The influence of access to financial services and effective financial management practices on SME success in South Africa
- Authors: Sisusa, Ubenathi
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463527 , vital:76417
- Description: The success rate of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa is still low due to the majority failing in their early stages of initiation. The main reasons why SMEs fail can be ascribed to their lack of access to financial services and effective financial management practices. Access to financial services refers to the ability of SMEs to obtain financial products and services from formal financial institutions at affordable prices, while effective financial management practices refer to the adoption of cash and credit management practices to efficiently manage finances within the SMEs. This study investigated the influence of access to financial services and effective financial management practices on SME success in South Africa. Access to financial services was measured by SMEs’ access to transactional bank accounts, savings accounts, credit facilities, and insurance products. Effective financial management practices were measured according to their cash and credit management practices. Lastly, SME success was measured as SMEs operating for over five years, reporting growth according to the owner’s perception, and earning annual profits of R15 000 and above. This study applied the quantitative research design to investigate the influence of access to financial services and effective financial management practices on SME success in South Africa. The study used existing data collected by Ipsos for the FinMark Trust FinScope South Africa MSME 2020 with a sample of 4 897 respondents. The study used secondary data to investigate the independent variables, namely access to financial services and effective financial management practices, on the dependent variable, SME success. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and the multiple regression analysis were used to test the hypotheses of the study. The results showed that these SMEs were mostly from the Gauteng Province (40%), the majority had between 11 and 50 employees (76%), and the owner was the manager (73%). Pearson’s correlation coefficient results showed a significant positive correlation between access to financial services and SME success. It also showed a significant positive correlation between effective financial management practices and SME success. Furthermore, this study’s multiple regression analysis showed that access to financial services and effective financial management practices significantly influence SME success. Thus, SMEs with access to financial services (transactional bank accounts, savings accounts, credit facilities, and insurance products) and adopting effective financial management practices such as cash and credit management are likely to succeed. This study emphasises the importance of access to financial services and effective financial management practices on SMEs’ success. Therefore, it is recommended that to enhance SME success, SMEs need to open transactional bank accounts as soon as they start operating to ensure that they build favourable profiles with the financial institutions to gain access to other financial services such as credit facilities and insurance products. Furthermore, in terms of effective financial management practices, SMEs need to adopt the relevant cash and credit management practices, ensuring that they can meet the financial institutions’ requirements, subsequently enabling them to access financial services. Lastly, this study recommends that financial institutions offer relevant and affordable financial products and services to SMEs to ensure they can access more financial services. This study contributes to SMEs and formal financial institutions in South Africa by identifying the factors that influence SME success, the measures that SME owners can put in place for the SMEs to be successful, the role that formal financial institutions play in enabling SMEs’ success, and the changes they can implement to aid SMEs to access financial services at affordable costs. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Management, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Sisusa, Ubenathi
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463527 , vital:76417
- Description: The success rate of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa is still low due to the majority failing in their early stages of initiation. The main reasons why SMEs fail can be ascribed to their lack of access to financial services and effective financial management practices. Access to financial services refers to the ability of SMEs to obtain financial products and services from formal financial institutions at affordable prices, while effective financial management practices refer to the adoption of cash and credit management practices to efficiently manage finances within the SMEs. This study investigated the influence of access to financial services and effective financial management practices on SME success in South Africa. Access to financial services was measured by SMEs’ access to transactional bank accounts, savings accounts, credit facilities, and insurance products. Effective financial management practices were measured according to their cash and credit management practices. Lastly, SME success was measured as SMEs operating for over five years, reporting growth according to the owner’s perception, and earning annual profits of R15 000 and above. This study applied the quantitative research design to investigate the influence of access to financial services and effective financial management practices on SME success in South Africa. The study used existing data collected by Ipsos for the FinMark Trust FinScope South Africa MSME 2020 with a sample of 4 897 respondents. The study used secondary data to investigate the independent variables, namely access to financial services and effective financial management practices, on the dependent variable, SME success. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and the multiple regression analysis were used to test the hypotheses of the study. The results showed that these SMEs were mostly from the Gauteng Province (40%), the majority had between 11 and 50 employees (76%), and the owner was the manager (73%). Pearson’s correlation coefficient results showed a significant positive correlation between access to financial services and SME success. It also showed a significant positive correlation between effective financial management practices and SME success. Furthermore, this study’s multiple regression analysis showed that access to financial services and effective financial management practices significantly influence SME success. Thus, SMEs with access to financial services (transactional bank accounts, savings accounts, credit facilities, and insurance products) and adopting effective financial management practices such as cash and credit management are likely to succeed. This study emphasises the importance of access to financial services and effective financial management practices on SMEs’ success. Therefore, it is recommended that to enhance SME success, SMEs need to open transactional bank accounts as soon as they start operating to ensure that they build favourable profiles with the financial institutions to gain access to other financial services such as credit facilities and insurance products. Furthermore, in terms of effective financial management practices, SMEs need to adopt the relevant cash and credit management practices, ensuring that they can meet the financial institutions’ requirements, subsequently enabling them to access financial services. Lastly, this study recommends that financial institutions offer relevant and affordable financial products and services to SMEs to ensure they can access more financial services. This study contributes to SMEs and formal financial institutions in South Africa by identifying the factors that influence SME success, the measures that SME owners can put in place for the SMEs to be successful, the role that formal financial institutions play in enabling SMEs’ success, and the changes they can implement to aid SMEs to access financial services at affordable costs. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Management, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
The integration of sustainability in municipalities in South Africa: an evaluation of an Eastern Cape district municipality’s water supply distribution systems
- Authors: Maxwele, Zukani
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/461885 , vital:76248
- Description: The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa mandates municipalities to provide sustainable services to communities, particularly those responsible for water and sanitation. Despite this obligation, many communities in the Oliver Reginald Tambo District Municipality (ORTDM) face prolonged water interruptions due to challenges with infrastructure. This study has assessed the ORTDM’s efforts to integrate sustainability principles into its water supply distribution systems development programmes. Essentially, it aimed to evaluate whether and how ORTDM integrates social, environmental, economic, engineering, and project management sustainability principles into its developmental initiatives. Grounded in the backdrop of global sustainable development imperatives, particularly the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) concept, the research explored challenges and considerations within local government in pursuit of sustainability in water infrastructure development. Utilising a qualitative research approach within a post-positivism paradigm, the study employed semi-structured interviews and document analysis as primary data collection methods, emphasising triangulation for research validity and ethical considerations throughout the study. Although the initially planned sample size was 12 participants, the study successfully interviewed seven municipal officials from ORTDM’s water and sanitation services delivery department, achieving a participation rate of 58%, which aligns with qualitative research standards. Findings from document analysis and interviews were categorised based on identified sustainability principles, highlighting strategies adopted and challenges encountered by ORTDM, including opportunities available for ORTDM. The study reveals that while ORTDM has made efforts to integrate sustainability principles, numerous challenges, including financial and natural resource constraints, organisational capacity limitations, inadequate infrastructure planning and maintenance, and socio-economic challenges, have hindered desired outcomes. Additionally, issues like vandalism, theft, biodiversity loss, and fragmented water conservation strategies exacerbate sustainability integration challenges. To address these barriers, the study recommends prioritising management approaches to enhance sustainability integration in ORTDM’s water services. Drawing on resilience theory, the study further proposes integrating resilience principles into planning, design, and management processes to improve organisational and system resilience, thus ensuring reliable and sustainable water services. The study emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative solutions in achieving resilient, equitable, economical, and environmentally responsible water supply distribution systems. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Maxwele, Zukani
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/461885 , vital:76248
- Description: The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa mandates municipalities to provide sustainable services to communities, particularly those responsible for water and sanitation. Despite this obligation, many communities in the Oliver Reginald Tambo District Municipality (ORTDM) face prolonged water interruptions due to challenges with infrastructure. This study has assessed the ORTDM’s efforts to integrate sustainability principles into its water supply distribution systems development programmes. Essentially, it aimed to evaluate whether and how ORTDM integrates social, environmental, economic, engineering, and project management sustainability principles into its developmental initiatives. Grounded in the backdrop of global sustainable development imperatives, particularly the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) concept, the research explored challenges and considerations within local government in pursuit of sustainability in water infrastructure development. Utilising a qualitative research approach within a post-positivism paradigm, the study employed semi-structured interviews and document analysis as primary data collection methods, emphasising triangulation for research validity and ethical considerations throughout the study. Although the initially planned sample size was 12 participants, the study successfully interviewed seven municipal officials from ORTDM’s water and sanitation services delivery department, achieving a participation rate of 58%, which aligns with qualitative research standards. Findings from document analysis and interviews were categorised based on identified sustainability principles, highlighting strategies adopted and challenges encountered by ORTDM, including opportunities available for ORTDM. The study reveals that while ORTDM has made efforts to integrate sustainability principles, numerous challenges, including financial and natural resource constraints, organisational capacity limitations, inadequate infrastructure planning and maintenance, and socio-economic challenges, have hindered desired outcomes. Additionally, issues like vandalism, theft, biodiversity loss, and fragmented water conservation strategies exacerbate sustainability integration challenges. To address these barriers, the study recommends prioritising management approaches to enhance sustainability integration in ORTDM’s water services. Drawing on resilience theory, the study further proposes integrating resilience principles into planning, design, and management processes to improve organisational and system resilience, thus ensuring reliable and sustainable water services. The study emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative solutions in achieving resilient, equitable, economical, and environmentally responsible water supply distribution systems. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
