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An interrogation of the representation of the San and Tonga ethnic ‘minorities’ in the Zimbabwean state-owned Chronicle, and the privately owned Newsday Southern Edition/Southern Eye newspapers during 2013
No full textThis study critically interrogates representations of the San and Tonga in the Chronicle and
the NewsDay Southern Edition/Southern Eye newspapers in 2013. It makes sense of how
these representations and the journalistic practices that underwrite them position the ethnic
groups as ‘minorities’ - in relation to other ethnic groups - within the discourses of
Zimbabwean nationalism. Underpinned by a constructionist approach (Hall, 1997), the study
makes sense of the San and Tonga identities otherwise silenced by the “bi-modal” (Ndlovu-
Gatsheni, 2012: 536; Masunungure, 2006) Shona/Ndebele approach to Zimbabwean
nationalism. In socio-historic terms, the study is located within the re-emergence of
‘ethnicity’ to contest Zimbabwean nationalism(s) during debates for the New Constitution
leading to a Referendum in March 2013. The thesis draws on social theories that offer
explanatory power in studying media representations, which include postcolonial (Bhabha,
1990, 1994; Spivak, 1995), hegemony (Gramsci, 1971), and discourse (Foucault, 1970, 1972;
Laclau and Mouffe, 1985) theories. These theories speak to the ways in which discourses
about identity, belonging, citizenship and democracy are constructed in situations in which
unequal social power is contested. The thesis links journalism practice with the politics of
representation drawing on normative theories of journalism (Christians et al, 2009), the
professional ideology of journalism (Tuchman, 1972; Golding and Elliot, 1996; Hall et al.,
1996), and the concept of journalists as an ‘interpretive community’ (Zelizer, 1993). These
theories allow us to unmask the role of journalism’s social power in representation, and map
ways in which the agency of the journalists has to be considered in relation to the structural
features of the media industry in particular, and society in general. The study is qualitative
and proceeds by way of combining a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) (Fairclough, 1992;
Richardson, 2007) and ideological analysis (Thompson, 1990) of eight news texts taken from
the two newspapers and in-depth interviews with 13 journalists from the two newspapers.
This way we account for the media representations journalists produced: sometimes
reproducing stereotypes, at other times, resisting them. Journalists not only regard themselves
as belonging to the dominant ethnic groups of Shona or Ndebele, but as part of the middle
class; they take Zimbabwean nationalism for granted, reproducing it as common-sense
through sourcing patterns dominated by elites. This silences the San and Tonga constructing
them as a ‘minority’ through a double play of invisibility and hyper visibility, where they
either don’t appear in the news texts or are overly stereotyped
Systematics and biogeography of Mesobola brevianalis (Boulenger, 1908) (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)
No full textThe accurate identification of fish species, their life stages and their products enables the
correct management of fisheries, research and conservation of distinctive populations for
long-term survival and sustainability.
Mesobola brevianalis Boulenger, 1908, commonly known as the river sardine, is found in
many river systems in southern Africa. Because it exhibits widely separated populations
showing subtle differences, particularly in colour, it is thought that there may be cryptic
species involved.
Standard phylogenetic techniques using three genetic markers (mitochondrial COI, nuclear
protein RAG1 and nuclear ribosomal 28S rRNA), enabled the building of phylogenetic
networks for M. brevianalis and some outgroup species. Consistent patterns of relationship
were seen with 28S supporting monophyly. COI and RAG1 suggested that populations that
are currently identified as M. brevianalis in fact represent several species. There was
sufficiently strong support for the evolutionary independence of the M. brevianalis
populations from the Rovuma, Kunene and Orange River Systems to consider them as
independent species. The independence of the genus Mesobola was brought into question
because Engraulicypris sardella and Rastrineobola argentea were placed within it
phylogenetically.Morphometric methods in the form of multivariate truss network analyses, were performed to
locate morphological markers for populations. There was little to no variation among most of
the populations synonymized under M. brevianalis. Furthermore, neither latitude nor
longitude had an effect on the morphological characters that might be linked to functional
evolution.
A molecular clock analysis of COI data was used to calibrate a paleobiogeographical model
which entailed a divergence of lineages starting from an easterly reigning Paleo-Congo
Basin, via a hypothetical Paleo-Kalahari Lake that was fragmented by a series of uplifts and
drying events beginning ~65 million years ago.
