Preventive diplomacy and conflict prevention in Africa: an examination of South Africa’s role in conflict resolution in the Democratic Republic of The Congo
- Authors: Mandela, Siyabulela
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54471 , vital:46584
- Description: The Agenda 2063 tabled a blueprint of seven aspirations, for the Africa we want and one which was critical to this study being a peaceful and secure Africa. As postulated in this aspiration, by Agenda 2063, “Africa shall be free from armed conflict, terrorism, extremism, intolerance, and gender-based violence, which are major threats to human security, peace and development”. The Assembly of the AU committed in the agenda to fast-track actions to silence the guns by 2020, through enhanced dialogue-centred conflict prevention and resolution. The deadline for silencing guns and ending all wars in Africa was 2020, which has passed and Africa remains characterised by violent conflict and underdevelopment. Violent conflict of different magnitudes continues unabated across different states in Africa and remain insolent to any means towards resolution. The African continent is also a host to the most fragile states in the world, and the governments of these countries are unable to cultivate or facilitate the necessary conditions needed for sustainable peace and development. The conditions of poverty, frustration of basic human needs, maladministration, corruption, mismanagement of diversity and ethnic divisions so prevalent in Africa increase the likelihood of violent conflict. Conflict provention, preventive diplomacy, problem-solving workshops, peacebuilding and peacekeeping are all variants of peace operations deemed crucial in this study for Africa’s stability, peace and development. The advancement of preventive diplomacy and conflict provention as a hybrid framework for the prevention and resolution of violent conflict and promotion of sustainable peace and development in Africa was at the centre of this study. The study adopted John Burton’s basic human needs theory as a theoretical framework to further highlight an urgency by African states to prioritise policies and conflict resolution efforts directed at addressing the underlying issues giving rise to violent conflicts, if sustainable peace and development was to be realised in the continent. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Mandela, Siyabulela
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54471 , vital:46584
- Description: The Agenda 2063 tabled a blueprint of seven aspirations, for the Africa we want and one which was critical to this study being a peaceful and secure Africa. As postulated in this aspiration, by Agenda 2063, “Africa shall be free from armed conflict, terrorism, extremism, intolerance, and gender-based violence, which are major threats to human security, peace and development”. The Assembly of the AU committed in the agenda to fast-track actions to silence the guns by 2020, through enhanced dialogue-centred conflict prevention and resolution. The deadline for silencing guns and ending all wars in Africa was 2020, which has passed and Africa remains characterised by violent conflict and underdevelopment. Violent conflict of different magnitudes continues unabated across different states in Africa and remain insolent to any means towards resolution. The African continent is also a host to the most fragile states in the world, and the governments of these countries are unable to cultivate or facilitate the necessary conditions needed for sustainable peace and development. The conditions of poverty, frustration of basic human needs, maladministration, corruption, mismanagement of diversity and ethnic divisions so prevalent in Africa increase the likelihood of violent conflict. Conflict provention, preventive diplomacy, problem-solving workshops, peacebuilding and peacekeeping are all variants of peace operations deemed crucial in this study for Africa’s stability, peace and development. The advancement of preventive diplomacy and conflict provention as a hybrid framework for the prevention and resolution of violent conflict and promotion of sustainable peace and development in Africa was at the centre of this study. The study adopted John Burton’s basic human needs theory as a theoretical framework to further highlight an urgency by African states to prioritise policies and conflict resolution efforts directed at addressing the underlying issues giving rise to violent conflicts, if sustainable peace and development was to be realised in the continent. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Protean career management of independent music creatives in Gqeberha : narratives of practice
- Authors: Henneberry, Robyn
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54439 , vital:46541
- Description: This study is concerned with the promotion of local music creatives. The literature explores ways to help the independent music creatives successfully navigate in the music industry by adopting a protean career profile. The research question that was explored in the study was whether or not the independent popular female creatives in the city of Gqeberha’s music industry adopted protean career profiles for successful career navigation. These pop music creatives’ profiles were compared to those of classical creatives for further insight. Relevant literature was analysed to collect data about what international authors have discovered about creatives’ successful navigation of their careers. The information that was gleaned from the analysis indicated that numerous individuals have adopted the profile of the protean career to successfully navigate their environment. The rationale for adopting the protean career profile was that it is directly related to one’s employability. Although the working world (including the music industry) is rapidly changing, this notion of employability will enable an individual to remain updated about the latest trends in their work environment and thus successfully navigate that environment. This concept was applied to research among music creatives in the South African (SA) context. Although there was limited research on the protean career profile, the published research findings that were available indicated that employability and information were in alliance with the international research on the protean career (which constitutes one’s employability). Employing qualitative data collection procedures, the researcher interviewed 14 independent female music creatives with different backgrounds, roles and experiences. Interviews were semi-structured one-on-one as well as focus groups. This narrative strategy of inquiry helped determine whether or not these individuals had adopted the protean career for successful navigation of their working environment. After data collection the researcher engaged in a cyclical coding process for deep analysation of the data utilising atlas.ti. The data was reduced from codes to categories, and eventually towards linking categories. The findings from the study revealed that the participants’ environment (surroundings) did not sufficiently support them, the creatives do not have sufficient guidance in their music paths and not all of them had adopted the protean profile. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Visual and Performing Arts, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Henneberry, Robyn
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54439 , vital:46541
- Description: This study is concerned with the promotion of local music creatives. The literature explores ways to help the independent music creatives successfully navigate in the music industry by adopting a protean career profile. The research question that was explored in the study was whether or not the independent popular female creatives in the city of Gqeberha’s music industry adopted protean career profiles for successful career navigation. These pop music creatives’ profiles were compared to those of classical creatives for further insight. Relevant literature was analysed to collect data about what international authors have discovered about creatives’ successful navigation of their careers. The information that was gleaned from the analysis indicated that numerous individuals have adopted the profile of the protean career to successfully navigate their environment. The rationale for adopting the protean career profile was that it is directly related to one’s employability. Although the working world (including the music industry) is rapidly changing, this notion of employability will enable an individual to remain updated about the latest trends in their work environment and thus successfully navigate that environment. This concept was applied to research among music creatives in the South African (SA) context. Although there was limited research on the protean career profile, the published research findings that were available indicated that employability and information were in alliance with the international research on the protean career (which constitutes one’s employability). Employing qualitative data collection procedures, the researcher interviewed 14 independent female music creatives with different backgrounds, roles and experiences. Interviews were semi-structured one-on-one as well as focus groups. This narrative strategy of inquiry helped determine whether or not these individuals had adopted the protean career for successful navigation of their working environment. After data collection the researcher engaged in a cyclical coding process for deep analysation of the data utilising atlas.ti. The data was reduced from codes to categories, and eventually towards linking categories. The findings from the study revealed that the participants’ environment (surroundings) did not sufficiently support them, the creatives do not have sufficient guidance in their music paths and not all of them had adopted the protean profile. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Visual and Performing Arts, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Quantifying variability of emissions of greenhouse gas (CO2& CH4) across selected soils and agricultural practices
- Authors: Sebake, Tebogo Matsimela
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54107 , vital:46302
- Description: Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG’s)in the atmosphere are warming the planet, and agriculture is responsible for about 30% of these emissions. Soils act as a host for greenhouse gases, since both their storage and emission capacities are large, accounting for two-times the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and in plant and animal life. It sequesters large amounts of carbon, and because agricultural practices depend on soil for production, the practices influence the soil’s ability to store the carbon effectively. Production soils emit greenhouse gas, predominantly carbon dioxide and methane, which are assessed for emissions in this study. Climate change creates unpredictability in precipitation and temperature; farmers need to be flexible and adapt production methods to such environmental changes in order to continue producing sustainably. Global food production needs to grow drastically to meet the projected demands for rising population and diet shifts; studies have shown that feeding a more populated and a more affluent, equal, world will require roughly a doubling of agricultural production by 2050, which means more GHG emissions from the soil. To enable better control on these emissions, their links to agricultural practices need to be better quantified. The study was done in two areas: (1) long-term comparative farming systems research trial with controlled vegetable plots, in the agricultural school of Nelson Mandela University, in George, Western Cape province and (2) long-term wheat research trial of the Free State University, in Bethlehem, Free State province. The objective in study area one is to assess and compare GHG emissions from conventional and organic systems. Temperature and soil moisture were measured during gas samples to establish the influence they have on gas emissions. The objective in study area two is to assess and compare GHG emissions from no-till, plough, and stubble mulch. Stubble mulch refers to crop residue left in place on the land as a surface cover during fallow periods. Two polypropylene canisters are placed in a sampled plot to trap gas emitted from the soil. Analyses of the trapped gases in the headspace gives concentrations of CO2and CH4that was emitted during the duration the canister was closed. The gas is analysed by a G2201-i Picarro gas analyser, presently the only such instrument in South Africa. The analyser’s near-infrared Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy technology is capable of simultaneous measurements of CO2and CH4down to parts per million. In study area one, conventional plots (R2T6 & R1T6) emitted 65.089ppm CO2and 61.159ppm CO2, and 0.0010ppm CH4and 0.0004ppm CH4, respectively. Organic plots (R1T3 & R2T3) emitted 53.264ppm CO2and 47.885ppm CO2, and 0.0023ppm CH4and 0.0019ppm CH4respectively. Thus, conventional plots emitted 19.98% & 30.98% more CO2than organic plots; but organic plots emitted 81.97% & 155.5% more CH4thanconventional plots. In study area two, ploughed soils emitted 38.727ppm CO2and 0.015ppm CH4, no-tilled soils emitted 31.798ppm CO2 and 0.011ppm CH4andstubble mulched soils emitted 28.373ppm CO2 and 0.009ppm CH4. Thus, ploughed soils emitted 19.65%more CO2than no-tilled soils, no-tilled soils emitted 11.38% more CO2 than stubble mulched soils and ploughed soils emitted 30.36% more CO2 than stubble mulched soils. Ploughed soils emitted 30.77% more CH4 than no-tilled soils, no-tilled soils emitted 20% more CH4 than stubble mulched soils and ploughed soils emitted 50% more CH4than stubble mulched soils. Moist soils result in decreased CO2emissions in conventional plots and increased CH4emissions in organic plots. Increasing temperature patterns are followed by a trend of increasing gas emissions. Reducing GHG emissions from agriculture and developing sustainable tillage practices can help mitigate climate change and increases the chances of stabilizing GHG concentrations and temperature control within a required range. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Sebake, Tebogo Matsimela