The ontological reality of spirit and its ways of knowing as a form of embodied intangible cultural heritage: a case of the oGobela teaching approaches and techniques within Ubungoma practice
- Authors: Jacobs, Venetia Rose
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463570 , vital:76421
- Description: This study uses an ethnographic lens to explore the lived experiences, learning processes and experiential knowledge of oGobela (spiritual teachers). The study explores oGobela teaching approaches, techniques, and ways of knowing in Ubungoma1 practice which is known as Ukuthwasa2, which is understood as a modality or expression of Isintu. Furthermore, Isintu is defined as Indigenous knowledge systems and ancestral wisdom traditions which include Indigenous expressions of African peoples’ interactions with the cosmos, nature, earth and knowledge systems. The study reveals how esoteric knowledge (knowledge from ancestors and divinities) is translated into attainable knowledge in the form of healing techniques. This study aims to dismantle a largely European pedagogy when it pertains to the understanding of religious practices. An ethnographic lens layered with a decolonial intent worked together as a counter-hegemonic practice in the recentralisation of marginal voices, in this case, the voices of Izangoma narrating their lived experiences. Izangoma refer to people who have graduated as healers from initiation school. The theoretical framework used to guide the study was the sociocultural theory and decolonial theory. The decolonial theory was useful in my study to re-examine imperial histories through the harmful lens of colonialism. Sociocultural theory is geared towards looking at how learners actually learn as opposed to the way learners are expected to learn. This Vygotskian school of thought believes that human development is not isolated from historical, cultural and social contexts. My methodology made use of the case study, narrative analysis and criticalethnographic approaches involving semi-structured interviews with approximately seven Izangoma. This included radical embodied participation and reflexive journalling. I also drew on emerging studies on Indigenous knowledge systems such as the “anthropology of dreaming” (Tedlock, 1987, p. 1) and the “institution of drumming and dreaming in Ngoma” (Janzen, 1991, p. 291) to reflect on my experience as an initiate (Gogo Ukukhanya KweMhlaba) and my observations of my Gobela and other oGobela learning processes. The study draws a sample pool of both Izangoma and oGobela, to provide a holistic view of the role of oGobela from a teacher and learner perspective. It is important to note that not everyone who is a Sangoma is a Gobela. Becoming a Gobela is an additional calling based on specific instructions from your ancestors. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post-School Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Jacobs, Venetia Rose
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463570 , vital:76421
- Description: This study uses an ethnographic lens to explore the lived experiences, learning processes and experiential knowledge of oGobela (spiritual teachers). The study explores oGobela teaching approaches, techniques, and ways of knowing in Ubungoma1 practice which is known as Ukuthwasa2, which is understood as a modality or expression of Isintu. Furthermore, Isintu is defined as Indigenous knowledge systems and ancestral wisdom traditions which include Indigenous expressions of African peoples’ interactions with the cosmos, nature, earth and knowledge systems. The study reveals how esoteric knowledge (knowledge from ancestors and divinities) is translated into attainable knowledge in the form of healing techniques. This study aims to dismantle a largely European pedagogy when it pertains to the understanding of religious practices. An ethnographic lens layered with a decolonial intent worked together as a counter-hegemonic practice in the recentralisation of marginal voices, in this case, the voices of Izangoma narrating their lived experiences. Izangoma refer to people who have graduated as healers from initiation school. The theoretical framework used to guide the study was the sociocultural theory and decolonial theory. The decolonial theory was useful in my study to re-examine imperial histories through the harmful lens of colonialism. Sociocultural theory is geared towards looking at how learners actually learn as opposed to the way learners are expected to learn. This Vygotskian school of thought believes that human development is not isolated from historical, cultural and social contexts. My methodology made use of the case study, narrative analysis and criticalethnographic approaches involving semi-structured interviews with approximately seven Izangoma. This included radical embodied participation and reflexive journalling. I also drew on emerging studies on Indigenous knowledge systems such as the “anthropology of dreaming” (Tedlock, 1987, p. 1) and the “institution of drumming and dreaming in Ngoma” (Janzen, 1991, p. 291) to reflect on my experience as an initiate (Gogo Ukukhanya KweMhlaba) and my observations of my Gobela and other oGobela learning processes. The study draws a sample pool of both Izangoma and oGobela, to provide a holistic view of the role of oGobela from a teacher and learner perspective. It is important to note that not everyone who is a Sangoma is a Gobela. Becoming a Gobela is an additional calling based on specific instructions from your ancestors. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post-School Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
The processes and problems involved in winding up a deceased estate in South Africa
- Authors: Mazwi, Likho Athule
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463505 , vital:76415
- Description: This thesis discusses the processes involved in winding up a deceased estate and potential problems that can occur in carrying out these processes. The research adopts a legal interpretive approach, more specifically a doctrinal research methodology. This is low risk desktop research and is based on publicly available data. In analysing the processes involved in winding up an estate, a will (or lack of a will) is identified as the starting point for the process. A will stipulates how the testator wishes to dispose of his or her property in the event of death, and must be executed in terms of the formalities provided in section 2 of the Wills Act. Section 13(1) of the Administration of Estates Act provides that the estate of the deceased is not wound up until letters of executorship have been granted by the Master. The Administration of Estates Act provides for formalities in the appointment and remuneration of an executor, who is responsible for the administration of the estate and distribution of the assets in the estate. Before the properties can be distributed to the beneficiaries, the executor must first call every person who has a claim against the estate to lodge a claim and pay the debts, including tax debts owed by the deceased. These tax liabilities are determined in terms of the Income Tax Act and Estate Duty Act. The three taxpayers involved in the winding-up process are the deceased taxpayer, the deceased estate, and the beneficiaries of the estate. Several problems that may occur in winding up an estate are identified in the thesis. These include a testator who is incapable of executing a will, wills that do not comply with the formalities, forged wills, undue influence exerted on a testator, the death of testator caused by a beneficiary, disqualified beneficiaries, lost wills, the lack of a valid will, disputed and late claims against the estate, an executor failing to perform his or her duties, removing the executor of an estate, winding up the estate of a person who has died without a will, and insolvent estates. These problems, together with possible solutions, are discussed in detail. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Accounting, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Mazwi, Likho Athule
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463505 , vital:76415
- Description: This thesis discusses the processes involved in winding up a deceased estate and potential problems that can occur in carrying out these processes. The research adopts a legal interpretive approach, more specifically a doctrinal research methodology. This is low risk desktop research and is based on publicly available data. In analysing the processes involved in winding up an estate, a will (or lack of a will) is identified as the starting point for the process. A will stipulates how the testator wishes to dispose of his or her property in the event of death, and must be executed in terms of the formalities provided in section 2 of the Wills Act. Section 13(1) of the Administration of Estates Act provides that the estate of the deceased is not wound up until letters of executorship have been granted by the Master. The Administration of Estates Act provides for formalities in the appointment and remuneration of an executor, who is responsible for the administration of the estate and distribution of the assets in the estate. Before the properties can be distributed to the beneficiaries, the executor must first call every person who has a claim against the estate to lodge a claim and pay the debts, including tax debts owed by the deceased. These tax liabilities are determined in terms of the Income Tax Act and Estate Duty Act. The three taxpayers involved in the winding-up process are the deceased taxpayer, the deceased estate, and the beneficiaries of the estate. Several problems that may occur in winding up an estate are identified in the thesis. These include a testator who is incapable of executing a will, wills that do not comply with the formalities, forged wills, undue influence exerted on a testator, the death of testator caused by a beneficiary, disqualified beneficiaries, lost wills, the lack of a valid will, disputed and late claims against the estate, an executor failing to perform his or her duties, removing the executor of an estate, winding up the estate of a person who has died without a will, and insolvent estates. These problems, together with possible solutions, are discussed in detail. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Accounting, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
The reading to learn pedagogy in South African inclusive English First Additional Language classrooms: successes and challenges
- Authors: Moyo, Sheron
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463735 , vital:76436
- Description: Reading to Learn (RtL) has been frequently suggested for students not meeting grade-appropriate reading standards. However, its achievements and shortcomings have not been examined in inclusive education. In light of this, the main goal of this study was to explore the successes and challenges of this methodology in grade 9 English First Additional Language (FAL) inclusive classrooms across four schools in the Northern Cape Province’s John Taolo Gaetsewe District. In light of the grave concerns about literacy development in South African schools, this methodology was created to fulfil the literacy needs of students from underprivileged groups in Australia. This qualitative study was grounded in social constructivist theory and an interpretative paradigm. The research used an exploratory case study comprising four participants who were purposively recruited and empowered with RtL between 2016 and 2022. The data-gathering methods used were semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and classroom observations to get insights into the achievements and shortcomings of the RtL pedagogy in inclusive classrooms. The qualitative data in this study was analysed using thematic analysis. The study’s findings revealed that the RtL pedagogy gave students who faced reading obstacles in inclusive classes the skills needed to read, read with meaning, and improve as readers and writers through its six-step scaffolding interactive cycle. There were challenges in employing the RtL pedagogy in inclusive classes, such as it is time-consuming and makes it difficult for teachers to adhere to the time frame stipulated by the annual teaching plan. Nevertheless, the study’s findings showed that the advantages of the RtL pedagogy outweigh the challenges. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Institute for the Study of Englishes of Africa, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Moyo, Sheron
