The association between grandparental involvement and adolescent psychological well-being independent of parental involvement

Includes bibliographical references.Background and objective: Grandparents have the potential to play a supportive and nurturing role in the lives of their grandchildren. Grandparents have always had an important role to play in South African society. Traditionally, developmental psychology has not focussed much attention on the role grandparents have to play in the adjustment of children and adolescents. The current study aimed to determine: (a) whether there is an association between grandparental involvement and adolescent well-being; and (b) whether that association remained when parental involvement was taken into consideration. Method: Cross-sectional survey data was collected from a convenience sample of 217 adolescents, aged 13 to 15 years of age. Grade eight and Grade nine learners were purposively selected from a single school. Correlational and multiple regression analyses tested relationships between a grandparent involvement measure, scores on the five sub-scales of the self-rated version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for 11- to 17-year-olds, and a parental involvement measure. The SDQ was used for the measure of adolescent well-being

Understanding child perpetration of violence : a case study

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-81).The present study aimed to understand the severe acts of violence committed by six boys from the Western Cape farming community. The six boys, aged between 8 and 13 years, were the primary participants. They were all children of farm workers. Individuals who were either connected to them as well as those who were informed about their community were also interviewed. Those connected to them included their mothers, teachers, a farm owner, a social worker, and a health worker. Those not directly related to the boys but informed about their community were: another farm owner, an educational psychologist, a school life skills programme manager, and researcher in the area of occupational health of farm workers

An evaluation of the use of professional judgement in corporate valuations in South Africa

Purpose: Global merger and acquisition and capital market activity have increased over the last decade. A key determinant of the value of these transactions are the results of corporate valuations, which require technical expertise as well as professional judgement. The purpose of this research is to identify aspects of corporate valuations, for the purposes of mergers and acquisitions, which require professional judgement and to understand why the judgement is necessary. Design/methodology/approach: We followed a mixed-method approach by gathering data from valuation practitioners using a survey, followed by semi-structured interviews. Findings/results: We find that professional judgement is required throughout the process, from identifying the most appropriate approach to adjusting theoretical valuation inputs. Industry and market nuances are key reasons for professional judgement as is the perceived lack of appropriate asset pricing models. Practical implications: The views of practitioners, juxtaposed with academic literature on investment theory, have the potential to contribute to the establishment of best practice in corporate valuations. Originality/value: Prior academic research has focused largely on the technical aspects of corporate valuations. In this research, we present the first-hand experiences of practitioners whose professional judgements are a key contributor to the valuations that underpin corporate actions in the South African market. This research extends both academic as well as corporate research

An evaluation of the use of professional judgement in corporate valuations in South Africa.

A research report submitted partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Wits School of Accountancy, at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023Corporate valuations can be considered the heart of finance with sensible financial and investment decisions depending largely on the value of a firm. Investment analysts rely on corporate valuation estimates to make investment decisions while financial managers use these corporate valuations for capital budgeting as well as merger and acquisition activities. Global merger and acquisition and capital market activity has increased over the last decade with a significant number of deals being concluded on an annual basis. While the number of deals in South Africa make up a minority portion of the total global deals, foreign investors have shown an interest to invest in South Africa. Whilst finance research makes extensive reference to firm value, the professional judgement that is applied in its calculation has not been interrogated within the South African market. The focus of this research study was to examine the use of professional judgement within valuations in the South African context. The research aims at identifying aspects in corporate valuations requiring professional judgement and understanding why this professional judgement is necessary. Explanatory sequential design is the mixed method research technique that was employed to conduct this research. According to this design, the researcher begins by conducting a quantitative study and follows up with subsequent qualitative techniques to help explain the quantitative results. The research was carried out in four parts. Part one involved collecting data from respondents by means of a survey. A sample of 30 experts were used. The small population size in terms of the number of professionals performing valuations in South Africa made it difficult to select a larger sample. Part two involved descriptive statistical analysis of the survey responses. The content of the surveys was summarised using descriptive statistics and were used to inform further questions for the semi-structured interviews. Part three involved semi-structured interviews to add richness, reliability and to corroborate the trends identified. The researcher employed a phenomenological methodology to identify the perception of valuation experts regarding the judgement that they are required to apply when performing corporate valuations. The data collected was analysed by identifying common themes and arriving at a description relating to the phenomenon based on their experience. A sample of six valuation practitioners from the original survey sample were interviewed. While a larger sample would provide a broader range of data, obtaining a detailed account of the experience of the six valuation practitioners was sufficient to uncover the core elements of the professional judgment applied in the corporate valuations that they perform. During part four, the results and findings were interpreted to answer the research question and identify areas of future research. The results of this research indicate that professional judgement is needed when determining which valuation models to apply, when calculating or applying certain inputs within the theoretical models and when considering adjustments that are processed to the valuation models. Industry nuances is a key reason for why professional judgement in necessary in South African valuations. This along with the limited number of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, make it more difficult to identity directly comparable companies which can be used for input estimation within the valuation models. In an emerging economy like South Africa, there is uncertainty associated with future growth and market conditions. Richness of market information and suitable benchmarks are also challenges faced in the South African economy. Market information and future growth are key inputs within a corporate valuation model. The challenges and uncertainties around these inputs requires the valuation practitioner to apply their professional judgement. Despite the challenges and uncertainties around valuation inputs, valuation practitioners are all in agreement that having a standard valuation model structure in place is beneficial and creates consistency in the approach to performing corporate valuations. Unfortunately, the level of professional judgement applied within these corporate valuation models can have a material impact on the final value and ultimately impact the management decisions which are made based on these valuations. Based on this, we can conclude that estimating valuation parameters is a key aspect that needs to be considered by both valuation practitioners and academics. This research report contributes by identifying challenges and uncertainties which necessitate the use of professional judgement within corporate valuations. Identification of these challenges and uncertainties can assist valuation practitioners to place more emphasis on the inputs which have a large level of uncertainty associated with them. The report can further assist valuations practitioners to understand what is considered best practice for corporate valuations in South Africa. Identifying “best practices” and standardising the estimation practices will be beneficial to valuation practitioners by reducing the differences in corporate valuations. More accurate valuations will result in better information, assisting with more accurate and informed financial decisions being made.PC(2023

