21838 research outputs found
Sort by
Implementation of the performance management system in the Department of Employment and Labour, Limpopo Province
Get PDFInstitutions that employ an appropriate and good appraisal system are more likely to influence employee motivation, resulting in greater performance and attainment of organisational aims and purposes. This is one of the main findings in this study, consistent with prevailing literature on performance management. The purpose of this study was to investigate the implementation and effectiveness of the performance management system and how it affects the provision of service priorities in the Limpopo Department of Employment and Labour (DEL).
In order to achieve the objectives, the quantitative approach was used, where a questionnaire was administered to a random sample. Analysis of data collected took place in the form of descriptive statistics and a presentation of charts. Based on the investigation’s findings, there are obstacles related to the implementation of the performance management system in DEL, such as unfair performance ratings as a result of favouritism by supervisors and managers during PMS implementation. These findings also provided some invaluable insights, namely, enforcing PMS policy regularly in order to eliminate numerous grievance cases on PMS implementation, to deal with the issue of poor leadership by supervisors and managers, and so forth, that may improve its effective implementation and mitigating recommendations to the identified challenges.Dihlongwa tšeo di šomišago tshepedišo ya maleba ya tekolo di na le kgonagalo ye kgolo ya go huetša tlhohleletšo ya bašomi, e lego seo se feleletšago ka phethagatšo ye kgolo le phihlelelo ya maikemišetšo le merero ya mokgatlo. Ye ke ye nngwe ya diphihlelelo tše kgolo ka dinyakišišong tše, tšeo di sepelelanago le dingwalo tša bjale tša taolo ya tiro. Maikemišetšo a dinyakišišo tše e be e le go nyakišiša ka ga tiragatšo le go šoma gabotse ga tshepedišo ya taolo ya mošomo le ka moo e amago ka gona kabo ya ditlapele tša ditirelo ka Kgorong ya Mešomo le Bašomi (DEL) ya Limpopo.
Go fihlelela maikemišetšo, go šomišitšwe mokgwa wa bontši, moo lenaneopotšišo le ilego la beakanywa go sampole ye e kgethilwego. Tshekatsheko ya datha yeo e kgobokeditšwego e dirilwe ka sebopego sa dipalopalo tša go hlaloša le tlhagišo ya ditšhate. Go ya ka diphihlelelo tša dinyakišišo, go na le mapheko ao a amanago le tiragatšo ya tshepedišo ya taolo ya mošomo ka go DEL, bjalo ka dikelo tša phethagatšo tše di sa lokago ka lebaka la tirosepitša ka baokamedi le balaodi nakong ya tiragatšo ya PMS. Diphihlelelo tše di file gape ditemogo tše dingwe tše bohlokwa kudu, e lego, go phethagatša pholisi ya PMS ka mehla go fediša melato ye mentši ya dingongorego ka ga tiragatšo ya PMS, go šogana le taba ya boetapele bjo bo fokolago ka baokamedi le balaodi, bjalobjalo, tšeo di ka kaonafatšago tiragatšo ya yona ye e šomago gabotse le go fokotša ditšhišinyo go ditlhohlo tše di laeditšwego.Mihlangano leyi yi tirhisaka sisiteme yo hlahluva leyi faneleke na ku va ya kahle yi tala swinene ku hlohlotela nhlohlotelo wa vatirhi, leswi swi vangaka matirhelo ma kahle swinene na ku fikeleriwa swikongomelokulu na swivangelo. Lexi i xin'wana xa swikumiwakulu eka ndzavisiso lowu, leswi fambisanaka na matsalwa lama nga kona eka malawulelo ya matirhelo. Xivangelo xa ndzavisiso lowu a ku ri ku lavisisa matirhiselo na matirhelo ya sisiteme ya malawulelo ya matirhelo na hilaha yi khumbaka hakona ku nyikiwa ka swirhangana swa vukorhokeri eka Ndzawulo ya Mitirho na Vatirhi (DEL) ya Limpopo.
