Exploration of eye movement desensitization as part of treatment of traumatic memories/post traumatic stress disorder in rape survivors in South Africa

Bibliography: leaves 54-59.This study documents eye movement desensitization (EMD) therapy sessions of 2 female in-patients suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of rape. The literature review considers the three main approaches to understanding and treating PTSD (psychodynamic, crisis, and behavioural), before consideration of EMD. A brief comparison of EMD and Hypnosis is also presented in this section. The case material provides an account of the application of EMD and its therapeutic outcome. The patients' verbal reports and nurses' observations were used as measurement strategies to estimate the therapeutic success. The discussion explores various factors which influenced the therapeutic outcome. In conclusion it is hypothesized that EMD has a cathartic effect which needs to be further explored and considered in its theorization. Finally, implications of the findings for clinical work with PTSD in South Africa are discussed

Exploration of work dysfunctions within the workplace based on the participants' lived experience and meanings

Text in EnglishThis study aimed at exploring the “lived experiences” and “meanings” of employees who had been diagnosed with work related stress, anxiety, depression and/or burnout, referred to as work dysfunctions. The researcher wished to create an opportunity and safe environment that would allow the participants to have their “voices and stories” told, heard and understood. The researcher adopted social constructionism as an epistemological framework for dialogue with the participants. Five in-depth, semi-structured conversational interviews, using the qualitative research approach and the case study method, were conducted. Participants’ selection was effected through purposive sampling. The thematic content analysis method was used to analyse the data and later align it to the relevant literature. Thematically analysed content was reconstructed into individual participants’ stories. The conversational and relational process with the researcher also generated new meanings and insights beneficial for the participants. The rich and in-depth information around their unique experiences and realities contributed towards a better understanding of work dysfunctions and also towards the improvement of the well-being interventions. It is also argued that additional insights from the study would add value to the organisational incapacity management process of employees with work dysfunctions.PsychologyPh. D. (Consulting Psychology

The Implications of Labour Productivity and Labour Costs on the South African Economy

The research has shown that labour productivity growth has been slowing down. This trend is suggesting that the gains in the quality of employment in several regions of the world might be difficult to sustain. Furthermore, the South African workers were found to have the greatest amount of unproductive time and they are said to be having one of the lowest employee productivity stats in the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate the implications of labour productivity and labour costs on the South African economy. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) based Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach was employed to analyse the quarterly time series data from 1998 to 2018. Since South Africa is faced with several challenges such as high levels of unemployment, higher wage bills and high levels of poverty; this study is envisaged to provide an empirical evidence to policymakers and union leaders alike to begin to recognise more fully the importance of labour productivity and labour costs towards economic growth. The results indicate that labour productivity has a significant positive impact on economic growth however labour costs have a significant negative impact on the economy of South Africa. Policy formulation should focus on policies that can help to improve the quality of the labour force in order to achieve desired economic growth levels that can help to increase the levels of employment and the reduction of poverty. Similarly, both the workers and the labour unions should be cautious not to milk the cash cow until it dies

Human Capital and Information and Communication Technology Nexus: The South African Perspective

Despite the fact that South Africa invests a considerable amount in education and also the fact that black youth have higher educational attainment now than at any point in history, education which is seen as a process, the outcome of which is general knowledge and human capital is still facing enormous challenges. Using the bounds testing procedure, the study investigated the human capital and information and communication technology (ICT) nexus in South Africa. This was achieved by regressing investment in ICT and ICT infrastructure variables on one of the human capital variables (education). The literature review has revealed that studies on this issue using time series analysis are relatively thin in the context of South Africa. The results revealed that gross fixed capital formation (ICT equipment) has positive relationship with human capital whereas both the mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people and fixed telephone subscriptions per 100 people have a negative relationship with human capital in South Africa. The policy implication of this study is that economic policies should recognise the importance of ICT in the development of human capital by bringing utilisation of ICT to some far-off locations within a country, to boost human capital development

An Analysis of Drivers of International Investment Decisions in South Africa

The study investigated the drivers of international investment decisions in South Africa. As part of its investment drive, the government has embarked on a series of activities to lure investors. That been the case it appears that most of the empirical studies focused mainly on the relationship between investment and economic growth, hence very little seems to be known about the empirical evidence of other drivers of international investment decisions and their impact on the South African economy. The findings are envisaged to provide information and to add policy formulation to attract the much needed foreign investment. The autoregressive distribution lag approach was chosen to analyse the long and the short run relationships amongst the variables of interest and Granger Causality analysis was also employed to determine causal relationships between dependent variable and its regressors. The results indicated that a stronger statistical and economic basis for empirical error correction model was established by the presence of cointegration amongst the variables and all the regressors were found to have a positive effect in the stock of foreign direct investment. Empirical findings suggest that government should ensure stable macroeconomic policies and labour disputes that result into prolonged strike actions must be minimised

Examining the Human Security Challenges Emanating from the Weaponisation of Women. A Case study of Boko Haram and the Islamic State 2001-2018