South African Social Attitudes Survey: how South Africans rate their quality of life

An assessment of the quality of life of South Africans serves to provide a useful barometer for the government's progress in its efforts to provide all South Africans with access to basic services, as well as being useful for gauging the mood in the country. FAIRUZ GAIBIE examines indicators that reveal what makes South Africans happy, satisfied and optimistic; and who those happy, satisfied and optimistic South Africans are.

Probing the degree of accuracy, bias and fairness in certain daily newspapers in South Africa

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Principles and standards in journalism warrant attention and this assignment attempted to offer some ethical concepts as a framework from which to evaluate journalistic conduct. The proposal was to investigate the level of moral integrity in journalism as practiced in daily newspapers using concepts proposed by specialists in the journalistic field such as accuracy, bias, and fairness. The newspapers examined in the research process were the Cape Argus, the Cape Times, Die Burger and Beeld. As a means of probing the dailies, case studies were made of reports on de Allan Boesak, the former anti-apartheid cleric accused and later convicted of theft and fraud, and Hansie Cronje, the former cricket captain of South Africa, who found himself in a similar position regarding money and the trust placed in him. The research comprised a comparative analysis of articles related to dr. Boesak in the period from 4 March 1997 to 27 March 1997, and Hansie Cronje from 8 April 2000 to 24 April 2000. These personalities were used as case studies to establish whether the four dailies differed in their portrayal of these figures as events unfolded in the public arena. The intention was to find out if there were differences in the approach to the topics covered, and if so, if it amounted to bias, inaccuracy and unfairness The results of the study showed that in the final analysis, dr. Boesak primarily enjoyed favourable coverage in the Cape Argus and Cape Times, while Hansie Cronje primarily enjoyed the same in Die Burger and Beeld. While these predispositions were rather obvious, the quality of reportage was not impaired to the extent that one could regard its news as distorted, inferior or of doubtful quality. The papers were still able to perform a high standard of professionalism in giving equal and just coverage to the topics covered, and were adept at providing a successful forum for the exchange of ideas while keeping the public informed.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Beginsels en standaarde in die joernalistiek vereis aandag en hierdie werkstuk het probeer om enkele etiese konsepte voor te stel waarvolgens joernalistiese optrede beoordeel kan word. Die doel was om die standaard van morele integriteit in die joernalistiek van streekkoerante te bestudeer deu- middel van gespesialiseerde joernalistiese begrippe, onder meer akkuraatheid, partydigheid en regverdigheid. Die koerante wat deel gevorm het van die ondersoek sluit die Cape Argus, Cape Times, Die Burger en Bee/d in. Die dagblaaie is deur middel van gevallestudies bestudeer. Hierdie het bestaan uit berigte oor dr. Allan Boesak, die voormalige anti-apartheid aktivis wat eerstens aangekla en later skuldig bevind is aan diefstal en bedrog, en oor Hansie Cronje, die voormalige Suid-Afrikaanse krieketkaptein, wat in 'n soortgelyke posisie verkeer het weens beweerde bedrog. Die studie bestaan uit 'n vergelykende ontleding van berigte oor dr. Boesak wat verskyn het in die tydperk tussen 4 Maart 1997 en 27 Maart 1997, asook berigte oor Hansie Cronje wat verskyn het tussen 8 April 2000 en 24 April 2000. Die omstredenheid rondom hierdie persoonlikhede word gebruik as gevallestudies om vas te stel of hierdie spesifieke dagblaaie verskil het in hul uitbeelding van die persone terwyl hierdie gebeure in die openbare arena afgespeel het. Die doel was om vas te stel of daar verskille was in die manier waarop die onderwerpe benader is, en indien wei, of dit tot onjuistheid, partydigheid en onregverdigheid gelei het. Die uitslae van die studie het bewys dat dr. Boesak hoofsaaklik gunstige dekking gekry het in die Cape Argus en Cape Times, terwyl Hansie Cronje grootlik dieselfde behandeling ontvang het in Die Burger en Bee/d. Alhoewel hierdie neigings in die verskillende dagblaaie klaarblyklik was, het dit nie daarop neergekom dat die gehalte van die berigte verlaag is tot so 'n mate dat 'n mens dit as verdraaid, minderwaardig of twyfelagtig kon bestempel nie. Die dagblaaie het nog steeds daarin geslaag om 'n taamlik hoe mate van professionele vaardigheid te vertoon deur middel van egalige en eweredige beriggewing met betrekking tot die aangeleenthede van belang in hierdie studie. Die koerante het bepaald daarin geslaag om In forum vir die uitruiling van idees te verskaf terwyl hulle voortdurend sorg dat hulle die publiek inlig

