factors and that the factor that they were most influenced by was convenience factor, represented by location of the institution and the distance to it. While there are multiple private education suppliers in South Africa, no other provider has the location that St Stithians College has, and as such, its location is its competitive advantage. Significant: This research study will expand the existing but limited competitive advantage body of knowledge in the South African education sector. South African educational institutions will be able to develop similar studies which will then assist in identifying their own competitive advantages. This can better enable education providers to entice consumers to their education services.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Factors influencing survivorship of Portulacaria afra cuttings in restoration of degraded lands

  • Authors: Sholto-Douglas, Craig
  • Date: 2019
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92230 , vital:30692
  • Description: Heavy over-browsing, over-grazing, and over-trampling has caused the degradation of vast areas of subtropical thicket, including parts of the Greater Addo Elephant National Park (GAENP). Severe degradation has resulted in the loss of vegetation cover and the deterioration of soils and soil functioning. The South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), and specifically the Natural Resource Management Programme (NRM), have invested in restoration initiatives such as the Subtropical Thicket Restoration Programme (STRP), which has aimed to demonstrate the logistical and practical feasibility of restoring these degraded thickets by planting en masse Portulacaria afra (spekboom) cuttings. However, the planted P. afra cuttings often succumb to various abiotic and biotic stresses. This project aimed to identify various factors which may influence the survival of P. afra cuttings, including i) soil properties, ii) water (rainfall, infiltration, run-off, etc.), iii) browsing by mega-herbivores, iv) topographical features such as slope and aspect, or v) plant species or communities. Biodiversity and carbon baselines were carried out at 50 plots within the Main Camp, Darlington and Kabouga sections of the GAENP, providing pre-planting vegetation and soil data. The en masse planting of P. afra occurred following the completion of the baselines. Following a minimum rest period of three months after planting, survivorship counts were carried out at all plots. Infiltration rate had a significant positive relationship with planted P. afra survivorship across all of the sites. Positive trends between increases in litter and root biomass and planted P. afra cuttings survivorship in Kabouga were also evident. Magnesium, water-holding capacity and increasing soil clay percentage were found to have a significant negative relationship with planted P. afra survivorship in Kabouga. Aluminium, magnesium, and boron all had significant positive relationships with planted P. afra cuttings survivorship in Addo Main Camp. No soil variables had any significant relationship with survivorship of planted P. afra cuttings at Darlington. The presence of elephants (Loxidonta africana) had a significant negative relationship with planted P. afra survivorship. Plant communities in more ‘moderately’ degraded states, characterized by the retention of canopy dominant species, woody vegetation cover, limited bareground and higher cover of litter had higher survivorship of planted P. afra cuttings than those in more severely degraded states. The grass Panicum maximum, and forb Atriplex semibaccata were associated with positive relationships with planted P. afra survivorship across all sites. Future research should aim to develop matrices which plot likely survivorship percentages with parameters of measurable variables, such as infiltration, severity of soil capping, browsing densities, chemical indicators, and degradation severity, to identify suitable biophysical planting conditions for P. afra cuttings. Further research should assess whether the presence of elephants, in high densities, can reduce the economic feasibility of the en masse plantings of P. afra cuttings in attempts to restore degraded landscapes.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Factors influencing the spatial patterns of vertebrate roadkill in South Africa: The Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area as a case study

  • Authors: Collinson, Wendy J , Parker, Daniel M , Bernard, Ric T F , Reilly, Brian K , Davies-Mostert, Harriet T
  • Date: 2019
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/158320 , vital:40172 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1111/aje.12628
  • Description: Few studies have investigated the factors that influence roadkill occurrence in developing countries. In 2013, we monitored a 100‐km section of the road (comprising the R572 and R521 regional highways and the D2662) that pass through the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area in South Africa, to assess the possible factors influencing roadkill. Over a period of 120 days, and across the three ecological seasons, we recorded 981 roadkills (rate = 0.08 roadkill/km/day) from four vertebrate taxonomic groups. We generated predictive models of roadkill from one combined data set that considered eight variables identified from the literature as potential correlates of roadkill. The model that included the distance of the fence from the road, habitat type adjacent to the road, and the presence of a hill in the road (i.e., elevation) or a bank on the side of the road best explained roadkill occurrence.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Factors that influence consumers’ buying behaviour for particular vehicle brands

