Video activism in the shadow of Wellywood : an exegesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Arts at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

This creative practice-based research was conducted in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, the home of ground-breaking movie companies Wingnut Films, Weta Workshop, Weta Digital, and Park Road Post. Following the success of director Peter Jackson’s The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, with pioneering special effects led By Richard Taylor, Wellington city has colloquially become known as Wellywood, in honour of our film industry’s connections to Hollywood. Parts of Aotearoa have since been renamed by government tourism agencies and businesses to reflect their use as locations in the films set in the fictional world of Middle Earth. Throughout the course of this research, the “Wellywood” movie industry has faced a range of issues including workers’ rights and workplace harassment and has attracted criticism for its influence on government policy. In the Shadow of Wellywood is an experimentally animated video work satirizing the dominant studio system and its ability to shape our national identity and consumerist desires. This tale of celebrity dreams of stardom turning into nightmares draws upon tropes of action, melodrama, musical, film noir, and road movie genres to locate the narrative within the artificial world of the production studio. In using movie-themed action figures as stand-ins for Hollywood actors, and animating them using rudimentary techniques, the work considers the celebrity cycle and the technological advances of the industry. The artificial setting satirically suggests that we no longer have a national cinema, but one of transplanted culture. In combining analogue and digital video technologies the creative process reflected upon obsolescence, and the place of handmade animation techniques within an increasingly digital environment. In continuing to work with obsolete video technology rather than upgrading to the latest format the research has been conducted with the intention of developing an environmentally sustainable method of studio-based production. This research has identified a gap in the field of video art practice through continuing to use equipment that others no longer want and rejecting the latest movie industry technologies as a mode of critical engagement. This research makes an original contribution to the creative field of video activism through using equipment until it literally wears out and accepting the resulting inconsistencies in production. The creative processes used in the development of the final work explored a methodology of experimentation, collaboration, and iterative testing designed to critique mainstream movie production and distribution systems, and to explore alternatives. Through adapting the situationist principles of détournement, psycho-geography and the dérive, this research demonstrates the continued relevance of Guy Debord’s key text Society of the Spectacle (1967) for re-contextualizing the movie industry as an instance of the spectacle, an artificial capitalist system designed to manipulate the consumer, and for identifying ways to resist and critique it. A series of expanded cinema collaborations with musicians during the developmental stages of the research allowed for testing the concept of a studio backlot and exploring the notion of special effects. The animation studio built for this research drew upon traditions of repurposing established by pre-digital experimental film and expanded cinema artists. The portable micro cinema designed for screening In the Shadow of Wellywood locates the work outside of mainstream networks and within an alternative system of distribution underscoring the project’s positioning as a form of video activism

