Fischer-Clifford Theory Applied to Certain Maximal Subgroups Associated with the Simple Groups Fi22, Co1, F4(2), and the Monster M

Let G = P.G be a finite extension of a p-group P by a group G. Then the quotient group Q = G/K is constructed, where K ⊴ G is a characteristic subgroup of P. It is a well-known fact that the ordinary irreducible characters Irr(Q) of Q can be lifted to G. Therefore, it follows that a so-called Fischer-Clifford matrixM(g) of the quotient group Q is embedded in the corresponding Fischer-Clifford matrix M(g) of G. In this thesis, the Fischer-Clifford matrices method is used to construct the ordinary character table of extension groups G of nonabelian p-groups P. The powerful Fischer-Clifford matrices method was developed by Bernd Fischer to compute the ordinary character table of the p-local maximal subgroups of the Sporadic simple groups. This method was applied to many extensions of elementary abelian p groups. The method is more complicated when P is nonabelian and in this thesis we want to contribute to the Fischer-Clifford theory by presenting a method to deal with these types of extensions. The strategy followed in this thesis is to compute the Fischer-Clifford matrices M(g) of G from the corresponding Fischer-Clifford matricesM(g) of G modulo the Frattini subgroup Φ(P) of P , for each conjugacy class [g] of G. The method employed to construct the desired matrix M(g) of G from the matrixM(g) of the underlying quotient group Q is called the lifting of Fischer-Clifford matrices method. In this thesis, the lifting of Fischer-Clifford matrices method was applied to extensions of generalized extraspecial p-groups Cm p × 21+2n + which are maximal subgroups associated with the simple groups Fi22 and F4(2). As well as the ordinary character tables of the maximal subgroups 24+12·(S3×3.S6) and 72+1+2:GL2(7) of the sporadic simple groups Co1 and the Monster M, respectively, were constructed by the lifting of Fischer-Clifford matrices method.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 202

Exploring Nelson Mandela Bay’s coastal and marine tourism potential

This study investigates some of the gaps in Coastal and Marine Tourism (CMT) within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM), South Africa. The NMBM boasts one of the most biologically diverse coastlines. Therefore, CMT's growth and development opportunities are unparalleled, but some challenges inhibit the sector from realizing this potential. The study aims to identify these challenges and explore opportunities to strengthen CMT for sustainable economic and environmental benefits. To achieve this, the study employs a qualitative approach, specifically using semi-structured interviews conducted with a wide array of stakeholders, including tourism officials, tourists, business owners in the locality, environmentalists, and government representatives. This is further complemented by document analysis of local and international documents, providing historical and contextual insights into tourism development. A total of 15 interviews were conducted and analysed. This is further complemented by document analysis of local and international policy papers and marketing materials, providing historical and contextual insights into tourism development. The analysis includes both local (South African) and international documents. Of the 26 documents, 8 are local and 18 are international. The predominance of international sources is due to the limited local literature on CMT directly related to the research topic and objectives. International documents provide valuable case studies and best practices that can inform sustainable CMT development in NMBM by drawing from successful global models while aligning them with local needs. Key findings identify several factors constraining CMT, including socioeconomic challenges, environmental management issues, and limited infrastructure and marketing support. However, stakeholders highlight significant opportunities for sustainable CMT development through increased investment and community engagement. Based on these insights, the study proffers focused strategies aimed at diversifying and strengthening CMT within the NMBM to achieve economic growth while ensuring environmental protection. Recommendations include improving infrastructure, enhancing marketing efforts, and fostering collaboration between stakeholders to maximize the potential of NMBM’s coastal and marine assets. By addressing these limitations, this study contributes to a sustainable tourism framework that can be adapted to similar regions.Thesis (MMM) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 202

The effect of business banking on the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises in the city of Cape Town

