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Suid-Afrikaanse visuele response tot geslagsgebaseerde geweld
Get PDFThesis (Masters) Arts in Art History , North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusGeslagsgebaseerde geweld (GGG) is ʼn brandende samelewingskwessie wat verskeie mense wêreldwyd affekteer. In Suid-Afrika kan dit selfs as ʼn pandemie beskryf word, veral in ag genome die daaglikse dade van geweld wat teenoor vroue hier gepleeg word. Dit is dus van groot belang om GGG en moontlike vehicles daarteen te ondersoek. In hierdie studie word visuele response vanuit drie geïdentifiseerde groeperings, naamlik regeringsresponse; openbare kunswerke daargestel deur individuele kunstenaars, nieregeringsorganisasies (NRO’s) en plaaslike gemeenskappe; en kunswerke vanuit museum- en galeryomgewings, krities beskou as response teen GGG in Suid-Afrika.
Die gekose response word aan die hand van Jacques Rancière se konseptualisering van die verspreiding van die aanvoelbare (Engels: distribution of the sensible, Frans: partage du sensible) bespreek met Jean-François Lyotard se konsep van die differend wat aanvullende insigte bied. Dié response word verder beskou volgens relevante konsepte vanuit hierdie studie se kontekstuele agtergrond, naamlik GGG. Hierdie beskouings rig die ondersoek na die gekose response om te toon hoe hulle kan dien as diskursiewe platforms teen GGG waar oorlewendes en slagoffers van GGG op hoorbare en sigbare wyses hulle GGG-ervarings met ʼn groter gehoor kan deel. Verder word hierdie response ook beskou as vorme van bewusmaking rakende GGG en die impak daarvan, en as vehicles waardeur genesende gesprekvoering kan plaasvind.
GGG word beskryf as enige vorme van geweld wat op ʼn persoon gemik is weens hulle biologiese geslag en hulle gekose genderidentiteit. Dit affekteer egter tot ʼn ekstreme mate vroue en/of persone wat as vroulik identifiseer. Om hierdie rede fokus die studie op vroue as die oorlewendes en/of slagoffers van GGG. Patriargale beskouings binne die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing dra by tot vroue se ervarings van GGG, aangesien dit hulle mag en agentskap binne die groter samelewing kan beperk. Buiten vir die patriargie is daar ʼn aantal ander faktore verwant aan die voorkoms en voortbestaan van GGG, byvoorbeeld stereotipes en stigmas (soos dat ʼn vrou se kleredrag beskou kan word as ʼn rede om haar leed aan te doen) en gebrekkige stelsels van reg en geregtigheid
Die verspreiding van die aanvoelbare beskryf die bestaande grense binne ʼn samelewing wat bepaal wie ʼn hoorbare en sigbare posisie daarin vervul. Rancière se konseptualisering van die verspreiding van die aanvoelbare en ander verwante konsepte, soos politiek (Engels: politics; Frans: la politique) en subjektivering (Engels: subjectification; Frans: la subjectivation), bied insigte tot die gekose response, aangesien dit duidelikheid bied oor die ruimtes waarbinne oorlewendes en/of slagoffers hoorbaar en sigbaar kan wees. Die differend
beskryf ʼn onoorkombare verskil tussen twee of meer partye. Die differend en verwante konsepte, soos litigasie en ʼn wandaad (Engels: wrong; Frans le tort), se toepassing op die gekose response bied ʼn perspektief op die vereistes vir oorlewendes en/of slagoffers om hulle status as ʼn “slagoffer” te oorkom en hulself so te bemagtig deur ʼn stem te kry in die stryd teen GGG. Die verspreiding van die aanvoelbare en die differend is beide gefokus op die “ander” en hulle posisie binne die samelewing. Om hierdie rede vorm beide deel uit van hierdie studie se analitiese benadering.