Complete evidence supported the synonymisation of the genera Engraulicypris and
Mesobola, the resurrection of the species name gariepinus for the Orange River Systempopulation, and the description of two new species: E. ngalala from the Rovuma River
System and E. howesi from the Kunene River System
The interrelationships between foreign direct investment and economic growth in Africa
No full textThere has been a long search for the keys to development and economic growth in Africa. This study investigates the relationship between FDI and economic growth over the period 2000-2012 using data from 48 African countries. On the aggregate regional level FDI and economic growth were found to be positively correlated during this period. Using panel data econometric techniques and the Panel Granger Causality test, results revealed that a bi-directional causality relationship existed between FDI and GDP. Thus, the results suggest that GDP is a requirement for increased investment, and at the same time is the result of increased foreign investment. Thus, the conclusion is that African policy makers are justified in increasing their attempts to create an attractive business environment for foreign investors, as it is beneficial for economic growth
Statistical analysis of the ionospheric response during storm conditions over South Africa using ionosonde and GPS data
No full textIonospheric storms are an extreme form of space weather phenomena which affect space- and
ground-based technological systems. Extreme solar activity may give rise to Coronal Mass
Ejections (CME) and solar flares that may result in ionospheric storms. This thesis reports
on a statistical analysis of the ionospheric response over the ionosonde stations Grahamstown
(33.3◦S, 26.5◦E) and Madimbo (22.4◦S,30.9◦E), South Africa, during geomagnetic storm conditions
which occurred during the period 1996 - 2011. Total Electron Content (TEC) derived
from Global Positioning System (GPS) data by a dual Frequency receiver and an ionosonde
at Grahamstown, was analysed for the storms that occurred during the period 2006 - 2011.
A comprehensive analysis of the critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2) and TEC was done.
To identify the geomagnetically disturbed conditions the Disturbance storm time (Dst) index
with a storm criteria of Dst ≤ −50 nT was used. The ionospheric disturbances were categorized
into three responses, namely single disturbance, double disturbance and not significant
(NS) ionospheric storms. Single disturbance ionospheric storms refer to positive (P) and negative
(N) ionospheric storms observed separately, while double disturbance storms refer to
negative and positive ionospheric storms observed during the same storm period. The statistics
show the impact of geomagnetic storms on the ionosphere and indicate that negative
ionospheric effects follow the solar cycle. In general, only a few ionospheric storms (0.11%)
were observed during solar minimum. Positive ionospheric storms occurred most frequently
(47.54%) during the declining phase of solar cycle 23. Seasonally, negative ionospheric storms
occurred mostly during the summer (63.24%), while positive ionospheric storms occurred frequently
during the winter (53.62%). An important finding is that only negative ionospheric
storms were observed during great geomagnetic storm activity (Dst ≤ −350 nT). For periods
when both ionosonde and GPS was available, the two data sets indicated similar ionospheric
responses. Hence, GPS data can be used to effectively identify the ionospheric response in
the absence of ionosonde data
An investigation of ISO/IEC 27001 adoption in South Africa
No full textThe research objective of this study is to investigate the low adoption of the ISO/IEC 27001 standard in South African organisations. This study does not differentiate between the ISO/IEC 27001:2005 and ISO/IEC 27001:2013 versions, as the focus is on adoption of the ISO/IEC 27001 standard.
A survey-based research design was selected as the data collection method. The research instruments used in this study include a web-based questionnaire and in-person interviews with the participants.
Based on the findings of this research, the organisations that participated in this study have an understanding of the ISO/IEC 27001 standard; however, fewer than a quarter of these have fully adopted the ISO/IEC 27001 standard. Furthermore, the main business objectives for organisations that have adopted the ISO/IEC 27001 standard were to ensure legal and regulatory compliance, and to fulfil client requirements.
An Information Security Management System management guide based on the ISO/IEC 27001 Plan-Do-Check-Act model is developed to help organisations interested in the standard move towards ISO/IEC 27001 compliance
The detection of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides in water, using nanotechnology
No full textGlyphosate (N-phosphonomethylglycine) is an organophosphate compound which was developed by the Monsanto Company in 1971 and is the active ingredient found in several herbicide formulations. The use of glyphosate-based herbicides in South Africa for the control of alien invasive plants and weeds is well established, extensive and currently unregulated, which vastly increases the likelihood of glyphosate contamination in environmental water systems. Although the use of glyphosate-based herbicides is required for economic enhancement in industries such as agriculture, the presence of this compound in natural water systems presents a potential risk to human health. Glyphosate and glyphosate formulations were previously considered safe, however their toxicity has become a major focal point of research over recent years. The lack of monitoring protocols for pesticides in South Africa is primarily due to limited financial capacity and the lack of analytical techniques
The management of court records in Magistrate Court: A case of Middledrift Magistrate Court, Eastern Cape.