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54107 , vital:46302
- Description: Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG’s)in the atmosphere are warming the planet, and agriculture is responsible for about 30% of these emissions. Soils act as a host for greenhouse gases, since both their storage and emission capacities are large, accounting for two-times the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and in plant and animal life. It sequesters large amounts of carbon, and because agricultural practices depend on soil for production, the practices influence the soil’s ability to store the carbon effectively. Production soils emit greenhouse gas, predominantly carbon dioxide and methane, which are assessed for emissions in this study. Climate change creates unpredictability in precipitation and temperature; farmers need to be flexible and adapt production methods to such environmental changes in order to continue producing sustainably. Global food production needs to grow drastically to meet the projected demands for rising population and diet shifts; studies have shown that feeding a more populated and a more affluent, equal, world will require roughly a doubling of agricultural production by 2050, which means more GHG emissions from the soil. To enable better control on these emissions, their links to agricultural practices need to be better quantified. The study was done in two areas: (1) long-term comparative farming systems research trial with controlled vegetable plots, in the agricultural school of Nelson Mandela University, in George, Western Cape province and (2) long-term wheat research trial of the Free State University, in Bethlehem, Free State province. The objective in study area one is to assess and compare GHG emissions from conventional and organic systems. Temperature and soil moisture were measured during gas samples to establish the influence they have on gas emissions. The objective in study area two is to assess and compare GHG emissions from no-till, plough, and stubble mulch. Stubble mulch refers to crop residue left in place on the land as a surface cover during fallow periods. Two polypropylene canisters are placed in a sampled plot to trap gas emitted from the soil. Analyses of the trapped gases in the headspace gives concentrations of CO2and CH4that was emitted during the duration the canister was closed. The gas is analysed by a G2201-i Picarro gas analyser, presently the only such instrument in South Africa. The analyser’s near-infrared Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy technology is capable of simultaneous measurements of CO2and CH4down to parts per million. In study area one, conventional plots (R2T6 & R1T6) emitted 65.089ppm CO2and 61.159ppm CO2, and 0.0010ppm CH4and 0.0004ppm CH4, respectively. Organic plots (R1T3 & R2T3) emitted 53.264ppm CO2and 47.885ppm CO2, and 0.0023ppm CH4and 0.0019ppm CH4respectively. Thus, conventional plots emitted 19.98% & 30.98% more CO2than organic plots; but organic plots emitted 81.97% & 155.5% more CH4thanconventional plots. In study area two, ploughed soils emitted 38.727ppm CO2and 0.015ppm CH4, no-tilled soils emitted 31.798ppm CO2 and 0.011ppm CH4andstubble mulched soils emitted 28.373ppm CO2 and 0.009ppm CH4. Thus, ploughed soils emitted 19.65%more CO2than no-tilled soils, no-tilled soils emitted 11.38% more CO2 than stubble mulched soils and ploughed soils emitted 30.36% more CO2 than stubble mulched soils. Ploughed soils emitted 30.77% more CH4 than no-tilled soils, no-tilled soils emitted 20% more CH4 than stubble mulched soils and ploughed soils emitted 50% more CH4than stubble mulched soils. Moist soils result in decreased CO2emissions in conventional plots and increased CH4emissions in organic plots. Increasing temperature patterns are followed by a trend of increasing gas emissions. Reducing GHG emissions from agriculture and developing sustainable tillage practices can help mitigate climate change and increases the chances of stabilizing GHG concentrations and temperature control within a required range. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Re-imagining Afrikaner masculinity through conceptual fashion design
- Authors: Smit, Dalton
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54563 , vital:46708
- Description: Traditional Afrikaner culture has often been associated with conservative beliefs, giving patriarchal figures such as the husband and father superior status. Although South Africa has undergone social progression, large numbers in Afrikaner communities still live according to old, patriarchal norms. My perceptions of Afrikaner masculinity, informed by my cultural background, enforce patriarchy's functioning in some Afrikaner homes, allowing the development of rigid expectations of a male's self-expression. These mind-sets of what masculinity is do not align with my values, beliefs, and the visual presentation of my identity. With the application of autoethnographic inquiry in this practice-based study, I was able to analyse and interpret the nuanced discrimination against the performance of my male identity in an Afrikaner cultural context. I implemented autoethnographic and practice-based methods to respond to and challenge outdated and conservative views regarding the prevalence of Afrikaner masculine ideals and their negative implications. The contribution of the research practice is FYN BOI, a fictive persona constructed and performed by me. He represents a liberated facet of my identity whose reaction is rejection against the Afrikaner cultural opinions of me, and in turn, is fuelled by the criticism to provoke further and challenge these views. The conceptual garments created are considered his wardrobe, which he uses in his self-expression online. With this unconventional approach to a fashion study, disseminating the research practice online instead of a physical exhibition allows for the study to be accessed to audiences beyond academia's domain. This undertaking intends to contribute to the existing discourse of masculinity and prejudice against individuals' self-expression of their identity. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Visual and Performing Arts, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Smit, Dalton
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54563 , vital:46708
- Description: Traditional Afrikaner culture has often been associated with conservative beliefs, giving patriarchal figures such as the husband and father superior status. Although South Africa has undergone social progression, large numbers in Afrikaner communities still live according to old, patriarchal norms. My perceptions of Afrikaner masculinity, informed by my cultural background, enforce patriarchy's functioning in some Afrikaner homes, allowing the development of rigid expectations of a male's self-expression. These mind-sets of what masculinity is do not align with my values, beliefs, and the visual presentation of my identity. With the application of autoethnographic inquiry in this practice-based study, I was able to analyse and interpret the nuanced discrimination against the performance of my male identity in an Afrikaner cultural context. I implemented autoethnographic and practice-based methods to respond to and challenge outdated and conservative views regarding the prevalence of Afrikaner masculine ideals and their negative implications. The contribution of the research practice is FYN BOI, a fictive persona constructed and performed by me. He represents a liberated facet of my identity whose reaction is rejection against the Afrikaner cultural opinions of me, and in turn, is fuelled by the criticism to provoke further and challenge these views. The conceptual garments created are considered his wardrobe, which he uses in his self-expression online. With this unconventional approach to a fashion study, disseminating the research practice online instead of a physical exhibition allows for the study to be accessed to audiences beyond academia's domain. This undertaking intends to contribute to the existing discourse of masculinity and prejudice against individuals' self-expression of their identity. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Visual and Performing Arts, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Real-time feedback model for supporting individualised learning of programming students
- Authors: Keen, Charne
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53624 , vital:45691
- Description: Feedback is crucial to the enhancement of the learning and teaching environment, especially in those environments that suffer from a number of extrinsic challenges. The growing demands for educators to provide academic interventions throughout the lecture session and the need for continuous improvement of the quality of university education make it necessary to find and apply more effective and efficient educational technologies and practices based on the correlation of teaching with a student’s conceptual understanding and individual learning preference. Following a combination of Design Science Research (DSR) and Case Study Methodology, this research addresses this problem by designing a technology based real-time feedback (TBRTF) model that can easily be implemented in a South African University. The model designed followed a layered architecture pattern. The architecture describes the data, technology and user support layers of the model. The data support layer incorporates the collection of student academic data and learning preferences. The technology incorporates a machine learning component. The machine learning component covers two technological aspects: the prediction component and the clustering component. This TBRTF model provides the guidelines needed to develop a system that supports individualised real-time feedback in the learning and teaching environment of programming students. The aim of the model is that as the students partake in learning activities where the student data is updated, the monitoring component will fire, updating the probability of failure prediction and in turn the student clusters are regenerated. This will notify the educator of a change and provide decision making support. The student will be allocated individualised feedback in the form of learning materials based on the cluster that the student is allocated to. Through a demonstration and evaluation, this study showed that by following the proposed architecture of the TBRTF model, a model that supports individualised realtime feedback in the learning and teaching environment of programming students can be developed. The validation used an artificial neural network as the prediction component and a k-means clustering algorithm as the clustering component. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Keen, Charne
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53624 , vital:45691
- Description: Feedback is crucial to the enhancement of the learning and teaching environment, especially in those environments that suffer from a number of extrinsic challenges. The growing demands for educators to provide academic interventions throughout the lecture session and the need for continuous improvement of the quality of university education make it necessary to find and apply more effective and efficient educational technologies and practices based on the correlation of teaching with a student’s conceptual understanding and individual learning preference. Following a combination of Design Science Research (DSR) and Case Study Methodology, this research addresses this problem by designing a technology based real-time feedback (TBRTF) model that can easily be implemented in a South African University. The model designed followed a layered architecture pattern. The architecture describes the data, technology and user support layers of the model. The data support layer incorporates the collection of student academic data and learning preferences. The technology incorporates a machine learning component. The machine learning component covers two technological aspects: the prediction component and the clustering component. This TBRTF model provides the guidelines needed to develop a system that supports individualised real-time feedback in the learning and teaching environment of programming students. The aim of the model is that as the students partake in learning activities where the student data is updated, the monitoring component will fire, updating the probability of failure prediction and in turn the student clusters are regenerated. This will notify the educator of a change and provide decision making support. The student will be allocated individualised feedback in the form of learning materials based on the cluster that the student is allocated to. Through a demonstration and evaluation, this study showed that by following the proposed architecture of the TBRTF model, a model that supports individualised realtime feedback in the learning and teaching environment of programming students can be developed. The validation used an artificial neural network as the prediction component and a k-means clustering algorithm as the clustering component. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Student entrepreneurship support at South African universities
- Authors: Ismail, Riyaad
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- South Africa , Business education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53935 , vital:46043