  • Authors: Bosman, Brendan
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Consumer behavior -- South Africa , Consumer profiling Advertising -- South Africa , Purchasing -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/37742 , vital:34233
  • Description: The motor industry is a critical component of South Africa’s economy. It is also an industry that has become intensely competitive with a large variety of vehicle brands on offer for buyers to choose from. Given the competitive nature of this environment, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) are constantly under pressure and have to consistently review and develop new strategies to keep their brands relevant in the market. The purpose of the study was to gain insight into customer preferences and specifically vehicle purchasing behaviour, and to establish if brand factors and personal factors influence consumer buying behaviour for particular vehicle brands. An empirical investigation was embarked on using a self-administered questionnaire with a seven-point Likert scale. Convenience sampling was used and resulted in the return of 215 usable questionnaires. The reliability of the measuring instrument was confirmed via acceptable Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data collected. The main findings indicate that numerous factors influence buyers’ behaviour when purchasing a vehicle. However, Quality, Safety and Price had the biggest influence on the buyer’s decision making when choosing a particular vehicle brand. Based on the findings, recommendations are made to dealers and OEM’s. These recommendations are practical and also linked to previous research as presented in the literature. Dealerships and OEMs should therefore take cognizance of these results and improve on these factors to influence vehicle buying behaviour. These factors should also be used as strong marketing components when advertising and selling vehicles. The value for money provided by vehicles should be emphasised. The link between Quality, Safety, and Price should therefore be accentuated.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Factors to improve data quality of electronic medical records

  • Authors: Makeleni, Noloyiso Anele
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Electronic records , Medical records -- Management , Medical records -- Data processing
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19881 , vital:43618
  • Description: Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems have been identified as having the potential to improve health care and allow the health care sector to reap a number of benefits when implemented successfully. These benefits include enabling quick and easy access to patient files and also reducing the problem of misplaced or lost patient files. Such EMRs allow for patient records to be up to date, provided that health care practitioners capture standard and consistent data in the relevant fields. In Africa, there are only a few countries that have successfully implemented EMR systems due to social and technological challenges. Social factors include lack of computer skilled health workers, lack of adequate training, physician’s resistance to shift from using paper records to electronic records, either due to complex systems or the fear of being replaced by the systems. On the other hand, the technological factors include lack of Information Technology (IT) and clinical resources, lack of internet access, financial barriers to purchase the necessary technological hardware and implementation costs. A few South African health care institutions have implemented EMR systems, however, most of the public health care facilities still make use of a manual system to capture patient information. In the case where public health care facilities do have an EMR system implemented, there are problems with the consistency of the data that is captured. The inconsistency is caused by the different understandings that the health care professionals have regarding the importance of capturing the necessary information that is collected at various points in health care institutions, thus affecting data quality. For the successful implementation and use of EMR systems, everything within the health care organisation should be integrated. In other words, the steering committee and workgroup, the equipment, the product, the processes, the system and the facility design and construction should be incorporated to work together. The common problems identified in literature regarding data quality in EMRs include misspelled words, inconsistent word strings, inaccurate information entered on the record and incompleteness of the record. These problems lead to poor quality information, lack of accessibility of the record, poorly organised notes and inaccurate information about the patient. The South African strategy aims to implement a National Health Insurance (NHI) which will provide citizens with equitable access to health care. For the successful implementation of the NHI strategy, South African health care sectors should address the barriers which were identified and learn from other African countries that have successfully implemented EMR systems and had positive outcomes. Therefore, this study investigates how data quality can be improved on electronic medical records in public health care in South Africa? The qualitative research methodology approach was used for this study. Interviews were conducted with eight health care professionals at Klerksdorp, in the North West province to obtain data regarding the factors they would deem important for the improvement of data quality in EMRs. The Data Quality Framework (DQF) was applied in this study and six dimensions were identified as the factors to improve data quality. These dimensions include completeness, accuracy, consistency, conformity, timeliness, and integrity. From the analysis of the interview responses, it was discovered that there were, in fact, data quality issues experienced at the public health care facilities of South Africa. A need was identified for the use of data quality assessment tools and solutions to address the data quality issues or challenges that health care practitioners are faced with during their daily jobs. Seven barriers were also identified as having an impact on the successful implementation of EMRs at health care institutions. These barriers, together with the data quality issues, influence the successful use of EMRs and should not be overlooked. From these barriers the study developed seven Critical Success Factors which can be used by the National Department of Health to improve the quality of EMRs. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2019
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Familiness resource pools: a comparative study in a developing country context