Die ondersoek bevind dat die regeringsresponse wat bespreek word in hierdie studie meestal maklik verstaanbaar is, met duidelike boodskappe. Dit kom egter voor asof hierdie response ʼn gebrek aan sensitiwiteit toon vir slagoffers en/of oorlewendes van GGG. Tog bevorder dié response bewustheid rakende GGG en die impak daarvan. Die openbare kunswerke daargestel deur individuele kunstenaars, NRO’s en plaaslike gemeenskappe bespreek in dié studie bevorder ook bewustheid rakende die kwessie. Hierdie response is maklik toeganklik en toon gewoonlik ʼn meer persoonlike benadering tot GGG. Dié response bied aan slagoffers en/of oorlewendes die nodige ruimte om hoorbaar en sigbaar te word. Die kunswerke vanuit galery- en museumomgewings bespreek in hierdie studie dien ook as vorme van bewusmaking wat aan slagoffers en/of oorlewendes die geleentheid bied om hoorbaar en sigbaar te word. Dié response is gewoonlik moeiliker verstaanbaar, maar kan meer deelnemend wees. Hierdie response is geskik as diskursiewe platforms waardeur genesende gesprekvoering kan plaasvind. Die gekose visuele response vervul dus nie almal dieselfde funksies in die stryd teen GGG nie, maar almal dien as vorme van diskursiewe platforms wat ’n bydra lewer tot die groter diskoers jeens GGG.South African Academy of Science and Art (SAAWK), the North-West University (NWU) and the NWU's Faculty of Humanities.Master
South Africa and the African Continental Free Trade Area: Assessing the opportunities and risks
Get PDFMaster of Business Administration, North-West University, Vanderbilpark CampusThe AfCFTA aims to boost economic growth and development across Africa by creating a single market with free movement of goods, services, and investments. Looking further ahead, AfCFTA would provide countries with a clear path for integration and the introduction of growth-boosting and socio-economic reforms, which is essential for long-term economic stability. Regional integration aims to facilitate economic growth, cooperation, and mutual development. Socio-economic aspects of regional integration encompass efforts to enhance living standards, reduce poverty, and improve social well-being across participating nations. By pooling resources and fostering cross-border collaboration, regional integration can lead to increased job opportunities, access to better healthcare and education, and the reduction of socio-economic disparities. This process often involves the harmonization of policies related to labour, education, and healthcare, contributing to a more integrated and equitable society. Regional integration profoundly influences socio-economic aspects within participating regions. It can drive economic growth, improve living conditions, and address various social challenges and promoting sustainable development.
South Africa, as both a member and a trailblazer of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, is positioned at the forefront of a transformative economic initiative. Its participation in this landmark agreement presents a spectrum of opportunities and challenges, along with possible potential risks that demand nuanced responses. In assessing these complexities, South Africa can make the most of its membership in AfCFTA by strategically addressing domestic and regional concerns. This involves a balanced approach that maximizes the opportunities while mitigating potential risks and challenges by ensuring a win-win scenario for South Africa and its African partners. The deal offers an extraordinary opportunity to construct a united market spanning the entire continent, a critical step toward fulfilling the vision of the "Africa we desire," which is compatible with the aims established in the African Union Agenda 2063.Master
Evaluating alternative VAT apportionment approval mechanisms for implementation in South Africa
Get PDFMaster of Commerce in Taxation, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark CampusThe apportionment methodology, as it relates to input tax under the South African VAT system, is often criticised by authors as being impractical or contentious. The prescribed standard turnover-based method, which is the only pre-approved method in South Africa, does not seem to yield a fair reflection of the tax application of all entities. However, alternative apportionment methods are granted with prospective effect which may be counter-intuitive and unjust. Therefore, it was valuable to consider the possibility of implementing an alternative apportionment methodology, or elements thereof, by investigating the methods adopted in other countries.
For this reason, the VAT system implemented in South Africa as it relates to input tax was analysed in detail, specifically focussing on the apportionment methodology and the complications relating thereto. This was followed by an in-depth analysis of the GST apportionment methodology applied in Australia and New Zealand, respectively. The analysis of the systems implemented in the respective countries allowed for a comparison to be drawn between the various apportionment systems. This comparison was based solely on the principles of a good tax system relevant to VAT which is also discussed in this study.
