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Communities in WIReDSpace
Select a community to browse its collections.
- This community is for all faculties and schools' research outputs and publications by Wits academics and researchers.
- This community hosts traditional outputs such as published and unpublished research articles, conference papers, book chapters and other research outputs authored by Wits academics and researchers. Items in this collection are also mapped to relevant collections within the Faculties/Schools/Departments communities for more specific browsing and searching.
- This Community hosts a collection of electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) submitted by doctoral and masters' students of Wits University.
- This community is for all faculties and schools' theses and dissertations by masters and doctoral students.
Recent Submissions
Understanding Quiet Diplomacy: A critical analysis of South Africa’s intervention in Zimbabwe, 2000-2009
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Livay, Mametja Mafutha; Moshoeshoe, M.
This report analyses South Africa’s quiet diplomacy intervention in Zimbabwe to address the political instability and violence in the 2000-2009 period. There is great uncertainty and insufficient information on the reason for South Africa’s quiet diplomacy objectives in Zimbabwe in this period. The report uses a qualitative methodology to collect and analyze data using Joseph Nye’s Co-optive power theory to interpret South Africa’s conduct in its intervention. The study has found that the choice of quiet diplomacy from South Africa is influenced mainly by its foreign policy regarding conflict resolution which centers greatly on negotiations and mediation instead of military intervention. Equally, it has found that the main objective of the intervention has not been to address the socio-economic issues but to mediate and resolve only the political conflict between the Zimbabwe African National Union -Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leadership; from which the Global Political Agreement (GPA) and Government of National Unity (GNU) emerged
External Factors Influencing the Sustainability of Social Entrepreneurial Ventures in South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2020) Govender, Ramona; Murimbika, McEdward
Social entrepreneurship is increasingly seen as a solution in addressing some of the social ills in the world. However, in order for the social enterprises to be more effective there is a need for them to be sustainable, particularly in terms of financial sustainability. Social enterprises that are financially sustainable are usually better able to create social value. The study sought to investigate the contributing factors towards social enterprise (SE) venture sustainability in South Africa using Cape Town as a case study. In doing so, quantitative research was conducted, with data being collected from the sampled social enterprises using an online survey. In this research it was found that, while government assistance was important, it was not significant in determining a social enterprise’s performance. The research also found that high social innovation improves a social enterprise’s access to philanthropic venture capital. In this regard, high social innovation was also seen to have a positive effect on social enterprise performance. The research thus concludes that social innovation is an important contributor to the sustainability of a social enterprise. The study offers updated information and adds to the theory on social enterprises in South Africa which is useful to prospective social entrepreneurs seeking to structure such organizations. In addition to this, the new knowledge and new insights will help government and civil society policy makers to formulate policies that can encourage social entrepreneurship in the country, especially with regards to funding. The study also offers useful insights on social innovation and emphasises its importance within the social enterprise context.
Dynamic compartmentalised heat transfer modelling for systems with biological applications
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Xu, Lan; Moodley, Prebantha; Hildebrandt, Diane
Proper thermal management is crucial to controlling the temperature of biological systems within an optimized operating range. A biological system is comprised of a multitude of interacting facets, where a system is often disrupted as a consequence of random events such as the change in ambient temperature. In contrast the design of most human engineered chemical systems or processes may assume steady state operation and as a result is relatively straightforward to design and optimise. Yet, often steady temperature ranges are required in unsteady conditions. This sort of unsteady state system requires consideration of the dynamic changes to the conditions and are often required to be within many applications. A narrow temperature band is essential for controlling the outcomes of how biological systems’ function—thermal denaturation of biological components depend on precise control of the transport of heat. Insulin—a hormone peptide drug—is temperature sensitive and undergoes thermal fibrillation when exposed to temperatures above manufacturers' recommendations. To maintain such medication within specific temperature bands is a challenge in the face of energy intermittency from the energy crisis that South Africa is currently facing. Within this dissertation, a medical device to contain thermosensitive biological compounds is designed and modelled as a system undergoing dynamic thermal conditions. This heat transfer modelling is used as a prototyping process for designing the medical device to protect temperature sensitive medication during power outages. The simulated device, when used correctly, is able to keep medication thermally stable under 8°C during Stage 4 load shedding (7.5 hours of power outages within a 24-hour period).
Physical Yukawa couplings in heterotic string compactifications
(INT PRESS BOSTON, INC) G Butbaia; Damian Pena; Justin Tan; P Berglund; T Hubsch; Vishnumohan Jejjala; C Mishra
Tsotsitaal and cultural identity : A sociolinguistic study of young black South African women who speak tsotsitaal.
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mmako, Maipato Caroline; Theledi, Kgomotso
This study aimed to explore whether young black women identify with tsotsitaal as an integral aspect of their culture and personal identity. It covered background information, rationale, research questions, and objectives. Additionally, it delved into the origins of tsotsitaal and its significance in the lives of young people in township settings. A review of relevant literature highlighted a gap in understanding the role of women who speak tsotsitaal, prompting further investigation. Using a qualitative research approach, the study employed a questionnaire for data collection. The sample consisted of 20 young women aged 18 to 30 from Diepkloof (Soweto) and Katlehong (Vosloorus), with equal representation from both areas. Findings indicated that young black women indeed identify with tsotsitaal as part of their cultural identity, and some speak it independently of male influence. Moreover, the study revealed that speaking tsotsitaal is not necessarily associated with lack of education; rather, it is seen as a mode of expression and cultural belonging. Based on these findings, suggestions were made for future research to broaden its scope and conduct in-depth interviews with focus groups to better understand the role of tsotsitaal in shaping the identity of young women in townships. Despite its small sample size, the study provides valuable insights for researchers interested in further exploring this topic.