Feitelike toestande en prinsipiele siening van die rasseverhoudingspatroon in Suid-Afrika

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Ontwikkelingstempo binne bantoe-gebeide by afsonderlike ontwikkerling

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Filosofiese grondslae van die volkekunde1)

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Potential benefit of trace element supplementation of sheep on a low level of nutrition

A study was conducted to test whether supplementation of trace elements would have any beneficial effect on year-old ewes receiving a submaintenance level of nutrition. The ewes were fed a poor quality hay. The control group received no supplementation (Treatment 1). A solution containing copper (Cu, 5 mg/d), selenium (Se, 1.6 mg/d) and zinc (Zn, 48.2 mg/d) was dosed twice a day to sheep in Treatment 2 while the ewes in Treatment 3 received a double dose of the three elements. Tissue analyses at the end of the 93-day experimental period suggested that the lambs in the control group suffered from a marginal Se deficiency, while the intake of the other elements seemed to be sufficient. Within treatments, weight changes varied tremendously. Therefore, even though differences were not significant, the unsupplemented control group lost weight, while the sheep in the other two treatments maintained their initial body weights during the study. Likewise, the control group tended to have a lower immune response against an injected foreign protein than the supplemented treatments, though differences were not significant. Plasma in the control group showed significantly higher activities of creatine phosphatase and aspartate transaminase than the supplemented groups. This suggested that the supplemented elements protected the body against tissue damage. Although it is traditionally considered that deficiencies in energy and protein, as first limiting nutrients with the highest priority in nutrition, should be overcome before any response to trace element supplementation could be expected, many of the micronutrients are involved in antioxidant activities in the body. Results from this study suggested that positive responses to micronutrient supplementation could be possible if the body is subjected to oxidative stress during submaintenance levels of energy and/or protein nutrition. South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 36(1) 2006: 20-2

An evaluation of Panicum maximum cv. Gatton: 2. The influence of stage of maturity on diet selection, intake and rumen fermentation in sheep

The aim of the study was to evaluate the nutritional value of Panicum maximum cv. Gatton for sheep production in three different seasons and at three different stages of maturity. More mature pasture, compared to younger pasture, resulted in lower quality being selected. This was reflected in lower N values, lower digestibility and higher NDF, ADF and ADL values in selected material. Digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) also decreased with maturity. Grazing of more mature pasture resulted in lower rumen ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) levels and higher acetic:propionic acid ratios. This trend was noted in all seasons. The nutritional value of the pasture in summer was high enough to meet at least the maintenance requirements of sheep in all stages of maturity evaluated. The nutritional value of the young and medium mature autumn pasture was also high enough to meet at least the maintenance requirements, but at the mature stage intake was too low. Intake in winter at all stages of maturity, was too low to meet the maintenance requirements of sheep. (South African Journal of Animal Science, 2001, 31(2): 85-92

A maturity grid-based method for assessing communication in business-IT alignment

This thesis reports on the research undertaken to develop a method for organisations to assess human communication between their business and IT personnel as part of business–IT alignment. The research described in this thesis involves (i) a literature review in business–IT alignment and related fields, such as management studies and communication science; (ii) a Delphi study conducted among industry members, practitioners, and academics operating in the IT advisory, auditing and communication disciplines; and (iii) a case study of a public sector organisation in South Africa. By adopting a system-theoretic perspective on communication, this thesis proposes that communication in business–IT alignment can be seen as coordinating behaviour and a series of learning and reflection events, consequently culminating in increased mutual understanding. Various conceptualisations of communication are explored and, together with several industry elicited factors that influence communication in business–IT alignment, are incorporated into a conceptual model informing the assessment method. This research developed, applied, and tested a method whereby organisations can assess the quality of the human communication between their business and IT personnel as part of the business–IT alignment endeavour. The aim of this method is to trigger reflection on communication by considering communication philosophy and practices in business–IT alignment. The method, termed the ‘Business-IT Communication Alignment Maturity Improvement Communication Alignment Maturity Improvement (CAMI) method’, is based on a maturity grid-based approach, which stems originally from process improvement in software development and quality management. This thesis is most closely aligned with the research performed by Maier, Eckert, and Clarkson (2004, 2006), who successfully applied the maturity grid-based approach to investigate, audit and assess communication within the engineering design process. The question addressed in this thesis is whether this approach can be successfully extrapolated to the business–IT alignment context and whether it would yield similar benefits. Furthermore, the issue of whether it would offer a practical method for use in organisations is also addressed. Having applied the CAMI method at a public sector organisation, this thesis proposes that the maturity grid-based approach can indeed be extrapolated to iv the business–IT alignment context, consequently offering a viable and practical method for assessing communication in organisations. In particular, the CAMI method allows organisations to capture both their current and their desired communication situations and to expose discrepancies between the perceptions held by their business and IT personnel. These results form a basis for action planning, strategizing, and, ultimately, interventions for improvement. In conclusion, the thesis discusses further application and extension possibilities for the assessment method

