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Intergroup conflict in soccer stadiums

  • Authors: Mazibuko, Vela Onke
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Collective behavior , Soccer fans , Soccer hooliganism , Police -- Violence against , Football stadiums , Group identity
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (C Psy)
  • Identifier: vital:11858 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/234 , Collective behavior , Soccer fans , Soccer hooliganism , Police -- Violence against , Football stadiums , Group identity
  • Description: The aim of the present research is to investigate three factors, namely perceptions of fairness in intergroup situations, ingroup identification and spatial dimensions that are assumed to contribute to why individuals participate in violence against the police in soccer stadiums. In Study 1 perceptions of fairness, identification and spatial perspective were manipulated and the results indicated a significant interaction effect between identification and spatial perspective. This interaction effect had a significant influence on negative behavioural tendencies towards police. In Study 2, identification and spatial perspective were manipulated and once again the interaction effect between identification and spatial perspective was found. A main effect of identification was found in that participants who identified lower with fans showed significantly more positive attitudes towards police. The results of the two studies highlight the importance of looking beyond the inherent nature of the crowd itself when analysing situations of police/fan conflict, and also the need to further investigate the spatial dimension and how it influences social judgment and decision making.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Interpretation of regional geochemical data as an aid to exploration target generation in the North West Province South Africa

  • Authors: Mapukule, Livhuwani Ernest
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Ore deposits -- South Africa , Prospecting -- South Africa , Mines and mineral resources -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geology)
  • Identifier: vital:11519 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/268 , Ore deposits -- South Africa , Prospecting -- South Africa , Mines and mineral resources -- South Africa
  • Description: This study involves the application, interpretation and utilization of regional geochemical data for target generation in the North West Province, South Africa. A regional soil geochemical survey programme has been carried out by the Council of Geoscience South Africa since 1973. A number of 1:250 000 sheet areas have been completed, but there are no interpretative maps which could aid in mineral exploration and other purposes. In order to utilize the valuable and expensive data, the project was motivated through data acquisition and interpretation to generate exploration targets. The study area is confined to Mafikeng, Vryburg, Kuruman and Christiana in the Northwest Province, where potential exploration and mining opportunities exist in areas of great geological interest. These include geological events such as the Bushveld Complex, the Kalahari manganese field and the Kraaipan greenstone belts. The aim of this project was to utilize geochemical data together with geophysical and geological information to verify and identification of possible obscured ore bodies or zones of mineralization, and to generate targets. Another objective was the author to be trained in the techniques of geochemical data processing, interpretation and integration of techniques such as geophysics, in the understanding of the geology and economic geology of the areas. Approximately 5 kg of surface soil was collected per 1 km2 by CGS from foot traversing. Pellets of the samples were prepared and analyzed for TiO2, MnO and Fe2O3, Sc, V, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Y, Ba, Nb, Rb, Th, W, Zr, Pb, Sr and U using the simultaneous wavelengthdispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer technique at the Council for Geoscience, South Africa. For each element the mean +2 standard deviations were used as a threshold value to separate the negative from the positive anomalies. The integration of geological, geophysical and geochemical information was used to analyze and understand the areas of interest. A number of computer programmes were extensively used for data processing, manipulation, and presentation. These include Golden Software Surfer 8®, Arc-View 3.2a®, TNT-Mips®, JMP 8 ®, and Microsoft Excel®. Through geochemical data processing and interpretation, together with the low resolution aeromagnetic data, gravity data and geological data, seven (7) exploration target areas have been generated: These have been numbered A to G. It is concluded that there is good potential for Cr, PGMs, vanadium, nickel, iron, copper, manganese, uranium and niobium in the targets generated. The results provide some indication and guide for exploration in the target areas. In Target A, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni and V anomalies from the lower chromitite zone of far western zone of the Bushveld Complex, which has be overlain buy the thick surface sand of the Gordonia Formation. Target B occurs over the diabase, norite, andesitic lava and andalusite muscovite hornfels of the Magaliesberg Formation. This target has the potential for Cu, Fe and Ni mineralization. The felsic rocks of the Kanye Formation and the Gaborone Granite in target C have shown some positive anomalies of niobium, uranium, yttrium and rubidium which give the area potential for Nb, REE and U exploration. Target D is located on the Allanridge Formation, and has significant potential for Ni-Cu mineralization, and is associated with the komatiitic lava at the base of the Allanridge Formation in the Christiana Area. The light green tholeiitic, calc-alkali basalt and andesitic rocks of the Rietgat Formation are characterized by a north-south trending yttrium anomaly with supporting Ba and Y anomalies (Target E). This makes the area a potential target for rare earth elements. Calcrete on the west of the Kuruman has a low b potential target for vanadium. It is believed that the area might be potential for potassium-uranium vanadate minerals, carnotite which is mostly found in calcrete deposits. This study has proved to be a useful and approach in utilizing the valuable geochemical data for exploration and future mining, generated by Council for Geoscience Science. It is recommended that further detailed soil, rock and geochemical surveys and ultimately diamond drilling be carried out in the exploration target areas generated by this study.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Knowledge production in a think tank: a case study of the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA)

