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Navigating geopolitical turbulence: strategies for strengthening supply chain resilience in South Africa’s maritime industry
Full text linkMaritime trade is a fundamental pillar of global commerce, with South Africa playing a crucial role in international shipping due to its strategic location along the Cape Route. However, geopolitical turbulence—including trade wars, territorial disputes, piracy, and regulatory shifts—poses significant risks to the stability and efficiency of South Africa’s maritime value chain. This study examines the impact of geopolitical instability on South Africa’s maritime industry, with a particular focus on port operations, trade routes, supply chain resilience, and policy responses. The research employs a qualitative secondary data analysis approach, drawing on academic literature, industry reports, and policy documents to assess the vulnerabilities of South Africa’s maritime sector and explore strategies for enhancing supply chain resilience. The study is guided by Supply Chain Resilience Theory, Geopolitical Risk Theory, and Port Competitiveness Theory, which provide a framework for understanding how geopolitical risks affect maritime logistics and how South Africa can adapt to these challenges. Findings reveal that maritime chokepoints such as the Suez Canal, Strait of Hormuz, and South China Sea continue to shape global trade patterns, with disruptions in these areas often leading to higher transportation costs, rerouting of vessels, and delays in cargo shipments. South Africa, though relatively insulated from direct territorial conflicts, remains vulnerable to piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, shifts in global shipping alliances, and the economic consequences of sanctions imposed on key trade partners. The study highlights existing policy frameworks, including the National Ports Act (2005), the Integrated Maritime Strategy, and Operation Phakisa, and assesses their effectiveness in mitigating geopolitical risks. However, challenges such as underinvestment in port infrastructure, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and fragmented regional cooperation continue to hinder South Africa’s ability to build a resilient maritime supply chain. Based on the findings, the study recommends enhanced regional collaboration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), investment in smart port technologies, diversification of trade routes, and policy reforms to strengthen maritime security. These measures are crucial for safeguarding South Africa’s maritime industry against global disruptions and ensuring sustainable economic growth in an era of increasing geopolitical uncertainty.Thesis (MMM) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 202
Tax policy and the obesity epidemic: a systematic review
Full text linkObesity is a serious public health concern that has substantial social, health, and economic consequences for individuals of all ages and genders. Globally, the prevalence of obesity has tripled since the 1980s, and it is predicted to continue to climb yearly in the years to come. Despite the implementation of numerous tax laws around the world to curb the epidemic, its prevalence is still rising dramatically. This study investigated the causes and influences of the obesity epidemic, as well as how tax policies contribute to the fight against obesity epidemic in both developed and developing countries. A systematic review that conforms to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to guarantee that the study's findings are transparent and reproducible by other researchers is employed in this study. This method followed a qualitative research approach, narrative synthesis method, and thematic analysis to analyse the study data. The study found that in developed and developing countries tax policies have a significant impact on altering the demand for unhealthy foods and drinks. In addition, there are a number of factors that contribute to obesity epidemic, including genetics, an environment that promotes obesity, nutrition, physical activity, greater reliance on technology, peer pressure, social networks, cultural norms and beliefs, mass media that promote junk food, lack of health education, and socioeconomic status. Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, subsidies, or a mix of the two have been shown to be successful in combating the epidemic. In contrast, the South African sugar tax system and the fat tax have been shown to be ineffective tools to fight the epidemic. This study suggests that policymakers need to understand citizens' eating behaviours through behavioural lenses, devise behaviour-informed policies, and utilise nudges to induce healthy behaviours.Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 202
The influence of online marketing strategies on student preference of university: The case of Nelson Mandela University
Full text linkThe growing reliance on digital platforms has transformed marketing in higher education, compelling institutions to adapt and innovate their approaches to student engagement. This study investigates the influence of online marketing strategies—specifically social media marketing, electronic word-of-mouth, email marketing, search engine optimisation, and search engine marketing—on students’ university preferences. The research is framed by theoretical models and literature on digital marketing in higher education, integrating concepts such as trust, engagement, and visibility. A positivist paradigm and quantitative methodology guided the research, employing a cross-sectional survey distributed to a sample of university-bound students. The survey instrument, validated through exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha testing, yielded reliable data from 448 respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including multiple regression and t-tests, were employed to analyse the data. Empirical results revealed statistically significant positive relationships between all five online marketing strategies and students' preferences for higher education institutions. Social media marketing and search engine optimisation emerged as the most influential variables, with social media platforms fostering engagement and brand awareness, and search engine optimisation enhancing discoverability. The study also highlighted gender- based differences in perceptions, particularly in search engine marketing and search