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463735 , vital:76436
- Description: Reading to Learn (RtL) has been frequently suggested for students not meeting grade-appropriate reading standards. However, its achievements and shortcomings have not been examined in inclusive education. In light of this, the main goal of this study was to explore the successes and challenges of this methodology in grade 9 English First Additional Language (FAL) inclusive classrooms across four schools in the Northern Cape Province’s John Taolo Gaetsewe District. In light of the grave concerns about literacy development in South African schools, this methodology was created to fulfil the literacy needs of students from underprivileged groups in Australia. This qualitative study was grounded in social constructivist theory and an interpretative paradigm. The research used an exploratory case study comprising four participants who were purposively recruited and empowered with RtL between 2016 and 2022. The data-gathering methods used were semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and classroom observations to get insights into the achievements and shortcomings of the RtL pedagogy in inclusive classrooms. The qualitative data in this study was analysed using thematic analysis. The study’s findings revealed that the RtL pedagogy gave students who faced reading obstacles in inclusive classes the skills needed to read, read with meaning, and improve as readers and writers through its six-step scaffolding interactive cycle. There were challenges in employing the RtL pedagogy in inclusive classes, such as it is time-consuming and makes it difficult for teachers to adhere to the time frame stipulated by the annual teaching plan. Nevertheless, the study’s findings showed that the advantages of the RtL pedagogy outweigh the challenges. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Institute for the Study of Englishes of Africa, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
The relationship between financial sector deepening and income inequality in South Africa
- Authors: Mandleni, Siyanda
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462790 , vital:76335
- Description: This research analyzes the relationship between financial sector deepening and income inequality in South Africa from 1980 to 2019, using data from the World Bank Database and the Standardized World Income Inequality Database. An autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model is used to explore both the long- and short-run relationships that exist between these variables. Additionally, control variables like GDP, inflation, and structural changes that occurred, which include 1994 and 2005 are considered. According to the findings, the financial sector exacerbates income inequality in the long run. These findings highlight the need for policymakers to prioritize inclusive financial sector reforms. One recommendation is to enhance the access of Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to formal financial services. For example, promoting more black industrialists and SMMEs in the supply of financial products and services. Possible reforms may include adjusting credit requirements for different income groups or offering lower interest rates on loans for businesses. Ensuring that more financial sector gains are retained within black communities can foster inclusive growth by generating jobs and ensuring a more equitable distribution of income. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Mandleni, Siyanda
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462790 , vital:76335
- Description: This research analyzes the relationship between financial sector deepening and income inequality in South Africa from 1980 to 2019, using data from the World Bank Database and the Standardized World Income Inequality Database. An autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model is used to explore both the long- and short-run relationships that exist between these variables. Additionally, control variables like GDP, inflation, and structural changes that occurred, which include 1994 and 2005 are considered. According to the findings, the financial sector exacerbates income inequality in the long run. These findings highlight the need for policymakers to prioritize inclusive financial sector reforms. One recommendation is to enhance the access of Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to formal financial services. For example, promoting more black industrialists and SMMEs in the supply of financial products and services. Possible reforms may include adjusting credit requirements for different income groups or offering lower interest rates on loans for businesses. Ensuring that more financial sector gains are retained within black communities can foster inclusive growth by generating jobs and ensuring a more equitable distribution of income. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
The relationship between human, social and financial capital and small and medium enterprise (SME) performance in South Africa
- Authors: Siso, Masiso Nomakha
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462823 , vital:76338
- Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on developing countries, exacerbating economic stagnation, high poverty rates, and unemployment. South Africa, in particular, faces significant challenges, with a 35.3 percent unemployment rate and a 17.4 percent GDP decline in 2021. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are crucial during these economic challenges, traditionally employing a substantial workforce and contributing significantly to the GDP. Despite their importance, SMEs often struggle, with a small percentage surviving the initial two years. Limited research has been conducted on the resources and capabilities crucial for enterprise performance in South Africa. While studies in developed countries exist, few explore the relationship between resources and capabilities facilitating SME performance in developing contexts. This study focuses on human capital, bonding, bridging, and linking social capital, and financial capital as key resources and capabilities. Given the backdrop that many entrepreneurs in South Africa may not possess formal education or extensive work experience, this study contends that financial literacy—encompassing financial knowledge, behaviour, and attitude—serves as a proxy for human capital. Additionally, a notable portion of entrepreneurs in South Africa face a deficit in the skills and knowledge essential for identifying entrepreneurial opportunities. Even among those possessing these capabilities, the challenge lies in the lack of necessary resources, including social and financial capital, to effectively transform such prospects into viable new ventures. This study employed a causal research design and adopted a quantitative research approach within a post-positivist paradigm. The primary objective was to investigate the relationship between the following independent variables; human (where financial literacy was used as a proxy which consisted of financial knowledge, attitude and behaviour), bonding, bridging and linking social capital, and financial capital and the dependent variable; SME performance. An online self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data from SME owners/managers. A pilot study was undertaken, in which an electronic link to the questionnaire was sent to potential respondents. Potential respondents were identified using purposive and convenience sampling methods. Data collection yielded 334 usable responses from SME owners/managers in South Africa. After cleaning the data, the analysis examined the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Cronbach Alpha Coefficient analysis were used to confirm the validity and reliability of the measurement instrument, respectively. Descriptive statistics, regression, and correlation results were reported. Furthermore, a group mean analysis, including independent sample t-tests and one-way ANOVAs, were performed to investigate potential significant differences in variables based on demographic and enterprise related variables. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between financial capital and SME performance. This indicates that an entrepreneur's ability to access financial capital or possess financial capital contributes to the performance and success of enterprises in South Africa. This finding underscores the crucial role of financial capital in facilitating the growth and sustainability of enterprises, as it provides a buffer against unfavourable economic shocks, enables entrepreneurs to pursue more capital-intensive strategies, and affords them more time to learn and overcome challenges. Conversely, no significant relationships were found between financial knowledge, behaviour, and attitude, bonding, bridging, and linking social capital, and SME performance. This study contributes to the development of SMEs in South Africa by identifying the critical resources and capabilities essential for their survival and growth. Additionally, it offers valuable recommendations for policymakers to create a conducive environment for entrepreneurs and suggests potential educational initiatives and support structures. Furthermore, this study advocates for the exploration of innovative financing approaches to build a financial cushion and bolster resilience against economic upheavals. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Siso, Masiso Nomakha
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462823 , vital:76338
- Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on developing countries, exacerbating economic stagnation, high poverty rates, and unemployment. South Africa, in particular, faces significant challenges, with a 35.3 percent unemployment rate and a 17.4 percent GDP decline in 2021. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are crucial during these economic challenges, traditionally employing a substantial workforce and contributing significantly to the GDP. Despite their importance, SMEs often struggle, with a small percentage surviving the initial two years. Limited research has been conducted on the resources and capabilities crucial for enterprise performance in South Africa. While studies in developed countries exist, few explore the relationship between resources and capabilities facilitating SME performance in developing contexts. This study focuses on human capital, bonding, bridging, and linking social capital, and financial capital as key resources and capabilities. Given the backdrop that many entrepreneurs in South Africa may not possess formal education or extensive work experience, this study contends that financial literacy—encompassing financial knowledge, behaviour, and attitude—serves as a proxy for human capital. Additionally, a notable portion of entrepreneurs in South Africa face a deficit in the skills and knowledge essential for identifying entrepreneurial opportunities. Even among those possessing these capabilities, the challenge lies in the lack of necessary resources, including social and financial capital, to effectively transform such prospects into viable new ventures. This study employed a causal research design and adopted a quantitative research approach within a post-positivist paradigm. The primary objective was to investigate the relationship between the following independent variables; human (where financial literacy was used as a proxy which consisted of financial knowledge, attitude and behaviour), bonding, bridging and linking social capital, and financial capital and the dependent variable; SME performance. An online self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data from SME owners/managers. A pilot study was undertaken, in which an electronic link to the questionnaire was sent to potential respondents. Potential respondents were identified using purposive and convenience sampling methods. Data collection yielded 334 usable responses from SME owners/managers in South Africa. After cleaning the data, the analysis examined the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Cronbach Alpha Coefficient analysis were used to confirm the validity and reliability of the measurement instrument, respectively. Descriptive statistics, regression, and correlation results were reported. Furthermore, a group mean analysis, including independent sample t-tests and one-way ANOVAs, were performed to investigate potential significant differences in variables based on demographic and enterprise related variables. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between financial capital and SME performance. This indicates that an entrepreneur's ability to access financial capital or possess financial capital contributes to the performance and success of enterprises in South Africa. This finding underscores the crucial role of financial capital in facilitating the growth and sustainability of enterprises, as it provides a buffer against unfavourable economic shocks, enables entrepreneurs to pursue more capital-intensive strategies, and affords them more time to learn and overcome challenges. Conversely, no significant relationships were found between financial knowledge, behaviour, and attitude, bonding, bridging, and linking social capital, and SME performance. This study contributes to the development of SMEs in South Africa by identifying the critical resources and capabilities essential for their survival and growth. Additionally, it offers valuable recommendations for policymakers to create a conducive environment for entrepreneurs and suggests potential educational initiatives and support structures. Furthermore, this study advocates for the exploration of innovative financing approaches to build a financial cushion and bolster resilience against economic upheavals. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