- Description: South Africa as a country experiences some of the highest levels of unemployment in the world. High levels of unemployment are especially evident among the youth and graduating students. Entrepreneurship in general, including student entrepreneurship, is seen as a solution to these high levels of unemployment because of its positive impact on job creation, economic growth, and the adoption of new technologies and innovation capabilities. However, as student start-up numbers remain stagnant in South Africa, the effectiveness of university-based student entrepreneurship support is questioned. Furthermore, despite the significance of student entrepreneurship and the support provided to them by universities, research on the subject is limited, especially in a developing country context. Against this background, the primary objective of the current study was to assess the state of university-based student entrepreneurship support at South African public universities. Based on the literature and underpinned by organisational theory, a university-based entrepreneurship ecosystem (U-BEE) framework was conceptualised. This framework, together with Good, Knockaert, Soppe and Wright’s (2018) organisational design elements, namely purpose, activities, structure, and people, was used to guide the empirical investigation. The current study adopted an interpretivist philosophical stance and is situated in an interpretive research paradigm. An abductive approach to theory development was used and given that the purpose of the study was exploratory, a multi-method qualitative research method was chosen. In addition to a desk research, a multiple-case study research strategy was used, and the study was cross-sectional in nature. Deductive codes and thematic analysis, following the steps of Braun and Clark (2020), were used to analyse the data. The findings of this study were presented in terms of cross-case issues, rather than being case specific to ensure anonymity. Based on the desk research, the total number of student entrepreneurship support activities offered by each university were calculated and the 26 public universities in South Africa were then ranked from most active to least active in terms of offering these activities. Although actual rankings could not be given, the findings show that the most active universities are much older and also larger in terms of faculty, staff and student numbers, than the least active universities are, suggesting that those ranked at the top have been doing so for much longer, effectively giving them more time to have established such support structures and to obtain the necessary to do so. The findings also suggest that several of the least active universities are historically disadvantaged institutions, which could also influence the nature and extent of support being offered to their student entrepreneurs. Based on this ranking the four most active and the four least active universities in terms of student entrepreneurship support were identified, and these eight universities served as the cases on which further investigation was undertaken. The findings of this study highlight the challenges experienced by student entrepreneurs during the establishment of their student ventures, as well as those challenges that they are currently experiencing. Challenges during establishment worth noting include the lack of a network, finance, and information on how to start a business; the inability to access the market; and a lack of legal assistance and encouragement from people around them. Moreover, challenges currently being experienced by student entrepreneurs were identified as working long hours, followed by a lack of collateral and a lack of legal assistance. The findings relating to each of the elements within the conceptualised U-BEE highlight the need for entrepreneurship to be a strategic priority at South African public universities, accompanied by top management buy-in to increase awareness and encourage entrepreneurship among staff, students and other stakeholders. Moreover, the findings call attention to the importance of having a team led by a student entrepreneurship champion whose primary role is to facilitate and coordinate activities relating to student entrepreneurship. Through entrepreneurship being prioritised by universities, having top management buy-in, and a student entrepreneurship champion being appointed, the required resources, support and infrastructure could follow, most notably an entrepreneurship policy, financial support, and an entrepreneurship centre (a central hub for entrepreneurship related activities). As these support structures are established and resources made available, more frequent collaborations among internal entrepreneurship stakeholders themselves could be experienced, as well those with external partnerships. Increased collaborations could in turn lead to improved communication, greater coordination and increased awareness among all existing entrepreneurship stakeholders as well as future student entrepreneurs. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Ismail, Riyaad
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- South Africa , Business education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53935 , vital:46043
- Description: South Africa as a country experiences some of the highest levels of unemployment in the world. High levels of unemployment are especially evident among the youth and graduating students. Entrepreneurship in general, including student entrepreneurship, is seen as a solution to these high levels of unemployment because of its positive impact on job creation, economic growth, and the adoption of new technologies and innovation capabilities. However, as student start-up numbers remain stagnant in South Africa, the effectiveness of university-based student entrepreneurship support is questioned. Furthermore, despite the significance of student entrepreneurship and the support provided to them by universities, research on the subject is limited, especially in a developing country context. Against this background, the primary objective of the current study was to assess the state of university-based student entrepreneurship support at South African public universities. Based on the literature and underpinned by organisational theory, a university-based entrepreneurship ecosystem (U-BEE) framework was conceptualised. This framework, together with Good, Knockaert, Soppe and Wright’s (2018) organisational design elements, namely purpose, activities, structure, and people, was used to guide the empirical investigation. The current study adopted an interpretivist philosophical stance and is situated in an interpretive research paradigm. An abductive approach to theory development was used and given that the purpose of the study was exploratory, a multi-method qualitative research method was chosen. In addition to a desk research, a multiple-case study research strategy was used, and the study was cross-sectional in nature. Deductive codes and thematic analysis, following the steps of Braun and Clark (2020), were used to analyse the data. The findings of this study were presented in terms of cross-case issues, rather than being case specific to ensure anonymity. Based on the desk research, the total number of student entrepreneurship support activities offered by each university were calculated and the 26 public universities in South Africa were then ranked from most active to least active in terms of offering these activities. Although actual rankings could not be given, the findings show that the most active universities are much older and also larger in terms of faculty, staff and student numbers, than the least active universities are, suggesting that those ranked at the top have been doing so for much longer, effectively giving them more time to have established such support structures and to obtain the necessary to do so. The findings also suggest that several of the least active universities are historically disadvantaged institutions, which could also influence the nature and extent of support being offered to their student entrepreneurs. Based on this ranking the four most active and the four least active universities in terms of student entrepreneurship support were identified, and these eight universities served as the cases on which further investigation was undertaken. The findings of this study highlight the challenges experienced by student entrepreneurs during the establishment of their student ventures, as well as those challenges that they are currently experiencing. Challenges during establishment worth noting include the lack of a network, finance, and information on how to start a business; the inability to access the market; and a lack of legal assistance and encouragement from people around them. Moreover, challenges currently being experienced by student entrepreneurs were identified as working long hours, followed by a lack of collateral and a lack of legal assistance. The findings relating to each of the elements within the conceptualised U-BEE highlight the need for entrepreneurship to be a strategic priority at South African public universities, accompanied by top management buy-in to increase awareness and encourage entrepreneurship among staff, students and other stakeholders. Moreover, the findings call attention to the importance of having a team led by a student entrepreneurship champion whose primary role is to facilitate and coordinate activities relating to student entrepreneurship. Through entrepreneurship being prioritised by universities, having top management buy-in, and a student entrepreneurship champion being appointed, the required resources, support and infrastructure could follow, most notably an entrepreneurship policy, financial support, and an entrepreneurship centre (a central hub for entrepreneurship related activities). As these support structures are established and resources made available, more frequent collaborations among internal entrepreneurship stakeholders themselves could be experienced, as well those with external partnerships. Increased collaborations could in turn lead to improved communication, greater coordination and increased awareness among all existing entrepreneurship stakeholders as well as future student entrepreneurs. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Studies on seed germination and response to fertilization of Amaranthus accessions collected in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Ramangoele, Mpaballeng Alinah
- Authors: Ramangoele, Mpaballeng Alinah
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54112 , vital:46307
- Description: Studies were conducted at Döhne Agricultural Development Institute (D.A.D.I.), geographically located between latitude 32°31'34.077"S and longitude 27°27'37.473"E in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape Province from summer 2018 until autumn 2019.The objectives were to determine seed germination and seedling vigour of four local Amaranthus accessions and to evaluate the effect of organic and inorganic fertilization on the growth, yield and nutrient composition. In the germination studies, herein referred to as Experiment 1,laboratory assessments were laid out in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) replicated four times to test seed germination, seedling emergence and seedling vigour of four Amaranthus accessions namely: A. Hypochondriacus, A. Retroflexus 1, A. Hybridus and A. Retroflexus 2. Data collection included germination percentage, radicle length, co-efficient of velocity of germination and seedling vigour. A.Retroflexus2 gave the highest germination percentage in summer (85%) and autumn (87.75%).Seed weight resulted in the highest germination percentage and was observed to have shown a high positive correlation of {R2=0.91} in summer and{R2=0.92} in autumn respectively. The highest seedling vigour (p<0.001) in summer was attained from A. Hypochondriacus and A. Retroflexus2.In the greenhouse in summer, the highest emergence percentage was observed from A. Hypochondriacus(93.00%), whilst in autumn it was A.Retroflexus2 (88.38%).A. Retroflexus1 was the least performer in both seasons. In summer, A. Hypochondriacus and A. Retroflexus2 resulted in very high seedling vigour. In autumn A. Hypochondriacus, A. Retroflexus2 and A. Hybridus resulted in high seedling vigour and A. Retroflexus1 in moderate seedling vigour. The relationship observed between seed weight and seedling vigour showed a negative (inverse)correlation in summer {R2=0.58} and autumn {R2=0.62}.In Experiment 2, seedlings of A. Hypochondriacus and A. Retroflexus 2were transplanted in 5litrebasal perforated plastic pots which were filled with soil. The experimental layout was a CRD replicated four times. The treatments were: control (no amendment), goat manure, cattle manure and NPK fertilizer. Growth performance data were collected for plant height, the number of leaves and stem girth. In summer, when goat manure was applied both accessions resulted in the tallest plants (78.80cm) yet A. Retroflexus 2 and vA. Hypochondriacus gave the greatest stem girthand highest number of leaves respectively. In autumn, the tallest plants and highest number of leaves were observed from A. Retroflexus 2fertilized with NPK and the greatest stem girth was observed from A. Hypochondriacus fertilized with goat manure. The interaction of fertilization and accessions resulted in A. Retroflexus 2 fertilized with goat manure generating the greatest fresh shoot biomass (137.27g plant-1) and the least from the control. Both accessions fertilized with goat manure attained the greatest dry leaf biomass. Insummer, A.Retroflexus2 outperformed A. Hypochondriacus in calcium content despite the treatments. Unfertilized A. Retroflexus2 produced leaves with high potassium. Both unfertilized accessions showed the highest magnesium content. All A. Retroflexus2 treatments outperformed A. Hypochondriacus treatments on iron content except the control. The summer season was the best in terms of growth and yield of the tested accessions. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Ramangoele, Mpaballeng Alinah
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54112 , vital:46307