  • Authors: Muzondo, Shingirirai
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Knowledge management -- South Africa , Knowledge representation (Information theory) , Knowledge, Sociology of , Corporate culture -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Bibl
  • Identifier: vital:11569 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/252 , Knowledge management -- South Africa , Knowledge representation (Information theory) , Knowledge, Sociology of , Corporate culture -- South Africa
  • Description: The study sought to investigate the system of knowledge production at AISA and assess the challenges of producing knowledge at the institution. The objectives of the study were to: identify AISA‟s main achievements in knowledge production; determine AISA‟s challenges in producing knowledge; find out how AISA‟s organizational culture impacts on internal knowledge production; and suggest ways of improving knowledge production at AISA. A case study was used as a research method and purposive sampling used to select 50 cases out of a study population of 70. Questionnaires were prepared and distributed to AISA employees and where possible face-to-face interviews were conducted. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze the data which were collected. Findings of the study may be used by governments across sub-Saharan Africa to produce relevant knowledge for formulating and implementing economic, social and technological policies. It is also important in identifying challenges that may hinder the successful production of knowledge. The study revealed that AISA has a well defined system of knowledge production and has had many achievements that have contributed to its relevance as a think tank today. The study found out that AISA has faced different challenges with the main one being organizational culture. From the findings, the researcher recommended that AISA should establish itself as a knowledge-based organization. It should also create a knowledge friendly culture as a framework for addressing the issue of organizational culture.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Lithostratigraphy sedimentology and provenance of the Balfour Formation Beaufort Group in the Fort Beaufort Alice area Eastern Cape Province South Africa

  • Authors: Katemaunzanga, David
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Sedimentary structures -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Formations (Geology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geology)
  • Identifier: vital:11521 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/274 , Sedimentary structures -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Formations (Geology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: A traverse through the Balfour Formation was chosen in the area around the towns of Fort Beaufort and Alice in the Eastern Cape Province. The main objectives of the study were to map the lithological variations within the Balfour Formation and to distinguish it from the underlying Middleton Formation and the overlying Katberg Formation. A combined desktop, field and laboratory approach was used in this study. Aerial photographs, satellite images and digital topographical maps formed the basis of the desktop work. After desktop mapping, a number of field traverses were measured through the study area. Sedimentary structures were observed, photomosaics were done, stratigraphic sections were measured and samples were collected for thin sectioning, heavy mineral separation and major, trace and REE analysis. Sedimentological development of the Balfour Formation has been outlined in relation to its provenance during the Late Permian. Lithological variation of the Balfour Formation is characterised by alternating sandstone-dominated and mudstone-dominated members. Arenaceous Oudeberg and Barberskrans Members are contain facies ranging from intraformational conglomerates (Gmm), massive sandstones (Sm & Ss), horizontally laminated sandstones (Sh), planar and trough cross-bedded sandstones (Sp, Sl & St), trough cross-laminated sandstones (Sr) and fine-grained sediments (Fm & Fl), whereas the mudstone dominated members are characterised by the facies Fm and Fl. Lithofacies together with bedforms observed in the Balfour Formation were used in architecturalelement analysis. Sandstone–rich members are dominated by channel fill elements such as LS, DA, SB, LA and CH, whereas the fine-grained component consists of mainly, FF iii element. The mudstone-dominated members contain FF, CS and LV elements, with LA, SB and CH in the subordinate sandstones. Petrography, geochemistry and palaeocurrent analysis indicated that the source of the Balfour Formation was to the south-east and the rocks had a transitional/dissected magmatic arc signature. This led to the postulation of the Karoo Basin to have developed in a retro-arc foreland basin where there was supralithospheric loading in the Cape Fold Belt due to a compressional regime initiated by the subduction of Palaeo-Pacific plate underneath the Gondwana plate. The tectonic loading was episodic with eight major paroxysms affecting the Karoo Supergroup. The Balfour Formation coincides with the fourth paroxysm, this paroxysm in turn consists of two third-order paroxysm that initiated the deposition of the Oudeberg and Barberskrans Members in low sinuosity streams. Each paroxysm was followed by a period of quiescence and these resulted in the deposition of the Daggaboersnek, Elandsberg and Palingkloof Members in meandering streams. Depositional environments were determined mainly from the sedimentary structures and 3D architecture of the rock types. Sandstone rich members were formed by seasonal and ephemeral high energy low sinuous streams whereas the fine-grained rich members were formed by ephemeral meandering streams. Palaeoclimates have been equated to the present temperate climates; they were semi-arid becoming arid towards the top of the Balfour Formation. This has been determined geochemistry (CIA), sedimentary structures and other rock properties like colour.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Livestock, rural livelihoods and rural development interventions in the Eastern Cape: case studies of Chris Hani, Alfred Nzo and Amathole district municipalities

