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An exploratory study of the South African Police Services (SAPS) systems in combating cybercrimes.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanThe rapid development of technology and computing has tremendously changed people’s lives and how crime is committed in modern societies. The digital revolution and increase in internet connectivity have created not only new opportunities for wealth creation but also the potential for transactional offending, posing a major threat to governments, business organizations, and individuals. Globally, cybercrime leads to financial losses, reputational damage, and personal information data breaches. South Africa is not an exception. In 2018, the country was ranked amongst the top ten countries on the cybercrime predator list, making the country appear to be a major attraction to cybercriminals. The country is estimated to lose about R2.2 billion a year to cyber-attacks. Although there is an increase in research output on cybercrimes, some areas of the phenomenon are least explored, particularly how law enforcement agencies in South Africa respond to the challenges associated with online crimes. The study, therefore, explores how the South African Police Services (SAPS) responds to cybercrimes and offer practical solutions. It seeks to identify the types of cybercrimes, challenges that SAPS has encountered, and measures taken to combat them. The study also aims to determine if any intervention strategies need to be reviewed and/or if new approaches must be developed to deal with cybercrime effectively. Conducted in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, the study adopted the phenomenological research design, according to which interpretive and constructivist qualitative research paradigms were deemed appropriate. They allow participants to describe their understanding, interpretations, and personal experiences of cybercrimes in South Africa. Data was collected through in-depth interviews using semi- structured interviews, with a sample of 17 participants purposively drawn from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) and the Commercial Crimes Unit (CCI) of the South African Police Service (SAPS). The theoretical orientations that guided the study are the Routine Activities Theory and the Structural Functionalism Theory. The study revealed that South Africa has been experiencing a variety of cybercrimes, including cyber fraud, identity theft, and phishing attacks, and most of them were perpetuated for financial gain. The study also found that South Africa has introduced laws and security strategies, such as the Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Bill of 2017, to respond to cybercrimes. The challenge, however, is that these laws and legislation are not adapting fast enough to deal with the constantly changing technological environment and the new emerging types and methods of cybercrimes. Police officers who are experts in the field and can respond to cybercrimes are limited. They also do not have enough resources and require constant training to keep up to date with technological advancements and criminal activities. Above all, it has become increasingly evident that there is a need for the collaboration of all stakeholders, including prosecutors and the judiciary, private security agencies and investigators, electronic communication service providers (CSPs), and/or Internet service providers (ISPs) if cybercrimes are to be tackled effectively
Investigation into the photochemical bleaching of pulp utilizing various light sources.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Since pulp and paper as products are commodities, the pulp and paper industry are constantly looking for any advantage that will keep production costs down and improve profitability. One of the main sources of cost in any pulp and paper mill is the vast quantity of energy used. Thus, any alternative or disruptive technology that reduces energy usage or costs would provide a strong incentive for research. Photochemical bleaching is one such potentially disruptive technology. In this research, three potential light sources for the photochemical bleaching of pulps were investigated, namely, solar radiation, microwave discharge electrodeless lamps (MDELs), and ultraviolet light emitting diode arrays (UV LED arrays). Of the three, only the UV LED array was shown to be both viable and practical.
The photochemical bleaching of a post-oxygen stage Cloquet Aspen kraft pulp was successfully undertaken with solar radiation as a light source for both pure caustic soda and alkaline peroxide as bleaching reagents. The addition of metal oxide additives or the semiconductor photocatalyst titanium dioxide gave poorer photobleaching performance due to the increased opacity of the pulp suspension and the low intensity of the radiant light source. Given that a full five days were required to achieve a small photobleaching effect, the use of solar radiation, although viable, is not practical as a technology. The ignition and sustained “burning” of a Primarc MDEL were shown to be random and erratic due to the lack of calibration and tuning of the Roto SYNTH microwave oven’s irradiation chamber for the Primarc MDEL. Of the various reactor designs investigated, the suspended MDEL “bucket” reactor was shown to be the best performer and most viable alternative. However, investigation of the photochemical bleaching of Cloquet unbleached kraft paper-grade pulp with the suspended MDEL “bucket” reactor design and the Roto SYNTH microwave reactor oven for microwave irradiation, gave no statistically significant differences between the controls without a MDEL and the MDEL irradiated experiments.