The relationship between REITS and stock market prices during periods of volatility: a Bivariate GARCH analysis
- Authors: Makara, Ntsali Audrey
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462768 , vital:76333
- Description: The relationship between real estate and the stock market is essential because they are the two most highly invested assets. In addition, examining the volatility of any asset is important for risk management and investor portfolio returns. The general motivation for analysing the relationship is that it can provide insight to policymakers and investors about the behaviour of stocks and real estate assets. The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) and stock prices in South Africa using daily data from 2 January 2013 to 31 May 2023. The wealth and credit effects are the two mechanisms used to interpret the relationship. The wealth effect is a mechanism that states that the causal relationship between the two markets runs from increasing stock prices which tends to increase real estate. The credit effect claims that real estate prices influence stock prices. Most of the existing literature has examined the relationship between the two markets but less attention has been given to the volatility spillover effects. Therefore, the analysis presented in this thesis extends the existing research by examining the relationship and the spillover effects between the REITs and stock markets. The study employs quantitative research methodology using the following econometric methods i)Vector Autoregression model, ii) Granger Causality Tests and Bivariate GARCH models. The study found that there is no long-run relationship between REITS and stock prices. In addition, the Granger Causality results showed a unidirectional relationship between REITs and stock prices. The results indicate the presence of a wealth effect in South Africa, meaning that changes in stock prices influence the real estate market. Moreover, the GARCH analysis found volatility spillover effects from the stock to the REITs markets. These results are helpful for policymakers and investors interested in the portfolio and risk management of the two markets. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Makara, Ntsali Audrey
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462768 , vital:76333
- Description: The relationship between real estate and the stock market is essential because they are the two most highly invested assets. In addition, examining the volatility of any asset is important for risk management and investor portfolio returns. The general motivation for analysing the relationship is that it can provide insight to policymakers and investors about the behaviour of stocks and real estate assets. The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) and stock prices in South Africa using daily data from 2 January 2013 to 31 May 2023. The wealth and credit effects are the two mechanisms used to interpret the relationship. The wealth effect is a mechanism that states that the causal relationship between the two markets runs from increasing stock prices which tends to increase real estate. The credit effect claims that real estate prices influence stock prices. Most of the existing literature has examined the relationship between the two markets but less attention has been given to the volatility spillover effects. Therefore, the analysis presented in this thesis extends the existing research by examining the relationship and the spillover effects between the REITs and stock markets. The study employs quantitative research methodology using the following econometric methods i)Vector Autoregression model, ii) Granger Causality Tests and Bivariate GARCH models. The study found that there is no long-run relationship between REITS and stock prices. In addition, the Granger Causality results showed a unidirectional relationship between REITs and stock prices. The results indicate the presence of a wealth effect in South Africa, meaning that changes in stock prices influence the real estate market. Moreover, the GARCH analysis found volatility spillover effects from the stock to the REITs markets. These results are helpful for policymakers and investors interested in the portfolio and risk management of the two markets. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
The stock market and the business cycle in South Africa
- Authors: Pokoo, Patience
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462801 , vital:76336
- Description: The relationship between the stock market and economic activity has long been a topic for research. Several studies done in both advanced and emerging economies including South Africa before COVID-19 found stock market prices predict the cycle of real economic activity and some found it to be the reversal. Therefore, this Study seeks to examine this topic and will extend beyond the post-covid period exploring the relationship between the stock market (proxied by the JSE All-Share Index) and the business cycle (represented by the Coincident Business Cycle Indicator of the SARB) in South Africa. The study also investigates if the relationship between the stock market and the business cycle is homogenous across the three selected sectors of the JSE using a combination of the “financial accelerator theory”, the “wealth effect theory”, the “traditional valuation model of stock prices”, the “stock prices as aggregators of expectations”, and the “cost of raising equity capital”. The Econometrics models employed include time-series and panel cointegration techniques, relying on the ARDL estimation model and a Granger-Causality Test. The findings of this study indicate that a long-run relationship exists between the stock market and the business cycle in South Africa. The findings support the notion that the stock market predicts economic activity, and this relationship is assumed to be homogenous across the selected Sectors of the JSE (namely, Resources, Financials, and Industrials). Again, the Granger-Causality Test confirms the relationship between the stock market and the business cycle in South Africa to be unidirectional. It is recommended that since the stock market affects South African economic activity positively in the long run which is consistent with findings of similar studies done on the JSE, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) must strengthen existing policy to ensure financial system stability and sustainable economic growth in South Africa. Again, the stock market being a leading indicator of the business cycle is something different. As a recommendation, we need to look at ways to use the prediction ability in a business setting. Investors and Portfolio Managers can follow trends of the stock market to forecast the direction of the future economy to make educated decisions to hedge their investments and diversify their portfolios against huge losses in crises such as the Financial Crises and the Global Health Crisis (COVID-19), however, with the caveat that the stock market does not always accurately predict the business cycle. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Pokoo, Patience
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462801 , vital:76336
- Description: The relationship between the stock market and economic activity has long been a topic for research. Several studies done in both advanced and emerging economies including South Africa before COVID-19 found stock market prices predict the cycle of real economic activity and some found it to be the reversal. Therefore, this Study seeks to examine this topic and will extend beyond the post-covid period exploring the relationship between the stock market (proxied by the JSE All-Share Index) and the business cycle (represented by the Coincident Business Cycle Indicator of the SARB) in South Africa. The study also investigates if the relationship between the stock market and the business cycle is homogenous across the three selected sectors of the JSE using a combination of the “financial accelerator theory”, the “wealth effect theory”, the “traditional valuation model of stock prices”, the “stock prices as aggregators of expectations”, and the “cost of raising equity capital”. The Econometrics models employed include time-series and panel cointegration techniques, relying on the ARDL estimation model and a Granger-Causality Test. The findings of this study indicate that a long-run relationship exists between the stock market and the business cycle in South Africa. The findings support the notion that the stock market predicts economic activity, and this relationship is assumed to be homogenous across the selected Sectors of the JSE (namely, Resources, Financials, and Industrials). Again, the Granger-Causality Test confirms the relationship between the stock market and the business cycle in South Africa to be unidirectional. It is recommended that since the stock market affects South African economic activity positively in the long run which is consistent with findings of similar studies done on the JSE, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) must strengthen existing policy to ensure financial system stability and sustainable economic growth in South Africa. Again, the stock market being a leading indicator of the business cycle is something different. As a recommendation, we need to look at ways to use the prediction ability in a business setting. Investors and Portfolio Managers can follow trends of the stock market to forecast the direction of the future economy to make educated decisions to hedge their investments and diversify their portfolios against huge losses in crises such as the Financial Crises and the Global Health Crisis (COVID-19), however, with the caveat that the stock market does not always accurately predict the business cycle. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
The sustainability impacts and opportunities of reverse osmosis (RO) plants on the quadruple bottom line perspective: a case of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Mfihlo, Cwayita
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/461907 , vital:76250
- Description: Water scarcity is a pressing global issue exacerbated by factors such as population growth, urbanisation, and climate change. This challenge is particularly acute in water-stressed regions where a substantial portion of the world's population resides. Desalination, particularly through reverse osmosis (RO), has emerged as a viable solution to address this demand, providing a stable and high-quality water supply without overburdening natural freshwater ecosystems. This research focuses on the sustainability impacts and opportunities of RO desalination plants, specifically examining the Cerebos SA plant in Gqeberha and the Amatola Water plant at Bushman's River, to provide insights into their environmental, social, economic, and governance impacts and opportunities from a life cycle perspective. In addition to investigate the key sustainability considerations relevant to RO desalination plants to potentially augment available water provision sources in the Eastern Cape. Ten participants were purposively sampled from Ndlambe Municipality, Cerebos S.A, and Amatola Water. Semi-structured interviews and document analysis were used to collect data. The research design was grounded in the post-positivism paradigm, emphasising the incorporation of diverse perspectives and the search for valid and reliable evidence within existing phenomena. Three strategies were used to ensure credibility data for this study, these were triangulation, diverse participant selection, and audio interview transcription using Otter.ai. The results from the research offered valuable insights into the sustainability impacts and opportunities of the RO desalination plants from the Life Cycle perspective, although the respondents demonstrated a clear understanding of sustainability, the concept of QBL was less familiar to many. Furthermore, the respondents unpacked QBL impacts and opportunities from a life cycle perspective and augmentation consideration for RO desalination plants. Key recommendations included conducting thorough environmental impact assessments, transitioning to renewable energy sources, energy recovery systems, inventory management, and enhancing community engagement and workforce training. Despite limitations in scope and participant diversity, the findings fill a gap in the literature, offering valuable insights for stakeholders to enhance water provision sustainability. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Mfihlo, Cwayita