The comparison revealed that none of the apportionment methodologies conforms to all the principles regarded as being relevant to a value-added tax and consequently all three systems can be adjusted to better adhere to these principles. The evaluation further revealed that there is a trade-off between the various principles as and when applied to each apportionment system and the interested parties. Therefore, on the basis of the comparison between the apportionment methodology implemented in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, respectively, and specifically focussing on the principles of a good tax system, it was evident that none of these systems provide optimal results. In the end it came down to which system balances the interests of the taxpayer and the interest of the fiscus the best, rather than to prove the single most optimal system. It was further remarked that the apportionment methodology that balances these interests the best varies for each country by reason of the different tax policies adopted by the tax authorities of the respective countries. It was then concluded that South Africa’s VAT apportionment methodology provides a satisfactory balance as it protects both the interests of the taxpayer and the interests of the fiscus in the long term. Nevertheless, this study revealed that an element of the New Zealand apportionment system may be valuable to consider for implementation in South Africa.Master
Minimising engineering delivery cycle time variability on similar projects: An Eskom Case Study
Get PDFDoctor of Philosophy in Engineering with Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusEskom Generation is experiencing high levels of cycle times variabilities on the delivery of similar engineering deliverables within similar project phases and similar plant areas across different power stations. These variabilities of cycle times deprive Eskom power stations the benefit of effective utilisation of information from previous and current similar projects for the purpose of similar projects schedules estimations and reduction of similar projects engineering deliverables delivery risk.
This research investigates factors contributing to cycle time variability on similar engineering deliverables focusing on the impact of variability of both activities and activities durations for similar engineering deliverables, application of engineering processes and, intra-organisational knowledge transfer on cycle time variability. The ultimate deliverable of the research is the framework model for minimising cycle time variability on similar projects.
The research is a progressive development of the framework model for minimising cycle time variability on similar projects in which the initial conceptual framework is further developed and updated as the research progresses up to the development of the framework model. Both primary and secondary data were used for the research. The primary data was obtained by means of questionnaire surveys consisting of 20 different questions while the secondary data was obtained from a combination of sampled power stations’ projects schedules with similar engineering deliverables.
The research revealed that inconsistent and inadequete intra-organisational knowledge transfer, inconsistent application of engineering processes, variability of activities, and variability of activities durations result in increased project cycle time variability. Evidence of the mediation role played by both variability of activities and variability of activities duration on (1) intra-organisational knowledge transfer and cycle time variability and (2) application of engineering processes and cycle time variability was observed.
Consistent knowledge transfer and consistent utilisation of engineering processes were identified as the leading variables while clearly defined consistent activities and consistent activities durations were identified as the lagging variables for minimising cycle time variability. The research is concluded by the development of a framework model for minimising cycle time variability for similar engineering deliverables. The model can serve as a building block for minimising cycle time variability for similar projects in related industries and academic research.Doctora
Assessing the effect of inventory management on the profitability of manufacturing enterprises in South Africa
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Administration, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark CampusInventory constitutes a large part of the total investment of manufacturing companies, so its management is of utmost importance. Inventory management is the efficient oversight of goods or materials within a company. It involves managing inventory levels, storage, tracking, and valuation. The goal is to ensure the right amount of inventory is available at the right time, place, and cost. Profitability is a measure of a company's ability to generate profit or financial gain. The aim and primary objective of this study is to assess the effect, if any, that inventory management has on the profitability of manufacturing enterprises in South Africa. The population that formed part of this study included a poultry abattoir, an animal feed
mill, a soya bean processor, and a maize and wheat mill. Qualitative data was collected via interviews with relevant personnel from these entities, and the sampling was done using non-parametric non-probability sampling using convenience sampling techniques. The literature review explores how inventory management affects profitability in manufacturing enterprises and the factors and challenges involved. The study used qualitative research methods, including interviews, to collect data from manufacturing companies in the agricultural sector. The findings suggest that effective inventory
management practices have a significant impact on profitability, and recommendations include improving communication and implementing risk management measures. The study focused on the link between inventory management and profitability and included practical steps to improve profitability through accurate inventory management practices.Master
