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Navigating the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Landscape:Strategies and Challenges in addressing drivers of AMR
Get PDFEvaluating factors influencing quality of service delivery in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
Get PDFThe provision of quality service continues to be a challenge in South Africa. This research was triggered by the quality of service delivery, which indicated a downward trend in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality during the past five years. Notably, deficiencies in the quality of service delivery are a prevalent problem for municipalities, including the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Insufficient strategic leadership skills in management lead to a lack of satisfaction, motivation and a loss of loyalty among employees, which leads to poor quality of services delivered to the community. In order to understand the relationship between employee loyalty, employee satisfaction, leadership styles, and quality of service delivery, this study aimed to evaluate the factors influencing the quality of service delivery in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality with the intention to enhance these from the employee’s perspective. This study followed a quantitative approach with stratified random sampling. Online surveys were used to collect data from sampled Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality employees. The sample size was 110 respondents, and a 66.09% response rate was achieved. Data analysis techniques used in the study included exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to extract statistically significant factors. Multiple regression analysis was employed to evaluate the predictive power of independent variables (Employee Empowerment, Loyalty of Employees, Employee Satisfaction, Transformational Leadership) over the dependent variable (Quality of Service). The Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. The findings revealed that Employee Empowerment did not influence the quality of service in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The study's findings reveal that at 95% confidence level and alpha = 0.05, Loyalty of Employees, Employee Satisfaction, and Transformational Leadership significantly positively influence the Quality of Service. The study recommends that Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality management must embark on initiatives like life-work balance, organisational commitment, innovation behaviour, and benchmarking to improve the quality of service delivery. The study has contributed to the existing body of knowledge on quality of service by introducing Loyalty of Employees, Employee Satisfaction, and Transformational Leadership as factors significantly positively influencing the quality of service delivery compared to the renowned SERVQUAL dimensions (Empathy, Responsiveness, Assurance, Reliability, and Tangibility). The study's finding indicatedThesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 202
The influence of financial literacy on online banking fraud detection
Get PDFThe growth of online banking, also known as e-banking, electronic banking or Internet banking, has enticed customers to perform online banking transactions. Even traditional banking institutions are encouraging their customers to adopt online banking services to offer them faster and more dependable services. Online banking services available to customers range from the ability to access their accounts, transfer money between accounts or beneficiaries to more advanced financial services such as applying for loans or making investments. Despite the benefits online banking, it does expose the user to significant risks, including financial fraud and unauthorised payments. The growth of online banking has led to an increase in opportunities for sophisticated fraudsters to commit online banking fraud by means of constantly changing methods that exploit the weaknesses in existing preventive measures, mainly targeting the financial sector and its customers. Due to negligence, curiosity or naivety, online banking fraud victims are often responsible for their own victimisation. Although there is the general perception that customers are not liable for damages incurred due to online financial fraud and that banks will refund the financial losses, the banking industry is moving towards customer co-liability to curb online banking fraud. It has been recognised that financial literacy positively influences a person’s financial behaviour, including online banking. Improving access to financial services through technology requires a higher level of financial literacy to use such services effectively and be less vulnerable to, for example, misleading advertising, fraud, hacking attacks and unauthorised use of data. Given the importance of online banking in the South African economy, as well as the increasing emphasis being placed on online banking customers to education themselves about the safe use of online banking services, the primary research objective of this study was therefore to determine the influence of financial literacy on customers’ ability to detect online banking fraud. In the literature review, the following factors have been identified that could influence online banking customers’ Ability to detect online banking fraud (dependent variable), namely: Financial knowledge, Financial behaviour, Financial attitude, Trust, Attentiveness, Awareness, Risk-perception (independent variables).The empirical investigation adopted a positivistic research paradigm, together with a deductive and quantitative methodology. The methodological strategy used to collect primary data was an online survey, that was cross-sectional in nature. The 280 completed questionnaires were subjected to statistical analyses. The validity and reliability of the measuring instrument was assessed by using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, respectively. Descriptive statistics were also calculated to summarise the data, while inferential statistics included Pearson’s product moment correlations, analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests and multiple regression analysis (MRA) to test the relationships amongst the dependent and independent variables. As a result of the CFA analysis conceptual framework and the hypothesised model were modified. It was hypothesised that Financial