43867 research outputs found
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Commercial and non-profit investigative journalism as means to achieve journalistic excellence : comparing the Sunday Times and amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism
Get PDFAbstract: This study explores the impact of the commercial and non-profit funding models on the quality of investigative journalism. It examines the means of attaining investigative journalistic excellence with specific reference to the Investigative Unit of a commercial weekly newspaper, the Sunday Times and the not-for-profit amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism, asking which funding model hinders investigative journalism, and which enables it. This study utilised qualitative research methodologies. Thematic content analysis and in-depth interviews were conducted to firstly evaluate the production of quality content examining coverages about policing and taxation, pertaining the South African Revenue Service (SARS) High-Risk Investigations Unit (HRIU) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) Cato Manor organised crime unit. Secondly, in-depth interviews explored the demerits and merits – the consequences – of using commercial and non-profit models and their impact on news values and the quality of investigative journalism...M.A. (Journalism
Precarious, more precarious, most precarious? The quality of life of waste pickers in the Karoo
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A survey on the psychological response and impact of the 2020 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic among the Faculty of Health Sciences academic staff, University of Johannesburg
Get PDFAbstract: Background: Currently research into the psychological response and impact of the 2020 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is lacking. Epidemics and pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pose more than just physical health challenges. More often than not the mental health challenges that accompany such a situation is overlooked resulting in lasting psychological struggles. Aim: The aim of this study is understanding the psychological response and impact of the 2020 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak among the Faculty of Health Sciences academic staff, University of Johannesburg...M.Tech. (Chiropractic
The use of blockchain technology to improve transfer-pricing compliance and administration in South Africa
Get PDFAbstract: The global economic environment presents fertile ground for international trade and the movement of capital, labour and business. This has supported the growth and success of multinational enterprises (MNEs) whose operations span tax jurisdictions. The result has been a globally integrated marketplace. However, a downside of this has been crossborder tax evasion and avoidance through base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) activities, including the use of impermissible transfer-pricing practices. Transfer-pricing refers to the price of products globally traded between parties that are connected to each other. This area of taxation is particularly vulnerable to abuse due to the close relationships amongst the entities of the MNE and the complex and intricate nature of the transactions amongst them. The use of technology solutions, with blockchain technology in particular, is becoming increasingly popular in the tax arena for use in combatting harmful tax practices, but also in providing tax administrations with the ability to better service taxpayers, ease their compliance burdens and improve their own administrative capabilities. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the inherent features of blockchain are suitable for use in easing the transfer-pricing compliance burden of taxpayers and in improving the administration of transfer-pricing for the South African Revenue Service (SARS). The study sets out to determine the benefits of using blockchain for transfer-pricing compliance purposes for taxpayers in South Africa, as well as the challenges and practical considerations of adopting the technology in their businesses. The benefits of using blockchain for streamlining and simplifying the administration and auditing of transfer-pricing cases for SARS are also considered, followed by determining the challenges and practical considerations of introducing and implementing blockchain by SARS. The research took the form of a qualitative study which involved the review of relevant existing literature...M.Com. (South African and International Taxation
The adoption and implementation of sustainable manufacturing in Ghana
Get PDFAbstract: Sustainable manufacturing practices consist of various practices that promote resource efficiency, reduce waste, and reduce negative externalities including climate change and pollution from manufacturing processes resulting in economic, social, and environmental benefits. For a firm that wants to adopt these practices, certain internal and external factors influence their adoption. This study sought to assess the factors that influence the adoption and implementation of sustainable manufacturing practices by agro-processing industries in Ghana. A mixed-method approach was used to collect and analyse data obtained from firms and implementing agencies through structured and semi-structured questionnaires. The questionnaires were analysed using IBM-SPSS and both deductive and inductive content analysis. The analysis indicated that the most adopted sustainable manufacturing practices in this sector are waste management and energy conservation. The internal factors that influence firms to adopt sustainable manufacturing practices are the technological infrastructure within the firm, the availability of skills and competencies, the resources in terms of finance, capabilities, and knowledge, and the benefit of cost savings. The external factors are laws and regulations, and competition and the value chain of the industry. The challenges identified are lack of technical skills and competencies to adopt and implement these practices, lack of financial resources, lack of external support, and lack of awareness among small and medium-scale enterprises...M.Phil. (Industrial Policy
Experiences and survival strategies of rural teachers during Zimbabwe’s economic crisis (2016-2020) : a case study of the Zaka district’s primary and secondary school teachers