The application of active and passive bioaccumulation methods to measure metallic and organic pollutants along the Namibian coastline
Get PDFMaster of Science in Environmental Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusHuman activities and natural weathering processes are responsible for the input of elements and organic pollutants into marine environments. There is currently no ongoing marine pollution monitoring program in Namibia and there are limited studies on marine pollution along the Namibian coastline. Since the 1970s, mussels have been used as bioindicators because they are widely distributed, plentiful, and stationary. The main aim of this study was to use active and passive biomonitoring tools to determine the element and organic contaminant concentrations present in the coastal areas of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay Harbour in Namibia. Artificial mussels (AMs), semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs), resident- and transplanted mussel bioindicators (Choromytilus meriolionalis) were deployed at two exposure sites (Walvis Bay Harbour & Swakopmund) for six weeks. Element concentrations (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, U, and Zn) were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) techniques. Chromium concentration was determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) and mercury (Hg) concentrations with a flow injection mercury system (FIMS). The concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) were analysed in both SPMD and mussels following QuECHERS extraction methods and using a GC-20230 Plus coupled with a GCMS-TQ8050 NX triple quadruple mass spectrometer. The element levels in all AMs were significantly lower (p<0.05) when compared to mussels and did not show a significant increase in uptake during the deployment period. Transplantation studies are very effective as a biomonitoring tool, but for more comprehensive data interpretation, resident mussels should be assessed in conjunction with transplanted mussels. The transplanted and resident mussels from Walvis Bay Harbour had significantly (p<0.05) higher Cu concentrations than the transplanted and resident mussels collected at Swakopmund. Walvis Bay Harbour’s resident mussels had significantly lower element concentrations for the most part when compared to Swakopmund’s resident mussels. This was attributed to the adaptation of resident mussels to their environment through the regulation of elements. The differences are also attributed to constant exposure since resident mussels remain submerged and therefore constantly exposed to metals compared to the transplanted mussels that are subjected to tidal influences and exposed to the air during low tide. There were notable fluctuations in the element levels in both the AMs and the transplanted mussels during the deployment period for both study sites. The results indicated that there are clear trends in the spatial and bioaccumulation indicators for elements in mussels at the two study sites. There were also clear differences between the uptake patterns of OCPs in the mussels and the SPMDs. Although analyses for PCBs were done, they were not detected in the SPMDs or the mussels. When comparing the results of this study in Namibia to element concentrations in mussels
from South African harbours, the levels for most of the elements were in the same range. However, passive biomonitoring devices (AMs and SPMD) displayed much lower levels than those found in other studies. For monitoring purposes, passive (AM and SPMD) should be used in combination with the active biomonitoring organisms (transplanted and resident mussels) to acquire an accurate representation of contaminant exposure in the marine environment. This study could potentially contribute to the development of a Namibian coastal biomonitoring plan.Master
Exploring the influence of black tax on career management amongst young black professionals in a selected area of South Africa
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Administration, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark CampusThis research addresses the pervasive issue of Black Tax amongst young black professionals in
South Africa. Recognising the importance of understanding the implications of familial financial
responsibilities, this study was aimed at unravelling the intricate dynamics and offering insights
for individuals, organisations, and policymakers. The research problem stems from the limited comprehension of how Black Tax influences career management, making it imperative to explore this phenomenon comprehensively. The significance lies in providing a nuanced understanding that informs strategic decision-making for both individuals navigating familial responsibilities and organisations fostering inclusive workplaces. The purpose of the study was to delve into the experiences and perceptions of young black professionals, aligned with the research questions that guided the exploration. Grounded in a theoretical foundation that acknowledges the complexity of familial obligations and career aspirations, a qualitative methodology and a purposive sample were employed to capture the perspectives of voluntary participants. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data from interviews to unravel key findings that showcase the multifaceted influence of Black Tax on career choices, goals, and prospects. The conclusions drawn align with the purpose of the study and the research questions, offering a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between familial responsibilities and professional trajectories. Managerial implications extend to individuals, organisations, and policymakers. Insights gained from this study could inform workplace practices, inclusive policies, and strategic decision-making at both individual and organisational levels. The alignment across research problem, research questions, methodology, and findings emphasise a logical progression, ensuring coherence and depth in addressing the multifaceted aspects of Black Tax.
