Graduation - 2024 - December (Open Access)
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- ItemACCOUNTING- AND VALUE-BASED PERSPECTIVES ON THE LINKAGES BETWEEN WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Liam Rory Johnson; Erasmus, P. D.; Mans-Kemp, N.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Business Management.Financial managers are constantly searching for methods to direct scarce resources toward their optimal uses to enhance financial performance. Prior researchers who considered the relationship between working capital management (WCM) and financial performance focused on accounting-based metrics within developed countries. Value-based financial performance metrics remove some of the distortions associated with accounting-based metrics, thereby contributing to a cycle of sustainable value creation. Against this background, the primary research objective of this study was to assess the linkages between WCM and financial performance by incorporating accounting-based and value-based perspectives. Quantitative data were collected for a sample of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange over the period 2006 to 2022, thereby including two crisis periods. When considering the outcomes of the panel regression analyses, various statistically significant relationships were noted between working capital and financial performance metrics, mainly from the value-based perspective for the entire sample. A statistically significant negative relationship was noted between net operating working capital (NOWC) and return on invested capital and the spread, respectively. In contrast, a statistically significant positive relationship was observed between NOWC and free cash flow (FCF). Furthermore, a statistically significant negative relationship was reported between the net operating trade cycle and FCF. Based on the reported results, the researcher recommends that managers, directors and investors include value-based measures when reflecting on WCM considerations instead of excessively focussing on short-term profitability. Furthermore, tertiary educators should emphasise the importance of sustainable value creation. As such, they can inspire future managers, directors, and investors to contribute to a more sustainable future.
- ItemThe Application of the 7C- Protocol to Assess Compliance with Public Procurement Prescripts in the Procurement of ICT Services in the Garden Route District Municipality(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Damons, Salman; Quinot, Geo; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.Understanding non-compliance with legislation that governs procurement in public entities necessitates an understanding of how these rules are experienced by those who implement them. This study investigates the implementation of public procurement policies in municipalities, with a specific focus on the procurement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services. The core research question investigates how public procurement rules, and their enforcement affect municipalities abilities to procure ICT services. The study assesses the implementation of public procurement regulations using the 7C Protocol to identify areas for improvement and propose measures to strengthen procurement procedures, boost transparency, and minimize corruption in Garden Route District Municipality. According to the research findings, the number of administrative difficulties faced by public procurement practitioners is an indicator of the efficiency and effectiveness of procurement policies. There are noted challenges in implementing supply chain management (SCM) and procurement legislation and procedures. Non-compliance with SCM policy and laws is because of poor procurement planning, a lack of knowledge and skills, insufficient operational capacity, outdated operating systems, and low staff morale and motivation. Furthermore, the study finds that effective leadership and management, integrated ICT solutions, and professionalisation of SCM personnel are all potential critical factors in addressing these challenges and improving procurement implementation. This research yields valuable insights for local governments seeking to enhance their procurement processes to ensure transparency, fairness, and efficiency in acquiring ICT services. Through incorporating the recommended measures, governments can navigate complexities and enhance service delivery to meet the evolving needs of their citizens.
- ItemApplied machine learning for radio galaxy classification and anomalous source detection(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Brand, Kevin; Grobler, T. L.; Kleynhans, W.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Computer Science.The classification of radio sources and the identification of anomalous sources play a vital role in the development of the understanding regarding various cosmological processes, such as the formation and evolution of galaxies and how they interact with their local environments. As the new generation of radio telescopes — such as the square kilometre array (SKA) — come online, a massive influx is expected with respect to the number of observations of radio sources that will be generated. This increase makes the manual evaluation and classification of radio sources by experts infeasible. Approaches have been considered that enable the general public to assist with these classifications. However, it is not clear whether these approaches will be able to keep up with the growing rates at which radio telescopes produce observations. Thus, a growing body of literature is investigating whether these tasks can be automated by applying machine learning models instead. In this thesis we extended the work conducted in the literature by further investigating the automation of morphological classification and anomalous source detection. We investigated two adaptations when applying convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to morphological classification, as these models have been shown to be particularly useful in this regard. We investigated the impact of standardising source orientation prior to CNN training and found that it leads to improvements in classification performance. However — apart from faster training times — it provided no benefits when compared to rotational augmentation, with rotational augmentation leading to better classification results.