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) serve as the backbone of economies in developed and developing countries, significantly contributing to job creation, innovation, and economic growth. However, many SMEs encounter challenges in accessing sufficient financial resources, which limits their potential for sustainable development. This study examined the effect of business banking on the financial performance of SMEs in the manufacturing sector of Cape Town. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 29.0 was used for quantitative data analysis. A self-administered five-point Likert scale questionnaire was distributed to 184 participants, resulting in a 72% response rate and 132 valid responses. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed using Cronbach’s α, yielding an overall value of 0.760, which is deemed acceptable for exploratory research and close to the threshold for excellent reliability. The findings indicate that BFS and BBS had the strongest positive influence on the financial performance of SMEs, with regression analysis showing significant predictive power for BFS (β = 0.287, p = 0.001) and BBS (β = 0.177, p = 0.032). Additionally, CR (β = 0.245, p = 0.004) demonstrated a notable relationship, though its restrictive nature posed challenges for SMEs. FIA indicated a marginal direct effect on the financial performance of SMEs but revealed potential when coupled with financial literacy programmes and digital tools. Correlation analysis confirmed moderate to high associations between BFS and BBS with financial performance. A one-way ANOVA indicated significant group differences based on financial access and the utilisation of banking services. Homogeneity testing further validated the robustness of the ANOVA results, ensuring reliable findings. The study recommends revising collateral policies to incorporate alternative security options, increasing access to flexible financing solutions, and enhancing tailored banking services for SMEs. It also emphasises the importance of financial literacy initiatives and the integration of digital tools to maximise the utility of FIA. It is suggested that, in future research, sample sizes should be expanded for greater generalisability, and the study should be replicated in other South African provinces to capture regional differences. A mixed methods approach could be adopted to integrate qualitative insights. Incorporating these suggestions in future research would enhance understanding and support targeted interventions. This study highlights the critical role of business banking in SME development, providing actionable insights and strategies to address financial challenges and support SMEs in achieving sustainable growth in the evolving economic landscape of Cape Town.Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 202

The application of section 197 of the labour relations act 66 of 1995 on termination of service-level agreements

Striking a balance between the rights of employees to fair labour practices, the primary objective of the Labour Relations Act1 to advance economic development which essentially entails ensuring job security versus employers’ rights to fair labour practices has caused a significant hurdle in the employment and industrial law arena. In an endeavour to bridge this gap, section 197 of the LRA was legislated to ensure the job security of the employees during the transfer of businesses by one employer to another, whilst also ensuring smooth transfer and stability of businesses during such transfers. Section 197 of the LRA suggests that employees are automatically transferred to a new employer in the event of a business being transferred as a going concern in accordance with section 197 of the LRA.2 1 66Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, School of Mercantile Law, 202

An assessment of factors affecting staff turnover in the Eastern Cape provincial treasury

This study assessed the multifaceted factors contributing to staff turnover in the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury. Turnover occurs when employees’ services are terminated. The process of staff turnover is a component of the human resource management function and refers to the in-and-out movement of employees within an organisation, manifesting through the beginning or end of an employment contract (Toni, 2007). The Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury Annual Reports for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 financial years indicate a growing turnover rate in the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury. High employee turnover presents substantial challenges for organisations, disrupting service delivery and organisational effectiveness. This study adopted a qualitative research method. Data collection was conducted through a literature review and the use of relevant official documents. Journal articles, published and unpublished treatises and dissertations, and credible Internet sources, including the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury website, were used to gather data for the research. The turnover rate in the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury rose from 13.9% in 2021/2022 to 14.8% in 2022/2023 despite a slight increase in the workforce. This upward trend highlights escalating challenges in employee retention, potentially stemming from job dissatisfaction, competitive labour markets, and internal management practices. The increase in turnover rates signals potential operational disruptions and heightened expenses related to recruitment and training. The Provincial Treasury can address turnover by offering clear career progression pathways, competitive salaries, and performance-based incentives to retain skilled employees (Ndlovu & Ngcobo, 2023; Sithole & Mabuza, 2022). Fostering an inclusive and supportive culture that values contributions, promotes work-life balance, and recognises achievements is crucial (Mazibuko, 2017). Strengthening leadership through training and transparent communication can enhance management effectiveness (Mthembu & Ngcobo, 2023). Improving job security and creating pathways for contract employees to transition to permanent roles, alongside regular feedback mechanisms, will further boost employee satisfaction and retention (Mkhize, 2023).Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 202

Interpreted justice: exploring the use and experiences of court interpreters in Empangeni, KwaZulu Natal

The language of record in the South African justice system has been English since 2017, after the decision of the Heads of Court. The majority of South Africans, however, do not speak English. Since South Africa is a multilingual and multicultural society with twelve official languages, interpreters mitigate communication issues during court proceedings. This study investigates the language and communication challenges interpreters encounter and how justice proceedings are affected by said challenges. This research was conducted at the Empangeni Magistrates’ Court in KwaZulu Natal. It was qualitative research that used exploratory-descriptive research methods to reach its objectives. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data, which was then analysed through thematic and discourse analysis. This study took into account various ethical considerations by the university ethics committee. The dissertation used a social justice approach advanced by Fraser's integrated justice theory and outlined how she approached the question of participation. Using Fraser's understanding of participation and the complexity of monolingualism in South Africa’s judicial system will assist in mapping out clearly how the issue of language is central to understanding matters of justice in South Africa. Additionally, since South Africa is a former colonial state, the question of decoloniality is posed to properly speak to the question at hand in its full political context. This research found that, indeed, there are challenges that court interpreters face in court. These challenges were language, cultural, emotional and professional challenges. This study also revealed that court interpreters have mechanisms in place to mitigate the challenges they face to ensure a good service for their community. Additionally, this study showed that the training mechanism offered to court interpreters has slightly improved from the previous studies.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 202