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/461907 , vital:76250
- Description: Water scarcity is a pressing global issue exacerbated by factors such as population growth, urbanisation, and climate change. This challenge is particularly acute in water-stressed regions where a substantial portion of the world's population resides. Desalination, particularly through reverse osmosis (RO), has emerged as a viable solution to address this demand, providing a stable and high-quality water supply without overburdening natural freshwater ecosystems. This research focuses on the sustainability impacts and opportunities of RO desalination plants, specifically examining the Cerebos SA plant in Gqeberha and the Amatola Water plant at Bushman's River, to provide insights into their environmental, social, economic, and governance impacts and opportunities from a life cycle perspective. In addition to investigate the key sustainability considerations relevant to RO desalination plants to potentially augment available water provision sources in the Eastern Cape. Ten participants were purposively sampled from Ndlambe Municipality, Cerebos S.A, and Amatola Water. Semi-structured interviews and document analysis were used to collect data. The research design was grounded in the post-positivism paradigm, emphasising the incorporation of diverse perspectives and the search for valid and reliable evidence within existing phenomena. Three strategies were used to ensure credibility data for this study, these were triangulation, diverse participant selection, and audio interview transcription using Otter.ai. The results from the research offered valuable insights into the sustainability impacts and opportunities of the RO desalination plants from the Life Cycle perspective, although the respondents demonstrated a clear understanding of sustainability, the concept of QBL was less familiar to many. Furthermore, the respondents unpacked QBL impacts and opportunities from a life cycle perspective and augmentation consideration for RO desalination plants. Key recommendations included conducting thorough environmental impact assessments, transitioning to renewable energy sources, energy recovery systems, inventory management, and enhancing community engagement and workforce training. Despite limitations in scope and participant diversity, the findings fill a gap in the literature, offering valuable insights for stakeholders to enhance water provision sustainability. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
Understanding heat energy conservation: using traditional brick making in a Grade 7 Natural Sciences class in a rural school
- Authors: Godlo, Lindiwe Priscilla
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463559 , vital:76420
- Description: Learners seemed to experience cognitive dissonance on the topic of the conservation of heat energy. My assumption is that this might be due to cognitive dissonance or conflict that learners seem to experience in science classrooms. This means the way science teachers teach science does not form part of learners’ contexts and hence has no relevance to them. To ameliorate this dilemma, the South African Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) document requires teachers to integrate indigenous knowledge into science teaching and learning but does not provide explicit methods on how to do it. It is against this backdrop that this study explored how the use of traditional brick making method can support learners to make sense of the topic of conservation of heat energy. Underpinned by the interpretivist and Indigenous research paradigms, a qualitative case study design was employed. Twenty-four Grade 7 Natural Sciences learners, four indigenous knowledge custodians (IKCs) (who were all women), and a critical friend participated in this study. Data sets were generated through several methods: learner group activity; participatory and lesson observations; a sharing circle; and learners’ reflective journals. Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory and Ogunniyi’s Contiguity Argumentative Theory were used as theoretical lenses to analyse data. The findings revealed that during the demonstration by the IKCs, learners were able to identify science concepts related to the conservation of heat energy which means they understood the science concept. Learners’ argumentation and sense-making of the aforementioned topic and related concepts greatly improved. Based on the research findings, I thus recommend that teachers should tap into IKCs’ cultural heritage to contextualise and make science relevant and more meaningful to learners. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post-School Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Godlo, Lindiwe Priscilla
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463559 , vital:76420
- Description: Learners seemed to experience cognitive dissonance on the topic of the conservation of heat energy. My assumption is that this might be due to cognitive dissonance or conflict that learners seem to experience in science classrooms. This means the way science teachers teach science does not form part of learners’ contexts and hence has no relevance to them. To ameliorate this dilemma, the South African Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) document requires teachers to integrate indigenous knowledge into science teaching and learning but does not provide explicit methods on how to do it. It is against this backdrop that this study explored how the use of traditional brick making method can support learners to make sense of the topic of conservation of heat energy. Underpinned by the interpretivist and Indigenous research paradigms, a qualitative case study design was employed. Twenty-four Grade 7 Natural Sciences learners, four indigenous knowledge custodians (IKCs) (who were all women), and a critical friend participated in this study. Data sets were generated through several methods: learner group activity; participatory and lesson observations; a sharing circle; and learners’ reflective journals. Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory and Ogunniyi’s Contiguity Argumentative Theory were used as theoretical lenses to analyse data. The findings revealed that during the demonstration by the IKCs, learners were able to identify science concepts related to the conservation of heat energy which means they understood the science concept. Learners’ argumentation and sense-making of the aforementioned topic and related concepts greatly improved. Based on the research findings, I thus recommend that teachers should tap into IKCs’ cultural heritage to contextualise and make science relevant and more meaningful to learners. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post-School Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
Using the indigenous technology of organic crop farming to mediate learning in Grade 12 Agricultural Science classes
- Authors: Sheehama, Lydia Ndapandula
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463614 , vital:76425
- Description: The Namibian Curriculum for Basic Education states clearly that Indigenous Knowledge (IK) should be integrated into science teaching. However, the irony is that it does not give clear pedagogical guidelines on how it should be integrated. The implication is that the curriculum assumes that all teachers are aware of how to integrate IK into their teaching. This assumption has therefore led to little or no integration of IK in many classrooms in Namibia, something which could be in part a contributing factor to poor learners’ academic performance in science subjects and Agricultural Science in particular. This tension in the curriculum plus the apparent gap in the literature regarding the integration of IK has triggered my interest to conduct this interventionist qualitative case study. Essentially, this study aimed to explore affordances and/or hindrances when using the indigenous technology of organic crop farming to mediate learning in Grade 12 Agricultural Science classes in peri-urban schools in the Oshana region in Namibia. The study was underpinned by the interpretivist and Ubuntu paradigms. Vygotsky’s (1978) socio-cultural theory and Shulman’s (1986) pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) framework were used as lenses to analyse my data. Within PCK, I also used Mavhunga and Rollnick’s (2013) Topic-Specific PCK as an analytical framework. The findings of the study revealed that the integration of Indigenous knowledge in Agricultural Science education has great potential in improving both the teaching and learnng of science. It also revealed that the Agricultural Science teachers were positive towards the integration of IK in their lessons. However, they conceded that they lacked pedagogical insights on how to integrate IK as they were never trained on how to integrate it. As a result, they found the presentations by the Indigenous Knowledge Custodians (IKCs) informative and shed light on how they could integrate IK during teaching and learning. That is, they became cultural knowledge brokers making science relevant and accessible to their learners. The study thus recommends that teacher training institutions should modify the curriculum to include a pedagogy course module on IK to equip students with the essential PCK on IK integration in science teaching. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post-School Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Sheehama, Lydia Ndapandula
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463614 , vital:76425
- Description: The Namibian Curriculum for Basic Education states clearly that Indigenous Knowledge (IK) should be integrated into science teaching. However, the irony is that it does not give clear pedagogical guidelines on how it should be integrated. The implication is that the curriculum assumes that all teachers are aware of how to integrate IK into their teaching. This assumption has therefore led to little or no integration of IK in many classrooms in Namibia, something which could be in part a contributing factor to poor learners’ academic performance in science subjects and Agricultural Science in particular. This tension in the curriculum plus the apparent gap in the literature regarding the integration of IK has triggered my interest to conduct this interventionist qualitative case study. Essentially, this study aimed to explore affordances and/or hindrances when using the indigenous technology of organic crop farming to mediate learning in Grade 12 Agricultural Science classes in peri-urban schools in the Oshana region in Namibia. The study was underpinned by the interpretivist and Ubuntu paradigms. Vygotsky’s (1978) socio-cultural theory and Shulman’s (1986) pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) framework were used as lenses to analyse my data. Within PCK, I also used Mavhunga and Rollnick’s (2013) Topic-Specific PCK as an analytical framework. The findings of the study revealed that the integration of Indigenous knowledge in Agricultural Science education has great potential in improving both the teaching and learnng of science. It also revealed that the Agricultural Science teachers were positive towards the integration of IK in their lessons. However, they conceded that they lacked pedagogical insights on how to integrate IK as they were never trained on how to integrate it. As a result, they found the presentations by the Indigenous Knowledge Custodians (IKCs) informative and shed light on how they could integrate IK during teaching and learning. That is, they became cultural knowledge brokers making science relevant and accessible to their learners. The study thus recommends that teacher training institutions should modify the curriculum to include a pedagogy course module on IK to equip students with the essential PCK on IK integration in science teaching. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post-School Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
Integration of HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis and Patients’ Services into the General Health Care Systems: Implementation Challenges and Impact on TB Control Programme in O.R. Tambo District, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
- Authors: Dlatu, Ntandazo
- Date: 2024-08
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/12987 , vital:76186