- Description: Studies were conducted at Döhne Agricultural Development Institute (D.A.D.I.), geographically located between latitude 32°31'34.077"S and longitude 27°27'37.473"E in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape Province from summer 2018 until autumn 2019.The objectives were to determine seed germination and seedling vigour of four local Amaranthus accessions and to evaluate the effect of organic and inorganic fertilization on the growth, yield and nutrient composition. In the germination studies, herein referred to as Experiment 1,laboratory assessments were laid out in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) replicated four times to test seed germination, seedling emergence and seedling vigour of four Amaranthus accessions namely: A. Hypochondriacus, A. Retroflexus 1, A. Hybridus and A. Retroflexus 2. Data collection included germination percentage, radicle length, co-efficient of velocity of germination and seedling vigour. A.Retroflexus2 gave the highest germination percentage in summer (85%) and autumn (87.75%).Seed weight resulted in the highest germination percentage and was observed to have shown a high positive correlation of {R2=0.91} in summer and{R2=0.92} in autumn respectively. The highest seedling vigour (p<0.001) in summer was attained from A. Hypochondriacus and A. Retroflexus2.In the greenhouse in summer, the highest emergence percentage was observed from A. Hypochondriacus(93.00%), whilst in autumn it was A.Retroflexus2 (88.38%).A. Retroflexus1 was the least performer in both seasons. In summer, A. Hypochondriacus and A. Retroflexus2 resulted in very high seedling vigour. In autumn A. Hypochondriacus, A. Retroflexus2 and A. Hybridus resulted in high seedling vigour and A. Retroflexus1 in moderate seedling vigour. The relationship observed between seed weight and seedling vigour showed a negative (inverse)correlation in summer {R2=0.58} and autumn {R2=0.62}.In Experiment 2, seedlings of A. Hypochondriacus and A. Retroflexus 2were transplanted in 5litrebasal perforated plastic pots which were filled with soil. The experimental layout was a CRD replicated four times. The treatments were: control (no amendment), goat manure, cattle manure and NPK fertilizer. Growth performance data were collected for plant height, the number of leaves and stem girth. In summer, when goat manure was applied both accessions resulted in the tallest plants (78.80cm) yet A. Retroflexus 2 and vA. Hypochondriacus gave the greatest stem girthand highest number of leaves respectively. In autumn, the tallest plants and highest number of leaves were observed from A. Retroflexus 2fertilized with NPK and the greatest stem girth was observed from A. Hypochondriacus fertilized with goat manure. The interaction of fertilization and accessions resulted in A. Retroflexus 2 fertilized with goat manure generating the greatest fresh shoot biomass (137.27g plant-1) and the least from the control. Both accessions fertilized with goat manure attained the greatest dry leaf biomass. Insummer, A.Retroflexus2 outperformed A. Hypochondriacus in calcium content despite the treatments. Unfertilized A. Retroflexus2 produced leaves with high potassium. Both unfertilized accessions showed the highest magnesium content. All A. Retroflexus2 treatments outperformed A. Hypochondriacus treatments on iron content except the control. The summer season was the best in terms of growth and yield of the tested accessions. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Sustainable strategies for improved implementation of South Africa's marine living resource legislation
- Authors: Tembo, Danai
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Marine resources conservation -- law and legislation -- South Africa , Fishery law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54729 , vital:47531
- Description: South Africa's marine and coastal resources are rich, diverse national assets that represent an important interface of human activity, socio-economic influence, and ecological diversity. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has rich fishing grounds that support an industry that makes significant contributions to the economy, providing hundreds of thousands of jobs. Use of this resource-rich ocean space has increased over time. The challenge for South Africa is finding a balance between protecting the ocean space while simultaneously encouraging research, investment, and use of the ocean resources to contribute to economic upliftment and job creation. The South African government's recognition of the vast potential in coastal ecosystems is evident in the introduction of programmes such as Operation Phakisa and the comprehensive legislation. Legislation such as the Marine Living Resources Act (Act No. 18 of 1998) aims to ensure the sustainable utilisation of marine living resources in a manner that is beneficial to all citizens. South Africa's marine living resource legislation is good, reflecting the main principles of fisheries management that are encouraged by the international legal order. However, implementation of the legislation continues to be a challenge; one that extends beyond marine living resource legislation. Although this challenge is acknowledged by the government, little work has been done to understand why they continue to fall short in terms of implementation. Understanding that the implementation of statutes involves various actors, the study sought to understand implementation failures related to marine living resource legislation by explaining the behaviours of actors involved in implementation. A conceptual framework was developed that identified a variety of influencing factors, drawing on elements from different theories. Guided by the framework, document analysis, and key-informant interviews were the means through which the behaviours of actors were investigated and explained. Findings showed that the behaviours of actors were directly and indirectly influenced to varying degrees, by the tractability of the problem, the formal conditions of the law, enforcement, capacity, power relations, and political salience. These behaviours were in turn found to have a strong influence on the status of marine living resources, identified as the implementation outcome. In recognising the behaviours contributing to implementation failures, recommendations were made for improved implementation efforts going forward. Acting to correct these failures will be critical to ensuring South Africa does not continue its current trajectory of marine living resource depletion. Resources that not only make significant contributions to the country's economy but constitute the livelihoods of a significant portion of the country's population. , Thesis (DPHIL) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Tembo, Danai
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Marine resources conservation -- law and legislation -- South Africa , Fishery law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54729 , vital:47531
- Description: South Africa's marine and coastal resources are rich, diverse national assets that represent an important interface of human activity, socio-economic influence, and ecological diversity. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has rich fishing grounds that support an industry that makes significant contributions to the economy, providing hundreds of thousands of jobs. Use of this resource-rich ocean space has increased over time. The challenge for South Africa is finding a balance between protecting the ocean space while simultaneously encouraging research, investment, and use of the ocean resources to contribute to economic upliftment and job creation. The South African government's recognition of the vast potential in coastal ecosystems is evident in the introduction of programmes such as Operation Phakisa and the comprehensive legislation. Legislation such as the Marine Living Resources Act (Act No. 18 of 1998) aims to ensure the sustainable utilisation of marine living resources in a manner that is beneficial to all citizens. South Africa's marine living resource legislation is good, reflecting the main principles of fisheries management that are encouraged by the international legal order. However, implementation of the legislation continues to be a challenge; one that extends beyond marine living resource legislation. Although this challenge is acknowledged by the government, little work has been done to understand why they continue to fall short in terms of implementation. Understanding that the implementation of statutes involves various actors, the study sought to understand implementation failures related to marine living resource legislation by explaining the behaviours of actors involved in implementation. A conceptual framework was developed that identified a variety of influencing factors, drawing on elements from different theories. Guided by the framework, document analysis, and key-informant interviews were the means through which the behaviours of actors were investigated and explained. Findings showed that the behaviours of actors were directly and indirectly influenced to varying degrees, by the tractability of the problem, the formal conditions of the law, enforcement, capacity, power relations, and political salience. These behaviours were in turn found to have a strong influence on the status of marine living resources, identified as the implementation outcome. In recognising the behaviours contributing to implementation failures, recommendations were made for improved implementation efforts going forward. Acting to correct these failures will be critical to ensuring South Africa does not continue its current trajectory of marine living resource depletion. Resources that not only make significant contributions to the country's economy but constitute the livelihoods of a significant portion of the country's population. , Thesis (DPHIL) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Synthesis and characterization of iron doped sodium and potassium titanates using the pechini sol-gel method
- Authors: Guga, Aluwani
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53646 , vital:45683
- Description: Iron doped (Fe: 5Ti) sodium and potassium titanates were prepared by the Pechini sol-gel method and calcined at 800 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), FTIR and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the titanate nanomaterials. A quantitative XRD analysis using Rietveld refinement of the titanates confirmed the powders to consist of crystalline phases with the Na2Ti7O15 and K2Ti8O17 phases predominant for the sodium and potassium titanate, respectively. This was further confirmed using selected area electron diffraction (SAED) in the TEM. SEM and TEM analyses indicated that the titanates are consistent with a nanostructured material exhibiting rod-like morphology. The elemental compositions of the titanites were examined by SEM-EDS and TEM-EDS and found to agree well with the targeted Fe to Ti ratio from synthesis. Limited evidence for the segregation of iron in the titanate regions were found indicating the iron to be incorporated within the titanate lattice. Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) fine-structure analysis of the Fe L2,3 core-loss edge was successfully used to match the Fe to a 2+ or 3+ valence state, consistent with its occupation at Ti lattice sites. Finally, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy were used to study the vibrational modes of the functional group of the sodium and potassium titanates. Vibrational modes consistent with previously reported findings for the titanate phases identified were found with no evidence of isolated Fe related modes. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Guga, Aluwani
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53646 , vital:45683
- Description: Iron doped (Fe: 5Ti) sodium and potassium titanates were prepared by the Pechini sol-gel method and calcined at 800 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), FTIR and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the titanate nanomaterials. A quantitative XRD analysis using Rietveld refinement of the titanates confirmed the powders to consist of crystalline phases with the Na2Ti7O15 and K2Ti8O17 phases predominant for the sodium and potassium titanate, respectively. This was further confirmed using selected area electron diffraction (SAED) in the TEM. SEM and TEM analyses indicated that the titanates are consistent with a nanostructured material exhibiting rod-like morphology. The elemental compositions of the titanites were examined by SEM-EDS and TEM-EDS and found to agree well with the targeted Fe to Ti ratio from synthesis. Limited evidence for the segregation of iron in the titanate regions were found indicating the iron to be incorporated within the titanate lattice. Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) fine-structure analysis of the Fe L2,3 core-loss edge was successfully used to match the Fe to a 2+ or 3+ valence state, consistent with its occupation at Ti lattice sites. Finally, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy were used to study the vibrational modes of the functional group of the sodium and potassium titanates. Vibrational modes consistent with previously reported findings for the titanate phases identified were found with no evidence of isolated Fe related modes. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Team-related factors influencing intra-team knowledge sharing in knowledge-intensive businesses
- Authors: Van Greunen, Conrad
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Knowledge management , Organizational behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54630 , vital:46873