  • Authors: Izaks, Robert
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises -- Management , Family corporations -- Management Developing countries -- Economic conditions
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40105 , vital:35755
  • Description: Over the years, there has been an increased research interest in the field of family business because of the entrepreneurial potential of these businesses, as well as their potential to outperform non-family businesses. However, a lack of longevity and a lack of transgenerational success has hindered the potential of family businesses. The widely recognised Successful Transgenerational Entreprenuership Practices (STEP) framework highlights that eight familiness resource pools influence performance outcomes and ultimately the transgenerational potential of family businesses. These eight family resource pools are: leadership, networks, capital, decision-making, culture, relationships, governance, and knowledge. Given the lack of knowledge that exists concerning the nature of familiness resource pools among family businesses in a developing country context, the purpose of this study was to investigate the familiness resource pools of two South African family businesses, so that the nature of these pools in a developing country can be described and potential sources of heterogeneity highlighted. Specifically, the study analyses these familiness resource pools as a source for creating value across generations and enhancing the longevity of family businesses. The study followed the research methodology guidelines and protocols of the global STEP project by adopting an interpretivistic paradigm and a qualitative methodological approach. The case study methodology was used, and two successful multigenerational family businesses operating in the South African automotive industry were selected by means of criterion sampling. The data was collected by undertaking personal interviews with key members of these family businesses, and the data analysis involved undertaking deductive content analysis using Atlas.ti and a comparative analysis. The findings of this study suggest that the familiness resource pools among family businesses in a developing country are similar in some respects to those of family businesses in a Western context. However, they differ in other respects, and differ from each other. As such, the existence of heterogeneity in family businesses and particularly among the familiness resource pools, is confirmed. The findings also identify several similarities and differences between the extant literature and real world evidence concerning the nature of the familiness resource pools in family businesses. In general, they suggest that real world evidence is often similar to that reported in extant literature with only some discrepancies being identified. The current study provides a better understanding of the nature of the familiness resource pools in a developing country, and has enhanced the knowledge of family businesses in this regard. In describing the eight familiness resource pools of two successful South African family businesses in the automotive industry, this study provides valuable insights into the nature of the resource pools of successful family businesses in a developing country context and highlights their heterogeneity. The findings also prove of value to the participating family businesses, because by highlighting shortcomings and differences between them, changes and improvement can be made where necessary.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Feminine sexual desire and shame in the classroom: an educator’s constructions of and investments in sexuality education

  • Authors: Saville Young, Lisa , Moodley, Dale D , Macleod, Catriona I
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/444302 , vital:74215 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2018.1511974"
  • Description: Within the growing body of literature on sexuality education in South Africa, researchers have highlighted how teachers may face, or themselves be, barriers to the implementation of rights-based comprehensive sexuality education. Important issues with regard to educators are: firstly, the social and discursive space within which educators are located; and secondly, the complex emotional and psychic investments that educators take up within particular discourses and practices. This paper explores, through a psychosocial reading of an interview extract with a particular educator based in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, how discursive and psychic concerns are sutured within the complex subjectivity of the educator as the medium for sexual education in schools. Specifically, it highlights the numerous ways in which feminine sexuality and desire may be avoided, denied and silenced. Even when feminine desire is specifically evoked as in this case, it is done so in a way that ensures social and cultural respectability, thereby reproducing shame narratives that form and maintain traditional gender discourses. Our analysis demonstrates how engaging with educators as subjects with their own sexual history and psychic dynamics, and as individuals with raced, gendered and classed identities, is a potentially transformative perspective for effective sexuality education.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Financial development and economic growth in South Africa