The post-cold war period has witnessed an evolution in the nature of conflict from the new wars of the 1990s to asymmetric conflicts involving the weaponisation of civilians. This has achieved the twin objective of operating within the ranks of the combatants (in the case of women) as wives and child-bearers of the fighters, and inflicting harm on adversaries through suicide attacks. The weaponisation of women in the case of the wars in Syria and Nigeria has therefore elicited both human security challenges for the communities being targeted, and for the weaponised women. The biggest dilemma facing states of origin has been whether to accept the weaponised women’s return and rehabilitate them or declare them stateless. There has been a clear tendency to securitise them, especially when internal political dynamics are factored in. This qualitative study uses a case study approach to delve into the human security challenges emanating from the weaponisation of women in the case of Boko Haram and the Islamic State between 2001 and 2018. The paper further relies on content analysis to delve deeper into the discourse on human security. Through the use of a human security conceptual framework and securitisation theory, the paper argues that although once weaponised, some women become human security threats to targeted communities, and also face human security challenges during and after the insurgency, there is a need to deal with the women on a case-by-case basis rather than pursuing a blanket policy of securitising them. States need to work with international organisations to action processes aimed at delivering justice, demobilisation, rehabilitation, and the reintegration of these women. This will uphold international law and respect for human rights.El período posterior a la guerra fría ha sido testigo de una evolución en la naturaleza de los conflictos, desde las nuevas guerras de los años noventa hasta los conflictos asimétricos que implican la militarización de los civiles. Con ello se ha logrado el doble objetivo de operar dentro de las filas de los combatientes (en el caso de las mujeres) como esposas e hijas de los combatientes, e infligir daño a los adversarios mediante ataques suicidas. Por consiguiente, la militarización de las mujeres en el caso de las guerras de Siria y Nigeria ha suscitado tanto problemas de seguridad humana para las comunidades contra las que se dirigen los ataques como para las mujeres armadas. El mayor dilema al que se han enfrentado los Estados de origen ha sido si aceptar el regreso de las mujeres armadas y rehabilitarlas o declararlas apátridas. Ha habido una clara tendencia a la «securitización » especialmente cuando se tiene en cuenta la dinámica política interna. Este estudio cualitativo utiliza un enfoque de estudio de casos para ahondar en los desafíos de seguridad humana que se derivan de la militarización de las mujeres en el caso de Boko Haram y el Estado Islámico entre 2001 y 2018. El documento se basa además en un análisis de contenido para profundizar en el discurso sobre la seguridad humana. Mediante el uso de un marco conceptual de seguridad humana y la teoría de la securitización, el documento sostiene que, aunque una vez convertidas en armas, algunas mujeres se convierten en amenazas para la seguridad humana de las comunidades objetivo, y también se enfrentan a desafíos de seguridad humana durante y después de la insurgencia, es necesario tratar con las mujeres caso por caso en lugar de seguir una política general de securitización. Los Estados deben colaborar con las organizaciones internacionales en los procesos de acción encaminados a impartir justicia, desmovilizar, rehabilitar y reintegrar a esas mujeres. De esta manera se respetará el derecho internacional y el respeto de los derechos humanos

Impala (Aepyceros melampus) habitat utilisation and activity patterns in Sourish Mixed Bushveld

The habitat utilisation and daily activity patterns of Impala at Loskop Dam Nature (LDNR) Reserve were studied to provide an insight into the management of this species. We used the Braun-Blanquet and TWINSPAN methods to classify plant communities within the Impala home range. Movement data was collected using a GPS collar fitted onto an Impala ram (Aepyceros melampus), and field data about the animal’s home range and the behaviour of the breeding herd associated with him was collected through direct observations. Seasonal home ranges, habitat selection and utilisation, as well as seasonal daily activity patterns were determined. Vegetation maps were produced to illustrate available plant communities, and seasonal home range maps were created to show Impala movement patterns and home range sizes. Environmental variables considered in the analyses included rainfall, temperature, and photoperiod. The Impala home range comprised of a variety of plant communities and species forming various habitats that provided the necessary resources for the Impala to live and procreate. Impala utilised habitats with available quality and quantity of forage. The Euclea crispa Vachellia karroo closed woodland plant community was preferred by the Impala in both the wet and dry seasons. This community is the primary habitat for the Impala at LDNR. All environmental variables investigated had an impact on the daily activity patterns of Impala. The majority of Impala the activity patterns were influenced by seasonality for all social group types. Given that time is a limited and valuable resource for wildlife species in general, time partitioning affected the Impala’s daily activity patterns at the study site. Time partitioning resulted in reduced or compromised activities at the expense of priority activities like vigilance. Vigilance was higher in both the wet and dry seasons, and often led to reductions in feeding time.College of Agriculture and Environmental SciencesM. Sc. (Nature Conservation

Xenophobia in urban spaces: Analyzing the drivers and social justice goals from the Ugandan-Asian debacle of 1972 and xenophobic attacks in South Africa (2008-2019)

Xenophobic attacks have long been prevalent in post-independence Africa, as shown by the expulsion of Ugandans of Asian origin from Uganda in 1972. Post-apartheid South Africa has experienced continuous xenophobic attacks on Africans since 2008. In both cases the attacks were not framed as xenophobic by the state. Instead, they were framed within a socio-economic context, where the targeted groups were criminalized and securitised by the general population. The goal of this qualitative study is to analyse the drivers and social justice goals of xenophobia in urban spaces. This is done by looking into case studies of the 1972 Ugandan-Asian expulsion in Uganda, and the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa (2008–2019). The case studies provide key debates surrounding the drivers and social justice goals of xenophobic attacks in both Uganda and South Africa. The paper thus examines the relative deprivation in both countries, which assists in explaining the onset of the xenophobic attacks. Findings are that although the Ugandan-Asian debacle and xenophobic attacks in South Africa were triggered by drivers such as income inequality, inter-group hatred, racism, poverty, unemployment and competition for resources, the quest for social justice emanating from historical socio-economic grievances was deeply entrenched in both cases. Yet the paper further argues that rather than addressing social injustice, xenophobia perpetuates it by creating new victims and shielding the governments from the spotlight on their failings especially in addressing poverty, inequality, and overall access to economic opportunities to mention but a few. The paper recommends a need for political will to tackle xenophobia and the socio-economic challenges and a need for community dialogue and inter-community linkages crucial when dealing with grievances