Quality of life among South Africans

Paper presented at the IX ISQOLS Conference on Quality of Life, Florence, Italy, 19-23 JulyQuality of life, while a subject of interest and relevance to all countries, is of particular interest in a country such as South Africa where, up until 14 years ago opportunities and resources were allocated to citizens on the basis of their racial classification. In modern-day South Africa a democratically elected government strives to redress inequalities and prejudices of the past in the attempt to provide all South Africans with a better life. Just how far has South Africa progressed in achieving this goal, however? This study has undertaken to measure the quality of life of South Africans in attempt to ascertain which factors are determining what make South Africans happy and who those happy and satisfied South Africans are. Data from a nationally-representative survey of a sample of 3321 adult respondents was used. The survey, the South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS), is an on-going, annual survey measuring the South African public's attitudes, beliefs, behavior patterns and values in relation to democracy and governance, social identity, service delivery, among other subjects. Households were selected from a master sampling frame and respondents randomly selected within those households. Data was analysed by cross-tabulating happiness, life satisfaction and optimism with seven predictor variables, namely, race, gender, age, geotype, education level, economic status, satisfaction with basic governmental services, and fear of crime. The second part of the analysis was employing a series of linear regressions. The main findings were that: 1) life satisfaction and happiness levels fell along the same lines as previous research on quality of life in South Africa, namely that being white and having a higher income than most tended to mean a high quality of life, and that, 2) while black Africans still held much hope and optimism for the future, their quality of life appears to be determined by their current life circumstances

Quality of life in post-apartheid South Africa

This study investigated how far the post-apartheid government has progressed in creating a better life for all South Africans. Secondary data analysis was employed using the 2008 South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) of 3321 randomly selected adult respondents. A series of general linear models examined the impact of race, gender, age, geographic location, education level, living standard measure (LSM), satisfaction with basic services, and fear of crime on quality of life (QOL) as measured respectively by subjective well-being indicators, namely happiness, life-satisfaction and optimism.1 The main findings were that: 1) Those respondents who feared crime less, had higher LSM levels, and were satisfied with basic services reported higher levels of happiness. 2) Those respondents who had a higher LSM, feared crime less, and were more satisfied with the basic services reported higher life satisfaction. 3) Those respondents who were black African with lower levels of education, feared crime less, and were most satisfied with basic services displayed the most optimism about the future. We concluded that government interventions need to focus more on black Africans, the least educated, the low LSM group, those living in the urban informal areas, and those who fear crime to significantly improve South Africans' QOL.