- ItemAn assessment of the Assemblies of God, Ghana’s Vision 3000 in light of Venn’s Three-Self Mission Model(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Ampofo, Mishael Donkor; White, Peter; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology & Missiology.The rapid growth of Pentecostalism in Africa has led to an increased interest in understanding effective mission strategies within Christianity. This study assesses the Assemblies of God, Ghana’s (AOGG) Vision 3000 church planting initiative in light of Henry Venn’s Three-Self (3S) mission model. The 3S model, emphasising self-governance, self-support, and self-propagation, has guided AOGG’s mission effort since its establishment in 1931. Vision 3000, launched in 2014, aimed to double AOGG’s churches from 3,000 to 6,000 by 2019. This ambitious project provides a unique opportunity to examine the application and effectiveness of the 3S model in a contemporary African Pentecostal context. The study employs a qualitative research methodology, utilising semi-structured interviews with 57 key stakeholders, including Vision 3000 committee members, executive leadership, pastors, and local church leaders. This approach allows for an in-depth exploration of the lived experiences and perspectives of those directly involved in implementing and experiencing the initiative. Data was also gathered from official reports and relevant literature, providing a comprehensive view of the project’s development and outcomes. The research utilizes Basel’s Vertical Missionary Approach theory as its theoretical framework, offering a lens through which to analyse the holistic nature of AOGG’s mission efforts. The study reveals that Vision 3000 achieved significant success, planting 2,117 new churches and revitalizing evangelistic zeal and evangelical mindset among AOGG members. This numerical growth was accompanied by a renewed sense of mission and purpose within the denomination. However, the research also uncovers several challenges that emerged during the implementation of Vision 3000. These include difficulties in achieving financial self-support in economically disadvantaged areas, particularly in rural regions. And the complex task of balancing centralized oversight with local autonomy. The study highlights the intricate intersection of the 3S model’s implementation with Ghanaian cultural, economic, and social realities, demonstrating the need for ongoing contextualization of mission strategies. This research makes a significant contribution to the field of missiology by providing a nuanced analysis of the 3S model’s application in a specific African context. It goes beyond merely assessing the model’s effectiveness to propose a “3S plus” framework that incorporates self-theologizing and self-missionary components. This expanded model reflects the growing recognition of the need for indigenous theological reflection and cross-cultural mission engagement within African Christianity. The study also offers practical measures for contextualizing the model, including integrating traditional leadership structures and developing community-based financial models that resonate with Ghanaian cultural practices. The research concludes that while the 3S principles remain relevant in contemporary African mission contexts, their application requires ongoing contextualization to address local realities effectively. It demonstrates that successful mission strategies in modern Africa must strike a delicate balance between maintaining fidelity to universal Christian truths and deeply engaging with local contexts. This balance is crucial for developing authentic, sustainable, and culturally relevant expressions of Christianity. This study provides valuable insights for both scholarly research and practical mission strategies. As African Christianity continues to play an increasingly prominent role in global Christianity, understanding effective models for church growth and sustainability becomes ever more critical. The findings of this research offer a roadmap for other denominations and mission organizations seeking to implement large-scale church planting initiatives in Africa and other developing contexts. By examining the successes and challenges of Vision 3000 through the lens of the 3S model, this study contributes to ongoing discussions about indigenization, contextualization, and the future of mission in Africa. It sets the stage for further research into the long-term sustainability of rapid church growth initiatives, the role of technology in mission, and the development of truly African expressions of Christian theology and practice.
- ItemAudience trust in journalism: an exploratory case study of the youth in Philippi East(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Ginya, Sive Faith; Wasserman, Herman; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Journalism.The South African mainstream media has been criticised for catering to the elite audience to generate revenue while neglecting the realities of the citizens who live in townships and informal settlements. It has been asserted that many black, poor young South Africans do not recognise the stories of their communities in the mainstream news media. This study explored the experiences of the youth between the ages of 18 to 35 years in Philippi East. The study examined whether these youths find the news content of the South African mainstream media relevant to their lived realities, and if they feel like they are represented in the news content. The researcher conducted a thorough literature review looking at the different aspects of trust in journalism, the South African media landscape, the role of the South African news media, and criticism of the South African news media. The researcher utilised the folk theory of trust in journalism, which refers to the popular existing beliefs that the audience or the public have about journalism, and the place theory as this study's theoretical points of departure. The study employed the qualitative exploratory case study design to gain an in-depth understanding of the perceptions of these youth and collected data using semi-structured focus group interviews and individual interviews. The non-probability sampling procedure was employed to recruit and select participants. The researcher used inductive thematic analysis to analyse the data collected. The study found that the youth in Philippi East trust the news media as an institution that educates and informs the public about things happening around the world and in their communities. However, the Philippi East youth feel like they are not well represented in the news content of the South African mainstream media because the media only focuses on the mass shootings and seasonal floods that occur in Philippi East and excludes the art and educational events hosted in this community. In addition, these youth expressed confidence and satisfaction with the accuracy of the stories shown on the news about Philippi East. Finally, the study found that the youth in Philippi East expressed different views on whether they find the news content relevant to their lived realities. While some said they find the news content of the South African mainstream media relevant to their lived realities some said they find the news content irrelevant to their experiences claiming that the news media focuses on stories of rich people, and political content and neglects the realities of township residents.