The photochemical bleaching of Cloquet unbleached kraft paper grade pulp with the UV LED array was successful when using only pure caustic soda, alkali peroxide and alkali oxygen as bleaching reagents. As regards to the overall bleaching performance, the alkali peroxide and alkali oxygen options performed similarly while the pure caustic soda option performed slightly more poorly. Based on the literature reviewed, the hydroxyl radicals generated in the photobleaching process were the active bleaching species in all three cases. In an extension of the alkali peroxide evaluation, the impact of pulp suspension pH, temperature and consistency, as well as the UV radiant intensity level (i.e. UV LED array power levels) were further evaluated. In addition, various photocatalysts were investigated for the alkali peroxide option, as well as various photosensitizers for the alkali oxygen option. Successful photochemical bleaching occurred across the entire pH range tested (i.e. pH 2.5 to 11.0) with better performance at the alkaline pH range with a maximum performance at pH 10.5. Photochemical bleaching increased with temperature from 25 to 43 °C, whereafter it plateaued up to 75 °C. Increased pulp suspension consistency from 0.5 to 1.5% gave a reduction in photochemical bleaching performance, whereafter it plateaued up to a consistency of 3.0%. Photochemical bleaching increased linearly with illuminant intensity as the UV LED array power levels were increased from 10 to 100%. Of the photocatalysts tested, only titanium dioxide and cerium dioxide were successful in improving the alkali peroxide photobleaching of pulp at the charge levels used (5.0 and 20.0 kg t-1 respectively). None of the photosensitizers tested (i.e. methylene blue and rose bengal) operated successfully for the alkali oxygen photobleaching of pulp in the experimental work undertaken.
The photochemical bleaching of various starting pulps (Cloquet kraft unbleached, Ngodwana PHK unbleached, Stanger unbleached, Saiccor acid sulfite unbleached, Gratkorn magnefite unbleached, and Somerset continuous kraft unbleached) was successful for all starting pulps. However, bleaching performance varied from pulp to pulp. A comparison of the thermal elemental chlorine free (ECF) and total chlorine free (TCF) sequences with the thermophotochemical TCF sequence for bleaching paper grade pulps, showed that the thermal ECF and thermophotochemical TCF sequences were both successful in achieving the target brightness (i.e. 89%) while the thermal TCF sequence underperformed slightly (i.e. 85%). The thermophotochemical TCF sequence gave acceptable pulp properties for viscosity, hand sheet pulp strength, and fibre morphology as compared to the thermal ECF sequence as a control sequence, while the thermal TCF gave significantly weaker pulps. For bleaching dissolving grade pulp, both the thermal ECF (as a control sequence) and the thermophotochemical TCF sequences were successful in achieving target brightness and above (i.e. 91%). Both sequences gave final viscosities within the target range (500 to 560 ml g-1). In addition, both sequences gave acceptable carbohydrate sugar contents, alkaline solubilities, and Sappi quick reactivity indexes. Lastly, both pulps also had similar fibre morphologies showing a reduction to shorter fibre lengths due to chemical refining during both bleaching processes. “Pseudo” second order reaction kinetics were established for the oxidants: alkaline peroxide, pure caustic soda, and alkaline oxygen for photochemical bleaching utilizing the UV LED array reactor, with strong kinetic relationships demonstrated for pulp extent/rate of delignification and brightness development, but, a weak relationship for pulp viscosity. Results demonstrated that the three oxidants utilized different chemical mechanisms for generating the hydroxyl radical species employed for bleaching, with the best results obtained for the hydrogen peroxide and the poorest for the pure caustic soda. An observed discrepancy between the “pseudo” first order reaction kinetics in Marcoccia’s investigation and the “pseudo” second order reaction kinetics in this study were due to differences in the conditions, apparatus and charges employed in both.