  • Authors: Mhango, Joseph
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Finance -- South Africa , Economic development -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41117 , vital:36358
  • Description: Since the identification of financial development for economic growth by Schumpeter (1911), the importance of financial development has been emphasised. However, the nature of the relationship is unclear, whether financial development is demand-following, supply-leading, feedback relationship or no causal relationship with economic growth. The revolution of the relationship between finance and economic growth has left a void of the exact nature of the relationship and importance of financial development in literature and empirical evidence. In addition, the variation of the nexus between financial development and economic growth in developed and developing countries has left policy makers uncertain on the exact policy to employ. In awe of this, after the discovery of diamonds and gold in South Africa, policy makers have attempted to improve the access, depth and efficiency of the finance sector to spur economic growth. However, South Africa has been subject to apartheid, low economic growth, global financial crises, international sanctions, unemployment and other challenges to the finance sector. In light of this, this study aims to empirically investigate the relationship between financial development and economic growth in South Africa. The study used the recently developed financial institutions index and financial markets index by the International Monetary Fund to represent bank-based and market-based financial development. This study utilises annual data over the period 1980 to 2014. The study applied the Autoregressive Disturbed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing, Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) Granger – Causality, Impulse Response Function (IRF) and Variance Decomposition to uncover the relationship between financial development and economic growth in South Africa. The ARDL was selected over the Johansen Cointegration because the variables can be I (1) or I(0) before carrying out the bounds testing. It is more suitable to a small sample size. It uses a reduced form equation, and it provides unbiased estimates of the long-run model. Lastly, it can be transformed into an error correction model. The VECM Granger-Causality was chosen because it represents the short-run and long-run causalities. After selection of the optimal lag, the ARDL bounds testing shows that economic growth, bank-based financial development, market-based financial development, savings and investment have a long-run relationship in South Africa. However, after estimation of the coefficients, financial development has a positive relationship with economic growth, but insignificant and only savings and investment were significant in determining long-run economic growth. The VECM granger-causality results show that financial development (bank and market), savings and investment granger cause economic growth in the long-run. While, economic growth, market-based financial development, savings and investment granger cause bank-based financial development in the long-run. Therefore, a feedback relationship exists between bank-based financial development and economic growth in the long-run. In the short-run, it was clear that bank-based financial development positively causes economic growth. The causality results show that a feedback relationship exists between bank-based financial development and economic growth in South Africa in the short-run as well. The IRF shows that a shock in economic growth negatively and positively affects bank based and market-based financial development respectively. A shock in bank-based financial development causes a positive effect on economic growth. Lastly, a shock in market-based financial development causes a positive effect on economic growth. Whilst, the variance decomposition shows that fluctuations in economic growth are increasingly explained by financial development (bank and market). While, fluctuations in bank-based financial development are increasingly explained by market-based financial development, savings and investment. The fluctuations in market-based financial development are increasingly caused by economic growth, savings and investment. It is recommended that policy makers utilise bank-based financial development for economic growth and reduced unemployment, to increase savings for long-run economic growth. Furthermore, challenges against market-based financial development should be reduced in order to create a positive relationship between investment and economic growth in the long run.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Financial development, income inequality and poverty: case of a selected SADC countries