knowledge, Financial behaviour, Financial attitude, Trust, Attentiveness, and Awareness are the financial literacy factors that have a significant positive influence on online banking customers’ Risk-perception and ability to detect online banking fraud. The empirical results of this study establish the following predictors or determinants of online banking customers’ Risk-perception and ability to detect online banking fraud, namely: Trust, Awareness and Attentiveness. In doing so, this research contributes to validating the notion that certain financial literacy factors could be important to take into consideration in order to assist online banking customers to be less vulnerable by being able to assess the risk and fraud associated with using online banking services. This study theoretically contributes to the body of knowledge on financial literacy and online banking and online banking fraud in general and the influence of financial literacy factors on online banking customers’ ability to detect online banking fraud in particular in a South African context. This study will enable banks and their online banking customers to gain a better understanding of the impact of financial literacy on customers' levels of risk-perception concerning online banking fraud. This understanding could subsequently improve their awareness, attentiveness and ability to detect online banking fraud and, consequently, reduce the risk of online banking victimisation.Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Management Sciences, 202
An investigation into the current and future state of the catalytic converter industry
Get PDFThe catalytic converter industry plays a crucial role in enhancing the sustainability of automotive and industrial processes by mitigating the environmental impact of harmful emissions. Catalytic converters are devices that use catalysts to facilitate chemical reactions, converting the pollutants in exhaust gases into less harmful substances. It has become necessary to investigate the current and future state of the catalytic converter industry, due to the stringent emissions regulations being adapted across the world, including the introduction of alternative powered vehicles. The primary objective of this study is to identify sustainable strategies that could be adapted by the catalytic converter industry to ensure sustainability of the market. The study was conducted using a qualitative phenomenological approach. A total of 12 participants were chosen for the study and in-depth interviews were used as data collection tool to accomplish the objectives of the study. A thematic qualitative data analysis approach was taken to analyse and identify emerging themes from the collected data. As the industry is extremely dynamic, it becomes very difficult to update data for analysis purposes, therefore it becomes complicated to challenge the growth opportunities for the industry. It is therefore recommended to conduct thorough market analysis considering factors, such as market trends, regional variations, key players, and supply-demand dynamics. A deeper dive into the influences of the electric and hydrogen technologies’ effect on the catalytic converter industry, is key to identify potential opportunities and challenges associated with the move to greener transportation. The findings of this study established that the catalytic converter industry should adopt a multifaceted strategy, that includes regulatory compliance, technological innovation, environmental responsibility, and a willingness to adapt to shifting market dynamics. The ability of this industry to strike a balance between environmental stewardship and economic viability, will determine its future success.Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 202
Investigating ways to limit wasteful expenditure due to punitive property taxes on Gauteng hospitals
Get PDFThe PFMA defines fruitless and wasteful expenditure as an expenditure made in vain, and it states that had reasonable care been exercised, such expenditure would and should have been avoided. Among the various forms of wasteful expenditure, the AGSA (AG, 2021) report lists the payment of penalties, or of interest accruing because of late or non-payments, and debt incurred. These expenditures are prevalent in social cluster infrastructure projects, and the waste is attributed to poor planning, weak internal control measures, and lack of oversight on contracts. The Local Municipal Property Act 6 of 2004 (SA Government, 2004) empowers municipalities to develop a land administration process to enforce compliance with land use management schemes, which often is referred to as the steps to be taken to avoid the illegal use of land. The illegal use of land arises when a property owner fails to comply with the provisions of the land scheme, and when the land owner fails to comply with the requirements set out in notices issued in terms of the land use scheme. Illegal land uses arise when property exchanges hands between government departments (vesting), resulting in a change of use. This then leads to a failure by the property owner to update the conditions and property information that should have been in line with the changes enacted in the land use schemes in the asset register. The objective of this research was to investigate ways and the process the Provincial Government of Gauteng should put in place to limit wasteful expenditure and the payment of administrative penalties, or mounting property taxes based on the punitive tariff as the result of engaging in illegal land use. Such illegal land use occurred because the new property owner failed to update the property information and conditions. Based on the data collected through semi-structured interviews, questionnaires administered to a sample completed by the study’s participants, and the secondary research process that included the review of official policy documents, qualitative, and quantitative analysis were performed to achieve important findings of this study. Zoning applies to land with cadastral boundaries, implying that zoning is only applicable to surveyed land. Zones are depicted on the zone scheme maps, and these have the aim to inform land owners of potential development rights that are stipulated in the land use management schemes. Zoning forms the basis for property valuations and property tax (rates) calculation purposes. The other factor used in the calculation of the rate is the value of the rateable