  • Authors: Phiri, Christopher
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Province , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D Soc Sc (Rural Development)
  • Identifier: vital:11937 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/184 , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Province , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: This study explores how livestock in rural communities were accessed, used as livelihoods portfolios and how off-farm activities and portfolios such as social grants, support from family members and employment assisted the rural poor to build their asset base. Empirical data was collected from 26 villages in the three districts. In particular the study examines firstly, the nature of rural poverty in these villages in the three districts and how households with and without livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, pigs, cats, ducks, horses and donkeys) used livestock local knowledge to sustain a living. Secondly it explores how the local government and related rural development agencies, intervened in livestock production and the thesis highlights the problematic nature of these interventions, and the implications this has for the form and nature of livestock ownership and use in relation to rural livelihoods. Arising from this, the thesis thirdly explores Ruliv‟s through concrete case studies, the challenges, constraints and implications of a pre-dominant top-down approach to rural development. Contrary to this approach, the study illustrates, through the Rhoxeni case study, the potential effectiveness of a „bottom-up‟ actor oriented approach to rural development. Fourthly, the study explores how local government initiatives intervened in the development of a rural livestock project in Alfred Nzo District Municipality through the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme Goat Project. Here iv the concerns of „commercialisation‟ of livestock production are explored and the thesis points to the implications that the exclusion of social and cultural meanings of livestock have for assumed paths of commercialisation and its associations with development. Fifthly the study explores the potentiality of emerging black commercial farmers who had acquired large areas of agricultural land through local government interventions (Land Redistribution Agricultural Development) but who lacked further support and capacity to transform themselves into commercial farmers. The thesis concludes that their livestock and crop farming activities remained more subsistence and livelihood based, than any transition to expected technical market oriented commercial farming. Overall, the thesis argues that while local government planning for rural development prioritised commercial agriculture as the basis of rural development and the key mechanism of rural poverty alleviation in developmental policies (PGDP, IDP, LED), rural poverty has actually been deepening. In this context, the study argues that the value of livestock to the rural poor lies „outside‟ of its assumed economic value and is more firmly and determinedly located in its social meanings and values, despite these significant levels of material poverty. This has major implications for understanding livelihoods, engaging livestock agency, defining farming and what it means to be a „farmer‟ and engaging with prevalent understandings and practices directed at rural development.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Milk production and calf performance in Nguni and crossbred cattle raised on communal rangelands of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa

  • Authors: Mapekula, Monde
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Nguni cattle , Communal rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy processing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Milk yield -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Amino acids -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fatty acids
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Animal Science)
  • Identifier: vital:11813 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/247 , Nguni cattle , Communal rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy processing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Milk yield -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Amino acids -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fatty acids
  • Description: Information on milk production could be useful in designing strategies that would help to improve milk production in communal farming systems. This study was conducted to determine milk production and calf performance of Nguni and crossbreds under smallholder cattle production conditions. Four trials were conducted in the study. The objective of the first trial was to determine farmer perceptions on milk production and calf rearing in smallholder areas. Data were obtained from 218 smallholder farmers, using a structured questionnaire. Smallholder farmer sector is constituted by small scale commercial farmers and communal farmers. Small-scale commercial farmers in South Africa obtained farms from the government through land claims or they bought the farms. Their farming background is a communal type. Communal farmers are farmers that are sharing the same grazing land and animals are managed according to the experience of the owner. The findings in this study indicated that there were numerous constraints to milk production in smallholder areas. These included lack of technical expertise and poor veterinary support services. The farmers also indicated that calf performance was low. The second trial was conducted to determine if there were differences in calf performance, gastrointestinal parasites and nutritionally-related blood metabolites between Nguni and crossbred calves. Body weights and faecal samples were collected monthly until weaning at six months. The levels of total protein, albumin, globulins, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose, cholesterol and minerals were determined monthly. Nguni calves had higher birth weights than crossbreds (P<0.05). Average daily gain and weaning weights of Nguni calves were greater than crossbred calves (P<0.05. Nguni calves had lower total protein at early age after birth (P<0.05). However, at weaning Nguni calves had higher total protein than crossbreds (P<0.05). Nguni calves had higher levels of glucose and NEFA concentrations than crossbred calves (P<0.05). In the third trial, milk utilisation patterns in smallholder areas of the Eastern Cape were assessed. Cattle owners (n = 130) were randomly selected in three different regions to determine milk consumption patterns, milk sales, prices and factors influencing these activities. The information was gathered using milk recording sheets, which were administered in February (early lactation) and June (late lactation) in 2009. Milk consumption per household was similar among the three districts (P>0.05). Milk was utilised as both fresh and sour. Fresh milk was utilised with tea/coffee and porridge. Excess fresh milk was utilised to feed pets (mostly cats and puppies). The puppies were fed on mostly whey, and, at times, on fresh milk. Sour milk was utilised to prepare of umvubo (a mixture of sour milk and scrambled porridge (umphokoqo) or a mixture of sour milk and bread). In some cases, excess milk was given to neighbours as a form of social investment and fame. The quality of milk from Nguni and crossbred cows was compared in the fourth trial. Milk samples were evaluated for quality in early (February), mid (April) and late (June) lactation in 2009. The essential amino acids, non-essential amino acids and fatty acids were determined. Nguni milk had higher amino acids and fatty acids concentration than crossbreds (P<0.05). Nguni milk had higher arginine levels in the early and mid lactation periods compared to crossbred cows (P<0.05). Nguni milk had higher methionine and threonine levels than crossbred cows (P<0.05). Methionine levels in Nguni were 0.15, 0.19 and 0.18 in early, mid and late lactation while crossbred had 0.05, 0.05 and 0.06 (g/100ml), respectively. There were significant interactions between lactation stage and genotype for lysine levels with Nguni milk having higher (P<0.05) lysine levels in the mid and late lactation periods. Nguni cows had higher tyrosine, glycine and proline levels than crossbred cows (P<0.05). In the early lactation, Nguni cows had higher serine levels than crossbred cows (P<0.05). In mid lactation crossbred cows had higher serine levels than Nguni cows (P<0.05). There were significant differences between genotypes on fatty acid composition. Nguni milk had higher C12:0 levels than crossbreds (P<0.05). However, milk from crossbred cows had higher C14:0 levels than that for Nguni cows (P<0.05) and also had higher levels of C16:0 and C18:0 fatty acids compared to Nguni cows. Crossbred milk had higher levels of C18n1n9t in early lactation period than Nguni and decreased as the stage of lactation progressed (P<0.05). In the early lactation, the levels of C18n1nC in Nguni milk were higher (P<0.05) than in late lactation. In the mid and late lactation, crossbred cows milk had higher C18n1nC levels than in early lactation (P<0.05). Lactation stage and genotype affected saturated fatty, monounsaturated fatty acids, cis-fatty acids and omega 3 (n-3) to omega 6 (n-6). In general, Nguni milk had higher mineral composition than crossbred milk (P<0.05). In conclusion, Nguni calves performed better than crossbred calves under communal rangelands. There is a need for crossing Nguni cows with dairy breeds in commercial dairying by smalhoder farmers as a strategy for improving both milk quality and quantity.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Monetary policy, inflation, unemployment and the Phillips curve in South Africa