  • Authors: Leve, Samkele
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Finance Economic development Income distribution
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Economics)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16918 , vital:40785
  • Description: The financial sector plays a pivotal role in an economy of a country; hence the importance of financial development cannot be underestimated. Financial development is widely regarded as another conduit through which income inequality and poverty can be alleviated, however both theoretical and empirical literature does not reach consensus on the effect of financial development on income inequality and poverty. Against this background, the study empirically examines the effect of financial development on income inequality and poverty in selected Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, employing the Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) technique for the period 1980 to 2011. Based on the inequalitydecreasing and Mckinnon Conduit effect, two models which link financial sector development and inequality and financial sector development and poverty were estimated using five different dimensions of financial development. Empirical results revealed that financial development overall does have an impact on income inequality and poverty in the selected SADC countries. An interesting observation from the empirical results is that the actual dimension of financial development plays a significant role in determining the relationship between financial development, income inequality and poverty in the SADC region. The impact of financial depth on poverty is not obvious in the study, depending on the variable used. On the relationship between financial system stability, income inequality and poverty, results reveal that a stable financial system is beneficial to the poor. Financial efficiency does not appear to have a significant role in reducing income inequality and poverty in the selected SADC countries. Overall, the findings from the study indicate that financial access or financial inclusion and financial stability is what reduces poverty instead of mere financial sector development at a broader level.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Financial inclusion and economic growth in Ghana

  • Authors: Anane, Alexander Kwabena
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Economic development -- Ghana
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40210 , vital:35990
  • Description: The relationship between financial inclusion and the growth of the economy is a topic of debate in the existing literature. Yet globally and at individual country level, policy makers have accepted financial inclusion as a developmental agenda. This study, therefore, empirically investigates the relationship between financial inclusion and economic growth in Ghana using quarterly time series data from 2005 to 2016. Employing the commonly used indicators, the ARDL bounds test with cointergration was applied to examine the short and the long run relationship between the variables. Furthermore, the Granger causality approach was also used to establish the direction between financial inclusion and economic growth in Ghana. The result of the findings confirmed mixed results and no clear cut relationship between the direction of causality between the indicators of financial inclusion and economic growth. The study concluded that whether financial inclusion positively or negatively impact economic growth rests on the indicators employed. The study therefore cautions in the choice of financial indicators as policy tools in designing and executing economic growth and development policies in Ghana.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Finding Frankenflora: investigating hybridisation between local and introduced Protea species at the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve

  • Authors: Macqueen, Timothy
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Proteaceae -- South Africa , Proteaceae Trees -- South Africa Hybridization
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40724 , vital:36230
  • Description: This study provides an overview of hybridisation and methods to detect it in plants. This is documented in chapter 1. Another aim was to identify hybridisation between local and non-local species in the Proteaceae. This is covered in chapter 2. Finally the third aim was to develop a cheap and rapidly working method of detecting hybrids in this system. This is detailed in chapter 3. The model system for this research is the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve. In 1984 the reserve manager introduced the non-local species, Protea susannae from Cape Agulhas. This represents a long-distance dispersal of over 600 km. This study is focused on looking at the impacts of the introduction of P. susannae on the local species P. eximia. I use genetic and morphological methods to detect hybrids. Hybridisation and the methods implemented to identify it are reviewed and discussed (Chapter 1). Morphological traits of the two species and direct sequencing of the nuclear ITS and chloroplast regions are compared (Chapter 2). This includes notes on the detection of hybrids and the potential for cryptic hybrids. I also focussed on testing of two rapid and low-cost techniques for detecting hybrids using Species Specific Primers (SSP’s) and High Resolution Melt (HRM). The Sanger sequencing method and ITS detected cryptic hybrids. The HRM was able to detect hybrids when comparing F1 putative hybrids to a ‘pure’ parent populations, but was not able to detect between a ‘pure’ parent population and F3 or F4 putative hybrids in the Van Stadens system. The SSP’s had the highest hybrid detection rate. Genetic methods, specifically the SSP’s were found to work well to detect hybrids in an environment where a hybrid swarm has taken place. The maps produced from this thesis will be useful for determining the distribution of hybrids in the reserve and for other similar hybrid systems. Long distance dispersal of Cape species may lead to the loss of genetic diversity or species as local and non-local hybridisation may occur, similar to the hybridisation between P. susannae and P. eximia in the Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve. Genetic methods were shown to be superior to morphological hybrid detection (i.e. Sanger sequencing and SSP’s). The SSP approach tested here, which is dependent on the presence of fixed species specific SNP’s (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms), could offer a rapid and effective method to explore hybridisation through space and time.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Finding ‘pulses of freedom’ in the border zone between higher and public education for sustainable development