The final conclusion drawn from this study is that photochemical bleaching of pulp, using an ultraviolet light emitting diode array at 365 nm, can serve as a viable alternative to thermally-driven bleaching provided certain technical issues can be resolved (i.e. operational consistency and comparative energy efficiency of thermal- versus photo-bleaching)
Evaluating electricity service delivery in Msunduzi Municipality.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Poor service delivery has become a common problem in South Africa and has led to several social protests. The access to electricity remains a common barrier to providing services. The aim of the study is to evaluate electricity service delivery in Msunduzi Municipality with specific reference to the following: The initiatives put in place by Msunduzi Municipality to prevent power outages; the effects that power outages have on different stakeholders; the consequences of prolonged power outages; the state of service delivery; and the degree to which community members' requirements are being met. A qualitative study was undertaken to enable the researcher to provide answers to the aims of the study. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews which comprised of open-ended questions that were used to gather the data, along with secondary sources that included consultations. Using thematic analysis, the most pertinent themes were found and examined. The key findings emanating from this study showed that there is a necessity of ensuring community participation and of setting up favourable or suitable mechanisms that encourage community participation and allow people to take part in issues that affect their communities. This study also showed that there is also a need for the Municipality to provide a form of relief to its stakeholders in terms of dealing with power shortages. This is so because some of the alternatives used when dealing with power shortages require additional funds which are also an added expense, more especially to those who are struggling financially. Lastly, the Municipality claims that a lack of funding is the primary barrier to providing services as intended, so the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Local Government must make sure that it continuously monitors the financial support it provides to ensure that the Municipality uses the funds appropriately as the Provincial Department placed the Municipality under administration for several years due to misappropriation of funds at the level of the Municipality
Didactisation d’une partie d’une bande dessinée écologique pour l’enseignement du FLE (niveau B1) didactisation of the environmentally based comic (bande dessinée) Algues Vertes, l’histoire interdite (“Green Tides, the forbidden story”) for French as a foreign language (FLE) classes at the B1 level.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Actuellement, les problèmes environnementaux constituent une question importante entre des acteurs sociaux à l’échelle mondiale. Cela souligne l’importance de l’éducation environnementale (EE) pour promouvoir la conservation écologique. L’EE peut être intégrée dans l’apprentissage des langues étrangères pour développer les compétences linguistiques et de pensée critique des apprenants dans le contexte des sujets environnementaux pertinents à la société. En employant un langage de niveau natif et les contextes réels, les documents authentiques constituent également une source de langage riche et pratique pour l’enseignement des langues et traitent à la fois des aspects linguistiques et culturels de la langue cible.
Cette recherche a visé donc à (i) didactiser une partie d’un document authentique – la bande dessinée (BD) française Algues Vertes, L’histoire interdite (2019) d’Inès Léraud et Pierre Van Hove, traitant du problème environnemental des algues vertes et de sa gestion en Bretagne, France – pour des apprenants hypothétiques du français langue étrangère (FLE) du niveau B1 et (ii) évaluer le matériel d’enseignement développé (un livret d’accompagnement de lecture) d’une manière autoréflexive. Les compétences ciblées étaient la compréhension écrite et la production écrite.