Ku fikelela swikongomelo leswi, endlelo ra risima ri tirhisiwile, laha khwexinere yi tirhisiweke ku hlawula nsampulo. Nxopaxopo wa switiviwa leswi hlengeletiweke wu vile kona hi xivumbeko tinhlayohlayo to hlamusela hi ku hlawulekisa na andlalo wa tichati. Hi ku ya hi swikumiwa swa vulavisisi, ku na swirhalanganyi leswi fambelanaka na matirhiselo ya sisiteme ya malawulelo ya matirhelo eka DEL, swo tanihi hi mipimo ya matirhelo leyi nga riki leyinene hikwalaho ka vurhandzwa hi valanguteri na vafambisi hi nkarhi wa matirhiselo ya PMS. Swikumiwa leswi swi tlhela swi nyikiwa ntwisiso wa nkoka swinene, ku nga, ku sindzisa pholisi ya PMS nkarhi na nkarhi ku herisa milandzu ya swivilelo yo tala hi mayelana na matirhiselo ya PMS , ku tirhana na xiphiqo xa vurhangeri bya xiyimo xa le hansi hi valanguteri na vafambisi, na swo kota sweswo, leswi swi nga ha antswisaka matirhelo ya hina lama vuyerisaka na ku hunguta swibumabumelo eka mitlhontlho leyi kumekekeM. Admin. (Public Administration)Public Administration and Managemen
Moodle as a Tool to Reduce Transactional Distance at an Open Distance and e-Learning University
Get PDFDespite the expansion of e-learning and the adoption of innovative learning management systems to support students, higher education institutions are still struggling under the burden of digital exclusion, hence increasing the transactional distance between lecturers and students. The research was conducted at a South African Open Distance and eLearning university and attempted to (1) understand how the Moodle site is organized to influence transaction distance, (2) identify students’ perceptions of the Moodle site to enhance their academic writing skills, and (3) identify if Moodle is an enabler or disabler to their learning. This article uses a qualitative participatory action research design and draws on the theory of transactional distance. Using observations, open-ended evaluation questions, and a focus group discussion, the study found that students appreciated the communication and interaction facilitated by the lecturers. Despite the challenges that students experienced, the transactional distance was reduced between lecturers and students. Although the findings of this study cannot be generalized on a broader scale, findings are in line with similar studies, amplifying the critical role of the perceptions and challenges of first-year students in HEIs to bring about the required change.English Studie
Search for heavy, long-lived, charged particles with large ionisation energy loss in pp collisions at s = 13 TeV using the ATLAS experiment and the full Run 2 dataset
No full textAbstract
This paper presents a search for hypothetical massive, charged, long-lived particles with the ATLAS detector at the LHC using an integrated luminosity of 139 fb−1 of proton–proton collisions at
s
= 13 TeV. These particles are expected to move significantly slower than the speed of light and should be identifiable by their high transverse momenta and anomalously large specific ionisation losses, dE/dx. Trajectories reconstructed solely by the inner tracking system and a dE/dx measurement in the pixel detector layers provide sensitivity to particles with lifetimes down to
O
(1) ns with a mass, measured using the Bethe–Bloch relation, ranging from 100 GeV to 3 TeV. Interpretations for pair-production of R-hadrons, charginos and staus in scenarios of supersymmetry compatible with these particles being long-lived are presented, with mass limits extending considerably beyond those from previous searches in broad ranges of lifetime
A decolonial analysis of religious medicalisation of same-sex practices in South African Pentecostalism
No full textSame-sex practices are commonly medicalised in various global spaces. Some societies
view same-sex practices as some form of disease that needs to be cured. In Africa, the
influence of Christianity has prompted many communities to conclude that there are
spiritual forces behind same-sex orientations and practices. Therefore, same-sex
practices are demonised, and those identifying with these sexualities and gender
identities are viewed as sick, or as having some form of mental illness. As a fast-growing and
influential movement in South Africa, Christianity plays a critical role in this narrative.