- ItemAutomatic orthography standardisation for under-resourced languages(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Barends, Umr; Niesler, Thomas; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering.This work addresses the normalization of the orthography of a severely under-resourced language, taking as a specific example the West African language known as Bambara. One aspect of the lack of resources for such languages is that spelling and orthographic conventions are not firmly established. This for example leads to variations in how speech is transcribed by mother-tongue speakers, which in turn leads to inconsistencies in the annotations found in a speech corpus. According to our investigation, there is no data available for the normalization of the Bambara language other than the very small corpus used in this work. To our knowledge, this is also the only corpus of transcribed Bambara speech. Normalizing the spelling of Bambara spellings is important for systems such as ASR or text to speech, where more consistent spellings equate to better performance of such language model based systems. The baseline method, known as anagram hashing, uses word anagrams and word n-grams to perform the normalization. These methods have been used by other researches to normalize historical text to modern spellings. In addition, we determine the performance that can be achieved by applying the machine learning methods: softmax regression, LSTM and bi-LSTM. Our experiments indicate that the neural network models out-performed the anagram hashing algorithm on the task of normalization of the Bambara orthography. We also found that word-level models performed better than character-level models. Among the machine learning models, the softmax regression model performed best at normalizing the Bambara orthography. We conclude that it is possible to perform automatic normalization of orthography using machine learning models that is superior to the current state-of-the -art, but that the small size of the traning set does not allow the recurrent architecture to surpass the performance of softmax regression.
- ItemA behavioural asset pricing approach: Perspectives from the South African stock market(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) de Vries, Annalien; Erasmus, Pierre; Gorgens, Gina; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Business Management.The estimation of a company’s cost of equity has been the subject of extensive debate due to its subjective nature. Existing asset pricing models being employed to estimate the cost of equity (returns) assume investors have homogeneous beliefs and expectations pertaining to expected returns. There is, however, heterogeneity in investors’ expectations of returns. Due to this heterogeneity not being accounted for, the accuracy of existing asset pricing models is questioned. To improve its accuracy, sentiment stochastic processes can be incorporated into asset pricing models to account for the heterogeneity in the decision-making of multiple investors in the market, during different market conditions. Prior research in South Africa has concluded that investor sentiment should be considered an explanatory variable in asset pricing models; however, none of these studies have augmented existing asset pricing models such as the Carhart four-factor (CH4) model, with an investor sentiment variable. The primary objective of the current research was, therefore, to account for the human element in the South African stock market, by investigating the impact of investor sentiment on the cross-sectional variation of the cost of equity for securities listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) for the period 2003 to 2019. To address this aim, the CH4-model was augmented with investor sentiment as an affective risk factor. One indirect measure (composite sentiment index) and three direct measures (survey and textual analysis-based measures) were empirically tested. By employing a judgement sampling technique, the final sample comprised of 321 securities that formed part of the FTSE/JSE All share index (ALSI) over the 17-year study period. Variations of regression analyses were employed for hypothesis testing. Ordinary least squares (OLS) time-series regressions revealed that a statistically significant relationship exists between returns and the direct measures of investor sentiment only. These results indicated that direct and indirect measures of investor sentiment contain unique information. A further finding was that the two direct proxies that resembled sentiment toward the economic and business conditions in South Africa, reported significant explanatory power for returns, of which the proxy measured by means of textual analysis was the most significant predictor. OLS regressions were also conducted for high and low sentiment periods, to assess the statistical significance of the CH4-model risk factors during different sentiment periods. The regressions uncovered contrasting results for only the momentum risk factor. During low sentiment periods, the relationship between the momentum factor and returns was negative and not significant, whilst high sentiment periods revealed a positive and statistically significant relationship. It was, thus, concluded that trading behaviour in the South African stock market, vary across high and low sentiment periods. This finding is in line with Lo’s (2004) adaptive market hypothesis. The Fama and Macbeth (FM) (1973) two-stage regression approach confirmed that investor sentiment does have a statistically significant impact on the cross-sectional variation of the cost of equity for JSE-listed securities. Similar to the OLS regressions, the two direct measures that reflect investors’ overall sentiment towards the country and the business climate within the country, were significant predictors of returns. Furthermore, contrasting relationships were reported between the use of constant and rolling betas. The difference in the direction of the cross-sectional association, confirms the argument that the association between sentiment and returns can be either positive or negative, depending on conditions within the market and economy. The current research makes an important theoretical contribution to asset pricing research and behavioural finance research in South Africa, by providing a theoretical justification for why investor sentiment should be incorporated into asset pricing models. A methodological contribution was also made by constructing a composite investor sentiment index for the South African stock market, and by investigating and comparing several diverse measures of investor sentiment. Educators, investors, financial managers and policymakers are encouraged to incorporate investor sentiment in their curriculums, investment strategies, cost of equity estimations and monetary policies, to reap the potential benefits from emphasising the individuals, whose collective behaviour ultimately drives markets.