LinkedIn for Personnel Recruitment and Selection: A New Zealand perspective

This study explored how the professional networking site LinkedIn is being used and perceived by recruitment and selection practitioners within New Zealand organisations. In recent times LinkedIn has seen large increases in membership and it has become a resource used by recruitment and selection practitioners. LinkedIn is conceptualised as a professional networking site which can be perceived differently to social networking sites such as Facebook. Specifically this study sought to determine how common the usage of LinkedIn was, the features being used by recruitment and selection practitioners, how these features affect or influence perceptions and decision making of recruitment and selection practitioners, and if LinkedIn was being used alongside Social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter. Participants were recruited from various New Zealand university alumni groups, professional membership groups and various organisations. Eligibility for the research required individuals to be conducting the role of either recruitment or selection within their current positions within New Zealand. The final sample consisted of 135 participants, and descriptive and thematic analysis was conducted on the survey responses. The results indicated that 66.4% of the sample were using LinkedIn for both personnel recruitment and selection. LinkedIn was used more for recruitment purposes with both recruitment and selection practitioners indicating that LinkedIn can be perceived as a resource for recruitment and selection. Results further indicated that many organisations did not maintain any formal policy regarding LinkedIn use within recruitment and selection procedures. Results indicated that the most frequently used features of LinkedIn were the Profile, and Jobs & Hiring features. The professional information sub feature, alongside previous experience and qualifications obtained, was perceived to be the most important and it influenced aspects of recruitment and selection decision making. Facebook was indicated to be the most used social networking site alongside LinkedIn, with 88% of participants having reported using Facebook for recruitment and selection. The results also showed that recruitment and selection practitioners perceive many disadvantages of LinkedIn such as lack of credibility, inaccuracy of information and that LinkedIn may not be appropriate for certain job roles. However, LinkedIn was perceived as a resource which maintained beneficial professional information. As stated by Barber (1998, as cited in Breaugh & Starke, 2000), this research has sought to address gaps in the literature regarding practitioners’ attitudes towards recruitment sources and to investigate influencing aspects on recruiter and selectors’ decision making. The research addresses both of these aspects by highlighting attitudes of practitioners towards LinkedIn and identifies some of the more influential features of LinkedIn on practitioners’ decision making. This is beneficial for practitioners as it indicates the positive and the negative aspects of LinkedIn which is a scarcely researched topic while also addressing the research gaps mentioned by Barber (1998). The current research has confirmed LinkedIn as a resource for recruitment and selection; however, LinkedIn lacks predictive validity and future research, such as predictive validation studies could be conducted to identify whether LinkedIn provides any incremental validity beyond the traditional predictors of job performance

Die opvoedkundige navigasiepraktyke van leerders in 'n landelike laerskoolkonteks in beleërde omstandighede