  • Authors: Chicheke, Aaron
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Monetary policy , Inflation (Finance) , Economic policy -- Mathematical models , Unemployment -- South Africa , Phillips curve
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
  • Identifier: vital:11453 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001202 , Monetary policy , Inflation (Finance) , Economic policy -- Mathematical models , Unemployment -- South Africa , Phillips curve
  • Description: Inflation and unemployment are perhaps the two most important challenges that face the South African economy of today. Firstly, the study examines the relationship between monetary policy and the two economic fundamentals (inflation and unemployment), using the VEC modeling technique. The model regresses the monetary policy variable against inflation and unemployment growth over the period 1980-2008. The results suggest that (1) there is a long run relationship between inflation and unemployment (2) monetary policy reacts more to variations in inflation compared to variations in unemployment. Secondly, the relationship between inflation and unemployment as explained by the Phillips curve is investigated. The results show that there is a positive relationship between inflation and unemployment.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Numerical quadrature of oscillatory and non-oscillatory integrals

  • Authors: Dukuza, Kenneth Njengele https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4525-7390
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Oscillations , Numerical integration , Numerical analysis
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24304 , vital:62600
  • Description: In this dissertation we develop efficient new methods and techniques to numerically evaluate integrals of both oscillatory and non oscillatory kind. We have done a comprehensive literature review on the existing methods and made some modifications to them so as to cope with difficulties such as oscillations and strong singularities. In the numerical algorithms we have used mainly the MATLAB source code. Our results have been compared with well known methods by renowned authors in this field. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2009
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  • Date Issued: 2009

On the evaluation of spectral effects on photovoltaic modules performance parameters and hotspots in solar cells