- ItemA benchtop investigation into the removal of fungicide from citrus packhouse wash water in South Africa(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Ikin, Ross Patrick; Bosman, Adele; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering.Polluted effluent water, particularly wash water from citrus packhouses, has become a significant environmental concern in the citrus industry due to the use of fungicides procedures. In South Africa there is limited research on developing effective and environmentally sustainable treatment technologies for citrus packhouse wash water. This research report aims to determine suitable treatment options for reducing fungicide concentrations in citrus packhouse wash water. The research began with a comprehensive review of the existing literature to understand the operational procedures of South African citrus packhouses, their fruit washing processes, and current wash water treatment methods. Concurrently, on-site visits to packhouses were conducted to gather practical insights into their specific treatment. Data collection was performed at three selected packhouses in the Paarl/Franschhoek region of the Western Cape. Samples were taken from key points within the packhouses and analysed by an offsite specialist laboratory. The results analysis revealed that Imazalil is the most commonly used fungicide, prompting its selection as the primary fungicide used for further benchtop scale testing. To ensure accuracy, six potential treatment processes were selected based on the packhouse requirements and initial data findings. These processes included plant biofilters, sand filters, bacteria sand filters, flocculation, oxidation and granular activated carbon. Each process was tested in triplicate using identical benchtop setups to ensure a more accurate and reliable representation of the results gathered. The benchtop testing results indicated that the plant biofilter was the most effective in removing fungicide from the wash water. Based on the requirements of the packhouses, the available literature, and the results gathered in this report, the plant biofilter is recommended as a viable treatment method to remove fungicide from citrus packhouse wash water.
- ItemBOARD INDEPENDENCE AND DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTIONS IN LISTED FAMILY FIRMS IN SOUTH AFRICA(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) dos Santos, Gabriela; Viviers, Suzette; Venter, Elmarie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Business Management.Family firms (FFs) are significant contributors to economic growth and employment in South Africa. Given their substantial socio-economic impact, more researchers are showing an interest in researching various aspects of FFs. Concerns regarding internal corporate governance mechanisms, such as the independence of the Board of directors (board), have for example, received more attention from researchers in recent years. Given the distinctive ownership, management and governance dynamics of FFs, strategic decisions vary amongst FFs and when compared to non-family firms. One such decision relates to the distribution of cash dividends to ordinary shareholders. Past empirical research investigating the relationship between dividend distributions and board independence in FFs has yielded mixed results. These studies were predominantly conducted in developed economies and used traditional theoretical lenses, notably the agency theory. As far as could be determined, no academic research has been conducted to date on the link between dividend distributions and board independence among FFs listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). Furthermore, existing studies lack a behavioural perspective that is especially applicable to FFs. As such, the socioemotional wealth theory and catering theory of dividends were used as additional theoretical lenses to explain the complex relationship between the considered variables. To address the identified research gaps, this study investigated the association between dividend distributions and board independence in a carefully selected sample of 34 JSE-listed FFs from 2006 to 2022. Data for the dependent, independent and control variables were collected from the Bloomberg database and annual integrated company reports. The dependent variable, dividend payments, was measured through three proxies, namely the dividend payout ratio, the propensity to pay a dividend and dividend per share. The independent variable, board independence, was examined according to the percentage of independent non-executive directors (INEDs) on a board as reported by each FF and as reclassified by the researcher based on these directors’ tenure and family association. Control variables included firm size, growth opportunities, board size, profitability, and free cash flow. Mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests reported significant changes in dividend per share and the percentage INEDs as reported and as reclassified over time. Panel regressions revealed a negative relationship between dividend distributions and board independence at the sampled FFs. Consequently, enhanced independence of the board may not alleviate minority shareholder wealth expropriation as proposed by some theories, but rather act as a substitute monitoring mechanism for dividend distributions. The significant increase in board independence over the research period suggests that FFs are heeding the recommendations of corporate governance policy makers in South Africa. Dividend distributions fluctuated over the research period. One of the foremost recommendations of this study is that educators and researchers in the field of commerce provide more in-depth training on FF governance. As most corporate governance codes are agency-based, they tend to ignore the benefits of having family members in top decision-making roles. This investigation revealed several unique corporate governance characteristics present in FFs that could be regarded as a competitive advantage rather than a concern for non-family shareholders and other key stakeholders. Given that FF-related research in South Africa among listed companies is still relatively novel, this study contributed to the body of knowledge and encourages future researchers to further explore this field.