An evaluation of Panicum maximum cv. Gatton: 1. The effect of stocking rate and period of absence on the production of sheep

The aim of this study was to evaluate the livestock production potential of Panicum maximum cv. Gatton cultivated under dry-land conditions and grazed at various stocking rates after various periods of re-growth. Treatments included a high stocking rate, fast rotation treatment (A), a medium stocking rate, medium rotation treatment (B) and a low stocking rate, long rotation treatment (C). The initial availability of dry matter differed between treatments and was lowest for treatment A and highest for treatment C. The same trend was observed for terminal availability of dry matter. The initial leaf:stem ratio did not differ between treatments A and B, but was lower for treatment C. The terminal ratio did not differ between treatments A and C but was higher for treatment B. Pasture height differed between treatments and was lowest for treatment A and highest for treatment C both at the beginning and end of the period. The sheep subject to treatment C had the highest average daily gain and there was no difference between treatments A and B. Although treatment B resulted in the best individual performance, the highest stocking rate yielded the highest livestock production per ha. (South African Journal of Animal Science, 2001, 31(2): 77-83

Challenges facing the African church : South African theologians speak out

For decades Africa has tried to rid itself of the, most often, oppressive powers that have dominated the continent. Throughout the 20th century, and in the case of South Africa even further back in history, the church has played a vocal role in engaging the powers that refused Africans the right to be part of their own heritage. The church marched with the rest of Africa to a glorious victory over these powers. In 2004 the first decade of democracy in South Africa was celebrated. However, a number of challenging issues facing the very existence of the African continent, and especially the African church, did not disappear. Instead, over a number of years, these issues have surfaced, if not to a greater extent, at least in the full view of the whole world. It seems that the same vigorous voice of the church that spoke out against, for example, colonialism and apartheid, has now become silent. The goal of this study is to determine if the church, with focus on the church in South Africa, is taking serious cognisance of these challenging issues, and to find out what it is saying about these challenges. In order to assist us in this study, we look at what five of the South African theologians, who stand in different traditions of the church in South Africa, are saying about these challenging issues. The different theologians selected for this study are Archbishops Tutu and Tlhagale, Professor Maluleke, Bishop Mofokeng and Doctor Khathide. They, respectively, stand in the Anglican, Catholic, Reformed, AIC and Pentecostal traditions. Through the voices of these theologians, this study identifies various issues, defines areas of concern, and determines what the church is saying about these challenges. These challenges are identified as challenges in establishing the church in Africa as African church, challenges relating to social, economic and political issues, and challenges facing the church in a multi-religious society. Even though this study only refers to five of the church’s theologians, the finding resulting from this study indicates that the African church is taking serious cognisance of these challenging issues and is still speaking out.Dissertation (MA (Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2007.Science of Religion and MissiologyMAunrestricte

An investigation into the perceptions of youths in early adolescence concerning the role a child’s body shape plays in bullying

Obesity has become a global pandemic that not only affects adults, but also children and adolescents. It has been found that obesity among children and adolescents has emotional, social, physical and psychological ramifications, one of which is bullying. Very little has been written on the effects obesity in early adolescence has on bullying behaviour in a South African context. For this reason the researcher deemed it necessary to study the perceptions of youths in early adolescence with regard to obesity and bullying. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 early adolescents from the Brooklyn policing precinct in the east of Pretoria. The data were assessed through content and interpretative phenomenological analysis. Thus the researcher tried to capture the essence of each individual interview. Several themes emerged from the data analysis, of which the most noteworthy were what youths in early adolescence perceive as bullying; the influence of bullying on behaviour; a general overview of perpetrators and victims of bullying; and the correlation between an early adolescent’s body shape and victimisation. The findings give insight into how obese young adolescents are perceived and treated by their peers. Furthermore, the findings elucidate what early adolescents perceive as bullying and possible reasons for such behaviour. By identifying the perceptions held by early adolescents, programmes can be implemented to address these stereotypes, thus decreasing the potential victimisation of overweight/obese youths in early adolescence.Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013.Social Work and Criminologyunrestricte