Against this backdrop, this article examined how some Pentecostal pastors in South Africa
use God-talk to propel the narrative that medicalises same-sex practices and how these
pastors claim to have miraculous powers to heal these practices. Consequently, the gender
and sexuality commonly accepted within African religiosity and spirituality are pushed to
the peripheries. Therefore, it is argued in this article that the colonial-missionary discourses
regarding African sexualities and genders are at play within the religious medicalisation
of same-sex narratives. Thus, there is a need to problematise and transform this narrative.
This act can contribute to delinking African genders and sexualities from Western
repressions and subjugation agendas. The discussion moved from the premise of decoloniality
while adopting a multidisciplinary approach that incorporated theology, gender and
sexuality studies, psychology, health, and socio-political sciences. Again, the article used
secondary literature analysis to examine this phenomenon and to gain a thorough
understanding of how African Pentecostalism continues to use God-talk to medicalise same sex practices in contemporary South Africa and the repercussions thereof.
Contribution: The study contributed to the existing knowledge that addresses religious
challenges faced by people identifying with non-normative sexualities and genders in
Africa. This can contribute to the transformation of religious medicalisation of same-sex
practices in South Africa, and elsewhereCollege of Human Science
Measures to improve subcontracting SMMEs’ ability to deliver government-funded construction projects within set project requirements in Tri-Star Construction (Pty) Ltd
Get PDFThis study set out to investigate measures of improving subcontracting SMMEs’ ability to deliver government-funded construction projects within set project schedule, set project budget, and requisite quality within Tri-Star Construction (Pty) Ltd. It was estimated that 90% of government-funded construction projects within Tri-Star experienced time delays, cost overruns and quality failures. Subcontracting SMMEs’ inability was seen as the major cause.
Thus, the primary research question answered was: how can the ability of subcontracting SMMEs to deliver government-funded construction projects within set project requirements in Tri-Star Construction be improved? Three secondary research questions were answered. The first was, how can the ability of subcontracting SMMEs to deliver government-funded construction projects within set project schedule in Tri-Star Construction be improved? The second was, how can the ability of subcontracting SMMEs to deliver government-funded construction projects within set project cost in Tri-Star Construction be improved? The final one was, how can the ability of subcontracting SMMEs to deliver government-funded construction projects within requisite project quality in Tri-Star Construction be improved?
A quantitative research approach, with which the theory reviewed could be tested, was preferred for its generalizability to the population of 392 staff members. A sample survey and a survey questionnaire were used as the data collection methodology and the data collection method respectively. Consequently, a sample size of 41 staff members was chosen from a sampling frame of 86 staff members using a systematic sampling technique. In the end, 24 responses could be analysed using the split-half method of internal consistency and Pearson’s correlation which tested item reliability.
It was found in the main that subcontracting SMMEs needed to improve their ability to manage schedule, cost and quality. An integrated strategy built around specific time, cost and quality management measures, derived from the study’s findings, were recommended as part of the company’s improvement strategy, thereby assisting the subcontracting SMMEs and thus solving the research problem.M.B.A.Graduate School of Business Leadershi
Rabies in two communities of Ethekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa: knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP)
Get PDFBackground: Despite the important role dogs play in society, they are vectors of rabies and as a result they can be a danger to human beings. People who lack knowledge of the disease are at higher risk of contracting the disease and even dying from rabies. Recent reports show a rise in canine rabies cases in the province of KwaZulu-Natal compared to other provinces in South Africa. This study investigated knowledge, attitude and practices regarding rabies in two selected communities in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Methods: A prospective cross-sectional questionnaire-based study design was adopted for this study. Systematic random sampling was employed to select respondents ≥18 years (n = 768). Data was captured in Microsoft Excel 365. Proportions and their 95% confidence intervals were computed for categorical variables. A logistic regression model was used to investigate factors that predict knowledge of rabies as the outcome. Statistical significance was set at α < 0.05.