- ItemBoard processes, task performance and effectiveness: A South African perspective(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Coetzee, Dominique; de Vries, A.; Mans-Kemp, N.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Business Management.The board of directors is deemed the focal internal corporate governance mechanism. The primary role of this leading corporate team is to act in the best interests of shareholders and other key stakeholders. The way in which board members interact with each other and how they work together as a team should be explored to ultimately understand the effectiveness of a board. In turn, research shows that board effectiveness has a substantial impact on corporate financial performance and the board’s ability to add value to the company. Prior researchers primarily followed a direct approach to board research (i.e. the so-called input-output model) by incorporating board characteristics and corporate financial performance. To combat the criticism raised against this method, other researchers implemented the procedural approach (i.e. the process-output model). The latter approach incorporates board processes, thereby allowing researchers to investigate directors’ decision-making capabilities and ultimately, board performance. However, very few researchers have combined these approaches to follow an integrative approach to board research (i.e. the input-process-output (I-P-O) model). To the best of the researcher’s knowledge, this model or any variation thereof has not been applied in South Africa to conduct board research. Given the identified gap in the literature to explore the application of the I-P-O model in the local context, the primary objective of this study was to determine whether board task performance mediates the relationship between board processes and board effectiveness. Additionally, the inter-relationships between the underlying constructs of the I-P-O model, i.e. board characteristics, processes, task performance and board effectiveness were also investigated. Directors of public and private companies in South Africa were invited to participate in this study, irrespective of their specific board position (executive, non-executive or independent non-executive). Quantitative data were gathered by means of an electronic questionnaire. A total of 105 complete responses were collected from directors. Pertaining to the descriptive results of the investigated board processes, most respondents had positive perceptions concerning the interactions and behaviour of their board members. The sampled directors also viewed their boards as effective, cohesive units that add value to their companies. Areas for improvement were, however, identified, namely that boards should pay more attention to their mentoring role and the formal evaluation of board members. Directors should also increase their engagement in their chief executive officer’s succession planning. The relevance of affective conflict in the boardroom was also highlighted. The study’s inferential results show that board processes are stronger predictors of board effectiveness than board characteristics in the South African context. Significant direct paths were established between the various board processes and board effectiveness. All but one of the 21 investigated mediating relationships (indirect paths) were statistically significant. The effect of board cohesiveness on board effectiveness, when mediated via the service task, was non-significant. Boards of directors are, therefore, encouraged to reflect on the reported results to enhance their collaboration and decision-making capabilities in the boardroom. Nomination committees should also give attention to the optimal utilisation of human resources in the upper echelons to ensure that board processes and the completion of board tasks ultimately enhance board effectiveness. Training sessions can be facilitated for current and prospective directors on how certain socio-psychological aspects could impact the effectiveness of their boards. If board effectiveness can be improved, various stakeholders might benefit from the related outcomes.
- ItemThe Body Speaks: Reading Literary Stagings of Embodied Expressions of Trauma and Its Violent Return(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Festus, Tammy-Leigh; van der Rede, Lauren; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of English.Trauma is a concept that reverberates throughout an individual’s life. This echo lives on in the body and could return in unpredictable and harmful ways. As trauma challenges the ability to speak, literature and its representation of trauma becomes a way to combat the ‘unspeakable’ nature of trauma in a way that is unique to the literary framework. The genre of the trauma novel and memoirs depicting trauma often focus on the individual’s narration styles, how the protagonists interact with their environments, and the aspect I find particularly interesting is the attention centred around the bodies of the protagonists. The Body Speaks: Reading Literary Stagings of Embodied Expressions of Trauma and Its Violent Return seeks to critically analyse the ways that the bodies discussed in the texts struggle to verbalise their internal suffering. I focus on assessing the ways that these protagonists express their emotional and psychological suffering in ways that are considered harmful to themselves. Within Gayle Forman’s If I Stay (2009), the protagonist has an out-of-body experience. This dissociative condition is represented through its fragmented narration which is relayed through constant flashbacks that disrupt the linear storytelling – which I suggest is symbolic of the fragmentary nature of trauma. The Program (2013) is Suzanne Young’s dystopian novel that aligns with many of the elements associated with the trauma novel. Through flashbacks and vivid descriptions, this novel challenges difficult and sensitive themes, such as self-harm and suicide – by analysing the wound left on the body. Despite these delicate topics, the novel aims to challenge many of the misconception regarding why the protagonists turn to these maladaptive acts. This is accomplished not by shying away from what these acts, but through illustrative and descriptive language which does not serve to sensationalise – rather to highlight how avoiding these topics result in more harm than good. Lastly, Roxane Gay’s memoir, Hunger: A memoir of (My) Body (2017) focuses on many elements of trauma and how she copes with the memory of her sexual assault at a young age. By reading this as a literary trauma text, the focus on Gay’s body illustrates how her unhealthy relationship with food becomes harmful to her. Gay rationalises that the excessive weight gain caused by her binge eating behaviours was an attempt to protect herself from more harm; if her body was bigger, she would be deemed as unattractive, yet safe. Gay uses vivid descriptions to relate her trauma, as well as focusing on the language she uses to describe her own body and how it ‘speaks’ her internalised trauma.
- ItemBoxes of Belongings: The Stuff That Moves Us from Gauteng to the Mother City(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Brynard, Monique; van Wyk, Ilana; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology & Social Anthropology.Starting in 2019, a large number of South African newspapers, supported by government statistics, have noted a new migration trend that annually has seen over 100 000 middle- to upper-income earners moving from the country’s economic hub in Gauteng to Cape Town. In this study, I explore this so-called semigration wave through an anthropological lens attentive to the ways in which semigrants related to the movement and storage of their stuff; the households of furniture, clothes, linen, crockery, cutlery, carpets, appliances, books, art, knick-knacks, toys, tools, vehicles, and jewellery. To explore this topic, I interviewed 28 semigrants comprising of single professionals, families with children, those with adult children and retirees, and also engaged in conversations with three estate agents and two people who worked in the storage industry. I showed that the process of moving to Cape Town was much more intricate than merely packing up one’s belongings, moving them and unpacking them again. For most of my interlocutors, their belongings were largely ‘invisible’ for as long as these things passively filled their homes. However, as soon as my interlocuters decided to move, their belongings were brought into visibility from the background of everyday living, sometimes surprisingly so. When their belongings came into focus, my interlocutors all described being confounded by the sheer volume of things that they owned, an excess that they could not explain and that they described as beyond their control. In their relationship to their “uncontrollable” things, my interlocutors ascribe agency to their belongings quite separate from their own decisions and motivations. Things became weighted and animated; they demanded attention, care, worry and responsibilities that many were poorly prepared for. In this unexpected animated relationship to their things, ‘inalienable’ belongings were more visible and ‘needier’ than other things. In order to tame the demands that their belongings made on them, and the responsibilities that their stuff entailed, many of my interlocutors put their things into storage or left them in boxes for much longer than they had initially planned, often because they had realised that they might have to move again; moving to the Mother City meant moving into smaller spaces where the pressure of dealing with their (accumulating) stuff became acute. My interlocutors’ narratives of chaos, contrasts, paradoxes and uncertainties underscored this.