  • Authors: Simon, Michael
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Photovoltaic cells , Energy dissipation , Electric power production , Photovoltaic power generation , Solar energy , Spectral energy distribution
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Physics)
  • Identifier: vital:11593 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/257 , Photovoltaic cells , Energy dissipation , Electric power production , Photovoltaic power generation , Solar energy , Spectral energy distribution
  • Description: The performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules in terms of their ability to convert incident photon to electrical energy (efficiency) depends mostly on the spectral distribution of incident radiation from the sun. The incident spectrum finally perceived by the module depends strongly on the composition of the medium in which it has traveled. The composition of the earth’s atmosphere, which includes, amongst others, water vapour, gases such as carbon dioxide and oxygen, absorbs or scatters some of the sunlight. The incident solar spectrum is also modified by the diffuse aspect of radiation from the sky which strongly depends on aerosol concentration, cloudiness and local reflection of the earth’s surface. Although it is well known that the changes in outdoor spectrum affect device performance, little work has been conducted to support this theory. This is probably due to lack of spectral data or in certain instances where data is available, little knowledge of interpreting that data. The outdoor spectral data that one obtains in the field does not come clearly for just simple interpretation. Different analytical interpretation procedures have been proposed, all trying to explain and quantify the spectral influence on PV devices. In this study an assessment methodology for evaluating the effects of outdoor spectra on device performance parameters during the course of the day, seasons and or cloudy cover has been developed. The methodology consists of developing a device dependant concept, Weighted Useful Fraction (WUF) using the outdoor measured spectral data. For measuring PV module’s performance parameters, a current-voltage (I-V) tester was developed in order to monitor the performance of six different module technologies. The Gaussian distribution was used to interpret the data. For hot-spot analysis, different techniques were used, which include Infrared thermographic technique for identifying the hot-spots in the solar cells, SEM and EDX techniques. The AES technique was also used in order to identify other elements at hot-spots sites that could not be detected by the EDX technique. iii Results obtained indicate that multicrystalline modules performance is affected by the changes in the outdoor spectrum during summer or winter seasons. The modules prefer a spectrum characterized by WUF = 0.809 during summer season. This spectrum corresponds to AM 2.19 which is different from AM 1.5 used for device ratings. In winter, the mc-Si module’s WUF (0.7125) peaks at 13h00 at a value corresponding to AM 1.83. Although these devices have a wider wavelength range, they respond differently in real outdoor environment. Results for mono – Si module showed that the device performs best at WUF = 0.6457 which corresponds to AM 1.83 during summer season, while it operates optimally under a winter spectrum indicated by WUF of 0.5691 (AM2.58). The seasonal changes resulted in the shift in WUF during day time corresponding to the “preferred” spectrum. This shift indicates that these devices should be rated using AM values that correspond to the WUF values under which the device operates optimally. For poly-Si, it was also observed the WUF values are lower than the other two crystalline-Si counterparts. The pc-Si was observed to prefer a lower AM value indicated by WUF = 0.5813 during winter season while for summer it prefers a spectrum characterized by WUF = 0.5541 at AM 3.36. The performance of the single junction a-Si module degraded by 67 percent after an initial outdoor exposure of 16 kWh/m² while the HIT module did not exhibit the initial degradation regardless of their similarities in material composition. It was established that the WUF before degradation peaks at 15h00 at a value of 0.7130 corresponding to AM 4.50 while the WUF after degradation “prefers” the spectrum (WUF = 0.6578) experienced at 15h30 corresponding to AM value of 5.57. Comparing the before and after degradation scenarios of a-Si:H, it was observed that the device spends less time under the red spectrum which implies that the device “prefers” a full spectrum to operate optimally. The degradation of a-Si:H device revealed that the device spectral response was also shifted by a 7.7 percent after degradation. A higher percentage difference (61.8 percent) for spectral range for the HIT module is observed, but with no effects on device parameters. Seasonal changes (summer/winter) resulted in the outdoor spectrum of CuInSe2 to vary by WUF = 1.5 percent, which resulted in the decrease in Isc. This was ascertained by iv analyzing the percentage change in WUF and evaluating the corresponding change in Isc. The analysis showed that there was a large percentage difference of the module’s Isc as the outdoor spectrum changed during the course of the day. This confirmed that the 17 percent decrease in Isc was due to a WUF of 1.5 percent. In mc-Si solar cells used in this study, it was found that elemental composition across the entire solar cell was not homogenously distributed resulting in high concentration of transition metals which were detected at hot spot areas. The presence of transition metals causes hot-spot formation in crystalline solar cells. Although several transition elements exist at hot-spot regions, the presence of oxygen, carbon, iron and platinum was detected in high concentrations. From this study, it is highly recommended that transition elements and oxygen must be minimized so as to increase the life expectancy of these devices and improve overall systems reliability
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Organisational restructuring and its impact on job satisfaction, career moblity and stress levels of employees at Lesotho Highlands Development Authority

  • Authors: Mahloane, Katiso William
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Employee morale , Organizational change , Employees -- Attitudes -- Evaluation , Job satisfaction , Stress management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Admin
  • Identifier: vital:11648 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/188 , Employee morale , Organizational change , Employees -- Attitudes -- Evaluation , Job satisfaction , Stress management
  • Description: Organisations today are in a state of ever accelerating rate of change. Globalisation of the economy, increasing competition, technological innovation as well as global competition are seen to bring about the ever-accelerating pace of change in the working environment worldwide (Christen 2005:241). For this reason, employees are challenged by changes in their careers that they never anticipated, changes which in the long-run, result in stress conditions that bring negative consequences for both employees and the organisation in their wake. This chapter will provide the background to the topic of the study and survey what other studies have revealed about it. The objectives of the study, the research questions, the research objectives over and above the necessary hypotheses will also be mentioned and to conclude, the chapter will provide the theoretical framework in support of this study.As we may be aware, we live in a world of change, where everything constantly has reformed. Organisations are also part of that big change especially in the new millennium where re-engineering, downsizing, outsourcing and restructuring have become common terms associated with many organisations. Although a number of studies have tried to determine how organisational restructuring benefits the organisation, little has been done to find out how the welfare of employees is affected by the restructuring initiatives. This study investigates the perceptions that employees have of organisational restructuring. It investigates how their job satisfaction, career mobility and their stress levels are affected by restructuring process after the restructuring process as well the stress that such employees experience due to restructuring. A survey was conducted at Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, where data was obtained from 121 respondents and statistically analysed. The findings reflect a negative association between restructuring and stress levels and career mobility. The findings show that job satisfaction was still experienced by the employees at LHDA and that most respondents see organisational restructuring as something that benefits the organisation and has little to do with the interests of the workers.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Potential of sorghum and finger millet to enhance household food security in Zimbabwe's semi-arid regions: a case study of communal areas in Masvingo Province