The promotional effect of copper on alumina and activated carbon supported NIMO hydrodeoxygenation catalysts

The rapid depletion of oil reserves and the environmental issues caused by heavy reliance on fossil fuels throughout society's explosive growth have forced the world to find alternative sources of fuel. Fossil fuels for transportation and industrial purposes can be satisfactorily replaced with biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol liquid fuels. Unfortunately, use of these bioderived fuels is discouraged because of their high concentration of oxygen-containing compounds. Several studies have been conducted to remove the oxygen-containing compounds, most of which have focused on removing aromatic oxygenated compounds due to the difficulty of removing oxygen from these compounds. Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) catalysts are a crucial part of the HDO process. However, the currently employed hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) catalysts suffer from deactivation due to the high oxygen content in bio-oil, thus producing fuel sources that cannot comply with the required fuel quality standards. Unsupported NiMo and CuNiMo catalysts were synthesized and characterized to understand the interactions between the metals (Ni, Mo, and Cu) in the catalysts and guide on understanding the use of Cu as an additional promoter metal. Single crystal XRD revealed the interaction between Ni and Mo showing how octahedral MoO surrounds Ni forming an octahedral sphere. Other characterization techniques such as FT-IR, UV/Vis, SEM-EDS, TEM, XRD, ICP, and TGA/DSC were also employed to elucidate the relationships. The alumina and activated carbon supported NiMo/γ-Al2O3, NiMo/AC, CuNiMo/γ-Al2O3, and CuNiMo/AC catalysts were also prepared and characterized using similar techniques to further understand the idea of promoting using copper and the possibility of migrating from the conventional γ-Al2O3 support which suffers deactivation due to dealumination. It was observed that the general uptake of metals is much higher for the γ-Al2O3 support compared to the AC support. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy showed better dispersion of Ni and Mo in the γ-Al2O3 catalyst when Cu was introduced. The catalysts were also evaluated in the HDO of phenol model fuel and the catalytic activity followed the trend: CuNiMo/γ-Al2O3 (46.1%) > NiMo/γ-Al2O3 (42.1%) > NiMo/AC (25.1%) > CuNiMo/AC (5.6%). HDO studies showed much higher improvement in catalytic activity when Cu was introduced to γ-Al2O3 supported NiMo while in the case of AC-supported NiMo, the activity was unusually lower regardless of the remarkably higher total metal content in the catalyst. Through this work, we recommend the use of Cu as a promoter in γ-Al2O3 supported NiMo catalysts for HDO. Further work is needed to fully understand the disparities observed when Cu is used as a promoter in the AC supported NiMo catalysts.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences, 202

Does ultraviolet radiation affect the thermoregulation and waking behaviour of the Eastern Dwarf Chameleon, Bradypodion ventrale?

As ectotherms, reptiles bask in sunlight to regulate their body temperature. However, recent studies show that reptiles may be actively basking for ultraviolet light (UV) rather than temperature regulation. I aimed to assess whether UV influenced the thermoregulation and waking behaviour of the Eastern Dwarf Chameleon, Bradypodion ventrale. Three experiments were conducted in the laboratory: A UV-only gradient, an inversed gradient and a correlated gradient. The UV-only gradient was conducted to assess whether B. ventrale could actively regulate its UV exposure and whether females selected for higher UV exposures than male chameleons. The inversed and correlated gradients were conducted to assess whether B. ventrale was willing to lower and raise its body temperature below and above the species-specific preferred body temperature (Tpref), respectively, to maintain higher UV exposure. The experiments were conducted across all four seasons to account for any seasonal fluctuations in temperature and photoperiod. I found that B. ventrale can actively regulate its UV exposure and prioritised UV regulation over maintaining Tpref. However, chameleons were only willing to lower their body temperature below Tpref to maintain UV regulation and not willing to raise body temperatures above Tpref. Due to equipment limitations, it was unclear as to whether there was a difference in UV exposure preference between male and female chameleons. Once the influence of temperature was added, seasonal differences were found between the selected body temperatures of chameleons, suggesting that the physiology of B. ventrale is influenced by seasonal fluctuations in environmental temperature. Field observations were conducted to assess whether UV exposure, body temperature or predation pressure influenced the first movements of B. ventrale at sleep sites. Observations were made across all seasons to account for shifts in temperature and photoperiod. Chameleons were observed in the early mornings, from approximately 40 minutes before sunrise. When chameleons began shifting position or moving at their sleep site, the time of day, body temperature, ambient temperature and UVI were measured at the perch. I found that neither UV exposure, nor body temperature, nor predation influenced the first movements of B. ventrale. However, observations indicated that light may strongly influence the waking behaviour of B. ventrale, although this is still to be adequately assessed. Bradypodion ventrale were willing to raise body temperatures above Tpref for only short periods, meaning they could benefit from increasing environmental temperatures as they may not have to bask as long for thermoregulation and vitamin D3 synthesis. The influence of UV exposure on thermoregulation in the laboratory is not easily translated into nature as there may be other factors influencing thermoregulatory behaviour. Thus, future studies should consider conducting more field ii studies regarding UV exposure in this species to assess the influence of UV on temperature regulation properly. It is also suggested that future studies consider the influence of light on the waking behaviour of B. ventrale, specifically light from urban areas at night. This study provides the first record of active regulation of UV exposure in a dwarf chameleon from the Bradypodion genus, gives insight into how thermoregulation is affected by the presence of UV, and vice versa, in a laboratory setting and contributes to the growing field of research on the importance of UV exposure in reptiles.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 202