En me basant sur des études antérieures traitant des matériaux d’apprentissage basés sur l’EE et les BDs, des compétences et des activités linguistiques et de pensée critique pertinentes à cette recherche ont d’abord été identifiées. Elles ont ensuite été intégrées dans le livret développé, utilisant une longueur suffisante de la BD (les pages 1 à 25) pour inclure des questions représentatives de toutes les activités identifiées. Les théories du constructivisme et de l’apprentissage inductif et trois approches didactiques – l’approche actionnelle, l’instruction basée sur le contenu et l’apprentissage basé sur les tâches – ont guidé le développement du livret. Les activités du livret prennent en compte les compétences du document Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues : apprendre, enseigner, évaluer pour la compréhension écrite et la production écrite du niveau B1, correspondant aux objectifs de la recherche. Les recherches futures peuvent mettre en oeuvre le matériel d’enseignement développé auprès de vrais apprenants du FLE et peuvent intégrer des activités de production orale pour étendre les activités du livret
Planning for the protection of the natural resource base within an urban biodiversity hotspot (Durban, South Africa)
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This thesis responds to the global call for local government to play an active role in responding to the global biodiversity crisis. The study focused on Durban, South Africa, which has four decades of experience in biodiversity conservation. The purpose of the thesis was to determine, using Durban as a case study, the role a local government can play in contributing towards improved biodiversity outcomes. Through new case-study research, in the context of biodiversity conservation, the thesis aimed to contribute to addressing the global policy to local implementation gap, research-implementation gap, and the Global South research gap. Using analytical frameworks, spatial analyses, and local spatial data, the thesis investigated three key areas. Chapter two analysed Durban’s evolution in open space planning, identifying crucial elements in advancing biodiversity mainstreaming. Evidence was provided in the mainstreaming of biodiversity concerns within local government processes, institutional functions, and land-use decision-making. This has been achieved through effective and sustained leadership; the use of science and scientific information in advancing the policy and legislative environment; and building political support by responding to shifting governance contexts; investment in institutional scientific capacity; and generating scale-appropriate biodiversity information. The third chapter examined the effectiveness of local government tools in protecting, managing, and restoring biodiversity. Successes included town planning tools contributing to avoided biodiversity loss and protection of key sites, and effective land management and restoration efforts with socio-economic co-benefits. Challenges persisted that hampered progress, including unequal protection and investment based on socio-economic status; cross sectorial barriers and governance fragmentation; and inappropriate incentives to promote conservation. Future priorities include scaling successful models, improving incentives for landowners, and adopting a more community-centred approach. The fourth chapter explored opportunities to increase terrestrial area-based biodiversity conservation in Durban. Traditional authority areas and private landholdings harbour most biodiversity features outside existing conservation areas. Inclusion of complementary land-use zones and unrealised conservation servitudes represent short-term interventions to increase the conservation estate. Aligning critical biodiversity areas with biophysically contained areas offers significant potential conservation and sustainable development co-benefits. Developing tools and incentives for area-based conservation in traditional authority areas, and targeted rezoning to protect threatened vegetation, represent important required interventions. Building on the learnings from the previous chapter, these opportunities were assessed in terms of feasibility, effectiveness, and co-benefits for climate change resilience. This thesis demonstrated the important role that a local government can play in contributing towards broader biodiversity goals, identifying investment areas that may shorten the time required for effective mainstreaming; challenges and opportunities to advance biodiversity outcomes; and provided innovative mechanisms to advance biodiversity and urban sustainability outcomes
An analysis of the catholic magisterium’s theology of interreligious dialogue and its influence on catholic-muslim dialogue in the archdiocese of Lusaka–Zambia since vatican II.