Education Policy Studie

Back analysis of foundation performance case studies

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: When dealing with foundation design, geotechnical engineers deal with a significant degree of uncertainty, given the complex nature of the soil. The uncertainty associated with a project cannot be completely removed. However, it can be adequately reduced by obtaining a better understanding of the material. All design decisions need to be based on the knowledge of the material to ensure that adequate measures are incorporated into the design to mitigate associated risks and uncertainties. While understanding the material, geotechnical engineers also need to exhibit sound engineering judgement and experience. This can take time to develop, something that engineers do not have. However, engineers can use case studies in situations similar to their own to learn from more experienced engineers and understand how they approached a similar problem. This study looked at case studies that dealt with shallow foundations. The information regarding these foundations was presented as a structured case study abstract. Information such as the location, soil profile, foundation solution, and loading conditions were all highlighted in the abstracts. In the current study, the settlement performance of the foundations was analysed using Settle3. This method of analysis was used as the case studies considered utilized older methods of analysis. Settle3 is a foundation analysis software, that enables quick analysis of the foundations. The software utilized several empirical methods to predict the settlement. The settlements determined using the software were compared with the predictions made by the authors of the original study. The predictions made in the original and the current study were shown in the abstracts. Assumptions made were regarding the homogeneity and the stressstrain relationship of the soil. The results obtained in the original studies generally overestimated the observed settlement of the foundations. The analysis done in this study utilized the same assumptions made in the previous studies. However, the results were closer to the actual displacements but still overestimated them. The case study abstracts documented relevant information regarding the settlement performance of the shallow foundations in a single, accessible document. Practicing engineers should be able to access these abstracts and use them to supplement their knowledge and experience with the knowledge of other engineers. In so doing, they can look to implement the successful aspects of a project while looking to avoid the same mistakes. Therefore, utilizing the case study abstracts will help to ensure the timely delivery of a successful project. A database containing these case study abstracts is yet to be formed.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wanneer daar met die ontwerp van fondasies gewerk word, is daar ‘n groot graad van onsekerheid vir geotegniese ingenieurs, gegewe die komplekse aard van grond. Die onsekerheid wat geassosieer word met ‘n projek, kan nie heeltemal verwyder word nie. Nietemin, kan dit genoegsaam verminder word deur ‘n beter begrip van die materiaal te verkry. Alle ontwerp-besluite moet gebaseer word op die kennis van die materiaal om te verseker dat genoegsame maatreëls ingesluit word in die ontwerp, om gepaardgaande risiko’s en onsekerhede te verminder. Terwyl die materiaal verstaan moet word, moet geotegniese ingenieurs ook goeie ingenieurs-oordeel en ervaring toon. Dit kan ‘n tyd neem om te ontwikkel, en dit is wat ingenieurs nie het nie. Nietemin kan ingenieurs gevallestudies gebruik in situasies, soortgelyk aan hul eie, asook om van meer ervare ingenieurs te leer en te verstaan hoe om ‘n soortgelyke probleem te benader. Hierdie studie het gekyk na gevallestudies wat met vlak fondasies gewerk het. Die inligting rakende hierdie gevallestudies, was aangebied as ‘n gestruktureerde uittreksel van die gevallestudie. Inligting soos die ligging, grondprofiel, fondasieoplossing en lading-kondisies was almal uitgelig in die uittreksel. In die huidige gevallestudie, was die vestiging-prestasie van die fondasies geanaliseer deur Settle3 sagteware te gebruik. Hierdie metode van analise is gebruik aangesien die gevallestudies wat oorweeg is, ouer analisemetodes gebruik het. Settle3 is 'n fondasie analise sagteware wat vinnige ontleding van die fondamente moontlik maak. Hierdie sagteware het verskeie empiriese metodes gebruik om die fondasieprestasie te voorspel. Die vestigings, volgens die sagteware, was vergelyk met die voorspellings wat gemaak was deur die outeurs van die oorsponklike gevallestudie. Die voorspellings wat gemaak is in die oorspronklike sowel as in die huidige gevallestudies, word in die uittreksels uiteengesit. Aannames is gemaak met betrekking tot die homogeniteit en die spannings-druk-verhouding van die grond. Die resultate wat verkry was in die oorspronklike gevallestudies, het die vestiging van die fondasies oor die algemeen oorskat. Die analise wat in hierdie gevallestudie gedoen is, het dieselfde aannames gemaak as wat met die vorige gevallestudies gemaak is. Nietemin, was die resultate nader aan die werklike verplasings, maar dit was steeds oorskat. Die gevallestudie-uittreksels, dokumenteer die relevante inligting rakende die vestigings-prestasie van die vlak fondasies in ‘n enkele, toeganklike dokument. Praktiserende ingenieurs behoort toegang tot hierdie uittreksels te kry en moet dit te kan gebruik om saam met die kennis van ervare ingenieurs, hul eie kennis en ervaring aan te vul. Deur dit te doen, kan hul daarna kyk om die suksesvolle aspekte van ‘n projek te implementeer, asook om te voorkom dat dieselfde foute weer gemaak word. Gevolglik, om gevallestudies aan te wend, sal bydra om projekte betyds en suksesvol te voltooi. 'n Databasis wat hierdie gevallestudieuittreksels bevat, moet nog gevorm word.Master

A dual analysis of the South African Griqua population using ancestry informative mitochondrial DNA and discriminatory short tandem repeats on the Y chromosome