In summary, this research contributes to the academic discourse on Black Tax by providing a
comprehensive exploration grounded in the alignment of key components. The findings offer
valuable insights for navigating familial financial responsibilities, empowering individuals,
fostering inclusive workplaces, and guiding policy considerations.Master
A digital marketing framework for sport organisations in South Africa
Get PDFThesis (PhD) Communication, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2024.Sport has become a major industry in South Africa and sport organisations are continuously trying to obtain a competitive advantage. Sport has a distinctive quality due to its inherent unpredictability. Sporting events have the ability to change the emotions, level of excitement, and level of involvement of spectators, depending upon the outcome of a particular event or game. Sport stakeholders transcend the role of mere customers, as they possess a deep emotional connection with and genuine concern for their teams and athletes. They desire a deep and interactive involvement with their sport team. Sport, thus being inherently social, not only promotes but also flourishes through the establishment of communities and active involvement. Both face-to-face and virtual interactions are essential for cultivating a sense of community among stakeholders with a vested interest. In addition, the identity of a sport team includes more than just its logo or slogan. It involves the players, history, culture, and follower base, all of which contribute to the unique brand of the sport.
In this context, the challenge of building and maintaining relationships with sport stakeholders remains a significant issue. The rapid growth of digital technology has forced sport marketers to turn to digital marketing strategies to establish and strengthen these relationships. However, the unique complexities of the sport sector namely, the interconnectedness of three sectors of sport (government sector, non-profit sector, and corporate sector), as well as the three pillars of sport marketing (marketing of sport, marketing through sport and marketing by sport), are not sufficiently addressed by existing marketing frameworks. Hence, the aim of this study to create a digital marketing framework for sport marketing by using the SOSTAC® framework as overarching structure to inform the development of more effective digital marketing strategies for sport organisations and marketers in South Africa.
The components required for such a framework were evaluated empirically through a multimethod research approach of qualitative and quantitative research. To create such a framework, the researcher made use of (1) a literature review of the sport environment in South Africa and the principles of a digital marketing strategy; (2) semi-structured interviews with sport marketers on what their digital marketing strategies were; (3) content analysis of the participating sport organisations’ websites, Facebook pages and Instagram accounts to establish best practice digital marketing strategies; and (4) an electronic survey to determine sport stakeholders’ perceptions of their sport organisation’s digital marketing strategies.
The research findings highlight the importance of stakeholder aspects such as stakeholder centricity, interactivity and engagement, personalisation and customisation, community building, and the stakeholder experience while measuring and monitoring digital marketing campaigns for feedback and effectiveness evaluation. The sport sector’s strategic digital marketing focus should be adapted to attain its goal of relationship building and it should incorporate six stages, namely: a foundational analysis, strategic planning, data-driven strategies for personalisation, integrating content with technology, sustainability and ethical engagement, and performance evaluation and adaptation.Doctora
Developing a framework for sustainable entrepreneurship for small, medium and micro-enterprises in the agricultural sector in Zimbabwe
Get PDFDoctor of Philosophy in Business Administration, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusGlobal warming, resulting from escalating greenhouse gas emissions, affects human populations and ecosystems and adversely affects economic development. The commercial activities undertaken by businesses are currently implicated in exacerbating global warming due to their use of unsustainable business practices. Consequently, enterprises bear a responsibility to actively engage in the adoption of sustainable practices within their operational frameworks. Incorporating ecological and societal considerations has become widely acknowledged as a necessary component of corporate social responsibility for large corporations. SMMEs have exhibited a lack of enthusiasm for integrating sustainability practices inside their business operations. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are no longer accessible from the imperative of sustainability. Consequently, it is incumbent upon them to embrace sustainable entrepreneurship to mitigate their ecological footprint.