  • Authors: Lotz-Sisitka, Heila
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , book chapter
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436866 , vital:73311 , ISBN 9780367076436 , https://www.routledge.com/Prioritizing-Sustainability-Education-A-Comprehensive-Approach/Armon-Scoffham-Armon/p/book/9780367076436
  • Description: Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Higher Edu-cation has long been a subject of discussion (eg Sterling, 2010; Togo and Lotz-Sisitka, 2013; Baarth, Michelsen, Rieckmann, and Thomas, 2016), with an increasing number of arguments being put forward for transformative, and even transgressive (ie transgressing the taken for granted) learning in these contexts (Lotz-Sisitka, Wals, Kronlid, and McGarry, 2015). There is, however, as yet little theoretical or practical work that focuses on the border zone or the interface between Higher Education and Public Education, due perhaps to an overemphasis on internal change in Higher Education settings. Public Education brings sustainable development (SD) into everyday life focus (Von Poeck et al., 2012), as it is here that complex, ‘wicked’ problems (Rittel and Webber, 1973) are ex-perienced. Such problems defy easy resolution. In this chapter I address this gap in the ESD literature by drawing on three cases of public education praxis in the border zone between Higher Education and Public Education: 1) using mobile learn-ing tools to transform markets for small holder farmers; 2) build-ing social learning networks that cross boundaries between colleges, farmers, and universities; and 3) using arts-based creative practice methods for public action. I start with these case stories, exploring them theoretically in order to illuminate new possibilities for ESD praxis in the sections that follow.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Fintech and the financial services industry in South Africa

  • Authors: Crouse, Johann Jacques
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Banks and banking -- Data processing , Banks and banking -- Technological innovations , Financial services industry -- Information technology , Banks and banking
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/38046 , vital:34311
  • Description: A preliminary literature review indicated that little to no research exists on the Fintech phenomena in the South African context. The purpose of this study is to gain the perceptions of South African bankers on the Fintech phenomena and to develop a deeper understanding of the Fintech phenomena in the South African context. An empirical exploratory qualitative approach was employed and an interpretivism research paradigm was utilised. A detailed literature review was conducted into the Fintech phenomena as well as the financial services sector in South Africa. The use of purposive sampling was initiated, and the sample of the study consisted of five individuals who work for the largest South African banks. The data was gathered through in-depth structured interviews which consisted of ten predetermined research questions. Rich data was obtained which was then analysed through the use of content analysis and coding. This enabled the transcription of data and the extraction of codes which assisted in obtaining findings that answered the research question. Authenticity, rigor, trustworthiness and credibility criteria was applied from the onset and throughout the research study. The themes that emerged from the data analysis process were navigated so that findings could be reached by comparing the themes to previous literature. In conclusion, six themes emerged from the data analysis, namely; collaboration can create new markets and create market share, investing in Fintech to overcome legacy infrastructure by going digital, Fintech companies are more customer focused, balance regulation between protecting the industry and creating an innovative environment competition in future will be fiercer, competition is good for the performance of the financial services industry and the Fintech phenomena is positive for the banking industry. Certain findings and conclusions were drawn; regulations in South Africa do allow for innovation, regulation is not biased towards banks, banks innovate and collaborate through Fintech, Fintech is positive for the banking industry, South African banks are investing in preparation for Fintech, South African banks have limited budgets, there is no significant loss of market share for banks due to Fintech companies, market share can be gained by banks partnering with Fintech companies and the future of the financial services industry in South Africa.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