>Magister Scientiae - MScThe primary objective of this Masters project was to investigate the maternal ancient substructure of the Griqua population in South Africa. Genetic ancestry was determined by investigating ancestry informative single nucleotide polymorphisms. These are located in the control region of the mitochondrial genome. The auxiliary aim was to test the validity of the UWC 10plex system in relation to a sample group of Griqua males. This short tandem repeat multiplex targets specific mutations confined to paternal lineages. The Khoi Khoi or Hottentots were the first inhabitants in the Cape. Indigenous Khoi Khoi female slaves had offspring with the European settlers in the 1800s which resulted in the Griqua population group. The incorporated European paternal ancestry is what set the Griqua apart from the native population groups at that time. Colonisation events from the mid-17th to 19th Century and the apartheid regime resulted in land dispossession of the native population and an extensively mixed gene pool in South Africa. One hundred and seventy six (N=176) male and female Griqua people were collectively sampled in Kokstad (2012), Vredendal (2012 and 2013) and at the Griqua National Conference in Ratelgat (2013). All 176 samples were analysed using mtDNA control region Sanger sequencing. The sample group (N=176) was separated based on birthplace (Origin sample group and post-colonial sample group). The origin sample group consists of individuals whose ancestors were not part of the Griqua Trek to Northern regions of South Africa and were less likely to be exposed to colonial influences. Mutations within the hypervariable segments of the mtDNA control region were used to infer haplogroups with geographic-specific population data. In this way one can plot the extent of ancient Khoisan (L0d) and Bantu influences (L1-L5) as well as the influence of East (M, A, B, E) and West (N, R, J, H) Eurasian haplogroups in the maternal ancestry of the Griqua population group. The origin sample group showed 91% African ancestry (76.8% L0d) while the post-colonial group had 78% African ancestry (60% L0d). The origin sample group had 2% East Eurasian and 7% West Eurasian ancestry, while the post-colonial group contained 20% Eurasian ancestry. There is greater admixture in the post-colonial group which can be attributed to the integration of surrounding populations during settlement periods in parts of the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The UWC 10plex STR kit was tested to see if it could discriminate between male individuals of this admixed sample group (N=91 males). The markers for this multiplex were selected according to their ability to differentiate between individuals of African descent. It proved to be a viable Y chromosome short tandem repeat testing tool, displaying a statistically significant discrimination capacity value of 0.966 and only having 3 shared haplotypes in the sample group of 91 Griqua males.National Research Foundation (NRF

Selection of multicriteria decision making methodologies in scenario based planning

Bibliography: leaves 131-136.This dissertation investigates the application of Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM) methodologies to the area of scenario based policy planning. We examine how the tools of MCDM can be used to develop a Decision Support System (DSS) that would allow management or policy planners to resolve conflicting goals and interests. Ideally, the resolution would be obtained by the various decision makers (DMs) in such a manner, that it satisfies all the relevant interest groupings at a maximum level of achievement for all concerned. This is not always possible and compromises need to be made that are fair and equitable to all the relevant interests. Stewart et al. (1993), in a report entitled: "Scenario Based Multicriteria Policy Planning for Water Management in South Africa", develop the principles of a procedure for implementing scenario based multicriteria policy planning. Their iterative procedure is illustrated in figure 2.1, chapter 2, of this paper. In this dissertation, we refine certain parts of this procedure and the two areas in particular that we have looked at are: (1) filtering a large set of policy scenarios (Background Set), that could be a continuum, to form a smaller set (Foreground Set), and (2) further reducing the smaller set to form a solution set of policy scenarios. (The generic terms "Background Set" and "Foreground Set" are defined in section 2.1 of chapter 2.) The main objectives of this study were therefore mainly twofold and are as follows: (1) to determine what MCDM methods are relevant to natural resources management (using water as a case study), and (2) to investigate how these methods need to be adopted for use in an interactive DSS. We address the first objective by surveying the literature in an attempt to identify potential MCDM approaches that are suitable to (i) reduce a large set of alternatives, analogous to the Background Set, to a more manageable smaller set, analogous to the Foreground Set of alternatives, and (ii) refine this Foreground Set in order to present the DMs with a solution set of alternatives from which University of Cape Town they will make their final selection. The literature has until now not dealt explicitly with these two issues and we had to adapt certain MCDM approaches, many of which have been developed in a linear programming context, to suit our purposes

The recovery-stress states of netball players over congested university-level tournaments played in Covid-19 bubbles