Results: The majority of respondents (79.04%, n = 607) were of the view that receiving an anti-rabies injection was important. Equally, a very high percentage of respondents (78.26%, n = 601) indicated that they would seek medical attention immediately after being bitten by a suspected rabid dog. In addition, just over half (52.47%, n = 403) of the respondents said they would quarantine a dog that had bitten someone. On the contrary, a small percentage of the respondents (23.83%, n = 183) said that they would not take any action regarding the dog. A very low number (34.51%, n = 265) did not think it would be appropriate to put down a suspected rabid dog. Pet ownership was the only factor that was a significant (p < 0.05) predictor of a high knowledge score for rabies disease, with people who owned pets twice as likely to obtain a high knowledge score for rabies compared to those who did not own pets.
Conclusion: The study identified gaps in the knowledge of rabies in the study population. Socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents were identified that predict a high knowledge score for rabies. Therefore, educational programmes for the control of canine rabies must take into consideration the identified socio-demographic characteristics of community members.Agriculture and Animal Healt
Evaluating the role of informal waste sector in municipal solid waste management in Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Get PDFText in English with abstracts and keywords in English, Tsonga and VendaTo date, solid waste managers are still dwarfed by the growing challenge of delivering
municipal solid waste management service to the public. This is because of the growing
rate of waste generation resulting from urbanisation, rapid population growth and world
economic development. Currently, the world generates over 3.6 million tons of waste daily
and at this rate, within the next 3 years, it is expected to rise to a booming 6 million tons
per day. Municipalities in South Africa still use landfilling as a disposal method for solid
waste management, and significant consequences such as soil contamination and
underground water contamination are inevitable, ultimately threatening human health.
Unemployed, poor individuals and side-lined groups, who constitute the informal waste
sector, play very critical role of roaming around cities, towns and disposal sites recovering
valuable waste materials as a survival strategy. Although to the informal waste sector,
valuable waste recovery is a means of living, that is, to earn money, they are critical role
players in the world’s goal of moving towards a circular economy. While the municipality
chooses to bury waste, this sector chooses to refer it back to the economy, which leads
to zero waste in landfills and protects the health of the environment.
This study was conducted using a mixed methods research design. The study was
conducted in Vhembe District Municipality following a convenience sampling method. A
sample consisting of 80 waste pickers, 4 waste managers and 10 buyback centre
directors participated through closed-ended questionnaires, face-to-face interviews and
online surveys. Data collected through questionnaires was analysed using SPSS version
25.0, and data collected through structured interviews was analysed following the eight
data analysis steps proposed by Tesch.
The results of this study indicate that the informal waste sector in Vhembe District is a black-dominated industry, with females being the most dominant and those involved
having no formal education except for a few graduates who simply saw a business
opportunity. Little recognition is given to the informal waste sector by authorities and
policy makers. Society undermines and rejects this sector. Furthermore, they are exploited, abused and associated with waste by the public. This limits their activities, but
they play a significant part in creating jobs, saving municipalities millions in collection and
disposal costs and ensuring a healthy living by sustainably conserving the environment
indirectly.U swika zwino, vhalanguli vha zwa u hwalela mashika vha kha ḓi vha vho hanganea zwi
tshi ḓa kha u ḓisa tshumelo ya masipala ya u langa u hwalelwa ha mashika tshitshavhani.
Izwi zwi khou itiswa nga tshikalo tsha nyaluwo ine ya khou ḓiswa nga u bvelela ha ḓorobo,
u anda ha vhathu na nyaluwo ya ikonomi ya ḽifhasi. Zwa zwino ḽifhasi ḽi khou bveledza
miḽiyoni dza 3.6 wa dzithoni dza mashika ḓuvha ḽinwe na ḽinwe, hafhu kha heyi nyaluwo,
zwi anganyelwa uri kha minwaha miraru i ḓaho, i ḓo vha i tshi khou hovhelela henefha ka
miḽiyoni dza 6 wa dzithoni dza malaṱwa nga ḓuvha. Mimasipala ya Afrika Tshipembe i kha
ḓi shumisa u tou thupha mashika fethu hugede sa yone nḓila ya u langula mashika.