  • Authors: Mukarumbwa, Peter
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Food security -- Zimbabwe Case studies , Food supply -- Zimbabwe Case studies , Crops -- Zimbabwe Case studies , Sorghum -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Millets -- Economic aspects -- Zimbabwe
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
  • Identifier: vital:11186 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/368 , Food security -- Zimbabwe Case studies , Food supply -- Zimbabwe Case studies , Crops -- Zimbabwe Case studies , Sorghum -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Millets -- Economic aspects -- Zimbabwe
  • Description: Successive droughts, in Zimbabwe compounded by other economic shocks in recent years have resulted in decreased maize productivity amongst the communal farmers most of whom reside in regions IV and V which are considered semi-arid. This has given rise to the need to find alternative food crops, which may be suitable for these areas. Generally, research in the world indicates that sorghum and millet have the potential to end chronic food insecurity in semi-arid areas because of their drought tolerance. Whilst this might be the case, research, government policy and assistance from non-governmental organizations on food crop production in Zimbabwe have shown a continual inclination to maize production in semi-arid areas. However, maize is regarded as a high risk crop in these regions. The main objective of the study was to investigate major factors affecting smallholder farmers in semi-arid areas, from increased production of small grains, specifically sorghum and finger millet. The study was conducted in two rural districts of Masvingo and Gutu, which lie in natural region IV in Masvingo Province. The questionnaire was used as the main tool of inquiry to gather data from households in selected villages within these districts. Questionnaires were administered through face-to-face interviews. The total sample size was 120. The logistic regression model was used to analyze data. The results revealed that, at the 5% level, labour, cattle ownership, farm size, age, extension, yields and access to credit significantly influence sorghum and finger millet production. These findings suggest that an adjustment in each one of the significant variables can significantly influence the probability of participation in small grain production. In view of these research findings, a policy shift that encourages increased production of finger millet and sorghum in Zimbabwe‟s semi-arid regions is proposed. It is suggested that this may increase household food security in these regions.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Profit incentives and technical efficiency in the provision of health care in Zimbabwe: an application of data envelopment analysis and econometric methods

  • Authors: Maredza, Andrew
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Hospitals -- Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions , Health facilities -- Zimbabwe , Data envelopment analysis , Hospitals -- Zimbabwe -- Econometric models , Stock-flow analysis , Profit -- Mathematical models
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
  • Identifier: vital:11455 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/294 , Hospitals -- Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions , Health facilities -- Zimbabwe , Data envelopment analysis , Hospitals -- Zimbabwe -- Econometric models , Stock-flow analysis , Profit -- Mathematical models
  • Description: This study examines issues surrounding efficiency in the Zimbabwean health sector with specific emphasis on for-profit hospitals in order to find out whether they are significantly more efficient than non-profit hospitals. The study attempts to explore the significance of profit incentives on efficiency. This study uses the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology to examine hospital efficiency scores for the 100 hospitals in the sample classified as for-profit, mission and public. Outputs of the study include inpatient days and outpatient visits. The number of beds, doctors and nurses were used to capture hospital inputs. The findings indicated that there was a marked deviation of efficiency scores from the best practice frontier with for-profit hospitals having the highest mean PTE of 71.1 percent. The mean PTE scores for mission and public hospitals were 64.8 percent and 62.6 percent respectively. About 85 percent, 83 percent and 91 percent of the for-profit, mission and public hospitals were found to be operating below their average PTE. More than half of the hospitals are being run inefficiently. Of more importance to this study is the fact that the hypothesis of for-profit hospital superiority was accepted implying that for profit hospitals are significantly more efficient than the non-profit category. The study indicated that the amount of inputs being used could be decreased substantially without decreasing the quantity of outputs achieved. In each of the hospitals included in the study, the total input reductions needed to make inefficient hospitals efficient are more than 50 percent. These input savings could go a long way in achieving other health concerns without mobilizing additional resources in the sector
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Qualitative and quantitative properties of solutions of ordinary differential equations

  • Authors: Ogundare, Babatunde Sunday
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Differential equations , Lyapunov functions , Chebyshev polynomials , Algorithms
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Applied Mathematics)
  • Identifier: vital:11588 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/244 , Differential equations , Lyapunov functions , Chebyshev polynomials , Algorithms
  • Description: This thesis is concerned with the qualitative and quantitative properties of solutions of certain classes of ordinary di erential equations (ODEs); in particular linear boundary value problems of second order ODE's and non-linear ODEs of order at most four. The Lyapunov's second method of special functions called Lyapunov functions are employed extensively in this thesis. We construct suitable complete Lyapunov functions to discuss the qualitative properties of solutions to certain classes of non-linear ordinary di erential equations considered. Though there is no unique way of constructing Lyapunov functions, We adopt Cartwright's method to construct complete Lyapunov functions that are required in this thesis. Su cient conditions were established to discuss the qualitative properties such as boundedness, convergence, periodicity and stability of the classes of equations of our focus. Another aspect of this thesis is on the quantitative properties of solutions. New scheme based on interpolation and collocation is derived for solving initial value problem of ODEs. This scheme is derived from the general method of deriving the spline functions. Also by exploiting the Trigonometric identity property of the Chebyshev polynomials, We develop a new scheme for approximating the solutions of two-point boundary value problems. These schemes are user-friendly, easy to develop algorithm (computer program) and execute. They compare favorably with known standard methods used in solving the classes of problems they were derived for
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Regime politics and service delivery in the Cape Town Unicity Council

  • Authors: Okecha, Kem
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Local government -- South Africa -- Cape Town , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Cape Town
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geography)
  • Identifier: vital:11512 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/216 , Local government -- South Africa -- Cape Town , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Cape Town
  • Description: The study will account for the local state conflicts between several political parties governing the city of Cape Town in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, and the resulting effect on service delivery. These conflicts take the form of shifting political alliances (e.g., political floor crossing) and differing agendas about governing the city. The research statement is that the emerging conflicts between these political parties, particularly the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Independent Democrats (ID) and the recent local regime changes in the city have impacted on service delivery. Using urban regime theory, it seeks to explain how the two communities of Parkwood Estate and Ottery are governed and how these governing arrangements have operated with respect to ANC and DA control over the areas. In South Africa, while the politics of opposition between political parties has received much attention, especially at the national level, the role of these parties in service delivery at the local level has not received such consideration. With this in mind, this study attempts to contribute to an understanding of the association between local state politics and service delivery in Cape Town.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Relative deprivation and relative gratification as predictors of intergroup discrimination: can prejudice be reduced by equality?