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB), a disease of poverty and inequality, is a leading cause of severe illness and death among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In South Africa, both TB and HIV epidemics have been closely related and persistent, posing a significant burden for healthcare provision. Reducing morbidity and mortality from HIV-associated TB requires strong collaboration between TB and HIV services at all levels with fully integrated, people-centered models of care. Studies have observed that TB and HIV integration reduces mortality. However, the operational implementation of integrated services is still challenging. Gaps exist between the challenges of combining TB and HIV control with evidence-based knowledge, affecting the implementation process of this highly recommended strategy. Despite the policy, frameworks for integration exist; integration of TB and HIV services is far from ideal in many resource-limited countries, including South Africa. Few studies have examined the advantages and disadvantages of integrated TB and HIV care in public health facilities, and even fewer have proposed conceptual models for proven integration. Objectives: The goals of this study consisted of: (i) investigating the associations between socio-economic deprivation and tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes, alongside well-known TB risk factors. The effects of healthcare expenditures and their growth on trends in TB incidence from 2009 to 2013 were also assessed. (ii) Exploring patients’ and healthcare workers’ perceptions of TB and HIV integration as well as a strategy for integrating these programs. (iii) Describing patients’ perceptions on barriers to scaling up of TB-HIV integration services at selected health facilities; and (iv) Developing a paradigm for integrating TB, HIV, and patient services in a single facility and highlighting the importance of TB-HIV services for greater accessibility under one roof. Methods: In Phase 1 of the study, secondary data analysis was performed on data obtained from various sources including governmental, non-governmental, and research institutions. Indicators for TB treatment outcomes included TB death rate, TB rate among the household contacts of the Index TB cases, TB treatment failure, HIV-associated TB death rate, TB defaulter rate, and new TB smear-positive cases. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Turkey’s tests for post-hoc analysis were used to P a g e xvii | compare means of variables of interest considering a type I error rate of 0.05. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-08
- Authors: Dlatu, Ntandazo
- Date: 2024-08
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/12987 , vital:76186
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB), a disease of poverty and inequality, is a leading cause of severe illness and death among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In South Africa, both TB and HIV epidemics have been closely related and persistent, posing a significant burden for healthcare provision. Reducing morbidity and mortality from HIV-associated TB requires strong collaboration between TB and HIV services at all levels with fully integrated, people-centered models of care. Studies have observed that TB and HIV integration reduces mortality. However, the operational implementation of integrated services is still challenging. Gaps exist between the challenges of combining TB and HIV control with evidence-based knowledge, affecting the implementation process of this highly recommended strategy. Despite the policy, frameworks for integration exist; integration of TB and HIV services is far from ideal in many resource-limited countries, including South Africa. Few studies have examined the advantages and disadvantages of integrated TB and HIV care in public health facilities, and even fewer have proposed conceptual models for proven integration. Objectives: The goals of this study consisted of: (i) investigating the associations between socio-economic deprivation and tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes, alongside well-known TB risk factors. The effects of healthcare expenditures and their growth on trends in TB incidence from 2009 to 2013 were also assessed. (ii) Exploring patients’ and healthcare workers’ perceptions of TB and HIV integration as well as a strategy for integrating these programs. (iii) Describing patients’ perceptions on barriers to scaling up of TB-HIV integration services at selected health facilities; and (iv) Developing a paradigm for integrating TB, HIV, and patient services in a single facility and highlighting the importance of TB-HIV services for greater accessibility under one roof. Methods: In Phase 1 of the study, secondary data analysis was performed on data obtained from various sources including governmental, non-governmental, and research institutions. Indicators for TB treatment outcomes included TB death rate, TB rate among the household contacts of the Index TB cases, TB treatment failure, HIV-associated TB death rate, TB defaulter rate, and new TB smear-positive cases. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Turkey’s tests for post-hoc analysis were used to P a g e xvii | compare means of variables of interest considering a type I error rate of 0.05. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-08
Exploring the experience of clients on fixed-dose combination antiretroviral drugs at Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Macozoma, Wanda
- Date: 2024-07
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/12963 , vital:76182
- Description: Fixed dose combination antiretroviral drugs are multiple retroviral drugs combined into a single pill, commenced in South Africa on 01 April 2013 after it was announced by the Minister of Health. The main reason for this change of treatment was to reduce pill burden and make the lives of people living with HIV and who are on ARVs simpler and easier. The purpose of this study was to describe experiences of clients on fixed dose combination antiretroviral drug at Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre, Eastern Cape. The study used a qualitative research approach and descriptive phenomenology as a research design. The target population for this study were clients initiated on a fixed dose combination antiretroviral drug. Purposive sampling was done and semi-structured individual interviews conducted to collect data, audiotape was used and field notes taken. Data saturation was reached after interviewing 12 participants. Data analysis was done guided by Tesch’s 8 steps of the coding process. Ethical principles were adhered to and informed consent obtained from participants. Findings revealed that there were physical, psychological and social experiences, from the period of first diagnosis, disclosure and medication compliance. It is recommended that health education campaigns be intensified since there is still stigmatization of HIV/AIDS that affects compliance. Also, there is need for continuing education and training for healthcare providers to encourage a supportive attitude towards clients. , Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-07
- Authors: Macozoma, Wanda
- Date: 2024-07
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/12963 , vital:76182
- Description: Fixed dose combination antiretroviral drugs are multiple retroviral drugs combined into a single pill, commenced in South Africa on 01 April 2013 after it was announced by the Minister of Health. The main reason for this change of treatment was to reduce pill burden and make the lives of people living with HIV and who are on ARVs simpler and easier. The purpose of this study was to describe experiences of clients on fixed dose combination antiretroviral drug at Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre, Eastern Cape. The study used a qualitative research approach and descriptive phenomenology as a research design. The target population for this study were clients initiated on a fixed dose combination antiretroviral drug. Purposive sampling was done and semi-structured individual interviews conducted to collect data, audiotape was used and field notes taken. Data saturation was reached after interviewing 12 participants. Data analysis was done guided by Tesch’s 8 steps of the coding process. Ethical principles were adhered to and informed consent obtained from participants. Findings revealed that there were physical, psychological and social experiences, from the period of first diagnosis, disclosure and medication compliance. It is recommended that health education campaigns be intensified since there is still stigmatization of HIV/AIDS that affects compliance. Also, there is need for continuing education and training for healthcare providers to encourage a supportive attitude towards clients. , Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-07
Translanguaging pedagogies and practice for social justice in a multilingual South African previously disadvantaged
- Authors: Mpofu, Tarisai
- Date: 2024-06
- Subjects: Multilingualism
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/11131 , vital:75921
- Description: Over the last two decades, there has been a burgeoning interest in translanguaging as both a theory and a methodology, but a few studies have looked at it as a pedagogy. This has meant that while there is near-consensus on translanguaging’s contribution to knowing, there have been few studies on how it can be implemented systematically in classrooms. This study examines how translanguaging is being practiced at one South African university and makes recommendations on how translanguaging can be implemented systematically for better impact. A mixed method approach was used, meaning that it had both qualitative and quantitative elements. Data for this study were gathered using online questionnaires completed by students and lecturers, interviews with lecturers, and observation. The results show that limited translanguaging was taking place in the classroom, despite both students and staff acknowledging its value to epistemic access. This study calls for intentional and systematic implementation of translanguaging to contribute to socially-just classroom practices. The study proposes the translanguaging matrix model for practice to assist in institutionalising translanguaging through the provision of short learning courses for staff and students on translanguaging, language learning opportunities and clear pedagogical training on when translanguaging must be used in classroom contexts. Key Words: Translanguaging, Language Policy, Social Justice, Multilingalism, Pedagogy , Thesis (D.Ed) -- Faculty of Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-06
- Authors: Mpofu, Tarisai
- Date: 2024-06
- Subjects: Multilingualism
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/11131 , vital:75921
- Description: Over the last two decades, there has been a burgeoning interest in translanguaging as both a theory and a methodology, but a few studies have looked at it as a pedagogy. This has meant that while there is near-consensus on translanguaging’s contribution to knowing, there have been few studies on how it can be implemented systematically in classrooms. This study examines how translanguaging is being practiced at one South African university and makes recommendations on how translanguaging can be implemented systematically for better impact. A mixed method approach was used, meaning that it had both qualitative and quantitative elements. Data for this study were gathered using online questionnaires completed by students and lecturers, interviews with lecturers, and observation. The results show that limited translanguaging was taking place in the classroom, despite both students and staff acknowledging its value to epistemic access. This study calls for intentional and systematic implementation of translanguaging to contribute to socially-just classroom practices. The study proposes the translanguaging matrix model for practice to assist in institutionalising translanguaging through the provision of short learning courses for staff and students on translanguaging, language learning opportunities and clear pedagogical training on when translanguaging must be used in classroom contexts. Key Words: Translanguaging, Language Policy, Social Justice, Multilingalism, Pedagogy , Thesis (D.Ed) -- Faculty of Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-06
A capabilities analysis: degree mobility and the impact of returning South African alumni on their home country’s sustainable development
- Authors: Mwatunga, Carine Brigitte
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436570 , vital:73283 , DOI 10.21504/10962/436570