- Description: In today’s knowledge-driven economy, knowledge is regarded as possibly the most important factor of production next to labour, land and capital. Knowledge is the lifeblood of a business and therefore crucial for its survival in today’s constantly changing and competitive economic environment. In fact, effective knowledge management holds many benefits for an organisation, such as increased productivity and enhanced business performance. Knowledge management is therefore key to ensure business success. In the knowledge management process, knowledge-sharing is typically recognised as the most important activity. Knowledge that is not shared, in particular tacit knowledge residing in the minds of individuals and accrued over time, loses its value. Notably, team knowledge-sharing is of utmost importance in that it enables a team to resolve practical issues more successfully, given that knowledge is shared among team members that hold various kinds of specialised and unique expertise. Organisations increasingly organise their specialised knowledge-intensive work around projects that consist of allocated members who cooperate on a regular basis to accomplish specific goals before a set deadline. However, without knowledge-sharing among team members, the diverse knowledge of various members cannot be optimally utilised to the benefit of the team and the organisation. Although it is well documented that knowledge-sharing among team members, in particular knowledge-intensive teams, may hold various advantages for teams and organisations in terms of their performance and competitive advantage, researchers also acknowledge that individuals are sometimes reluctant to share their knowledge. Moreover, there is a lack of empirical research on the team-related factors influencing intra-team knowledge-sharing, and a subsequent lack of guidance in terms of encouraging intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour. Notably, the lack of current systematic, integrated research, that pay particular attention to the team-related factors influencing the knowledge-sharing behaviour within a team is problematic. This lack of research calls for further empirical research to better understand the teamrelated factors influencing intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour in knowledgeintensive teams. As such, the main research objective of this study was to identify and empirically examine selected team-related factors influencing the intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour of individual members participating in knowledgeintensive teams in knowledge-intensive businesses. Based on an extensive literature review, the following team-related factors influencing knowledge-sharing in a team context were identified and hypothesised to have a relationship with the dependent variable Intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour. These factors, which also served as the independent variables in this study, are: Team development competition, Team hyper-competition, Team psychological safety, Perceived surface-level diversity, Perceived deep-level diversity, Team identification, Metacognitive cultural intelligence, Cognitive cultural intelligence, Motivational cultural intelligence, Behavioural cultural intelligence, Affective team commitment, Continuance team commitment and Normative team commitment. Following the construction of the proposed hypothesised model, the researcher proceeded to develop a research design that would be suitable to address the research questions. For the purpose of this study, a positivist research philosophy and deductive approach to theory building were adopted, which is in line with the quantitative nature of this study. In addition, a survey research strategy was used and the study was cross-sectional in nature. The measuring instrument, which was in the form of a self-administered online questionnaire, was subjected to a pilot study. Minor adjustments were made to the questionnaire before an electronic link to the final version, accompanied by a cover letter, was e-mailed to 8 496 potential respondents. These potential respondents, who were identified using a convenience sampling technique, were likely to participate in knowledge-intensive teams and be representative of the population. A total of 384 usable responses were received. Following the data collection, the data were analysed to examine the proposed relationships as depicted in the hypothesised model. To address possible multicollinearity concerns associated with different variables that belong to a shared category, such variables were first combined into a single hierarchical variable. Thereafter, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on each factor that confirmed the factor structures by using various goodness-of-fit indices. Subsequent to the CFAs, the validity and reliability of the measuring instrument was assessed. The reliability of the measuring instrument was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, while the assessment of validity involved calculations of the average variance extracted (AVE) estimates and squared correlations between constructs. Based on the results of the reliability and validity assessments, the hypothesised model was revised accordingly. The revised model included Team development competition, Team psychological safety, Cultural intelligence, Team commitment and Perceived deep-level diversity as the independent variables influencing Intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour. Descriptive statistics and correlation results were presented on the constructs in the revised hypothesised model, while a structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis was the main statistical technique used to test the significance of the relationships between the dependent and the independent variables. The relationships between selected demographic variables and Intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour were assessed by means of general linear modelling (GLM), a subset of SEM. In light of these analyses, it was concluded that Team psychological safety, Team development competition, Cultural intelligence and Age have a significant influence on Intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour and could thus be seen as predictors or determinants thereof. Of all the significant relationships identified in this study, Team psychological safety had the strongest effect on Intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour. One should, however, not lose sight of the impact that competition and cultural intelligence could have on the knowledge-sharing behaviour of individual members participating in knowledge-intensive teams. This study contributes to the body of knowledge-sharing research in general, but also to knowledge-sharing behaviour in a team context in particular. Besides the theoretical contributions, this study makes several practical recommendations to knowledgeintensive businesses on how to manage the team-related factors influencing the Intrateam knowledge-sharing behaviour of individual members participating in knowledgeintensive teams. These recommendations could possibly enhance the competitive advantage of knowledge-intensive businesses. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Van Greunen, Conrad
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Knowledge management , Organizational behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54630 , vital:46873
- Description: In today’s knowledge-driven economy, knowledge is regarded as possibly the most important factor of production next to labour, land and capital. Knowledge is the lifeblood of a business and therefore crucial for its survival in today’s constantly changing and competitive economic environment. In fact, effective knowledge management holds many benefits for an organisation, such as increased productivity and enhanced business performance. Knowledge management is therefore key to ensure business success. In the knowledge management process, knowledge-sharing is typically recognised as the most important activity. Knowledge that is not shared, in particular tacit knowledge residing in the minds of individuals and accrued over time, loses its value. Notably, team knowledge-sharing is of utmost importance in that it enables a team to resolve practical issues more successfully, given that knowledge is shared among team members that hold various kinds of specialised and unique expertise. Organisations increasingly organise their specialised knowledge-intensive work around projects that consist of allocated members who cooperate on a regular basis to accomplish specific goals before a set deadline. However, without knowledge-sharing among team members, the diverse knowledge of various members cannot be optimally utilised to the benefit of the team and the organisation. Although it is well documented that knowledge-sharing among team members, in particular knowledge-intensive teams, may hold various advantages for teams and organisations in terms of their performance and competitive advantage, researchers also acknowledge that individuals are sometimes reluctant to share their knowledge. Moreover, there is a lack of empirical research on the team-related factors influencing intra-team knowledge-sharing, and a subsequent lack of guidance in terms of encouraging intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour. Notably, the lack of current systematic, integrated research, that pay particular attention to the team-related factors influencing the knowledge-sharing behaviour within a team is problematic. This lack of research calls for further empirical research to better understand the teamrelated factors influencing intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour in knowledgeintensive teams. As such, the main research objective of this study was to identify and empirically examine selected team-related factors influencing the intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour of individual members participating in knowledgeintensive teams in knowledge-intensive businesses. Based on an extensive literature review, the following team-related factors influencing knowledge-sharing in a team context were identified and hypothesised to have a relationship with the dependent variable Intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour. These factors, which also served as the independent variables in this study, are: Team development competition, Team hyper-competition, Team psychological safety, Perceived surface-level diversity, Perceived deep-level diversity, Team identification, Metacognitive cultural intelligence, Cognitive cultural intelligence, Motivational cultural intelligence, Behavioural cultural intelligence, Affective team commitment, Continuance team commitment and Normative team commitment. Following the construction of the proposed hypothesised model, the researcher proceeded to develop a research design that would be suitable to address the research questions. For the purpose of this study, a positivist research philosophy and deductive approach to theory building were adopted, which is in line with the quantitative nature of this study. In addition, a survey research strategy was used and the study was cross-sectional in nature. The measuring instrument, which was in the form of a self-administered online questionnaire, was subjected to a pilot study. Minor adjustments were made to the questionnaire before an electronic link to the final version, accompanied by a cover letter, was e-mailed to 8 496 potential respondents. These potential respondents, who were identified using a convenience sampling technique, were likely to participate in knowledge-intensive teams and be representative of the population. A total of 384 usable responses were received. Following the data collection, the data were analysed to examine the proposed relationships as depicted in the hypothesised model. To address possible multicollinearity concerns associated with different variables that belong to a shared category, such variables were first combined into a single hierarchical variable. Thereafter, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on each factor that confirmed the factor structures by using various goodness-of-fit indices. Subsequent to the CFAs, the validity and reliability of the measuring instrument was assessed. The reliability of the measuring instrument was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, while the assessment of validity involved calculations of the average variance extracted (AVE) estimates and squared correlations between constructs. Based on the results of the reliability and validity assessments, the hypothesised model was revised accordingly. The revised model included Team development competition, Team psychological safety, Cultural intelligence, Team commitment and Perceived deep-level diversity as the independent variables influencing Intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour. Descriptive statistics and correlation results were presented on the constructs in the revised hypothesised model, while a structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis was the main statistical technique used to test the significance of the relationships between the dependent and the independent variables. The relationships between selected demographic variables and Intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour were assessed by means of general linear modelling (GLM), a subset of SEM. In light of these analyses, it was concluded that Team psychological safety, Team development competition, Cultural intelligence and Age have a significant influence on Intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour and could thus be seen as predictors or determinants thereof. Of all the significant relationships identified in this study, Team psychological safety had the strongest effect on Intra-team knowledge-sharing behaviour. One should, however, not lose sight of the impact that competition and cultural intelligence could have on the knowledge-sharing behaviour of individual members participating in knowledge-intensive teams. This study contributes to the body of knowledge-sharing research in general, but also to knowledge-sharing behaviour in a team context in particular. Besides the theoretical contributions, this study makes several practical recommendations to knowledgeintensive businesses on how to manage the team-related factors influencing the Intrateam knowledge-sharing behaviour of individual members participating in knowledgeintensive teams. These recommendations could possibly enhance the competitive advantage of knowledge-intensive businesses. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