engine optimisation, where male respondents rated these strategies higher than females. The findings underscored the critical role of data-driven and personalised marketing in shaping student decisions. They emphasise the need for higher education institutions to refine their digital strategies, integrating tools such as targeted email campaigns, optimised websites, and interactive content on social media platforms. Recommendations include leveraging eWOM through testimonials, utilising analytics for strategy refinement, and exploring emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual reality to enhance student interactions. This research provides actionable insights for academia and practitioners, highlighting the dynamic interplay between digital marketing strategies and student decision-making processes. It contributes to the broader discourse on technology's role in modern v education marketing, offering a roadmap for institutions aiming to remain competitive in a digitally saturated landscape.Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Management Sciences, 202
Market integration as a key enabling factor for increased levels of agriculture commercialisation
Full text linkThis study investigated market integration as a key enabling factor for increasing agricultural commercialisation among small-scale vegetable farmers in South Africa. Limited access to profitable markets has hindered these farmers’ ability to realise the full value of their produce, restricting their transition to higher levels of commercial farming. Using a quantitative research approach, this study examined the roles of vertical coordination, contract farming and other critical factors in facilitating market integration. Data were collected via electronic surveys targeting managers of agribusinesses engaged with small-scale farmers and analysed through descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Key findings revealed that vertical coordination significantly enhances commercialisation outcomes; while contract farming, though moderately effective, is constrained by challenges such as inconsistent quality and deficits in trust. Other variables, including joint initiatives and training, positively affected market integration efforts. Conversely, limited access to information and the high costs of traceability systems emerged as significant barriers. The study proposes a refined conceptual framework to address these challenges, emphasising the need for enhanced collaborative efforts, capacity building and policy support to create inclusive and sustainable agricultural value chains. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on agricultural development and offer actionable insights for agribusinesses, policymakers and stakeholders aiming to empower smallscale farmers and improve food security in South Africa.Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 202
An ethnographic study of coloured women’s perceptions of violence in the Northern areas, Port Elizabeth
Full text linkThis study seeks to investigate coloured women’s perceptions of violence and seeks to add to the growing body of work on women and violence in the Northern areas of Port Elizabeth; namely Arcadia, Salt Lake, and Helenvale. In doing so, the study investigates the tactics women use to avoid participation in violence and crime and how they build and maintain resilience to violence. Crime and violence are normalised in the everyday life of residents of the Northern areas. Residents must contend with gangsterism and violence in public and domestic spaces. Violence is also pervasive in the everyday life of the youth. High unemployment rates, crime rates, and historical structural inequality are a few of the contributing factors to the occurrence and persistence of social deviance among the youth in these communities. This study seeks to ethnographically explore the perceptions of women in both domestic and public spaces by emphasizing the female perspective of everyday life within violent communities. The study investigates socio-economic issues such as violence, “broken” family structures, inequality, and poverty, and their contribution to pervasive violence within these communities. It seeks to explore the role that coloured women play in their dysfunctional communities and the tactics used to circumvent violence, especially violence in the form of gangsterism. Existing literature focuses on men and their participation in violence while women and their perceptions of violence fall into the backdrop of these dominant discourses. Therefore, this study attempts to rethink women’s (non-)involvement in violence and address their perceptions and tactics used to foster resilience to violence within their communities. The study also seeks to explore the positionality of women within their communities, and the factors which influence participation in or resilience to violence.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 202
An assessment of factors affecting staff turnover in the Eastern Cape provincial treasury
Full text linkThis study assessed the multifaceted factors contributing to staff turnover in the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury. Turnover occurs when employees’ services are terminated. The process of staff turnover is a component of the human resource management function and refers to the in-and-out movement of employees within an organisation, manifesting through the beginning or end of an employment contract (Toni, 2007). The Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury Annual Reports for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 financial years indicate a growing turnover rate in the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury. High employee turnover presents substantial challenges for organisations, disrupting service delivery and organisational effectiveness. This study adopted a qualitative research method. Data collection was conducted through a literature review and the use of relevant official documents. Journal articles, published and unpublished treatises and dissertations, and credible Internet sources, including the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury website, were used to gather data for the research. The turnover rate in the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury rose from 13.9% in 2021/2022 to 14.8% in 2022/2023 despite a slight increase in the workforce. This upward trend highlights escalating challenges in employee retention, potentially stemming from job dissatisfaction, competitive labour markets, and internal management practices. The increase in turnover rates signals potential operational disruptions and heightened expenses related to recruitment and training. The Provincial Treasury can address turnover by offering clear career progression pathways, competitive salaries, and performance-based incentives to retain skilled employees (Ndlovu & Ngcobo, 2023; Sithole & Mabuza, 2022). Fostering an inclusive and supportive culture that values contributions, promotes work-life balance, and recognises achievements is crucial (Mazibuko, 2017). Strengthening leadership through training and transparent communication can enhance management effectiveness (Mthembu & Ngcobo, 2023). Improving job security and creating pathways for contract employees to transition to permanent roles, alongside regular feedback mechanisms, will further boost employee satisfaction and retention (Mkhize, 2023).Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 202
Substantive equality and the individual right to affirmative action
Full text linkThe value of- and right to equality is important in all democracies. Equality discourse is particularly important in South Africa considering its unequal colonial and apartheid past. For centuries, certain categories of people have been excluded from fully participating in the economy and in social life while others benefitted substantially. The advent of democracy has called for a new constitutional order and the rule of law with a human rights focus underpinned by the values of non-racialism, freedom, and equality. Dismantling the architecture of oppression would not be possible without placing positive duties on the state and private individuals to redistribute economic and other opportunities from which those previously disadvantaged by unfair discrimination had been excluded. The right to equality is a contested concept, and the holistic understanding and application of formal and substantive notions of equality are often misunderstood and misapplied in the courts, business, political debates, and academia. This treatise focuses on the constitutional right to equality, with a specific focus on affirmative action measures and their application in the labour market and employment relations. The conventional notion of equality in the form of formal equality, that is not to be discriminated against, seems to be a stumbling block to the achievement of equality, since it often neglects the duty to provide in the form of substantive equality and positive measures. The Employment Equity Act, which has been enacted to give effect to the constitutional right to equality, distinctly provides provisions regulating the prohibition against unfair discrimination and the promotion of positive measures through affirmative action provisions. Affirmative action provisions in the Employment Equity Act have been a contentious matter among all races, men and women, and people with disabilities who contend for work opportunities in a labour market plagued by high levels of unemployment. Equality jurisprudence has been developing since the advent of democracy under a constitutional order and the subsequent promulgation of the Labour Relations Act and the Employment Equity Act. However, the body of case law has not been consistently developed and has resulted in more divergence in debates around equality provisions in various pieces of legislation. The divergent approaches to equality adjudication have necessitated a critical review of the equality provisions in the Bill of Rights and national employment legislation, and furthermore, an evaluation and critique of the application of relevant legislative provisions. Finally, to contribute to the existing body of literature, recommendations will be advanced for consideration by courts and other bodies empowered to decide disputes involving unfair discrimination and affirmative action.Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, School of Mercantile Law, 202
An investigation of the conceptualisation and practices of organ donation in the Catholic church in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Full text linkLow organ donor rates are a concern worldwide, specifically in South Africa, where only 0,2% -0,3 % of the population are registered as organ donors. Organ donation is a medical treatment for end-stage organ failures like the heart, liver, lung, and kidneys. In the exploration to understand the reasons behind low transplantation rates, it is suggested that knowledge on the topic of organ donation and people’s values and belief systems can influence their acceptance or rejection of organ donation practices. Adding to this trail of thought, it is important to recognise that Western schools of thought have influenced how religion, beliefs, and the body are conceptualised. This needs to be examined in the South African context, a country known for great diversity, as cultural differences may cause a variation in opinions, realities, and variances amongst religious and cultural groups (Ortner, 2005:3 and Beyers, 2010:1). The fact of cultural diversity and associated differences in social behaviour and social factors influencing organ donation experience, has created a gap in knowledge on the practice and understanding of organ donation in the South African Catholic context. It is this knowledge gap that this thesis seeks to engage. Existing literature has provided useful insight into organ donation and some of the reasons for low donor rates. However, they do not acknowledge the lived experience of the illness or that the Catholic identity differs from church to church and person to person. For this study, the Catholic denomination and its religious practices were explored to understand the conceptualisations and practices in relation to organ donation. The principles and practices of the Catholic Church allow for differentiation from other Christian denominations. The question of healthcare choices is a central topic in the Catholic Church, and choices may be linked to the Catholic identity. Furthermore, the ‘lived experience’ of the individual must be recognised as it can affect individuals' therapeutic choices. The study adopted a qualitative research and ethnographic approach, through which empirical data was collected during fieldwork through focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews, and observation during the activities of the Catholic mass. Theoretical perspectives were drawn from a social constructivist and hermeneutic lens, recognising that identity construction relates to social interactions and constructing meanings. Self-reflexivity was used as an analytical approach. It was recognised that the individual’s subjective reality or personal experiences can influence their health choice behaviours. Thus, this research study explored the parishioners' subjective experiences and identity construction regarding organ donation. The study showed the complex interconnections between religion, belief, cultural norms, and personal values that influence individuals’ attitudes towards organ donation. These elements contribute to diverse and occasionally conflicting perceptions of organ donation, reflecting the obscure development of identity construction within the religious and cultural contexts of the Catholic community.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 202