- Description: The significance of sustainable development (SD) has gained increasing attention, particularly since introducing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. SDG 4 focuses on ensuring inclusive and high-quality education for all individuals, as well as the provision of equitable access to lifelong learning opportunities. In addition, SDG 4 recognises education as a fundamental element of societal progress and SD. Given the role of education in fostering economic growth, social cohesion, and individual empowerment, SDG 4 is a crucial component of global efforts to foster a more prosperous and equitable world. The primary focus of the study explained in this thesis was to address a specific aspect of Higher Education (HE) within the framework of the SDGs. While SDG 4 covers a wide range of targets, such as expanding scholarship opportunities for individuals from the Global South to study abroad, there remains a lack of comprehensive understanding of how pursuing a degree in a foreign country can influence graduates' potential contributions to sustainable development (SD) upon returning to their home countries. Moreover, despite researchers highlighting the need for attention to this topic, it has not received adequate focus thus far. Therefore, drawing upon the framework of the capability approach (CA) to sustainable development, the study explored whether returning graduates could contribute to SD in South Africa. To integrate the concepts of SD and CA, the study developed a framework for a responsible agent (RA), which was facilitated through previous studies. This framework provides a set of capabilities that are essential for supporting SD in South Africa. Based on this framework, the study comprehensively explored the experiences of postgraduate students and their potential to contribute to SD in South Africa. The study drew on survey data, semi structured interview, and document analysis to gain insights into how the structures of six selected scholarships aligned with SD objectives. However, upon analysing the eligibility criteria of these scholarships, it became evident that they already take into account certain capabilities associated with the RA in candidates. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that these scholarships tend to favour candidates who exhibit the potential to succeed in their professional endeavours. Therefore, this selection bias may exacerbate the existing inequalities within the South African education system. By disproportionately supporting candidates with advantages or resources, the scholarships may inadvertently perpetuate the disparities in educational opportunities and hinder progress toward a more equitable system. After administering questionnaires to alumni who had received these six scholarships, they were asked to voluntary participate in semi-structured interviews. Thereafter, data obtained was combined with document analysis, questionnaires, and interviews were analysed drawing on the RA framework with a narrative inquiry approach. The analysis of the data gathered during interviews with alumni revealed that certain capabilities were demonstrated and developed because of their degree mobility (pursuing degrees in different locations). However, it was also observed that some capabilities were negatively impacted by this mobility. Thus, the findings suggested a nuanced relationship between degree mobility and the development of specific capabilities amongst alumni, warranting further investigation to understand the implications of degree mobility on various capabilities. The investigation of the study revealed that the structure of the selected scholarships is not fully aligned with SD and that some capabilities can be damaged through degree mobility. To ensure that the scholarships truly support SD, they would require restructuring and (1) lowering expectations and preparing alumni for an often rather difficult return to South Africa; (2) limiting the available scholarships to degree programmes that are less or not affordable at all in South Africa; (3) implementing a re-entry strategy for returning alumni to make the return more manageable; and (4) collecting more data to create a deeper understanding about the possible achievements of individual alumni. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04-05
- Authors: Mwatunga, Carine Brigitte
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436570 , vital:73283 , DOI 10.21504/10962/436570
- Description: The significance of sustainable development (SD) has gained increasing attention, particularly since introducing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. SDG 4 focuses on ensuring inclusive and high-quality education for all individuals, as well as the provision of equitable access to lifelong learning opportunities. In addition, SDG 4 recognises education as a fundamental element of societal progress and SD. Given the role of education in fostering economic growth, social cohesion, and individual empowerment, SDG 4 is a crucial component of global efforts to foster a more prosperous and equitable world. The primary focus of the study explained in this thesis was to address a specific aspect of Higher Education (HE) within the framework of the SDGs. While SDG 4 covers a wide range of targets, such as expanding scholarship opportunities for individuals from the Global South to study abroad, there remains a lack of comprehensive understanding of how pursuing a degree in a foreign country can influence graduates' potential contributions to sustainable development (SD) upon returning to their home countries. Moreover, despite researchers highlighting the need for attention to this topic, it has not received adequate focus thus far. Therefore, drawing upon the framework of the capability approach (CA) to sustainable development, the study explored whether returning graduates could contribute to SD in South Africa. To integrate the concepts of SD and CA, the study developed a framework for a responsible agent (RA), which was facilitated through previous studies. This framework provides a set of capabilities that are essential for supporting SD in South Africa. Based on this framework, the study comprehensively explored the experiences of postgraduate students and their potential to contribute to SD in South Africa. The study drew on survey data, semi structured interview, and document analysis to gain insights into how the structures of six selected scholarships aligned with SD objectives. However, upon analysing the eligibility criteria of these scholarships, it became evident that they already take into account certain capabilities associated with the RA in candidates. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that these scholarships tend to favour candidates who exhibit the potential to succeed in their professional endeavours. Therefore, this selection bias may exacerbate the existing inequalities within the South African education system. By disproportionately supporting candidates with advantages or resources, the scholarships may inadvertently perpetuate the disparities in educational opportunities and hinder progress toward a more equitable system. After administering questionnaires to alumni who had received these six scholarships, they were asked to voluntary participate in semi-structured interviews. Thereafter, data obtained was combined with document analysis, questionnaires, and interviews were analysed drawing on the RA framework with a narrative inquiry approach. The analysis of the data gathered during interviews with alumni revealed that certain capabilities were demonstrated and developed because of their degree mobility (pursuing degrees in different locations). However, it was also observed that some capabilities were negatively impacted by this mobility. Thus, the findings suggested a nuanced relationship between degree mobility and the development of specific capabilities amongst alumni, warranting further investigation to understand the implications of degree mobility on various capabilities. The investigation of the study revealed that the structure of the selected scholarships is not fully aligned with SD and that some capabilities can be damaged through degree mobility. To ensure that the scholarships truly support SD, they would require restructuring and (1) lowering expectations and preparing alumni for an often rather difficult return to South Africa; (2) limiting the available scholarships to degree programmes that are less or not affordable at all in South Africa; (3) implementing a re-entry strategy for returning alumni to make the return more manageable; and (4) collecting more data to create a deeper understanding about the possible achievements of individual alumni. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04-05
A case study of code-switching in English First Additional Language Foundation Phase classrooms
- Authors: Goliath, Eldrige Justine
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436453 , vital:73273
- Description: Access restricted. Expected release in 2026. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post School Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04-05
- Authors: Goliath, Eldrige Justine
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436453 , vital:73273
- Description: Access restricted. Expected release in 2026. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post School Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04-05
A multidisciplinary study to assess the ecology of the Cape sea urchin, Parechinus angulosus, and its emerging use as a bioindicator to monitor coastal resiliency
- Authors: Redelinghuys, Suzanne
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435691 , vital:73179 , DOI 10.21504/10962/435692
- Description: The resilience of marine species in the face of unpredictable climate change stands as a paramount concern for the maintenance of ecological stability. Under such fluctuating conditions, it is critical to understand how organisms mitigate these effects in physiological, genetic, and morphological terms. To that end, this thesis focused on the Cape sea urchin, Parechinus angulosus, employing a multidisciplinary approach encompassing morphology, genomics, and gut microbial diversity to assess its potential as a bioindicator species and elucidate its adaptive strategies in response to varying environmental conditions along the South African coastline. This was achieved through studying their anatomy in order to link observed variation to prevailing local environmental conditions, aided by the species’ wide distribution range which allows insight into adaptations across broad geographic regions and ecological settings. The first empirical chapter, Chapter 3, focusing on eight key morphometric traits of test, Aristotle’s lantern and spines, revealed distinct variation in the Cape sea urchin's morphology between the east and west coasts of South Africa, suggesting the presence of some level of local adaptation to the prevailing environmental factors found on the east and west coasts of South Africa. This points to potential bioindicator capabilities of the species, reflecting adaptive divergence amidst contrasting environmental conditions. Further analysis is however necessary in order to isolate specific physiological trends that may be associated with these morphometric differences, thereby enhancing and tightening their ecological implications. The second experimental chapter, Chapter 4, delved into the genetic structure of the Cape urchin by investigating genome-wide diversity, the presence of cryptic population structure, and spatial patterns of genomic diversity. Moderate genomic differentiation was detected among populations along the eastern and western coasts of South Africa by outlier loci that may undergo natural selection, which could indicate local adaptation to environmental conditions. This pattern hints at adaptive differentiation and cryptic genetic structures within the Cape sea urchin populations and emphasises the species' potential adaptive responses to localised (in this case regional) environmental pressures. Assigning functional significance to these genetic variations will require a comprehensive annotated reference genome, a limitation acknowledged in the current study. Chapter 5 explored the gut microbial diversity and revealed significant compositional variations between the east and west coast populations of South Africa, confirming regional and inter-regional variation. This chapter also highlighted the essential biochemical pathways critical to the survival of the host which is crucial for assessing the health of the urchin host. Together, the functional content of the gut bacteria and microbial diversity showcases its potential as a bioindicator for coastal ecosystem health. Logistical challenges and confounding factors like host physiology will need to be fully considered for its effective application. Overall, the findings of this doctoral research suggest that the Cape sea urchin displays promising characteristics as a bioindicator species due to its morphological, genetic, and gut microbial variations in response to environmental differences, providing a diverse array of means in which urchins could be used as bioindicators, from their uses to assess water quality and detect pollution, to ecosystem health monitoring and biodiversity studies in which sea urchin abundance, distribution, and presence are monitored. Further research, integrating these multidisciplinary approaches is recommended to validate and refine its bioindicator potential. Additionally, the development of a comprehensive annotated reference genome is imperative to harness the species' genetic information effectively. This study underscores the significance of integrating multiple disciplines in understanding how species respond to environmental change and their potentials contributions to monitor ecological resilience. The original multidisciplinary approach, combined with high computational outputs presents a promising framework for a comprehensive ecological monitoring in marine ecosystems. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04-05
- Authors: Redelinghuys, Suzanne
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435691 , vital:73179 , DOI 10.21504/10962/435692