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This thesis focuses on analyzing the documents of the Magisterium on interreligious dialogue and Catholic-Muslim dialogue since Vatican II within the kenosis, and peaceful coexistence and friendship frameworks and their influence on Catholic-Muslim dialogue (dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and Muslims). From the Church Fathers, kenosis or incarnational theology underscores the kenotic nature of the Catholic Church. Thus, the Church must be humble and faithful to its identity – to its singularity. In being humble, she must be open to religious otherness. The growth of Islam in Lusaka, Zambia, provokes a theological reflection on the relevance and influence of the documents of the Magisterium on Catholic-Muslim dialogue in the Lusaka Archdiocese. Through a qualitative research methodology inquiry, this thesis brings to the fore that the documents of the Magisterium on interreligious dialogue and Catholic-Muslim dialogue still need to be brought down to the grassroots. Many Catholic lay faithful are unaware of the different Magisterial documents that promote the coexistence of different religions and hence, unaware of the theological stances of the Magisterium on religious alterity. Therefore, the research proposes a theological shift in document communication from parish-centered to Small Christian Communities (ifitente) centered. This shift highlights three essential elements for a kenotic Church: (I) Interreligious-oriented Small Christian Communities will narrow the gap between the documents of the Magisterium and their knowledge by the Catholic faithful and consequently their translation into the action plan; (II) it will underpin the authentic synodality of the Catholic Church. There is no Synodality of the Church without the involvement of the grassroots in the mission of interreligious dialogue or Catholic-Muslim dialogue; and (III) Small Christian Communities will integrate the teachings of the Magisterium on interreligious dialogue or Catholic-Muslim dialogue and the epistemology of the local people on religious otherness, which provides a framework for Catholic-Muslim dialogue in the Lusaka Archdiocese
Critical analysis of women headed household economy: a theological investigation in kwaNxamalala community, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Economy is a cross-cutting concern for Africa and South Africa in particular. The ongoing economic instability predominantly impacts women, who make up a substantial portion of South Africa's population. Economic disproportion cause breakages in families, which increase the rate of women-headed households that fail to sustain their households. Report by Statistics SA (2022/2023) highlights a remarkable increase of women-headed families in South Africa. Household economy is the critical factor in determining how livelihoods and countries are sustained and progress. The researcher intends to investigate and analyse the intersections of gender, economy, and theology, focusing on the experiences of women heading households. Evidence is scarce on how women-headed households in developing and emerging economies like South Africa sustain their livelihoods. Experiences of women heading households are the core of the study whereby theological lenses are incorporated to learn and unlearn oppressive and gendered notions in economic narratives. Foundational theories for the study are intersectionality theory and theologies of survival. Underpinnings of selected theories embrace different intersectional elements, including structural, political, and representational perspectives. Theologies of survival explore platforms of resilience currently operational in theological spaces. This study followed a qualitative approach to gain comprehensive understanding of social phenomena in people’s natural environments and to comprehend how individuals perceive their surroundings, relying on direct experiences of the people. The desktop approach to gain comprehensive understanding of social phenomena is through obtaining exhaustive data from literature using the case study method. The purposive method of sampling has been selected to collect verified data about the key population and analysed through thematic analysis tool. Women-headed households are multifaceted by various factors expressed by both social and theological constructs embedded in patriarchy. The composition of women-headed households is a wide concept and household headship is highly contested. Scriptures hold true reflection of God’s view in terms of economic justice. Theology of resilience in feminist perspective is concluded as the response to structural systems formed against the liberation of women’s economic status. The narrative of Zelophehad’s daughters provides fundamental principles of the theology of resilience. In this account, all families were represented by male figures except Zelophehad’s household, which was women-headed. Zelophehad’s daughters challenged the marginalization of women-headed households. They resisted dominant patriarchal systems that controlled access to economic resources, which was land in their case. They voiced out for their economic right to access land even though they had no male representative in their family. Nevertheless, they challenged the strong and influential Jewish culture of their time. Resilience became their theology of survival. As a result, the theology of resilience is recommended as a tool of response to the concept of the women-headed household economy
Public transport infrastructure spending and provincial economic growth in South Africa: a panel auto-regressive distributed lag approach.