Opto-electronic and structural characterization of GaSb/GaAs quantum rings
Full text linkThe optical and some structural properties of type-II Gallium Antimonide (GaSb) quantum ring ensembles embedded in a Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) matrix were studied. The unique properties possessed by type-II GaSb/GaAs QRs, a consequence of its electronic levels and spatial separation of charge carriers, have made them potential candidates for use in a variety of optoelectronic devices such as infrared photodetectors, lasers, light-emitting diodes, intermediate-band solar cells, as well as memory storage devices. In this work, the structural characteristics were studied using high resolution Xray diffraction (HRXRD) and electron microscopy imaging techniques, including crosssectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Photoluminescence experiments were conducted to investigate the optical properties, namely temperature dependent photoluminescence (TDPL) and excitation power dependent photoluminescence (EDPL). SEM confirmed that the nanostructure (QR) density in sample A was ~1×1010 cm-2, and since samples B and C were grown using the same growth recipe, their QR density per layer is assumed to be the same. SEM also showed that sample A possessed a bimodal size distribution of the GaSb/GaAs nanostructures. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy iv (HAADF-STEM) determined the height of a single uncapped QR to be ~3 nm. Crosssectional TEM images of samples A, B and C showed good crystalline quality without observable dislocations, demonstrating the structural integrity and high-density stacking capability of GaSb/GaAs QR layers. HRXRD confirmed the structural integrity and uniform barrier spacings across different samples, with variations in strain observed for different layer configurations. Low-temperature PL also confirmed a bimodal QR size distribution, likely influenced by alloy fluctuations and Anderson localization. TDPL analysis suggested significant deep non-radiative defect sites, with extracted activation energies indicating QRs possess holes that are heavily charged. EDPL showed blue shifts consistent with capacitive charging and band bending, with interlayer coupling influencing charge transfer. Sub-peaks in the QR ensemble PL emissions were attributed to individual hole charge states, with energy separations matching capacitive charging effects.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 202
Nanoencapsulation of bioactive compounds extracted from olive pomace
Full text linkOlive pomace extract is known to be abundant in valuable hydrophilic and hydrophobic bio-active compounds (BACs), which have very good antioxidant properties and are considered essential for human health. However, these BACs have been found to degrade significantly at higher temperatures, in the presence of light and oxygen. This limits the inclusion of the olive pomace extracts in cosmetic formulations, as they can degrade significantly over time under typical cosmetic product storage conditions. In this study we investigated nanoencapsulation, specifically nanoliposomes, to potentially slow down the degradation of the BACs, namely tyrosol and oleuropein in the aqueous pom-ace extract and squalene in the oil extract, to preserve their functionality and improve the capability for their incorporation into cosmetic formulations. Optimal nanoliposomes were obtained using the microfluidic hydrodynamic focussing technique. The parameters which were optimized using this method were flow rate ratio (FRR), total flow rate (TFR), total lipid concentration, cholesterol to phospholipid concentration, and pH. Using the optimized pa-rameters, we were able to synthesize nanoliposomes with an average hydrodynamic size of 250.47 ± 4.74 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.210 ± 0.023 and zeta potential of -42.8 ± 2.1 mV. An average encapsulation efficiency (EE%) of 60% for the hydrophilic compounds and 90% for the hydrophobic compounds was obtained. In vitro skin permeation behaviour of the BACs was assessed using the Franz diffusion cell method and a synthetic polyether sulfone (PES) membrane. Compared to the non-encapsulated BACs permeation, after one hour the pene-tration of tyrosol in the nanoencapsulated hydrophilic extract was increased by 40.2% and that of oleuropein by 38.1%. Similar, the penetration of squalene in the nanoencapsulated hydrophobic extract was increased by 27.8% after one hour, compared to the non-encapsu-lated squalene. The stability of the nanoliposomes and the encapsulated and non-encapsulated BACs was as-sessed over 12 weeks under different storage conditions (5°C, room temperature (RT) and 40°C). Nanoliposomes remained below 300 nm and had an average PDI of 0.25 after 12 weeks of storage at 5°C and RT. The greatest change in hydrodynamic size and PDI was observed between 8-12 weeks of storage at 40°C. The zeta potential remained in the stable range when stored at 5°C and RT, however at 40°C storage, there was a significant decrease, which was v likely a result of aggregation. The positive effect of nanoencapsulation of the olive pomace extracts on the stability of the BACs increased as the temperature increased with the most significant delay in degradation of the BAC’s observed at 40°C storage. Further research needs to be conducted to improve the long-term stability of the nanoliposomes, which could further improve the stability of the BACs encapsulated into the nanoliposomes.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences, 202