properties registered in the valuation roll. Every five years, a new valuation roll is published for review before the adoption by the various municipalities’ councils. The setting of tariffs is informed by the budget requirements of the municipalities to enable them to finance or deliver municipal services. The tariff scales are determined in line with the land use categories. Municipalities publish the tariffs yearly, after the adoption of the budget by the municipalities’ councils. The remedies available to municipalities is levying a punitive rate to try to change the owner’s land use and move it from unauthorised/illegal use of the land outside the category of use to an updated, legal use. The research findings indicate that the Gauteng Provincial Government’s relevant department lacks the necessary structures and processes to monitor changes in the bylaws or land use schemes of municipalities, and the payment of property rates does not hold any strategic importance in the management of properties. The department did not have a system or process in place to review the valuation roll, or to monitor the annual tariff rate adjustments. Therefore, the present research recommends several measures the department will have to implement to limit wasteful and fruitless expenditure regarding property rate payments.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Built Environment and Civil Engineering, 202
A framework for the integration of 4IR-related topics into IT undergraduate curricula in South Africa
Get PDFThe Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has been increasing in relevance since the start of its evolution in 2016. Society has shifted in many ways across different industries and sectors as a result of the digitisation that came with 4IR. This has led to a shortage of skilled individuals since there is a gap in the available and needed 4IR skills demand, causing job displacement. Low-skilled individuals are either left unemployed or must upskill to keep up with the new technologies that come with 4IR. In an effort to mitigate this issue, students can be taught the relevant 4IR-related skills at tertiary level before they enter the industry. However, curricular documents, such as IT2017, and national strategies are often not comprehensive in addressing many 4IR-related topics, nor in recommending which topics are most relevant for integration into IT undergraduate curricula. Therefore, the problem identified in this study is that South African universities offering IT undergraduate qualifications are not prepared adequately to address 4IR-related knowledge and skills demands. To address the gap in the available and needed 4IR skills demand, this research proposes a framework to assist with the integration of 4IR-related topics into IT undergraduate curricula in South Africa. To develop the IT Undergraduate Curricula Framework for 4IR-related Topics, it was important to identify the gap between the 4IR-related skills that are currently integrated in higher education institutions (HEIs) and those that are most relevant in the IT industry. A literature review was conducted to provide an in-depth discussion on 4IR and its impact in different sectors; a content analysis was conducted to determine which 4IR-related topics are currently integrated in South African HEIs that offer an IT diploma qualification; semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine which 4IR-related skills are most relevant in the IT industry in South Africa and globally; modelling was used in the development of the proposed 4IR-related IT undergraduate curricula; and finally, argumentation was used in discussing the relevance of the proposed framework within the School of IT at Nelson Mandela University. The IT Undergraduate Curricula Framework for 4IR-related Topics will assist in the integration of 4IR-related topics in higher education computing departments. This could ensure that computing graduates are equipped with the necessary 4IR-related knowledge and skills, giving them a competitive advantage when they enter the industry.Thesis (MIT) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Information Technology, 202
Barriers faced by women in public sector leadership roles
Get PDFThis research aims to analyse barriers that hinder women from occupying senior leadership posi-tions and to identify strategies that can be utilised to enable women to be appointed in these posi-tions at Transnet. The study identifies implementable strategies to assist women who aspire to be part of senior leadership and face barriers that hinder them from progressing to leadership posi-tions. The research adopts a pragmatic research paradigm, including quantitative and qualitative meth-ods, to explain the barriers associated with women advancing to leadership positions within the company. The data was collected through survey questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The analysis indicates that women are still under-represented in Transnet, even though efforts are being made to close this gap. Ineffective implementation of policies, due to lack of facilitating roles by HRM and line managers as expected, and lack of required support from the organisation play a significant role in creating barriers hindering senior leadership positions. The research findings can inform Human Resource Management (HRM) about the need for effec-tive implementation of policies and intensified monitoring to address the identified barriers that hin-der women from occupying senior leadership positions. Transnet should foster an organisational culture to build solid connections and engage diverse stakeholders to increase their impact and access to resources and drive positive organisational change. Transnet can leverage these find-ings to develop programmes and initiatives that support women’s career advancement and skills development. With these findings, Transnet should consider implementing strategies that provide flexible working conditions. Lastly, these findings aid Transnet in providing mentorship to women as a valuable leadership opportunity in the organisation. This study contributes to the existing literature on barriers that hinder women from occupying sen-ior leadership positions within organisations. The study also provides vital insights into the rolling out of women’s development programmes and the encouragement they bring. It offers implications for future research, policy changes, professional practices, and strategies to assist women in lead-ership positions.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Built Environment and Civil Engineering, 202