Masiandaitwa a izwi ndzi u tshikafhadziwa ha mavu na maḓi a re fhasi mavuni, zwine zwa
shushedza mutakalo wa vhathu. Vhathu vha sa shumi, vhashai na zwigwada zwa vhathu
zwi sa dzhielwi nṱha, vha mona-mona na fhethu hu laṱwaho mashika mahayani na
dziḓoroboni vha tshi ṱoḓa zwithu zwine vha nga zwi dobela vha ya u zwi rengisa sa nḓila
ya u ditshidza. Naho kha ndangulo ya u laṱwa mashika na u a hwalelwa hao iyini
ndowetshumo i sa divhei sa ya tshiofisi, ndi zwa ndeme sa nḓila ya u ḓitshidza kha vhathu
vhane vha ḓidzhenisa kha iyo nḓowetshumo. Zwi dovha hafhu zwa tamba tshipiḓa tsha
ndeme kha u bveledza ikonomi ya shango. Naho masipala u tshi nanga u tou fukedza
mashika, hetshi tshigwada tshi a a fukula tsha a humisela kha ikonomi, zwine zwa dovha
zwa thusa kha u ita uri shango ḽi si ḓale mashika, zwa dovha hafhu zwa vha zwavhuḓi
kha mutakalo wa mupo na wa vhathu.
Tsedzuluso iyi yo itiwa hu tshi khou shumiswa maitele o vanganaho a u ita thodisiso.
Thodisisio yo itwa kha masipala wa Vhembe ho nanguludzwa vhane vha ḓo dzhenelela
kha ṱhoḓisiso nga u vha vha vha tshi khou wanala. Ho topoliwa vhashumi vha fumalo (80)
vhane vha shuma u hwalela mashika, vhalanguli vhana (4) na dzidayirekhta dza fumi (10)
dza fhethu hu no rengiselwa hone zwithu zwe zwa vha zwo latiwa, vhothe vho dzenelela
u vhudziswa-vhudziswa mbudziso dzo valeaho, musi ho livhanwa zwifhaṱuwa na nga vhudavhidzani ha tshithekinolodzhi. Mawanwa hu tshi khou shumiswa khwesheneya o
senguluswa hu tshi khou shumiswa phurogireme-thusedzi ya u sengulusa ya SPSS vesheni ya 25.0. Mwanwa a musi hu tshi khou shumiswa mbudziso dze dza vha dzo dzula
dzo dzudzanywa o senguluswa hu tshi khou shumiswa maga a malo (8) a Tesch.
Mvelele dza ṱhoḓisiso iyi dzi khou sumbedza uri u hwalela zwithu zwa kale zwo latwaho
ndi bindu ḽa vhathu vharema, nahone vhunzhi havho ndzi vhafumakadzi, vhane a vha
ngo funzea. Fhedzi hu dovha a ha wanala uri kha vhenevho, hu na vhaṱuku-ṱuku vhane
vha vha na pfunzo dza nṱha, vhe vha wana u hwalela zwithu zwa kale zwo laṱwaho, hu
tshikhala tsha vhubindudzi na nḓila ya u ḓisikela mishumo. Muvhuso a u dzhieli nṱha
vhubindudzi hovhu ha u hwalela zwithu zwo laṱwaho na u rengiswa hazwo. A hu na
mbekanya-maitele kha muvhuso zwi tshi ḓa kha uri nḓowetshumo ya u dobela zwithu
zwo laṱwaho zwi tshi dovha zwa shumiswa i fanela u tshimbila hani. Tshitshavha na
tshone tshi dzhiela fhasi na u nyefula uyu mushumo. Izwi zwi ita uri vhane vha shuma
uyu mushumo vha si kone u shuma zwavhuḓi, naho vha tshi khou ḓisikela mishumo na
u thusa masipala u vhulunga masheleni manzhi e a vha a tshi ḓo shumisiwa kha u
kunakisa mupo nga u dobela mashika na u ita uri vhupo vhu vhe hu dzuleaho khathihi na
u vhulungeaEnvironmental Science
Exploring the TVET college lecturers’ perspectives on the usage of problem-centred teaching in level 4 Calculus
Get PDFThis study explored the perspectives of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college lecturers on the usage of problem-based learning as a teaching method in teaching level 4 Calculus. Achievement in mathematics at TVET colleges could be related to the poor performance of National Certificate and Vocational Level 4 mathematics students in South African Colleges. Students’ low achievement in mathematics has long been a source of concern for all stakeholders, college principals and lecturers. This can be attributed largely to poor teaching techniques, a lack of teaching and learning materials and inadequate pedagogical skills of lecturers. This study draws from the social constructivist theory that focuses on the zone of proximal development to support the social interaction of knowledgeable others to advance development. The current study employed a qualitative research methodology, through the phenomenological approach. Data was gathered through interviews