Thesis (M Sport Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Due to the global pandemic, the acute recovery-stress states of athletes in Covid-19 bubbles are becoming a well-researched topic. The aim of this study was therefore to monitor the acute recovery-stress states of university-level netball players in two tournaments (10-days and five-days) played in a Covid-19 bubble using the Acute Recovery and Stress Scale (ARSS) and the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-76 Sport). All participants were university-level netball players between the ages of 18 and 25, who are in command of English, Afrikaans or IsiXhosa. The Varsity Netball Tournament (T1) and University Sport of South Africa (USSA) Netball tournament (T2) were held over 10 days and five days, respectively. Throughout both tournaments both the ARSS and RESTQ-76 Sport questionnaires were completed. The ARSS was completed twice daily before and after each match played in the tournament. The RESTQ-76 Sport was completed twice throughout the duration of the tournament with the first being completed one day before the tournament and the second being completed within three hours of the last match played on the final match day. The number of athletes who completed the ARSS in T1 was 18 participants. Overall, 58% of the athletes were included in the study with complete datasets. The results for the ARSS for all of the Recovery subscales, including Physical Performance Capability (PPC), Mental Performance Capability (MPC, Emotional Balance (EB) and overall Recovery (OR) showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) between the beginning and the end of the tournament with recovery being higher at the start of the tournament compared to after the tournament. Additionally, the stress subscales including Muscular Stress (MS), Lack of Activation (LA), Negative Emotional State (NES) and Overall Stress (OS) indicated statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) with higher values being seen after the tournament than before the tournament. The number of athletes included in the study for T1 with regards to the RESTQ-76 Sport and once the inclusion criteria was considered was 18 participants between the ages 19 and 24 years old. The performance level within this tournament was distributed across university (17.9%), provincial (60.7%) and international (21.4%) levels. Overall, 36 out of 66 (55%) were eligible to be included in the study. The only statistically significant difference for the duration of T1 was Social Recovery (p < 0.01) whereby scores increased pre to post tournament. The number of athletes who completed the ARSS in T2 was 23 participants. Overall, 23 out of 35 (66%) of the athletes presented complete datasets to be included in the study. All values for the recovery and stress dimensions showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) with the recovery scores decreasing over the duration of the tournament and the stress scores increasing pre to post tournament. The number of athletes included in the study for T2 regarding the RESTQ-76 Sport and once the inclusion criteria was considered was 41 participants between the ages of 18 and 25 years old. This tournament consisted of players who were distributed across university (29.8%), provincial (27.7%) and national (31.9%) levels. Overall, 87% of the players who responded and completed the required number of datasets to be included in the study. The subscales showing statistically significant differences over the duration of the T1 were General Well- Being (p < 0.01), Success (p < 0.01), Conflict/ Pressure (p < 0.01) and General Stress (p < 0.04) with General Well-Being and Success showing an increase in recovery over the duration of the tournament and Conflict/ Pressure and General Stress showing a decline in score over the duration of the tournament. Future studies could explore the differences in the recovery-stress states of full-time and substitute netball players under congested tournament or environmental conditions. More should pertain to the differences in recovery-stress states of the varying experience levels of athletes. Furthermore, future studies can include the addition of a stress assessment to the recovery-stress assessments used for this study for the duration of the tournament. Lastly, research can focus on the validation of recovery-stress assessments within a South African context.