No full textThis study investigates the role of records management in the functioning of Magistrates courts in the Eastern Cape using Middledrift Magistrate court as a case study. The objectives were to determine types of records created, received and used at MMC, to describe the available infrastructure, security and preservation for the management of court records in MMC and to identify the obstacles encountered in management of court records at MMC.
Forty respondents selected randomly and purposively were interviewed. The research findings showed that MMC creates, receives and maintains many court records, MMC is aware of the importance of managing court records from their creation to disposal, there are storages for semi- current and non-current records although there is lack infrastructure for managing court records.
The study also revealed that there were occasional misplacement of court records, there was no case file tracking system and the security of records was satisfactory. This study recommends that MCC must have adequate storage space, training for the personnel and security systems to protect court records
Electrocatalytic activity of bimetallic Au–Pd nanoparticles in the presence of cobalt tetraaminophthalocyanine
No full textAu and Pd nanoparticles were individually or together electrodeposited on top of polymerized cobalt tetraaminophthalocyanine (poly-CoTAPc). When Pd and Au nanoparticles are co-deposited together, the electrode is denoted as Au–Pd (co-deposited)/poly-CoTAPc-GCE. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to show the successful deposition of AuNPs, PdNPs and Au–Pd (co-deposited). The scanning electrochemical microscopy showed that Au–Pd (co-deposited)/poly-CoTAPc-GCE (with current range of 9.5–13.5 μA) was more conducting than Au–Pd (co-deposited)-GCE (with current range of 8–12 μA). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that there was less resistance to charge transfer for Au–Pd (co-deposited)/poly-CoTAPc-GCE compared to the rest of the electrodes. Au–Pd (co-deposited)/poly-CoTAPc-GCE showed the best activity for the electrooxidation of hydrazine in terms of limit of detection (0.5 μM), hence shows promise as an electrocatalyst for electrooxidation of hydrazine.Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2014.10.05
Photophysical and non-linear optical behavior of novel tetra alkynyl terminated indium phthalocyanines: Effects of the carbon chain length
No full textWe report on the synthesis, photophysical and nonlinear optical behavior of tetra-substituted alkynyl indium phthalocyanine complexes (3a and 3b). Both complexes showed large triplet quantum yields. Nonlinear optical properties were also evaluated for the two complexes at a wavelength of 532 nm using nanosecond Z-scan technique in dimethylsulfoxide. We observed two-photon absorption (2PA) and strong reverse saturable absorption (RSA) as the dominant mechanisms at nanosecond laser excitation. The underlining 2PA and observed RSA were subjected to further scrutiny by comparing the analytical absorption model to the transmittance optical absorption theory. The theoretical results were in good agreement to the observed RSA and the 2PA mechanism. Large two-photon absorption cross-section (1.29 × 10−42 and 1.15 × 10−42 cm4 s/photon), third-order susceptibility (2.10 × 10−14 and 2.15 × 10−14 esu) and hyperpolarizability (2.70 × 10−32 and 3.19 × 10−32 esu) were estimated for complex 3a and 3b, respectively.Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2014.12.02
Nonlinear optical properties of natural laccaic acid dye studied using Z-scan technique
No full textWe have investigated the nonlinear optical properties, including the optical limiting behaviour for five different concentrations of laccaic acid dye in solution and a thin film obtained through doping in poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer. The experiments were performed by using single beam Z-scan technique at 532 nm with 10 ns, 10 Hz Nd:YAG laser pulses excitation. From the open-aperture Z-scan data, we derived that the laccaic dye samples exhibit strong two photon absorption (2PA). The nonlinear refractive index was determined through the closed aperture Z-scan data. The estimated absorption coefficient β2, nonlinear refractive index n2 and second order hyperpolarizability γ were found to be of the order of 10−10 m/W, 10−9 esu and 10−32 esu, respectively. The Z-scan study reveals that the natural laccaic acid dye emerges as a promising material for third order nonlinear optical devices application.Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2015.04.03