- ItemBuilding Resilience to Urban Food Insecurity in Bulawayo City, Zimbabwe(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Dube, Thulani; Zweig, Patricia Jane; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of . Dept. of .Given the rapid rate of urbanisation in Africa, food insecurity, once predominantly encountered in rural areas, is now increasingly manifesting in urban areas. Despite this, food security programming generally remains focused on rural productionist approaches ill-suited for urban contexts. This suggests that urban food insecurity remains largely misunderstood, bringing into question the effectiveness of resilience-building programmes and strategies being adopted to address it. Focusing on the city of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe, this study aimed to determine the nature and effectiveness of food security resilience-building strategies currently being employed there by a range of different stakeholders, from the state, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and United Nations Agencies to the beneficiary households themselves. In achieving this aim, the objectives of this study were to identify the common shocks to the urban food system in Bulawayo, document the current resilience building strategies being used by different stakeholders, assess the effectiveness of those strategies in addressing food insecurity among poor urban households, and to proffer recommendations about how resilience building programming in Bulawayo and other urban areas might be improved. The study utilised a mixed methods research approach. These included the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data employing a survey questionnaire targeting 200 food insecure beneficiary households, focus group discussions with representatives of food insecure households, and key informant interviews with various stakeholders, including the Bulawayo city council administrators, NGO managers and government officials. The data was then analysed using Microsoft Excel for survey data and thematic analysis for qualitative data from interviews and focus group discussions. The main risk driver of food insecurity in Bulawayo was found to be related to the deteriorating broader macro-economic environment in Zimbabwe, which is resulting in high unemployment, hyper-inflation and low incomes in general. The study also established that climate change impacts and the recent Covid-19 pandemic had deepened food insecurity. In response, the strategies being implemented to build food security resilience were the promotion of urban agriculture, cash transfer programs, casual work and income-generating projects. The study then questioned to what extent these and other interventions really were building “resilience”, given the range of constraining factors revealed. The thesis concludes by making recommendations about how these might be addressed.
- ItemBURNOUT AND SELF-UNDERMINING AT WORK: (HOW) DOES EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE MATTER?(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Jonker, Cornelia; Gorgens, Gina; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Industrial Psychology.The world of work is becoming increasingly demanding, placing employees under a considerable amount of psychological strain. Over time increased levels of burnout, especially emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, lead employees to function in a suboptimal way. This is because employees with higher levels of burnout engage in self-undermining. Self-undermining refers to “behaviours that create obstacles that may undermine performance” and is considered a type of maladaptive self-regulation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of emotional intelligence (EI) in the burnout, self-undermining relationship from various angles. Firstly, this study argued that EI is a key personal resource that may moderate (i.e., buffer) the effect of burnout on self-undermining. More specifically, the study explored whether specific EI competencies moderate the effect of two components of burnout, emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, on self-undermining. In response, four proposed structural models were developed. Secondly, it was argued that a specific combination of EI competencies might predict higher levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, as well as self-undermining. Therefore, this study attempted to identify and explore the effects of four different EI profiles on these components of burnout - emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation - and self-undermining. A non-experimental research design was followed, and a South African sample, from staff employed at two higher education institutions in the Western Cape, were recruited using non-probability sampling (n = 465). To address the research Objective 1, the fit of each model was tested by means of Structural Equation Modelling via LISREL 8.80. The results revealed 14 out of the 16 hypothesised paths, over the four models, to be statistically significant. Both burnout dimensions were found to be positively related to self-undermining. All EI competencies – emotional self-awareness, emotional self-management, emotional self-control, and emotional management of others - yielded significant direct negative effects on both burnout and self-undermining, respectively. Emotional self-awareness was the only EI competency found to buffer the effect of emotional exhaustion on self-undermining. To address research Objective 2, the study attempted to identify the four EI profiles through cluster analysis. However, only two EI profile clusters - a generalised high and generalised low EI profile - was uncovered. This was attributed to the possible convergence of clusters likely due to the moderate to high correlations between EI dimensions. Consequently, four cluster groups were identified (i.e., low, medium low, medium high, and high EI levels). The ANOVA analysis across these clusters showed significant effects on self-undermining, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalisation. Post hoc analyses further revealed significant differences between the high and low profile cluster groups. The high EI profile consistently correlated with lower levels of self-undermining, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalisation, contrasting with higher levels observed in the low EI profile group. These findings highlight the critical role of EI in mitigating negative workplace outcomes, suggesting that enhancing EI could be a valuable strategy for reducing burnout and improving employee well-being.