  • Authors: Neuwenhuis, Bridgitte
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Collective behavior , Social perception , Intergroup relations , Deprivation (Psychology)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Psych)
  • Identifier: vital:11608 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/147 , Collective behavior , Social perception , Intergroup relations , Deprivation (Psychology)
  • Description: It has long been identified that relative deprivation increases prejudice. Guimond and Dambrun (2002) demonstrated that relative gratification, as the opposite of relative deprivation, is also an important variable in predicting intergroup discrimination. Guimond and Dambrun (2002), further suggest that in order to prevent destructive conflicts between groups, such as intergroup discrimination, the goal of equality rather than economic improvements has to be kept in mind. The present paper will report three experiments which aimed to replicate Guimond and Dambrun’s (2002) findings on relative deprivation and relative gratification and which further aimed to test their proposal that equality would reduce prejudice. The results of the three experiments confirmed the predicted effects of relative deprivation and relative gratification on intergroup discrimination. However, the results did not confirm that equality reduces prejudice. Methodological and theoretical reasons for these results are provided and discussed in detail.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Should passive euthanasia be made legal in South Africa?

  • Authors: Chidoori, Rumbidzai Elizabeth Portia
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Euthanasia -- South Africa , Euthanasia -- Law and legislation , Terminally ill -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA (Human Rights)
  • Identifier: vital:11098 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/253 , Euthanasia -- South Africa , Euthanasia -- Law and legislation , Terminally ill -- South Africa
  • Description: In In 1999 the South African Law Reform Commission proposed a draft bill on End of Life Decisions and tabled the Bill before Parliament. To date the Bill is still yet to be put up for discussion perhaps due to the sensitive nature of the subject. This mini-dissertation will examine South African people’s perception and awareness of passive euthanasia and whether the procedure should be regulated. The research will look at the current position in South Africa, arguments for and against passive euthanasia, and the factors influencing society’s reactions to this growing phenomenon.1999 the South African Law Reform Commission proposed a draft bill on End of Life Decisions and tabled the Bill before Parliament. To date the Bill is still yet to be put up for discussion perhaps due to the sensitive nature of the subject. This mini-dissertation will examine South African people’s perception and awareness of passive euthanasia and whether the procedure should be regulated. The research will look at the current position in South Africa, arguments for and against passive euthanasia, and the factors influencing society’s reactions to this growing phenomenon.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2009

Social security and the national orphan care policy in Zimbabwe: challenges from the child headed household