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This study investigates the relationship between public transport infrastructure spending and provincial economic growth in South Africa using the panel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) framework. Set against the backdrop of South Africa’s persistent regional economic disparities and infrastructure gaps, the research explores how transport infrastructure investments impact growth across the country’s nine provinces, each marked by distinct economic structures and historical contexts. Literature examined infrastructure impacts at the national level, this research addresses a critical gap by focusing on provincial-level dynamics in the post-apartheid era. The study employs panel data from 2008 to 2023, covering public transport infrastructure spending obtained from national allocations, provincial budgets, and state-owned enterprise investments. It examines both the direction of causality and the short and long-run relationships between infrastructure investment and economic growth. The analysis adopts a panel ARDL methodology to account for cross-sectional dependence, non-stationarity, and regional heterogeneity. The study further draws on evaluating the channels through which infrastructure impacts emerge; namely, production function effects, endogenous growth mechanisms, spatial economic shifts, network externalities, and reductions in transaction costs. Findings reveal that transport infrastructure investment produces varying economic returns across provinces, highlighting the differentiated impact of infrastructure depending on local conditions. These results provide important empirical insights for improving infrastructure allocation in a resource-constrained environment and contribute to the broader goal of addressing historical spatial inequalities and promoting inclusive, provincial balanced economic development
The use of library information resources at Mdumiseni high school, Madadeni circuit, Amajuba district, KwaZulu-Natal.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The main purpose of the school library is to support the teaching and learning process through the programmes and other co-curricular activities existing within the school. This study aims to investigate the extent to which the Mdumiseni High School community uses library information resources to meet the needs of the school. The study employed a mixed method approach therefore, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used by conducting interviews and statistical questionnaires to collect data.
The study population consisted of teachers and learners. Data presented in this study was collected from teachers and School Management Teams (SMTs), who were interviewed. In addition, Further Education and Training (FET) learners completed questionnaires.
The findings revealed that Mdumiseni High School library is underutilised by both teachers and learners because it does not meet the school's information needs. Inadequate collection was one of the things that were mentioned by learners as well as the lack of internet access. Insufficient space and furniture further hinder learners from performing activities in the library. The study also revealed that teachers lack understanding regarding the use of the library and the role they have to play in collaboration with the teacher librarian in order for the library to be functional. Teachers also indicated that they don’t give learners anything that compels them to use the library. The teacher librarian lacks support from the SMT, which adversely affects the utilisation of the library resources. The major cause of the non-utilisation of library information resources is the lack of a national library policy, which affects the establishment and sustainability of libraries.
Some of the recommendations made are that the school library has to provide the school community with a variety of resources including digital information resources, in order to meet the demands of the 21st Century. In order for the school to get a desired performance, collaboration between the teacher librarian and teachers is the key. This benefits the child, thus improving their academic performance
Investigating the effects of challenges faced by the railway network on social, economy and developing railway recovery strategies.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The passenger rail system in South Africa's is exposed to a myriad of challenges that include theft of infrastructure, vandalism, and aging infrastructure. The study examines railway network challenges of state-owned enterprises in the City of Cape Town central line recovery experienced by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) in rehabilitating the Cape Town Central Line within the Western Cape Province. A qualitative research approach was employed to collect data through indepth interviews with 16 key participants to solicit inputs and perceptions from different stakeholders, including commuters, government representatives, community leaders, and PRASA personnel. Three key findings were revealed, firstly, common factors such as inadequate security measures, informal settlements along railway reserves posed security threats, governance problems, and financial limitations. These factors contributed to frequent service interruptions, decreased safety, and a declining preference and commuter experience. Secondly, overcoming these challenges required financial diversification through public-private partnerships, community involvement, improved security, and governance reforms. Thirdly, legal and regulatory frameworks, such as the National Rail Policy and the National Development Plan (NDP), supported PRASA’s recovery goals. Interagency cooperation, financial responsibility, and community involvement were deemed necessary to utilize these frameworks effectively to ensure sustainable solutions. The study hopes to contribute to how PRASA could increase its investments in service dependability, boost commuter satisfaction, and support South Africa's broader public transport objectives through making significant improvements in their governance and infrastructure restorations. The study will inform policymakers, transportation authorities, and other stakeholders within PRASA and government counterparts working to build robust and equitable public transportation network