- Description: The resilience of marine species in the face of unpredictable climate change stands as a paramount concern for the maintenance of ecological stability. Under such fluctuating conditions, it is critical to understand how organisms mitigate these effects in physiological, genetic, and morphological terms. To that end, this thesis focused on the Cape sea urchin, Parechinus angulosus, employing a multidisciplinary approach encompassing morphology, genomics, and gut microbial diversity to assess its potential as a bioindicator species and elucidate its adaptive strategies in response to varying environmental conditions along the South African coastline. This was achieved through studying their anatomy in order to link observed variation to prevailing local environmental conditions, aided by the species’ wide distribution range which allows insight into adaptations across broad geographic regions and ecological settings. The first empirical chapter, Chapter 3, focusing on eight key morphometric traits of test, Aristotle’s lantern and spines, revealed distinct variation in the Cape sea urchin's morphology between the east and west coasts of South Africa, suggesting the presence of some level of local adaptation to the prevailing environmental factors found on the east and west coasts of South Africa. This points to potential bioindicator capabilities of the species, reflecting adaptive divergence amidst contrasting environmental conditions. Further analysis is however necessary in order to isolate specific physiological trends that may be associated with these morphometric differences, thereby enhancing and tightening their ecological implications. The second experimental chapter, Chapter 4, delved into the genetic structure of the Cape urchin by investigating genome-wide diversity, the presence of cryptic population structure, and spatial patterns of genomic diversity. Moderate genomic differentiation was detected among populations along the eastern and western coasts of South Africa by outlier loci that may undergo natural selection, which could indicate local adaptation to environmental conditions. This pattern hints at adaptive differentiation and cryptic genetic structures within the Cape sea urchin populations and emphasises the species' potential adaptive responses to localised (in this case regional) environmental pressures. Assigning functional significance to these genetic variations will require a comprehensive annotated reference genome, a limitation acknowledged in the current study. Chapter 5 explored the gut microbial diversity and revealed significant compositional variations between the east and west coast populations of South Africa, confirming regional and inter-regional variation. This chapter also highlighted the essential biochemical pathways critical to the survival of the host which is crucial for assessing the health of the urchin host. Together, the functional content of the gut bacteria and microbial diversity showcases its potential as a bioindicator for coastal ecosystem health. Logistical challenges and confounding factors like host physiology will need to be fully considered for its effective application. Overall, the findings of this doctoral research suggest that the Cape sea urchin displays promising characteristics as a bioindicator species due to its morphological, genetic, and gut microbial variations in response to environmental differences, providing a diverse array of means in which urchins could be used as bioindicators, from their uses to assess water quality and detect pollution, to ecosystem health monitoring and biodiversity studies in which sea urchin abundance, distribution, and presence are monitored. Further research, integrating these multidisciplinary approaches is recommended to validate and refine its bioindicator potential. Additionally, the development of a comprehensive annotated reference genome is imperative to harness the species' genetic information effectively. This study underscores the significance of integrating multiple disciplines in understanding how species respond to environmental change and their potentials contributions to monitor ecological resilience. The original multidisciplinary approach, combined with high computational outputs presents a promising framework for a comprehensive ecological monitoring in marine ecosystems. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04-05
A revised checklist of extant freshwater fishes of the Zambezian Lowveld Ecoregion, with taxonomic revision of the lowveld largescale yellowfish, Labeobarbus marequensis
- Authors: Ntokoane, Tholoana
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435943 , vital:73214
- Description: Access restricted. Expected release in 2025. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04-05
- Authors: Ntokoane, Tholoana
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435943 , vital:73214
- Description: Access restricted. Expected release in 2025. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04-05
A social realist account of the way academic managers exercise agency in monitoring students’ academic success in South African higher education
- Dwayi, Valindawo Valile Medicine
- Authors: Dwayi, Valindawo Valile Medicine
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Social realism South Africa Eastern Cape , Critical realism , New public management , Academic development , Academic achievement South Africa Eastern Cape , College students Rating of South Africa Eastern Cape , College student development programs South Africa Eastern Cape , Student adjustment South Africa Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435863 , vital:73207 , DOI 10.21504/10962/435863
- Description: The roots of this thesis lie in discourses which promote the use of academic monitoring strategies for student success in South African higher education. Although access to higher education widened for black South Africans following the first democratic election, this ‘formal’ access (Morrow, 1993) has not been matched by success with annual cohort studies showing that, regardless of the university at which they are registered, the subjects they are studying and the qualifications they hope to attain, black South Africans fare less well than their white peers. Monitoring performance and referring students on to academic support and development structures thus became a strategy identified as having the potential to address patterns in performance data. The study reports on an attempt to introduce a strategy for Academic Monitoring for Integrated Academic Development at a historically black university in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. It draws on a metatheoretical framework developed from Bhaskar’s (1978, 1998) critical realism and Archer’s (1995, 1996) social realism to do this. More specifically, it focuses on the way managers at the institution exercised their agency in relation to the strategy and identifies the way social and structural conditions, developed from the time colonial settlers first arrived on the continent, worked to constrain the exercise of this agency. Although the focus of the study was on agency, the study revealed a system of necessary contradictions (Archer, 1995, 1996), a system of conflicting beliefs exacerbated by a lack of resources, that led to the implementation of the strategy not being as successful as intended. The study not only illuminates the conditions at one South African university but also adds to the body of work on management in higher education and to critiques of ‘managerialism’. , Eyona ngxam yale thisisi kukuphendla iindlela zokukhuthaza ukusetyenziswa kwamaqhinga ezemfundo okuqwalasela impumelelo yabafundi kumaziko emfundo ephakamileyo aseMzantsi Afrika. Nangona emva konyulo lokuqala lwedemokhrasi abemi abantsundu baseMzantsi Afrika bethe bavuleleka ukuba bafikelele kwimfundo ephakamileyo, olu fikelelo 'lusesikweni' (Morrow, 1993) khange luhambelane nempumelelo yaba bafundi, nanjengoko uphando olujolise kwimpumelelo yabafundi ngonyaka ngamnye lubonisa ukuba aba bafundi bathi nokuba bafunda kweyiphi iyunivesithi, befunda ziphi iikhosi bekwafundela waphi amakhono, abafundi abantsundu basoloko berhuqeka emva xa bethelekiswa nabo bamhlophe. Ukuqwalaselwa kwenkqubela nokudluliselwa kwabafundi kumacandelo enkxaso nophuhliso kwimiba yemfundo kube liqhinga elithe lachongwa njengelunokukwazi ukujongana neepateni zendlela abaqhuba ngayo abafundi. Olu phando lunika ingxelo malunga nenzame yokuza neqhinga lokuQwalaselwa kwemiba yeMfundo ukwenzela uPhuhliso kwiyunivesithi eyayisakuba yeyabantsundu kwiphondo leMpuma Koloni laseMzantsi Afrika. Luqamele ngesakhelo semethathiyori esakhelwe kwi-critical realism kaBhaskar (1978, 1979) kunye ne-social realism kaArcher (1995, 1996). Eyona nto lugxile kuyo yindlela abalawuli neenkokeli zeli zikomfundo eziwasebenzisa ngayo amagunya azo ngokunxulumene neli qhinga, lukwachonga indlela iimeko zentlalo nezeziko, ezamana ziphuhliswa ukususela oko kwathi kwafika abarhwaphilizi kweli lizwekazi, ezasebenza ngayo ekunqandeni ukusetyenziswa kwala magunya. Nangona ugxiliso lolu phando belusemagunyeni, luthe lwaveza uluhlu lwemiba echaseneyo eyimfuneko (Archer, 1995, 1996), uluhlu lweenkolelo ezingqubanayo ezihlutshezwa kukushokoxeka kwezixhobo, nolukhokelele ekubeni ukufezekiswa kweli qhinga kungabiyiyo le mpumelelo ibilindelekile. Olu phando aluphelelanga nje ekugqamiseni iimeko zale yunivesithi yaseMzantsi Afrika, koko lukongeza kumsebenzi osele wenziwe kwimfundo ephakamileyo lukwaphendla ‘ezolawulo’. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04-05
- Authors: Dwayi, Valindawo Valile Medicine
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Social realism South Africa Eastern Cape , Critical realism , New public management , Academic development , Academic achievement South Africa Eastern Cape , College students Rating of South Africa Eastern Cape , College student development programs South Africa Eastern Cape , Student adjustment South Africa Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435863 , vital:73207 , DOI 10.21504/10962/435863
- Description: The roots of this thesis lie in discourses which promote the use of academic monitoring strategies for student success in South African higher education. Although access to higher education widened for black South Africans following the first democratic election, this ‘formal’ access (Morrow, 1993) has not been matched by success with annual cohort studies showing that, regardless of the university at which they are registered, the subjects they are studying and the qualifications they hope to attain, black South Africans fare less well than their white peers. Monitoring performance and referring students on to academic support and development structures thus became a strategy identified as having the potential to address patterns in performance data. The study reports on an attempt to introduce a strategy for Academic Monitoring for Integrated Academic Development at a historically black university in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. It draws on a metatheoretical framework developed from Bhaskar’s (1978, 1998) critical realism and Archer’s (1995, 1996) social realism to do this. More specifically, it focuses on the way managers at the institution exercised their agency in relation to the strategy and identifies the way social and structural conditions, developed from the time colonial settlers first arrived on the continent, worked to constrain the exercise of this agency. Although the focus of the study was on agency, the study revealed a system of necessary contradictions (Archer, 1995, 1996), a system of conflicting beliefs exacerbated by a lack of resources, that led to the implementation of the strategy not being as successful as intended. The study not only illuminates the conditions at one South African university but also adds to the body of work on management in higher education and to critiques of ‘managerialism’. , Eyona ngxam yale thisisi kukuphendla iindlela zokukhuthaza ukusetyenziswa kwamaqhinga ezemfundo okuqwalasela impumelelo yabafundi kumaziko emfundo ephakamileyo aseMzantsi Afrika. Nangona emva konyulo lokuqala lwedemokhrasi abemi abantsundu baseMzantsi Afrika bethe bavuleleka ukuba bafikelele kwimfundo ephakamileyo, olu fikelelo 'lusesikweni' (Morrow, 1993) khange luhambelane nempumelelo yaba bafundi, nanjengoko uphando olujolise kwimpumelelo yabafundi ngonyaka ngamnye lubonisa ukuba aba bafundi bathi nokuba bafunda kweyiphi iyunivesithi, befunda ziphi iikhosi bekwafundela waphi amakhono, abafundi abantsundu basoloko berhuqeka emva xa bethelekiswa nabo bamhlophe. Ukuqwalaselwa kwenkqubela nokudluliselwa kwabafundi kumacandelo enkxaso nophuhliso kwimiba yemfundo kube liqhinga elithe lachongwa njengelunokukwazi ukujongana neepateni zendlela abaqhuba ngayo abafundi. Olu phando lunika ingxelo malunga nenzame yokuza neqhinga lokuQwalaselwa kwemiba yeMfundo ukwenzela uPhuhliso kwiyunivesithi eyayisakuba yeyabantsundu kwiphondo leMpuma Koloni laseMzantsi Afrika. Luqamele ngesakhelo semethathiyori esakhelwe kwi-critical realism kaBhaskar (1978, 1979) kunye ne-social realism kaArcher (1995, 1996). Eyona nto lugxile kuyo yindlela abalawuli neenkokeli zeli zikomfundo eziwasebenzisa ngayo amagunya azo ngokunxulumene neli qhinga, lukwachonga indlela iimeko zentlalo nezeziko, ezamana ziphuhliswa ukususela oko kwathi kwafika abarhwaphilizi kweli lizwekazi, ezasebenza ngayo ekunqandeni ukusetyenziswa kwala magunya. Nangona ugxiliso lolu phando belusemagunyeni, luthe lwaveza uluhlu lwemiba echaseneyo eyimfuneko (Archer, 1995, 1996), uluhlu lweenkolelo ezingqubanayo ezihlutshezwa kukushokoxeka kwezixhobo, nolukhokelele ekubeni ukufezekiswa kweli qhinga kungabiyiyo le mpumelelo ibilindelekile. Olu phando aluphelelanga nje ekugqamiseni iimeko zale yunivesithi yaseMzantsi Afrika, koko lukongeza kumsebenzi osele wenziwe kwimfundo ephakamileyo lukwaphendla ‘ezolawulo’. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04-05