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: As gevolg van die wêreldwye pandemie het navorsing op die uitwerking van 'n Covid-19- bioborrel op die herstel-strestoestande van atlete toegeneem. Daar is egter 'n gebrek aan navorsing in die herstel-stres-toestande van vroulike netbalspelers op universiteitsvlak. Die doel van hierdie studie was dus om die akute herstel-stres-toestande van netbalspelers op universiteitsvlak te monitor in twee toernooie (10 dae en vyf dae) wat in 'n Covid-19-borrel gespeel is deur die Akute Herstel- en Stresskaal (ARSS) en die Herstel-stres-vraelys vir atlete (RESTQ-76 Sport) te gebruik. Alle deelnemers was netbalspelers op universiteitsvlak tussen die ouderdomme van 18 en 25, wat Engels, Afrikaans of IsiXhosa kon praat. Die Varsity Netbaltoernooi (T1) en USSA Netbaltoernooi (T2) is onderskeidelik oor 10 dae en vyf dae gehou. Gedurende beide toernooie is beide die ARSS- en RESTQ-76 Sport-vraelyste voltooi. Die ARSS is twee keer per dag voltooi, voor en na elke wedstryd wat in die toernooi gespeel is. Die RESTQ-76 Sport is twee keer gedurende die toernooi voltooi, met die eerste wat een dag voor die toernooi voltooi is en die tweede wat binne drie uur na die laaste wedstryd wat op wedstryddag gespeel is, voltooi is. T1 Agtien deelnemers het die ARSS voltooi en 58% van die atlete met volledige datastelle is by hierdie studie ingesluit. Die resultate vir die ARSS vir al die Herstel-subskale, insluitend Fisieke Prestasievermoë (PPC), Geestelike Prestasievermoë (MPC, Emosionele Balans (EB) en Algehele Herstel (OF) het statisties beduidende verskille (p < 0,01) tussen die begin en die einde van die toernooi getoon, met herstel wat hoër was voor die toernooi in vergelyking met na die toernooi. Daarbenewens het die stres-subskale Spierstres (MS), Gebrek aan Aktivering (LA), Negatiewe Emosionele Toestand (NES) en Algehele Stres (OS) statisties beduidende verskille (p < 0.01) aangedui met hoër waardes wat na die toernooi gesien word in vergelyking met voor die toernooi. Die data van 18 deelnemers tussen die ouderdom van 19 en 24 jaar is ingesluit vir die RESTQ- 76 Sport. Die prestasievlak binne hierdie toernooi is oor universiteits- (17,9%), provinsiale (60,7%) en internasionale (21,4%) vlakke versprei. Oor die algemeen het 55% van die spelers wat gereageer het en vir geskiktheid beoordeel was, die vereiste aantal datastelle voltooi om by die studie ingesluit te word. Die enigste statisties beduidende skaal vir die duur van T1 was sosiale herstelling (p < 0.01) waardeur tellings voor tot na toernooi toegeneem het. T2 Die aantal atlete wat die ARSS voltooi het, was 23 deelnemers. Oor die algemeen het 66% van die atlete volledige datastelle aangebied om by die studie ingesluit te word. Alle waardes vir die herstel- en stresdimensies het statisties beduidende verskille getoon (p < 0.01) met die hersteltellings wat afgeneem het oor die duur van die toernooi en die strestellings wat voor tot na toernooi toegeneem het. Die aantal atlete wat by die studie ingesluit is met betrekking tot die RESTQ-76 Sport, en sodra die insluitingskriteria oorweeg is, was 41 deelnemers tussen die ouderdomme van 18 en 25 jaar oud. Die prestasievlakke van die spelers het gewissel tussen universiteits- (29,8%), provinsiale (27,7%) en nasionale (31,9%) vlakke.. Oor die algemeen, het 87% van die spelers gereageer en die vereiste aantal datastelle voltooi, en was dus by die studie ingesluit. Die subskale wat statisties betekenisvolle verskille oor die duur van die T1 getoon het, was Algemene Welstand (p < 0,01), Sukses (p < 0,01), Konflik/ Druk (p < 0,01) en Algemene Stres (p < 0,04). Algemene Welstand en Sukses het 'n toename oor die duur van die toernooi getoon en Konflik/ Druk en Algemene Stres het 'n afname oor die duur van die toernooi getoon. Toekomstige studies kan die verskille in die herstel-stres-toestande van beginspelers en plaasvervangers onder kompakte toernooi- of omgewingstoestande ondersoek. Verder kan toekomstige studies die uitwerking van die Covid-19-borrel op die herstel-strestoestande van netbalspelers onder kompakte toernooitoestande bepaal.Master