The aesthetics of hegemony: a speculative design proposal exploring the convergence of surveillance capitalism and brain-computer interface technologies in the future
- Authors: Davies, James Tibbott
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54417 , vital:46517
- Description: This study examines the power dynamics of surveillance capitalism, and its role in shaping cultural hegemony. The research was expressed using graphic design to illustrate a (potential) future where Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and surveillance capitalism converge. The critique focused on Google and Facebook’s hegemony in the data-surveillance marketplace and what role this has in shaping global discourse. Both companies are funding the development of BCIs, with the aim of using brain signals as a means of interacting with the digital world, which would give the two biggest advertising companies in the world access to new sources of data. A speculative design framework was utilized to visually question the societal implications of this emerging technology and the funding behind its development. A theoretical investigation of the concepts underpinning critical theory and critical design was conducted to help clarify and critically inform this methodological approach, promoting the use of practice-based design as a critically reflective investigative tool. The resulting artefacts designed using this process were showcased in the form of a website and video that act as a visual embodiment the research, demonstrating the efficacy of this approach and the value of using communication design as a mechanism to question the status quo. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Visual and Performing Arts, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Davies, James Tibbott
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54417 , vital:46517
- Description: This study examines the power dynamics of surveillance capitalism, and its role in shaping cultural hegemony. The research was expressed using graphic design to illustrate a (potential) future where Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and surveillance capitalism converge. The critique focused on Google and Facebook’s hegemony in the data-surveillance marketplace and what role this has in shaping global discourse. Both companies are funding the development of BCIs, with the aim of using brain signals as a means of interacting with the digital world, which would give the two biggest advertising companies in the world access to new sources of data. A speculative design framework was utilized to visually question the societal implications of this emerging technology and the funding behind its development. A theoretical investigation of the concepts underpinning critical theory and critical design was conducted to help clarify and critically inform this methodological approach, promoting the use of practice-based design as a critically reflective investigative tool. The resulting artefacts designed using this process were showcased in the form of a website and video that act as a visual embodiment the research, demonstrating the efficacy of this approach and the value of using communication design as a mechanism to question the status quo. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Visual and Performing Arts, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
The benefits of community music on individuals in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Rossouw, Carolyn
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54552 , vital:46703
- Description: Countless research studies have outlined the benefits of Community Music engagement. Community Music is a global phenomenon that offers benefits to and across both international and national music projects. There are many forms of Community Music, including choral groups, instrumentalists, bands, and other ensembles. A variety of reasons or perspectives exist as to why participants engage in Community Music activities, such as the benefits that they gain when engaging in a project and/or the experiences of learning music in a social context. Characteristics of Community Music entail voluntary participation for individuals from all walks of life (e.g., those of high or low socio-economic standing, different races, and/or different levels of mental and/or emotional well-being). This study investigated three Community Music projects that take place at three different churches in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The Community Music projects described in this study were different to those that are usually described in academic studies in so far as they are not aimed at social reform, social intervention, creative possibilities, or self-expression. Instead, this study focussed on investigating Community Music in Port Elizabeth based purely on creative possibilities and self-expression in order to better understand the benefits it can have on the individuals and community taking part therein. The Community Music projects described in this study involve both adult and youth participants and all fall under ‘church music’. Specifically, the projects consist of an adult church choir, a youth worship band, and an instrumental ensemble. In this qualitative study, a multiple case study approach was adopted, and data were gathered through observations, unstructured interviews, and both audio-visual and written materials. Themes emerged from the study that have been categorised as follows: social benefits, well-being benefits, spiritual benefits, musical skills development benefits, and leadership benefits. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Visual and Performing Arts, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Rossouw, Carolyn
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54552 , vital:46703
- Description: Countless research studies have outlined the benefits of Community Music engagement. Community Music is a global phenomenon that offers benefits to and across both international and national music projects. There are many forms of Community Music, including choral groups, instrumentalists, bands, and other ensembles. A variety of reasons or perspectives exist as to why participants engage in Community Music activities, such as the benefits that they gain when engaging in a project and/or the experiences of learning music in a social context. Characteristics of Community Music entail voluntary participation for individuals from all walks of life (e.g., those of high or low socio-economic standing, different races, and/or different levels of mental and/or emotional well-being). This study investigated three Community Music projects that take place at three different churches in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The Community Music projects described in this study were different to those that are usually described in academic studies in so far as they are not aimed at social reform, social intervention, creative possibilities, or self-expression. Instead, this study focussed on investigating Community Music in Port Elizabeth based purely on creative possibilities and self-expression in order to better understand the benefits it can have on the individuals and community taking part therein. The Community Music projects described in this study involve both adult and youth participants and all fall under ‘church music’. Specifically, the projects consist of an adult church choir, a youth worship band, and an instrumental ensemble. In this qualitative study, a multiple case study approach was adopted, and data were gathered through observations, unstructured interviews, and both audio-visual and written materials. Themes emerged from the study that have been categorised as follows: social benefits, well-being benefits, spiritual benefits, musical skills development benefits, and leadership benefits. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Visual and Performing Arts, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
The challenges and survival strategies for SMME’s in Nelson Mandela Metro during Covid19
- Authors: Faltein, Nelisa
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Business enterprises, Black -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53733 , vital:45721
- Description: Throughout history entrepreneurship has played an integral part in society. It improves standard of living, develops new markets, and puts ideas into effect while fostering economic growth and job creation. Over the recent years, the countries around the world have experienced unprecedented economic meltdowns. Economic events and prospects in industrialised countries like Europe, Asia, and America have a direct and immediate impact on developing countries, particularly Africa. Positive economic growth of Africa's key trading partners has a direct impact on the continent's economy. Africa's key trading partners' negative economic growth has unfavourable effects for the continent's economy. This was recently further exposed and exacerbated by the novel Corona virus pandemic. The worldwide economic crises have resulted in global financial melt downs, volatile exchange rates, fluctuating steel prices, soaring labour costs, and more importantly competitiveness in markets. In South Africa this has contributed to very high rates of youth unemployment, stagnant economic growth, volatile socio-economic environment, and high failure of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) amongst other factors. South African SMMEs have been identified as key role players and drivers for job creation; the industry already absorbs most of the employed population. They are a potential mechanism for creation of new and sustainable employment opportunities. Furthermore, they contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country yet experience a high failure rate. A successful enterprise has a massive social impact and economic contribution in a country. It is therefore indisputable that the field of entrepreneurship has received immense academic interest. The current Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous socio-economic environment necessitates strategies that are aimed at the growth, innovativeness, adaptability, and agility of entrepreneurs and SMMEs. This will enable them to reach their full potential and effectively deliver on job creation and economic growth. The purpose of this research treatise is to develop a development framework for SMMEs and entrepreneurs in the Nelson Mandela Metro. This was achieved by applying academic insights and an extensive literature review on personality traits of entrepreneurs, the internal and external environment, and their contribution to the success of entrepreneurial ventures, which has led to the development of research propositions. The study is quantitative research on 45 SMMEs from the Nelson Mandela Metro. It contributes positively to the academic field of entrepreneurship, SMMEs and to the existing academic body of knowledge with a positive contribution on entrepreneurial traits, business development, strategy formulation and strategy implementation. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Faltein, Nelisa
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Business enterprises, Black -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53733 , vital:45721
- Description: Throughout history entrepreneurship has played an integral part in society. It improves standard of living, develops new markets, and puts ideas into effect while fostering economic growth and job creation. Over the recent years, the countries around the world have experienced unprecedented economic meltdowns. Economic events and prospects in industrialised countries like Europe, Asia, and America have a direct and immediate impact on developing countries, particularly Africa. Positive economic growth of Africa's key trading partners has a direct impact on the continent's economy. Africa's key trading partners' negative economic growth has unfavourable effects for the continent's economy. This was recently further exposed and exacerbated by the novel Corona virus pandemic. The worldwide economic crises have resulted in global financial melt downs, volatile exchange rates, fluctuating steel prices, soaring labour costs, and more importantly competitiveness in markets. In South Africa this has contributed to very high rates of youth unemployment, stagnant economic growth, volatile socio-economic environment, and high failure of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) amongst other factors. South African SMMEs have been identified as key role players and drivers for job creation; the industry already absorbs most of the employed population. They are a potential mechanism for creation of new and sustainable employment opportunities. Furthermore, they contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country yet experience a high failure rate. A successful enterprise has a massive social impact and economic contribution in a country. It is therefore indisputable that the field of entrepreneurship has received immense academic interest. The current Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous socio-economic environment necessitates strategies that are aimed at the growth, innovativeness, adaptability, and agility of entrepreneurs and SMMEs. This will enable them to reach their full potential and effectively deliver on job creation and economic growth. The purpose of this research treatise is to develop a development framework for SMMEs and entrepreneurs in the Nelson Mandela Metro. This was achieved by applying academic insights and an extensive literature review on personality traits of entrepreneurs, the internal and external environment, and their contribution to the success of entrepreneurial ventures, which has led to the development of research propositions. The study is quantitative research on 45 SMMEs from the Nelson Mandela Metro. It contributes positively to the academic field of entrepreneurship, SMMEs and to the existing academic body of knowledge with a positive contribution on entrepreneurial traits, business development, strategy formulation and strategy implementation. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