Get PDFAbstract: Due to the underdevelopment often noticed in many rural areas of Zimbabwe, the country’s civil servants such as teachers, confront hurdles in their workplaces and when navigating their day-to-day lives. This comes as a result of the economic crisis that the country is experiencing. Literature has shown that the livelihoods of educators living in the peripheries are under-researched. The Zaka area is one of the underdeveloped rural districts of Zimbabwe. Therefore, this study aims to understand the experiences encountered by the Zaka district’s teachers and the survival strategies they adopt in order to improve their livelihoods. By adopting the Resilience Theory and Sustainable Livelihoods Approach, it specifically seeks to study the role played by these survival strategies in resisting challenges and sustaining rural livelihoods. Literature shows that understanding the experiences of teachers in rural areas, is inherent in policy implementation and development in such areas. Therefore, the study also interrogates the views of these teachers regarding how their conditions can be improved. To achieve the aims and objectives of this study, a qualitative approach was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants, which included teachers, principals and teachers unions’ representatives. Results were categorised and analysed thematically. The findings show that rural teachers of Zimbabwe face obstacles such as cash shortages, limited teaching resources, low salaries and poor living conditions. However, through agency, they are able to rise above these difficulties. This study argues that there is a need to improve the spaces that rural teachers work in by providing adequate resources. Additionally, the study calls for practical solutions in improving these teachers’ welfare. This research also acknowledges that this is a complex process, which requires significant economic advancement to be prioritised. The study was important in highlighting the challenges and opportunities that the Zaka district’s teachers often encounter. Findings in this study can assist local authorities, government and policy makers in the development of interventions that can address the teachers’ challenges.M.A. (Development Studies
A critical evaluation of health risk assessments of pm2.5 from coal-fired power stations
Get PDFAbstract: South Africa’s coal-fired power stations release large quantities of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) which form inhalable secondary particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 mm (PM2.5). PM2.5 is harmful to health and has been associated with premature mortalities due to lung infections, cardiovascular disease, strokes and cancer. Health risk assessments on exposure to PM2.5 from coal-fired power stations have significantly different results in terms of health outcomes. The purpose of this research is to improve the approaches used in health risk assessment of PM2.5 from coal-fired power stations. The study area is the South African plateau encompassing the coal-fired power stations and surrounding populations in Mpumalanga, northern Free State, Gauteng, eastern North-West Province and Limpopo. A proportional log-linear approach is introduced to calculate the number of premature mortalities due to one component of total ambient particulate matter, using a log-linear RR model and ascribing premature mortalities based on the proportion of ambient particulate matter contributed by the single component of interest. The proportional log-linear approach is intended to be used to estimate premature deaths when the single source contributes PM2.5 concentrations below a relative risk model’s counterfactual exposure value. Use of a conventional relative risk model is not appropriate, since summing up premature deaths linked to all individual sources overestimates premature deaths because the relationship between relative risk and PM2.5 exposure is not linear...M.Sc. (Geography
Propagation of high energy gamma rays in the blazar jets and resulting effects on their spectral energy distribution
Get PDFAbstract: Active galactic nuclei (AGN) emit electromagnetic (EM) radiation brightly across the entire EM spectrum. Although their physical structure has been studied for decades by analysing their EM emission, we now know that they have an anisotropic struc-ture, but they are still not fully understood. The subclass of AGN known as blazars are the most luminous and variable of AGN, and we study a peculiar feature that appears in the spectrum of the blazar 3C 279, which also appears in the spectra of several other blazars. This feature present in the spectral energy distribution (SED) of 3C 279 is a distinct dip in the gamma-ray band (in the ∼10 – 100 GeV range). We perform a spectral analysis of 3C 279 and find that its SED dip is caused by gamma rays in the blazar jet interacting with the nearby broad-line region (BLR) to produce electron-positron pairs (e±). The magnetic fields present in the jet accelerate these e± to produce synchrotron radiation. Secondary gamma rays emitted through syn-chrotron self-Compton (SSC) can partially compensate for the attenuated gamma rays. We find that the primary gamma rays in the ∼ 30 – 200 GeV range are pro-duced towards the outer edge of the BLR and travel a distance of 6 × 1014 cm within the BLR region. Furthermore, we conclude that gamma-gamma absorption in the BLR is responsible for the SED dips if the magnetic field in the jet is ≥ 0.1 G, and SSC emission from secondary e± can compensate for lost primary gamma-ray flux. If the magnetic field is weaker, then the observed dips would be caused by a differ-ent mechanism, and the gamma rays would be produced much further away from the BLR.M.Sc. (Physics
The application of public international law in Eswatini : a comparative perspective
Get PDFAbstract: This study makes a case for the application of public international law by the courts of eSwatini and its incorporation into the domestic legal system of eSwatini. Accordingly, it investigates the use of public international law by the courts of eSwatini. It notes that the courts have made less use of public international law in their jurisprudence. It highlights that the Constitution of the Kingdom of eSwatini does not explicitly and without equivocation recognise the interpretive role of public international law in domestic adjudication even though the courts have relied on it as a source of interpretative guidance. Drawing inspiration from the best practices of the courts of selected jurisdictions, the study suggests that there are lessons that the courts of eSwatini may learn from the decisions of these courts. The study makes a few recommendations that may enhance the implementation of public international law by the courts of eSwatini. First, the Supreme Court of eSwatini as court of last resort should provide an absolute and authoritative exposition of what the term ‘public international law’ embraces in the context of the legal system of eSwatini. Second, the courts of eSwatini should adopt a methodological approach to the role of public international law in adjudication. Third, when construing domestic law incorporating parallel provisions in an international agreement of the African Union and a global instrument, a court should not overlook the legal instrument of the African Union...LL.D. (Public International Law
Knowledge, attitude and practices of biomedical waste management among health care workers at Mbabane Government Hospital, Eswatini, 2019-2020
Get PDFAbstract: Background: Biomedical waste management (BMWM) is a major concern around the globe and remains in its infancy in developing countries. Health-care services inevitably create hazardous waste than any other type of waste. Inadequate and inappropriate handling of biomedical waste (BMW) poses serious public health and environmental challenges, thus sound management of BMW is critical.MPH (Public Health
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