  • Authors: Muronda, Yeukai
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Orphanages -- Zimbabwe , Social security -- Zimbabwe , Child welfare -- Zimbabwe , Households -- Zimbabwe
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
  • Identifier: vital:11417 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/564 , Orphanages -- Zimbabwe , Social security -- Zimbabwe , Child welfare -- Zimbabwe , Households -- Zimbabwe
  • Description: This study focused on the policy responses formulated by the government of Zimbabwe and their implementation to meet the social needs of the people with special emphasis on the Zimbabwe National Orphan Care Policy (ZNOCP) of 1999. The challenges this policy is facing from the newly evolving structure of the child headed households was the centre of this study. At independence, the government adopted the incremental approach to policy making and extended formal social policy to the previously marginalized black majority. The ZNOCP was introduced in 1999 during the second phase of ESAP. The same period saw the spread of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. HIV and AIDS led to an increase in the number of orphans some of whom ended up in CHH without adult supervision. The day to day challenges of this group of orphans was investigated in Masvingo rural district. For this study both the qualitative and quantitative methodology paradigms were used. Secondary sources such as journal articles, published books and computer databases helped in complementing the field work. Four sets of questionnaires were administered to four groups of people which were the heads of CHH, extended families, community leadership and government officials. The analysis of this study led to the following conclusions about social policy and the plight of children in CHH. Firstly, that social policy has failed in Zimbabwe due to the incremental approach to policy making which was taken by the government because of its nature of being reformist as opposed to being transformative. Secondly, that the xiii ZNOCP is not being properly implemented therefore it does not have any impact on the lives of children in CHH. These children are struggling for basic social services like food and nutrition, clothing, education health, shelter and birth registration. Thirdly, the extended families and the community have been weakened by HIV and AIDS and impoverished by ESAP such that they cannot take care of their own families, let alone their deceased relatives‟ orphaned children as stipulated by the ZNOCP. Finally, the passive role being taken by the government in the care and protection of the children in CHH is detrimental to their welfare. The comparative case study of the Slangspruit informal settlement in South Africa shows that challenges faced by orphans are common. This study therefore recommends that there is need for the review of the ZNOCP. The new policy should come up with child care strategies which take into cognizance the evolutionary nature of the community. A human rights based approach ought to be the basis of child protection interventions in Zimbabwe. The study recommends that all stakeholders from the government down to the community need to fully participate in their various capacities in child care and protection. Resources in terms of finance and human resources should be made available and channeled to the intended beneficiaries. There is also need for capacity building in the communities and to intensify HIV and AIDS prevention, mitigation, care and treatment interventions to reduce the prevalence of orphans.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Technologicalship in e-banking services: a constraint or contributor to relationship marketing in retail banking in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • Authors: Masocha, Reginald
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Bank management , Electronic funds transfers , Banks and banking -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Electronic data interchange , Electronic commerce
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com (Business Management)
  • Identifier: vital:11316 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/306 , Bank management , Electronic funds transfers , Banks and banking -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Electronic data interchange , Electronic commerce
  • Description: Contemporarily, one of the major business demands is to extensively understand the impact of technology on the major business strategies and practices. Technologicalship marketing, a concept investigated in this study, emanates from a symbiosis of technology and relationship marketing. Per se, a prevalent area of debate pertains to whether technology promotes or constrains relationships. Outstandingly, this study pursued the technologicalship marketing concept, a new and vital 21st century suggestion in literature (Zineldin, 2000:16). Secondly, against the scarcity of empirical studies in mass marketing environments, the study at hand focused on retail banking client relationships. Lastly, the proposed meta-construct hypothetical model is an essential relationship marketing instrument. The proposed model consists of four major relationship marketing construct categories, namely, personal contact, customer retention, customer switching and relational exchange. At the hand of these constructs, the research primarily aimed to determine the impact of technology on client relationships in e-banking with the focus of closing the gap prevalent in literature on whether technology constraints or supports relationship marketing. The study focused on retail banking client relationships of the four major commercial banks in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa. A survey was conducted of a sample of 200 clients selected using the convenience sampling method. The study hypothesised that technology is resulting in more transactional than relationship marketing in retail banking by constraining social constructions, customer retention and relational exchange, whilst, promoting customer switching mobility. Through the GLM regression analysis method, findings of the study established that technology was to a larger extent supporting relationship marketing. However, it is envisaged that technology is resulting in the disappearance of human contact which is a critical aspect of relationships. Conclusively, the researcher recommended that the only plausible strategy is to endeavour to integrate the human aspect at self-service podiums e.g. mounting of staff at ATM points, which most banks have been doing.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

The choice of idols from a social psychological perspective

  • Authors: Lupke, Lynette M
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Identity (Psychology) , Idols and images , Social interaction
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Psych)
  • Identifier: vital:11606 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/132 , Identity (Psychology) , Idols and images , Social interaction
  • Description: The study of adolescents’ idols has an over 100-year tradition. The meta-analysis of Teigen, Normann, Bjorkheim and Helland (2000) showed that idols, which are commonly understood as role models, changed over the last century which is attributed to changes in the social context. The present paper argues that Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979, 1986) offers an appropriate theoretical framework to conceptualize social context by hypothesising a functional relationship between idols and identity management strategies moderated by the status position of the adolescent’s group s/he belongs to. The hypothesised functional relationship was tested in two studies with white and black adolescent South Africans. The results of the two studies supported our assumptions that the functional relationship between idols and identity management strategies is indeed moderated by status position. The results also indicate that Social Identity Theory seems to be an appropriate theoretical framework when social context is particularly conceptualised as social change.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

The effect of literacy on access to and utilization of agricultural information for household food security at Chirau communal lands in Zimbabwe

  • Authors: Gundu, Moira
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Community information services -- Zimbabwe , Agriculture -- Information services , Women farmers -- Zimbabwe , Literacy -- Zimbabwe , Commons -- Zimbabwe , Food supply -- Zimbabwe , Communication in agriculture -- Zimbabwe
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Bibl
  • Identifier: vital:11570 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/251 , Community information services -- Zimbabwe , Agriculture -- Information services , Women farmers -- Zimbabwe , Literacy -- Zimbabwe , Commons -- Zimbabwe , Food supply -- Zimbabwe , Communication in agriculture -- Zimbabwe
  • Description: The research sought to examine the effect of literacy on access to, and utilization of agricultural information for household food security at Chirau Communal lands in Zimbabwe. The study was influenced by the diffusion of innovations approach based on interviews, observation and document study. Selected female farmers from Chirau communal lands were respondents to the self administered interviews and focus group discussions. Representatives from, Agriculture Extension and the Ministry of Agriculture were key informants. Systematic Random sampling was used to select 100 female respondents from the age of 18 to above 80 from wards 1 to 10 of Chirau Rural District in Zimbabwe. Data was analyzed into themes and coded for statistical analysis using the SPSS. The country is faced with food insecurity and the main findings of this study support the view that women play an active role in food production but their potential is limited by inadequate levels of literacy that affect the way they access and utilize resources for sustainable agriculture and household food security among other factors. This may be generalized to the situation of female farmers in Zimbabwe. Improved literacy competencies among the female farmers in Zimbabwe lends itself as one of the interventions that may assist in improving access to information and its effective utilization.. This calls decision-makers to boost literacy for women, develop available agricultural information resources and harness effort towards making them accessible. While interventions may be multi-sectored, the role of government is stressed in this report.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2009
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