The contribution of urban agriculture to food sovereignty and household food security in Lingelihle
- Authors: Buso, Lelethu
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food sovereignty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Urban agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53834 , vital:46005
- Description: Most urban households in South Africa are food insecure even though poor households spend 60–80% of their income on food. Most of these households are low-income households who depend on social grants and whose main source of food are markets. This research assessed the contribution of urban agriculture to food sovereignty and household food security in Lingelihle Township, Cradock, in the Chris Hani district, South Africa. The research data were collected both from households that practise farming in Lingelihle Township and those that do not. The study used Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods such as observation, transect walks, resource mapping, food consumption diaries, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews to collect data. The research findings revealed that urban agriculture has the potential to contribute to achieving food sovereignty and household food security. The comparison between households that farm and households that do not farm proved that households that farm are more food secure and have more disposable income than households that do not farm. The study offers recommendations on how urban agriculture can be supported to contribute to household food security and food sovereignty. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Buso, Lelethu
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food sovereignty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Urban agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53834 , vital:46005
- Description: Most urban households in South Africa are food insecure even though poor households spend 60–80% of their income on food. Most of these households are low-income households who depend on social grants and whose main source of food are markets. This research assessed the contribution of urban agriculture to food sovereignty and household food security in Lingelihle Township, Cradock, in the Chris Hani district, South Africa. The research data were collected both from households that practise farming in Lingelihle Township and those that do not. The study used Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods such as observation, transect walks, resource mapping, food consumption diaries, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews to collect data. The research findings revealed that urban agriculture has the potential to contribute to achieving food sovereignty and household food security. The comparison between households that farm and households that do not farm proved that households that farm are more food secure and have more disposable income than households that do not farm. The study offers recommendations on how urban agriculture can be supported to contribute to household food security and food sovereignty. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
The design of a community sports centre in Alexandra township, Johannesburg
- Authors: Makhele, Busang
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Sports facilities --South Africa – Alexandra -- Designs and plans , Recreation centers -- South Africa –Johannesburg
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58666 , vital:59978
- Description: The post-apartheid city is an unfinished product. It is simultaneously being made and unmade. South African urban environments reinforce and reflect urban segregation and inequality. They are characterised by the remanence of the apartheid city defined by sprawl, placelessness and monotony. Nowhere else has this reality been truer and more visible than in township settlements. Townships settlements are the polar opposite of suburbia. They are typically situated on the outskirts of urban environments with unpleasant living conditions characterised by the lack of public facilities and spaces, adequate resources and under-utilised left-over space. The poor urban conditions in township settlements is where this treatise has decided to position itself. The treatise will use both primary and secondary data resources collected from site visits, observations made, analytical maps and diagrams. The secondary data, includes books, precedent studies, articles and academic journals. The findings indicate that in order for the design intervention to be appropriate and successful, it is important that principles which improve urban qualities and a sense of place and belonging are engaged with and understood, in order to cater to the needs of the community. In conclusion, the intention of this treatise is to design a Community Sports Centre in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg as a means of improving the urban quality by restructuring and reframing public and community space in the township. , Thesis (MArch) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Makhele, Busang
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Sports facilities --South Africa – Alexandra -- Designs and plans , Recreation centers -- South Africa –Johannesburg
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58666 , vital:59978
- Description: The post-apartheid city is an unfinished product. It is simultaneously being made and unmade. South African urban environments reinforce and reflect urban segregation and inequality. They are characterised by the remanence of the apartheid city defined by sprawl, placelessness and monotony. Nowhere else has this reality been truer and more visible than in township settlements. Townships settlements are the polar opposite of suburbia. They are typically situated on the outskirts of urban environments with unpleasant living conditions characterised by the lack of public facilities and spaces, adequate resources and under-utilised left-over space. The poor urban conditions in township settlements is where this treatise has decided to position itself. The treatise will use both primary and secondary data resources collected from site visits, observations made, analytical maps and diagrams. The secondary data, includes books, precedent studies, articles and academic journals. The findings indicate that in order for the design intervention to be appropriate and successful, it is important that principles which improve urban qualities and a sense of place and belonging are engaged with and understood, in order to cater to the needs of the community. In conclusion, the intention of this treatise is to design a Community Sports Centre in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg as a means of improving the urban quality by restructuring and reframing public and community space in the township. , Thesis (MArch) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
The design of a football Academy in Gelvandale, Gqeberha: Sports as a tool for social intergration
- Authors: Sauls,Eldridge
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Sports facilities --South Africa-- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans , City planning--South Africa --Port Elizabeth -- Gelvandale
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58628 , vital:59969
- Description: In South African townships, youth from disadvantaged groups, lack suf ficient social and sporting facilities to spend their time. This situation exists in the Gelvandale township of Gqeberha. This treatise unfolds through the author’s interest in Gelvandale out of concern for how poorly the sense of urban space is, within the township context. The treatise will explore the nature of Gelvandale from a macro scale towards a precinct scale regarding connectivity, location, spatial organi sation, activities, the built fabric, and socio-economic conditions. Through exploration, it was identified that Gelvandale functions as an enclaved system within the context of Gqeberha. The issues affecting Gelvandale were identified as the dispersal of activities, urban sprawl, fragmentation, and lack of urban legibility. It was identified that dispersed activities are one of the major contribu tors to the poor urban environment. This treatise investigates the significance of a football academy in Gel vandale, and how it could have an influence on society and the built form. Addressing this issue will be an effective way to improve the ur ban environment, to provide an urban and architectural response in an attempt to reduce the dispersal activities in Gelvandale. Through the exploration of the nature of dispersed activities in Gelvandale, it was observed that most activities are dispersed throughout Gelvandale, indicating that there are areas with a higher cluster of certain activities. In response, a pro posed strategy had been conceptualised to propose the consolidation of activities that are connected through pedestrian movement paths. Gelvandale had been identified as having a high intensity of sporting facilities and is therefore been proposed as a concentrated facility for recreational and sporting activities. An appropriate site was then selected for the proposed devel opment. The resultant outcome of the program was a Football Academy. The conclusion was based on the conceptual urban strategy and the needs of the community. It was established that the facility should function as a major structural element in Gelvandale, leading to the investigation of positive urban spaces through the in terrogation of precedents. The cues from the interrogation were used to assist in structuring the nature of the proposed facility responding to the public realm and its urban and architectural issues. , Thesis (MArch) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Sauls,Eldridge
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Sports facilities --South Africa-- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans , City planning--South Africa --Port Elizabeth -- Gelvandale
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58628 , vital:59969
- Description: In South African townships, youth from disadvantaged groups, lack suf ficient social and sporting facilities to spend their time. This situation exists in the Gelvandale township of Gqeberha. This treatise unfolds through the author’s interest in Gelvandale out of concern for how poorly the sense of urban space is, within the township context. The treatise will explore the nature of Gelvandale from a macro scale towards a precinct scale regarding connectivity, location, spatial organi sation, activities, the built fabric, and socio-economic conditions. Through exploration, it was identified that Gelvandale functions as an enclaved system within the context of Gqeberha. The issues affecting Gelvandale were identified as the dispersal of activities, urban sprawl, fragmentation, and lack of urban legibility. It was identified that dispersed activities are one of the major contribu tors to the poor urban environment. This treatise investigates the significance of a football academy in Gel vandale, and how it could have an influence on society and the built form. Addressing this issue will be an effective way to improve the ur ban environment, to provide an urban and architectural response in an attempt to reduce the dispersal activities in Gelvandale. Through the exploration of the nature of dispersed activities in Gelvandale, it was observed that most activities are dispersed throughout Gelvandale, indicating that there are areas with a higher cluster of certain activities. In response, a pro posed strategy had been conceptualised to propose the consolidation of activities that are connected through pedestrian movement paths. Gelvandale had been identified as having a high intensity of sporting facilities and is therefore been proposed as a concentrated facility for recreational and sporting activities. An appropriate site was then selected for the proposed devel opment. The resultant outcome of the program was a Football Academy. The conclusion was based on the conceptual urban strategy and the needs of the community. It was established that the facility should function as a major structural element in Gelvandale, leading to the investigation of positive urban spaces through the in terrogation of precedents. The cues from the interrogation were used to assist in structuring the nature of the proposed facility responding to the public realm and its urban and architectural issues. , Thesis (MArch) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
The design of a forensic psychiatric facility in George, Western Cape
- Authors: Swanpoel, Keila
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Mental health facilities -- South Africa -- Designs and plans , Mental health facilities-- South Africa--Designs and plans
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58585 , vital:59934
- Description: This study proposes a 21st-century asylum for the criminally insane where the aim of the study is to investigate the interface between mental health and the criminal justice system sectors and how architectural design can have an influence on the psychological reaction of patients in the built environment. The problem faced with criminally insane people is that they do not al - ways have the ideal environment to go to when they seek help. Criminally insane patients used to be housed in asylums with inhumane living con - ditions. Basic research is done to achieve a theoretical solution for the problem being faced and applied research is conducted to solve the problem on a practical level by developing techniques to initiate a project on a technical and practical level. Through the design, a safe sanctuary and an ideal environment for the mentally placeless in society for long-term stay, should be achieved. These patients who cannot live a normal daily life on their own without help and treatment, while there is a need for a form of incarceration on a humane level, where they can feel part of society and that their built environment can make a difference. , Thesis (MArch)-- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Swanpoel, Keila