The five stages of grief: perceptions of its Relevance within the South African context

Death and the grief that accompanies it are universal human experiences. However, the perception of these events varies significantly from context to context, with nuances in their expression. The Five Stage Model of Grief, conceptualised by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, is accepted as a universal model of the death and grieving process, gaining global recognition and precedence over other theories and models of grief. However, the findings leading to the development of the Kübler-Ross model were based entirely on the observation of Western participants who were dying, not bereaved individuals, prompting questions about its generalisability generally and to experiences of grief specifically. This study aimed to address the gap in understanding the phenomenon of grief in South Africa by focusing on psychologists and their experiences of grief and the application of the Kübler-Ross model. The global South relies on traditions and rituals as part of the grieving process, which the Five Stages of Grief model does not fully encompass. The study thus aimed to explore the relevance of the Five Stages of Grief model in contemporary South African and global contexts from the perspective of psychologists who have primary experience with grief counselling. The population from which the sample was drawn were HPCSA-registered clinical and counselling psychologists as well as registered counsellors who work with clients experiencing death and grief. The study drew on the qualitative research method, focusing on understanding and discovering the meanings of experiences, behaviours, and individual life histories. The study found that the Kübler-Ross model has applicability to the South African context but that cultural experiences may produce the need for a more critical application of the stages of grief. The study concludes that the Kübler-Ross model can be utilised, provided it is done so with criticality and adapted to the cultural and religious belief systems from within which grief is being expressed.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 202

Midwives’ experiences and perceptions of the implementation of maternal care guidelines regarding screening and management of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in Polokwane Municipality, Limpopo

Midwives play a crucial role in ensuring high quality maternity care through evidence-based guidelines. Their practice is grounded in the utilisation of evidence-based guidelines, which serve as a foundation for their decision-making process, ensuring timely and effective interventions. However, despite the availability of these guidelines, approximately 830 women globally die every day due to preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, of which 119 out of 100,000 women in South Africa. Existing literature indicates that hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia and eclampsia, are the leading causes of maternal mortality. The incidences are not declining and continue to be associated with unfavourable pregnancy outcomes. There is a paucity of literature focusing on midwives’ experiences and perceptions of the implementation of these guidelines. Therefore, this study aimed to assess midwives’ experiences and perceptions of the implementation of maternal care guidelines regarding screening and managing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in Polokwane Municipality, Capricorn District, Limpopo Province. The Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) theoretical framework underpinned this qualitative, exploratory-descriptive, and contextual study. The setting was primary healthcare clinics, a community health centre, and district hospitals in Polokwane Local Municipality, Capricorn District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Participants were purposively selected midwives working in the study setting, with a minimum of one year of experience, having managed hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. A qualitative study design was adopted, with an exploratory, descriptive, and contextual approach. A total of 23 face-to-face, semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted. Data was transcribed verbatim using TurboScribe AI. Data analysis was conducted by the researcher and an independent coder, following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach to thematic analysis. Three primary themes emerged: midwives expressed caring in their practices, enhanced by the guidelines. However, they also described experiencing obstacles that hamper the implementation of maternal care guidelines during the screening and management of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. They highlighted that women are not taking ownership of and involvement in their care due to personal challenges. An independent coder was employed to ensure trustworthiness and enhanced research quality. The study adhered to ethical principles guided by the Belmont Report: credibility, confirmability, and dependability. The researcher formulated seven recommendations based on the thematic findings.Thesis (MCur) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Care & Medicinal Sciences, 202