- ItemCaring for people living with Motor Neuron Disease: A qualitative study of challenges and coping among informal caregivers in South Africa(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Allan, BaileyMotor neuron disease (MND) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative condition that is increasingly impacting individuals and their families globally. Despite being relatively rare, the prevalence is rising due to an aging population, with significant socioeconomic consequences, particularly in countries with fragmented healthcare systems, financial challenges, and limited resources and skills, such as South Africa. Family members often assume the caregiving role, leading to substantial caregiver burden in a context where support is lacking. Against this backdrop, and given the scarcity of research on MND within South African communities, this study aimed to investigate the challenges faced by caregivers of individuals with MND and the coping strategies they employ. The study adopted an exploratory and qualitative approach to gain an in-depth understanding of lived experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 informal caregivers of MND patients across South Africa. The data, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis, revealed insights into the caregiver burden through Lazarus' Objective and Subjective Burden of Care perspective. The narratives emerging from this framework included objective burden being physical strain, the impact on caregivers' social environments, and difficulties with healthcare services, while the subjective burden encompassed perceived loss of love and self, guilt, and emotional impact. The study also identified coping strategies using the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, with emotion-focused strategies encompassing religion, acceptance, and denial, while problem-focused strategies included healthcare support, support groups, self-education, and family support. The findings indicate that caregivers of individuals with MND undergo an intensive burden of care with limited support, therefore proposing a call for further research to address these gaps and improve support for informal MND caregivers and those they care for.
- ItemCharacterisation of the compositions and conditions of intrusions of late magma batches that contributed tothe Peninsula Pluton, Cape Granite Suite, South Africa(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Christoffels, Casey Jade; Stevens, Gary; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Earth Sciences.The size, frequency of arrival, composition, and temperature of magma batches that construct granite plutons are not well understood, although it is now well understood that all plutons intruded into the upper crust must be constructed incrementally. The S-type granites of the Peninsula pluton, South Africa, provide a unique opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of magma batches. The pluton is characterized by a coarse-grained porphyritic texture, dominated by K-feldspar phenocrysts. At Millers Point and Camps Bay, fine-grained leucocratic dykes and sills intruded the coarse-grained host while it was partially crystallized (20 to 5% melt) and carry significant information for understanding the emplacement of these plutons and evidence for the incremental assembly of granite magma chambers. Ti-in-zircon thermometry indicates that the host granite crystallized above 850 °C and the fine-grained granites intruded the coarse-grained host between 750 and 850 °C. Zr crystallization indicates that the magma was hotter than the crystal-mush at the time of injection, creating thermal reactivation of the pluton on a regional scale covering the entire Peninsula Pluton (10 000 km2) (Scheepers et al. 2006; Tankard et al. 1982). The earlier magma additions to the pluton homogenized through mixing and mingling to form the coarse-grained host granite and the late magma additions forming the fine-grained features were the last magmas to build the pluton. Crystal accumulation homogenizes magma compositions when the crystals settle, accumulate and re-melt (Scheepers et al. 2006). The major- and trace-element chemistry of these fine-grained rocks falls within the range defined by the coarse-grained pluton. Thus, these fine-grained granites might represent some of the magma batches that constructed the coarse-grained host granite. Phase equilibrium modelling constrains the pressure of crystallization for the host granite to approximately 0.75 kbar whereas the fine-grained rocks crystallized around 0.9 kbar. The volume of the magma batches forming the fine-grained features are very small as field evidence shows that the dykes are no greater than a few tens of meters, meaning these features formed from about 500 m3 of magma. This suggests that the pluton was assembled by multiple batches of small volumes of magma derived from a similar source by fluid absent melting at a temperature >800 °C. Furthermore, the magma batches ascended via dykes and intruded the pluton while it was in a crystal-mush state. The crystal-mush was much cooler than the intruding magma, which thereby cooled quickly after intrusion resulting in the fine-grained textures.