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Mental health facilities -- South Africa -- Designs and plans , Mental health facilities-- South Africa--Designs and plans
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58585 , vital:59934
- Description: This study proposes a 21st-century asylum for the criminally insane where the aim of the study is to investigate the interface between mental health and the criminal justice system sectors and how architectural design can have an influence on the psychological reaction of patients in the built environment. The problem faced with criminally insane people is that they do not al - ways have the ideal environment to go to when they seek help. Criminally insane patients used to be housed in asylums with inhumane living con - ditions. Basic research is done to achieve a theoretical solution for the problem being faced and applied research is conducted to solve the problem on a practical level by developing techniques to initiate a project on a technical and practical level. Through the design, a safe sanctuary and an ideal environment for the mentally placeless in society for long-term stay, should be achieved. These patients who cannot live a normal daily life on their own without help and treatment, while there is a need for a form of incarceration on a humane level, where they can feel part of society and that their built environment can make a difference. , Thesis (MArch)-- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
The design of a furniture Factory in Airport Valley, Gqeberha
- Authors: Hetherington, Ian Craig
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Stores, Retail – South Africa – Walmer--Designs and plans , Furniture --Reproduction , Interior architecture – Walmer – Designs and plans
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58738 , vital:60080
- Description: We are slowly destroying our planet. By now, it is understood that humanity cannot continue with a system of production that continuously converts our finite supply of usable materials into unusable waste. In South Africa, the majority of our waste disappears into landfills but a certain percentage of this waste finds new life. e in the informal and economically repressed communities that have been driven to using this waste out of economic necessity. This treatise aims to explore the potential to provide a dignified built environment through a regenerative architecture that employs tectonic thinking to build with waste in an informal communityThe proposed building for this treatise is a furniture factory, based in Airport Valley, Gqeberha, that is both built from and builds with waste. A series of investigations will be conducted around the theoretical discourse of waste and tectonics in architecture, the nature of productive buildings, the coontext within which the factory will be placed, and the specific processes the factory will engage in. Culminating in the final design of a building that ccan play a socially, economically, and environmentally positive role in one of the many communities that have been left behind by the liberation movement.. , Thesis (MArch) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Hetherington, Ian Craig
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Stores, Retail – South Africa – Walmer--Designs and plans , Furniture --Reproduction , Interior architecture – Walmer – Designs and plans
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58738 , vital:60080
- Description: We are slowly destroying our planet. By now, it is understood that humanity cannot continue with a system of production that continuously converts our finite supply of usable materials into unusable waste. In South Africa, the majority of our waste disappears into landfills but a certain percentage of this waste finds new life. e in the informal and economically repressed communities that have been driven to using this waste out of economic necessity. This treatise aims to explore the potential to provide a dignified built environment through a regenerative architecture that employs tectonic thinking to build with waste in an informal communityThe proposed building for this treatise is a furniture factory, based in Airport Valley, Gqeberha, that is both built from and builds with waste. A series of investigations will be conducted around the theoretical discourse of waste and tectonics in architecture, the nature of productive buildings, the coontext within which the factory will be placed, and the specific processes the factory will engage in. Culminating in the final design of a building that ccan play a socially, economically, and environmentally positive role in one of the many communities that have been left behind by the liberation movement.. , Thesis (MArch) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
The design of a new live-work residential model for low-income communities in Walmer, Gqeberha
- Authors: Megan, Hobbs
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Low-income housing --South Africa –Walmer—Designs and plans , Housing development – South Africa-- Walmer
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58716 , vital:60025
- Description: Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the South African economy and educational have changed to accommodate the national lockdown regulations. This has resulted in many South Africans to lose their jobs and work and education has moved to virtual platforms. It is recognized that the low-income households and communities would be the most disadvantages in these changes as they have limited additional space available to use as home offices and study spaces and their access to technology and internet is also limited This treatise deals with the design of a New Live-Work Residential Model as an answer to the challenges and changes in the working and academic environment as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This project is focused on the low-income communities Walmer, Gqeberha. The aim is to develop a new Live-Work-Study Environment that is focused on providing for – and the improvement of – low-income areas. A system of residential buildings would be created that would encourage and support a Live-Work-Study Environment specifically in low-income environments in a way that it would increase their living standards in the most economical way possible and can be used as a prototype in other similar low-income environments. , Thesis (MArch) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Megan, Hobbs
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Low-income housing --South Africa –Walmer—Designs and plans , Housing development – South Africa-- Walmer
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58716 , vital:60025
- Description: Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the South African economy and educational have changed to accommodate the national lockdown regulations. This has resulted in many South Africans to lose their jobs and work and education has moved to virtual platforms. It is recognized that the low-income households and communities would be the most disadvantages in these changes as they have limited additional space available to use as home offices and study spaces and their access to technology and internet is also limited This treatise deals with the design of a New Live-Work Residential Model as an answer to the challenges and changes in the working and academic environment as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This project is focused on the low-income communities Walmer, Gqeberha. The aim is to develop a new Live-Work-Study Environment that is focused on providing for – and the improvement of – low-income areas. A system of residential buildings would be created that would encourage and support a Live-Work-Study Environment specifically in low-income environments in a way that it would increase their living standards in the most economical way possible and can be used as a prototype in other similar low-income environments. , Thesis (MArch) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
The design of a performance space for the Zip Zap Circus in the Johannesburg City Centre
- Authors: Fouche’, Daniel
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Theaters -- Designs and plans , City planning -- South Africa --Johannesburg
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58794 , vital:60122
- Description: Historically, news of a travelling circus coming to town created an atmosphere of anticipation andexcitement amongst all ages within a community. Normally the daily lives of the towns people were a monotonous routine, making the novelty and flamboyancy of the circus’s arrival an occasion to remember; the biggest day of the year showcased the greatest show on earth. Carnival processions would parade around the main streets and animate the whole town in order to gather people and subsequently lead the way to the big top tent. This spectacle brought entertainment to communities who would not normally be exposed, or have access, to environments made up of this wonder and excitement. In turn, to run away and join the circus was an attractive thought to the youth living in these mundane circumstances. Having been given a glimpse into what a theatrical life portrayed; especially self-expression and a strong community essence, the circus instilled something enchanting within the youth from otherwise difficult, diverse and indifferent backgrounds. Similarly, the UK collective Archigram, responded to the grey modernist environment with an architecture that appealed to the people through hyper-sensual events. The group imagined worlds that were both physically, or digitally, mobile; providing a moment in time in which a small village could experience events reminiscent of a city metropolis. Consequently, this treatise unpacks the popular works and research of Archigram to understand the relevance of an eccentric postmodern approach to modern-day placemaking within the Johannesburg city centre. A daily life of struggle and survival became common within the city centre as it started to see its decline in the early 80s. What was once the home of jazz, art, politics and insurgent popular aspirations now represents inner-city decay, dereliction and urban sprawl. The removal of major investments from what was the central business district has left city dwellers and their environment as victims of crime, violence and abandonment. The design of a performance space therefore aims to bring upliftment and celebration to the city through the circus ideal. The outcome is a world-class act that promotes social cohesion, creates opportunities, unlocks potential and transfers skills to the South African youth. Through proving a unique moment in time, people are given the opportunity to escape their reality and momentarily believe in a little bit of magic. , Thesis (MArch) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Fouche’, Daniel
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Theaters -- Designs and plans , City planning -- South Africa --Johannesburg
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58794 , vital:60122
- Description: Historically, news of a travelling circus coming to town created an atmosphere of anticipation andexcitement amongst all ages within a community. Normally the daily lives of the towns people were a monotonous routine, making the novelty and flamboyancy of the circus’s arrival an occasion to remember; the biggest day of the year showcased the greatest show on earth. Carnival processions would parade around the main streets and animate the whole town in order to gather people and subsequently lead the way to the big top tent. This spectacle brought entertainment to communities who would not normally be exposed, or have access, to environments made up of this wonder and excitement. In turn, to run away and join the circus was an attractive thought to the youth living in these mundane circumstances. Having been given a glimpse into what a theatrical life portrayed; especially self-expression and a strong community essence, the circus instilled something enchanting within the youth from otherwise difficult, diverse and indifferent backgrounds. Similarly, the UK collective Archigram, responded to the grey modernist environment with an architecture that appealed to the people through hyper-sensual events. The group imagined worlds that were both physically, or digitally, mobile; providing a moment in time in which a small village could experience events reminiscent of a city metropolis. Consequently, this treatise unpacks the popular works and research of Archigram to understand the relevance of an eccentric postmodern approach to modern-day placemaking within the Johannesburg city centre. A daily life of struggle and survival became common within the city centre as it started to see its decline in the early 80s. What was once the home of jazz, art, politics and insurgent popular aspirations now represents inner-city decay, dereliction and urban sprawl. The removal of major investments from what was the central business district has left city dwellers and their environment as victims of crime, violence and abandonment. The design of a performance space therefore aims to bring upliftment and celebration to the city through the circus ideal. The outcome is a world-class act that promotes social cohesion, creates opportunities, unlocks potential and transfers skills to the South African youth. Through proving a unique moment in time, people are given the opportunity to escape their reality and momentarily believe in a little bit of magic. , Thesis (MArch) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12