Incorporating emotion detection in text-dependent speaker authentication
Get PDFBiometric authentication allows a person to access sensitive information using unique physical characteristics. Voice, as a biometric authentication method, is gaining popularity due to its unique characteristics and widespread availability on smartphones and other devices. It offers a secure and user-friendly alternative to traditional password-based authentication and allows a less intrusive authentication method than fingerprint authentication. Furthermore, a vast amount of information is portrayed through voice, such as age, gender, health, and emotional state. Gaining illegitimate access to information becomes significantly more difficult as biometrics are difficult to steal, and countermeasures to techniques such as replay attacks are constantly being improved. However, illegitimate access can be gained by forcing a legitimate person to authenticate themselves through voice. This study investigates how the emotion(s) carried by voice can assist in detecting if authentication was performed under duress. Knowledge is contributed using a three-phased approach: information gathering, experimentation, and deliberation. The experimentation phase is further divided into three phases to extract data, implement findings, and assess the value of determining duress using voice. This phased approach to experimentation ensures minimal change in variables and allows the drawn conclusions to be relevant to each phase. The first phase examines datasets and classifiers; the second phase explores feature enhancement techniques and their impact; and the third phase discusses performance measurements and their value to emotion detection.Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty Of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Information Technology, 202
Mathematical modelling of the tumour treatment with chemotherapy
Get PDFIn this study, a cancer disease model incorporating predator-prey dynamics between immune cells and tumor cells, as well as competition between tumor cells and normal cells, is formulated in an attempt to understand the interaction dynamics that govern the complex interplay within the tumor microenvironment. Mathematical analysis is employed to derive conditions for the boundedness of solutions and to discuss disease thresholds such as the basic reproduction number, R0. Equilibrium points are identified, and stability conditions for the system are derived. Sensitivity analysis is used to assess uncertainties in the parameters of the model, specifically their impact on R0. Numerical simulations are conducted, utilizing the Runge-Kutta scheme to solve the model. Furthermore, optimal control (OC) techniques are applied to examine the role of chemotherapy in enhancing tumor cell elimination and minimizing adverse effects on immune cells and normal cells. The improved model, incorporating normal cells, anticancer drugs, and immune cells, allows for a more comprehensive analysis of the dynamic interactions within the biological system. The optimal control is determined using the forward-backward sweep numerical method. The numerical simulation is carried out in MATLAB to validate and complement the analytical findings. The results indicate that a low concentration of the drug leads to a prolonged period for tumor clearance. Conversely, a higher drug concentration results in quicker tumor clearance, albeit with adverse effects on normal and effector cells. The OC identifies when to stop the treatment once the tumor clears. Furthermore, OC facilitates the regeneration of normal and immune cells beyond treatment, in contrast to a control scenario without optimization. The findings highlight the importance of early detection and careful chemotherapy dosage selection for effective and personalized cancer treatment strategies.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 202
Development of a numerical geohydrological model for a fractured rock aquifer in the Karoo, near Sutherland, South Africa
Get PDFThe regional scale method in groundwater storage observation introduces uncertainties that hinder the evaluation of the remaining lifespan of depleted aquifers. The scarcity of precipitation data presents significant global challenge, especially in semi-arid regions. This study constructs a regional numerical hydrogeological model that identifies the potential impacts of climate change on the water balance for the South African Gravimetric Observation Station in Sutherland. The purpose of this study is to understand mechanisms controlling groundwater in the fractured rock aquifer. The climate data from the Weather forecast data over the last ten years was collected from the South African Weather Service. and groundwater levels data assessed the potential impacts of climate change on water balance components, especially precipitation and evapotranspiration. Precipitation is the primary recharge parameter in this study and had the highest level recorded in winter, with May having the highest precipitation rates of 24,62mm. The instrument conducted two profile investigations in a single day to detect geological abnormalities at various depths, achieving an impressive accuracy of up to 0.001 mV. The fact that groundwater flows from regions of higher hydraulic heads to areas of lower hydraulic charges, confirms that riverbeds in Sutherland act as preferential conduits for subsurface recharge. The profile and processed geophysical maps show low chances of getting groundwater in this observed area due to extensively great depth, approximately 150 – 210 m. The river package from MODFLOW model shows little inflow to the study nearby well locations. These model results showed a negative difference between water flowing in and out of the system of about -7m3 between 2002 and 2020. Groundwater flows faster at borehole five, where the hydraulic conductivity is large. The resulting regional hydrogeological model offered valuable insights into how climate change might influence the distribution and accessibility of groundwater resources. In the context of Sutherland, a negative groundwater budget value signaled that groundwater extraction or consumption surpassed the natural replenishment or recharge of the aquifer.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 202