- Item‘Closet Christians’: a phenomenological study of Christian youth in a small town in South Africa(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Blake, Amber; van Wyk, Ilana; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology & Social Anthropology.In this thesis, I examine the phenomenon of a group of Evangelical Christian youths in a small church in South Africa who did not profess their faith or disclose their Christian identity in contexts outside of church, contrary to the tenets of their Pentecostal faith- and of the Emerging Church to which they belonged. Using a phenomenological approach, I try to understand the subjective experiences of a group of ten young adult Christians who “closeted”their faith in their relationships with non-Christian friends and family members who did not share their beliefs. This at-home ethnography of Bay Surf Church (BSC) members over a two-year period unpacks the process through which once devoted members grappled with their “closeted” faith and gradually left the church. I show that my interlocutors “closeted” to avoid the stigmas associated with both conservative and liberal Christianity. Despite closeting, they remained committed to “sharing the gospel” through embodying and demonstrating their Christian values in social spaces that they imagined traditional Christians would be unable to enter. As the BSC grew in size, my interlocutors complained that their personal faith journeys and missiological expressions were stymied by an organisation that increasingly resembled traditional churches. Whereas the BSC was once known as laid-back church in which believers could practice their faith in their “own way”, and have personal relationships with the pastors, it gradually developed a clearer church hierarchy, with organising teams and established church locations that exercised more surveillance and control over the ways in which members expressed their faith. Seven of my interlocutors eventually left the church, but expressed deep yearning for the ‘lost’ BSC’s Young Adults group which had once embodied the very essence of the Emerging Church philosophy.
- ItemCommunication, Power, and Social Media: The Influence of the Network Society on Contemporary Conflict(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Ingram, Donna; Lambrechts, Derica; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science.Throughout the 21st Century, network technology has emerged as a powerful tool of communication. The right to the freedom of speech has been made readily accessible to those with a cell phone and internet connection. Platforms such as TikTok, X (formally known as Twitter), and Facebook have become instrumental to people’s everyday lives. As such, it is important to study how contemporary uses of social media may influence conflicts. The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine serves as a case study in this regard, as social media has played a critical role spreading real-time updates, and propagating misinformation and disinformation. This study analyses how social media has been utilised in conflict, its potential influence on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and its contribution to the broader dynamics of information warfare. The research utilizes Castells' (1996) network society framework to analyse social media as an online society and its role in conflict. This framework identifies three critical dimensions: the compression and acceleration of time in the digital age, the reconfiguration of spatial relationships, and the decentralization of power dynamics. The key findings of this study suggest that social media has influenced the dynamics of conflict, such as civilians posting real-time updates about attacks, and state-driven bot networks pushing misinformation and disinformation. As the global amplification of narratives becomes possible and the fragmented nature of information consumption shapes public discourse, researching methods to protect epistemic security should continue.
- ItemA Comparative Examination of Fine Particle Solid Suspension in Mechanically Agitated Flat-Bottomed Tanks(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Halstead, Andrew Robert; Akdogan, Guven; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Chemical Engineering.In this thesis we examine two methodologies for the estimation of full suspension within mechanically agitated tanks and how performance is reduced with decreased power input. Such results are seen to better inform the design choices of leach tanks where a compromise between extractive performance needs to be balanced by cost implications. Leach processes vary widely but the conditions considered in this study include finely ground solids material (P80 ≈ 78 μm), with high solids loading (> 40 % by mass) and impeller placement at and above the settled bed height. Such considerations are made to examine data fits while accounting for practical design considerations made at large scales. Neither methodology has been well established under such conditions. By experimentally determining suspension behaviour both at and below full suspension the relationship between absorbed power and suspension quality are illustrated. As well as considerations to the various system affects which influence the full suspension speed are made. Both Zwietering and Greenwich-Mak-Brown design equations were found to be applicable for the modelling of such systems though the accuracy of the results decreased significantly as process conditions were varied. Both operating point methodologies can be applied to design problems depending on the available system constraints and data. GMB provides estimates without requiring specific geometric properties while Zwietering is more accurate but requires such specifications to be known. Both methodologies will provide improved accuracy if the utilised constants are calculated using similar slurries to the design problems, care must be taken when extrapolation constants. Through the examination of impeller flow patterns in conjunction with settled slurry tests the fillet cross sectional profile was determined. Using the fillet profile a new methodology is proposed for the estimation of settled fillet volumes. By demonstrating the relationship between absorbed power and fillet volume potential reductions in the installed power might be economically justified on a case-by-case basis.
- ItemComplex Manoeuvres for Navigation of a Hexapod Robot over Uneven Terrain(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Di Leva, Jason; Engelbrecht, J. A. A; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering.There has recently been a surge in popularity in legged robotics. With the excitement around Tesla’s bipedal robot as well as the recent military implementation of quadrupedal robots, other legged robots such as hexapod robots do not get as much attention. This is due to the complexity in computing the greater number of legs. This project aims to reintroduce the hexapod robot, with the intention of encouraging further research and development to compete with the more popular bipedal and quadrupedal systems. This project implements a number of complex manoeuvres to enable a simulated hexapod robot to move freely over uneven terrain. This was achieved by creating a mathematical model that applies kinematics to design different motion plans. These motion plans animate the six legs into a coordinated walking motion that enables the hexapod to move around a two dimensional terrain. By manipulating the trajectories of each individual leg, the hexapod is able to perform a variety of complex manoeuvres. These manoeuvrers enable the hexapod to alter its posture and navigate onto or off of different surface levels. These manoeuvrers are implemented alongside a guidance controller to autonomously navigate the hexapod around or over obstacles. In this project, details are provided in how these motion plans are devised, calculated and implemented into a simulated hexapod. The results of these motion plans are observed to maintain a smooth and stable motion.