First report on carbon storage in warm-temperate mangroves of South Africa

  • Authors: Johnson, Jaime Leigh
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Mangrove ecology -- South Africa , Mangrove conservation Mangrove plants Mangrove management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/31563 , vital:31581
  • Description: Blue carbon is defined as the carbon sequestered and stored by coastal vegetated ecosystems including mangroves, seagrass and salt marsh. Research on blue carbon has rapidly escalated during the past decade following the 2009 United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) report, which highlighted the efficiency of these coastal habitats to act as carbon sinks. Mangrove forests in particular have been recognized for their significant role as carbon sinks and therefore have been prioritized in atmospheric carbon mitigation strategies. Despite global research efforts, there is still a notable knowledge gap on carbon storage potential of different mangrove tree species in underrepresented geographic regions. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of blue carbon for a mangrove forest in a warm temperate estuary in South Africa. Carbon storage was quantified for Avicennia marina mangrove stands at the Nxaxo Estuary; using both elemental analysis and loss on ignition (LOI) techniques for sediment carbon pools and only elemental analysis for aboveground biomass (leaf litter, pneumatophores, wood).The environmental characteristics were the same at the five sites sampled and this was related to the estuary being well-mixed and permanently open to the Indian Ocean. Unexpectedly the carbon content was weakly correlated with that measured by elemental analysis. The cause of this is unknown and could potentially be an avenue for further investigation. The carbon content measured from elemental analysis was used in further calculations, as this method is reliable and meets global standards for comparisons. For the aboveground carbon pools, the pneumatophores (2.1 × 10-3 Mg C ha-1) stored significantly more carbon compared to the live trees (3.35 × 10-4 Mg C ha-1) and leaf litter (2.84 × 10-6 Mg C ha-1). The sediment carbon pool (228.05 Mg C ha-1) stored significantly more carbon than the aboveground carbon pools, which is in line with the findings of other studies from different regions. Sediment carbon storage was not related to mangrove tree population structure or sediment characteristics, such as moisture content and particle size. However, sediment carbon storage was highest at Site 2 which was located in a depositional area of the estuary. The total carbon storage is 1140.25 Mg C for the mangrove area of 9.5 the Nxaxo Estuary; this is considerably lower than what has been recorded for other regions. In South Africa, mangroves in warm--temperate regions occur at one of the southernmost limits globally and are restricted to occurring in sheltered estuaries due to the high--energy nature of the coastline. As a result, the growth and productivity of mangroves in these regions can be influenced by estuarine and climatic dynamics. Although total carbon storage was not variable between different sites at this estuary, this might not be the case on a regional scale as variability is expected to occur between estuaries within South Africa. Comparing the data collected from this study and others done globally, it is clear that the capacity for carbon storage by mangroves is variable. Therefore, regional scale blue carbon studies should be undertaken to provide estimates from direct quantification and allometric equation approaches. Carbon storage has been recognized as a valuable ecosystem service; therefore, going forward, accurate estimations of storage potential is essential, particularly for climate change mitigation and emission offset projects.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Fluorescence “turn-ON” nanosensor for cyanide ion using supramolecular hybrid of graphene quantum dots and cobalt pyrene-derivatized phthalocyanine

  • Authors: Achadu, Ojodomo John , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/187594 , vital:44674 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2018.08.038"
  • Description: A functional hybrid of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and cobalt pyrene-derivatized phthalocyanine (CoPc) used as a sensitive nanoprobe for the recognition of cyanide ion (CN−) is described in this work. The fluorescence of GQDs was quenched upon non-covalent (π-π stacking) hybrid formation with CoPc via a possible energy transfer pathway. However, in the presence of CN−, the interaction between GQDs and CoPc was perturbed, such that the fluorescence of GQDs initially quenched by CoPc was found to be efficiently recovered in the presence of CN−. Amongst the molecules and anions tested to ascertain their effects on the fluorescence behaviour of the hybrid, only CN− ion induced the tunable “off-on” restoration of the fluorescence of GQDs, which demonstrates the selectivity of the hybrid towards CN−. The restored fluorescence signals of the GQDs were linearly modulated by different concentrations of CN− and were used for the quantitative assay of CN− with high sensitivity coupled with rapid detection time. The detection was in the linear range of 1.0–50.0 nM with limits of detection (LOD) of 0.5 nM. The analysis of spiked samples for the recovery of CN− further demonstrated the applicability of the hybrid for the satisfactory detection of the target analyte.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019
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