The aim was to explore the strategies, motivation, challenges and opportunities for sustainable entrepreneurship through the lived experience of SMMEs. The study indicated many determinants and motivational factors for adopting sustainable entrepreneurship by SMMEs. The interviewees viewed environmental and social concerns as the driving force behind the formation and exploitation of opportunities, focusing on sustainability. The results also showed that SMMEs place non-economic aims (environment and social concerns) on par with economic objectives. The analysis concludes that SMMEs in the agricultural sector balance all three dimensions of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) in their sustainable business ventures. Sustainable entrepreneurship is advantageous to the economy, society, and environment. Adopting it reduces poverty, increases food production, protects the environment, creates jobs, improves livelihoods, and boosts the nation's economic development. Multiple recommendations were provided to four groups: legislators, SMMEs, the general populace and the business world.
The present study employed a qualitative methodology to gather data, employing purposive sampling to pick initial participants and utilising the snowball sampling technique until data saturation was attained. The study used epistemological and
ontological assumptions. This study is situated within the interpretivism and postmodernism research paradigm. Both deductive and inductive reasoning were employed in theory creation, along with a qualitative methodological approach, to generate novel and more comprehensive insights and interpretations of sustainable business. Using a methodology involving various descriptive case studies, data was gathered from sixteen SMMEs that operate sustainably. This data was acquired through semi-structured interviews. Other methods, such as observations, document analysis, and field notes, were employed to validate the findings from the interview. Subsequently, a manual thematic analysis was conducted to examine the collected data. The investigation yielded seven distinct themes.
The study theoretically fills a conceptual vacuum in the literature because there has been relatively little research on sustainable entrepreneurship among small and medium-sized firms in the agricultural sector. Understanding this aspect of sustainable entrepreneurship will be a foundation for future research in this sector. This study's findings substantially contribute to current theories and significantly improve the practice of sustainable entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe. Based on the literature, the lived experience and the sustainable practices adopted by the participating SMMEs, a framework for explaining how sustainable entrepreneurship can be adopted among SMMEs was developed. The framework highlighted several determinants, motivational factors, challenges, sustainability outcomes, and benefits and made several recommendations. It guides how to contribute to implementing sustainable practises and assists SMMEs in recognising sustainable opportunities and comprehending that they can engage in sustainability entrepreneurship. The framework for sustainable entrepreneurship from the study can be used to develop a policy that will increase the adoption of sustainable entrepreneurship among SMMEs operating in the agriculture sector.Doctora
Integrated thermal-fluid and statistical modeling for fault prediction in fixed-bed dry bottom coal gasifiers
Get PDFMaster of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusIn this study, an integrated thermal-fluid and statistical modeling approach is developed for fixed-bed dry bottom coal gasifier fault prediction. This research is aimed to address the problem of current gasifier fault prediction models relying on data driven statistical techniques that do not incorporate thermal-fluid modeling. Both gasifier thermal-fluid and statistical modeling approaches are established. However, in the reviewed literature, there is no evidence of integrated thermal-fluid and statistical modeling approaches for gasifier fault prediction.
A steady-state thermal-fluid model of the fixed-bed dry bottom coal gasifier is developed in this study. This model predicts mass flow rates for the five gases that mainly comprise syngas. As such, five fundamental thermodynamic equations are selected and applied in the model. These are three mole balances, an energy balance, and a chemical reaction equilibrium condition.
Software for the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) is utilized to develop the thermal-fluid model. It is implemented so that abnormal gasifier operating conditions, where negative flow rates are predicted, can be isolated from typical data. When compared with a reference gasifier observation, the average accuracy of this model’s predictions is comparable with that of a fixed-bed gasifier model available in literature.
Statistical modeling is undertaken using the R Statistical Software (R). To predict where the gasifier’s operation transitions from normal to abnormal conditions, statistical classification models are applied to the thermal-fluid model’s outputs. A classification model is selected that predicts a bounded region wherein the gasifier’s operations are normal.
The existence of gasifier faults is discussed with respect to groups of predicted abnormal observations. Observations are presented on a plot of the selected classification model, and groups are identified, with a statistical clustering technique, according to the gasifier’s inlet flow rates. The thermal-fluid model’s validity is established through an analysis of the changes evident between these groups. When compared with conventional data driven fault prediction for fixed-bed dry bottom coal gasifiers, the selected classification model possesses a higher accuracy.Master