and lesson observations. Purposive sampling was used to select six National Certificate and Vocational level 4 lecturers and their mathematics students as participants in this study. Content, thematic, and discourse analysis were applied to analyse the data. The results revealed a difference in student engagement through student-centred and lecturer-centred strategies of interaction. The findings indicate that problem-based learning is an effective method of teaching calculus for improving students’ critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. As a result, the researcher recommends that lecturers should assess their students’ backgrounds to determine appropriate teaching methods that will help students perform better in TVET mathematics.M. Ed. (Mathematics Education)Mathematics Educatio
A study of the advantages of teaching and learning in IsiZulu for early literacy development of mother-tongue speakers
No full textText in EnglishThis study explores the benefits of using isiZulu as the language of instruction for young children in South Africa’s Foundation Phase. The main objective was to understand how learning in their mother tongue enhances children’s reading and writing skills. Research involved interviews with teachers, students, and parents, along with classroom observations. Findings revealed that children comprehend lessons more effectively when taught in isiZulu, leading to increased confidence and enthusiasm for learning. Although some parents worry that isiZulu instruction might limit future job opportunities, many recognize the value of strong early literacy skills in a familiar language. The study recommends that the Department of Basic Education expand support for mother-tongue instruction in early education and develop policies to promote its use.M.A. (African Languages)African Language
Implicit modelling of geometallurgical parameters for application in mine planning
No full textThe objective of the thesis was two-fold: to investigate the potential of implicit modelling techniques for modelling geometallurgical parameters in mine planning and to generate synthetic geometallurgical data using Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) models. Several geometallurgical parameters, including ore grade, Bond work index (BWI), rod mill index, rock quality designation (RQD), drop weight index (DWI), Axb, and Abrasion index (Ai), were modelled in this thesis using implicit and geostatistical methods, and their results were compared.
To generate synthetic geometallurgical data, GAN-based models were used, namely, Conditional Tabular Generative Adversarial Network (CTGAN), Copula Generative Adversarial Network (CopulaGAN), and Gaussian Copula. The process was conducted in Python® using a Synthetic Data Vault (SDV) library, based on original geometallurgical data obtained from previous research papers, theses, and online databases. Geometallurgical block models were produced using implicit (Radial Basis Function) and geostatistical (Ordinary Kriging) methods and compared. The following software packages were used in this study. Leapfrog® Geo, Microsoft® Excel®, and Microsoft® Paint®. The results of the Geometallurgical Block Model (GMBM) were compared using parameters of mine planning, such as the grade-tonnage curve and resource estimations.
In conclusion, the study found that the synthetic geometallurgical data generated in this research was of high quality and demonstrated that implicit modelling methods can improve the accuracy and efficiency of mine planning by modelling geometallurgical parameters. However, more research is recommended to explore other implicit-based methods, such as the potential field and the Hermite Radial Basis Function (HRBF).D.Phil. (Mining Engineering)Electrical and Mining Engineerin