Educators perceptions of implementing guidelines on HIV/AIDS interventions in the Department of Educations Port Elizabeth District

The development and implementation of policy guidelines remains a contentious issue. Over the past few years, difficulty still exists in implementing the Department of Education (DoE) 1999, National Education Policy Act, 1996 (No. 27 of 1996): National Policy on HIV/AIDS for learners and educators in public schools, and students and educators in further education and training institutions [here after referred to as DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999)], while at the same time trying to transform the entire education system. This research explored the perceptions of educators in the Port Elizabeth District regarding the implementation of DoE HIV/AIDS (1999) policy guidelines. A secondary objective was to provide a reflection of how the implementation of guidelines on HIV/AIDS interventions within the schools of the Port Elizabeth District either conformed to or deviated from the guidelines outlined in the DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999). The study was executed within the paradigm of qualitative research and employed an exploratory, descriptive and contextual design. The researcher conducted a pilot study to enhance the trustworthiness of the study. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit research participants, consisting of 12 educators from 10 schools in the Port Elizabeth District where HIV/AIDS interventions were being implemented. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviewing and analysed using Tesch’s (1990) in De Vos, Strydom, Fouché & Delport (2005:340-341) framework for analysis of qualitative data. Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991) was used to ensure the trustworthiness of the study. Three themes emerged from the results of the in-depth semi-structured interviews: (1) Educators’ views on the DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999) guidelines and its implementation (2) Gaps or shortcomings in implementation of the DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999) and (3) Educator suggestions’ to inform implementation of the DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999) in schools. The results from the study indicate that there is inconsistency in the policy implementation approach employed by DoE district level representatives and there is a need for knowledge and capacity development at district and school level. The value of the study is outlined as well as recommendations

Educators perceptions of implementing guidelines on HIV/AIDS interventions in the Department of Educations Port Elizabeth District

The development and implementation of policy guidelines remains a contentious issue. Over the past few years, difficulty still exists in implementing the Department of Education (DoE) 1999, National Education Policy Act, 1996 (No. 27 of 1996): National Policy on HIV/AIDS for learners and educators in public schools, and students and educators in further education and training institutions [here after referred to as DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999)], while at the same time trying to transform the entire education system. This research explored the perceptions of educators in the Port Elizabeth District regarding the implementation of DoE HIV/AIDS (1999) policy guidelines. A secondary objective was to provide a reflection of how the implementation of guidelines on HIV/AIDS interventions within the schools of the Port Elizabeth District either conformed to or deviated from the guidelines outlined in the DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999). The study was executed within the paradigm of qualitative research and employed an exploratory, descriptive and contextual design. The researcher conducted a pilot study to enhance the trustworthiness of the study. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit research participants, consisting of 12 educators from 10 schools in the Port Elizabeth District where HIV/AIDS interventions were being implemented. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviewing and analysed using Tesch’s (1990) in De Vos, Strydom, Fouché & Delport (2005:340-341) framework for analysis of qualitative data. Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991) was used to ensure the trustworthiness of the study. Three themes emerged from the results of the in-depth semi-structured interviews: (1) Educators’ views on the DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999) guidelines and its implementation (2) Gaps or shortcomings in implementation of the DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999) and (3) Educator suggestions’ to inform implementation of the DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999) in schools. The results from the study indicate that there is inconsistency in the policy implementation approach employed by DoE district level representatives and there is a need for knowledge and capacity development at district and school level. The value of the study is outlined as well as recommendations

An inquiry on the efficacy of structures by South African government to promote intergration of traditional medicine and modern medicine: A case of Mossel Bay, Western Cape Province

The two health systems are currently functioning parallel to one another as it seeks to contribute towards improving the health care delivery systems in South Africa. The myriad of literature available on the topic has nudged this phenomenon into the spotlight, and this realisation became even more apparent since South Africa’s transition from a system of separate development (also known as apartheid) to a democratic dispensation in 1994. Traditional Medicine, also known as folk medicine or complementary and Alternative Medicine (also known as CAM), is regarded as the oldest form of health care system that has been around since the dawn of time. It is in ancient cultures that method of healing have used to cope and deal with various diseases that have threatened their existence and survival (Abdullahi, 2011). Botha (2004) puts it succinctly as she notes that the clash between traditional methods of healing and Western medical science in places like South Africa requires that we ask questions like “What is health?” “What does healing mean?” and outlines that the contemporary move towards the recognition of alternative medicine is concurrent with a shift in Western thinking on the nature of science, healing and human being. These concepts namely; “What is health?” and “What does healing mean?” will be expounded in the chapters that follow. The researcher concurs with Botha (2004) views in that access to basic health services, as well as related infrastructure, such as water supplies, sanitary works and roads, generally remains one of the biggest problems on the continent and this has a huge impact on health care delivery systems, particularly in South Africa