4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions

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End date: 2019Subject: search.filters.subject.SDG-4: Quality education

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    How Diversity and Inclusion May Transform South African Commercial Property Organisations at Top Management Level
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017-08) Motshegare, Reabetswe Regina; Levy, Deborah
    The purpose of this report is to outline contemporary transformation frameworks that emphasise diversity and inclusion and how the latter may likely transform Growthpoint Properties South Africa (Growthpoint S.A). The main focus of the consultancy report is to compare and contrast traditional transformation methodologies and contemporary diversity and inclusion methodologies as strategies to assist Growthpoint S.A transform its senior and executive management. The propositions are that; an effective transformation strategy for Growthpoint S.A is one that focuses on identification; inclusion; attraction; diversification and retention of key talent at senior levels. Furthermore, that once diversity and inclusion interventions are implemented, there will be transformation at senior and executive levels. Out of 15 executives in the management team, six representatives were interviewed. The limitations highlight that the majority of participants are South African and may have certain biased perceptions about the topic as opposed to the rest of the participants, who are foreign nationals. The methodology focuses on a thematic analysis and four themes namely: leadership; corporate culture; strategies and communication are identified. Following in-depth discussions, six recommendations are provided. These include 360-degree feedback; diversity and inclusion workshops; introduction of a diversity and inclusion forum; KPI’s that measure diversity and inclusion targets; workplace enhancement programmes that focus on diverse candidates and lastly, robust succession plans. The role of the researcher as a professional Human Resource Business Partner ensured that any work dealt with is approached ethically, and the researcher’s ability to do this ensured quality, reliability, validity and effectiveness of the research.
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    Design and development of a bioactive-loaded polymer-engineered neural device for potential application in reducing neurological deficits after spinal cord injuries and neuro-regeneration
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017) Kumar, Pradeep; Choonara, Yahya Essop; Modi, Girish; Naidoo, Dinesh; Pillay, Viness
    Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI), due to their devastating nature, present several interventional challenges (extensive inflammation, axonal tethering, scar formation, neuronal degeneration and functional loss) that need to be addressed before even a slight neuronal recovery can be achieved. Recent post-TSCI investigational approaches include support strategies capable of providing scaffold architecture to allow axonal growth and conformal repair. This research provided detailed insight towards the development and fabrication of six specialized Polymer-Engineered Neural Devices (PENDs): 1) poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-gliadin (PLGA-GLDN) nanofibrous mats, 2) polyacrylamidated chitosan (PAAm-g-HT) scaffold, 3) functionalized chitosan methoxypolyethylene glycol (CHT-mPEG) cryosponges, 4) polyacrylonitrile-elastin-collagen (PANi-EC) neurosponge, 5) methylcellulose-alginate-polyethylene glycol (MAP) thermogel, and 6) chitosan-luronic F127-β glycerophosphate (CHT-PF127-βGP) composite thermogel for potential restriction, repair, regeneration, restoration and reorganization post-SCI. The latest trends in biomaterials-based SCI intervention were reviewed, discussed and analyzed in detail throughout the thesis. The research also involved an in silico analytico mathematical interpretation of multi(biomed)material assemblies wherein quantification of energy surfaces and molecular attributes via atomistic, dynamic, and docking simulations was carried out. The in silico experimentation additionally confirmed the potential of curcumin as a bioactive of choice for SCI intervention. Curcumin and dexamethasone were incorporated into the compact scaffolds and the bioactive release was determined over a period extending up to 60 days. The PLGA-GLDN nanofibrous mats demonstrated the formation of a compatible blend among the component polymers at equal weight ratios (PG55) as confirmed by quantitative physicochemical characterizations. Image processing analysis (DiameterJ plug-in of ImageJ) was performed on the SEM images of nanofibers to quantify the size, porosity, and orientation of the samples. Nanofibers within the size range of 10nm and 250nm were obtained in case of compatible blend and the nano stack was used for in vivo implantation post-SCI. Polyacrylamidated chitosan (PAAm-g-CHT) was synthesized via a unique persulfate-mediated polymer slicing and complexation as determined by static lattice atomistic simulations. The graft copolymer so obtained was fabricated into an anisotropic neurodurable scaffold. The CHT/mPEG cryosponges showed unique morphological features such as fringe thread-like structures (CHT alone); hemispherical, pebble-like structures (CHT-mPEG); curved quartz crystal-like or crystal-flower-like structures (CHT-mPEG-CHO); and grouped, congealed, steep-sided canyon-like structures (CHT-mPEG COOH). A novel image processing protocol involving DiameterJ and ND plugins of ImageJ software was employed for analyses of the SEM micrographs in terms of % porosity, pore wall thickness and % xiiehaviorxii of the porous scaffolds. The PANi-EC interpenetrating polymer network neurosponges were synthesized employing free radical polymerization under acidic conditions wherein first-in-the-world spinomimetic scaffolds were obtained. The unique feature of the PANi-EC neurosponge was the formation of a fibrous neurotunnel architecture mimicking the native spinal cord. The physicochemical characterization revealed that the secondary structure of the peptide molecules (elastin and collagen) rearranged in the presence of PANi to their native extracellular matrix (ECM) form confirming the self-assembling nature of the polymer-peptide architecture. Furthermore, the PANi-EC neurosponge provided a perfect balance of matrix resilience and matrix hardness similar to the native collagen-elastin complex in vivo. Two very interesting tri-component thermogels were reported here viz. a simple blend thermogel comprising methylcellulose, sodium alginate and poly(ethylene glycol) and a complex thermogel incorporating chitosan, Pluronic F127 and β-glycerophosphate. Both the thermogels solidified at physiological temperature confirming their applicability in vivo. The outstanding feature of MAP thermogels was the formation of hydrogen bonded O-H…C=O which only formed in the tripolymeric blend while the bipolymeric blends showing no such interaction. We proposed that the MAP thermogel self-assembled into a repeating network structure represented by “PEG400-ALG-hydrophillicMChydrophobic}-{hydrophobicMC-hydrophilic}-ALG-PEG400” and the physical “compression” might have led to the formation of hydrogen bonded O-H…C=O among MC/alginate or PEG/alginate in the presence of PEG or MC, respectively. In case of the complex CHT/PF127/βGP thermogel, a unique triphasic gel-sol-gel transition xiiehavior was observed with the thermogel forming a gel-phase at lower temperatures (T<20°C), a sol-phase at intermediate temperatures (20°C35°C). The MTT proliferation studies indicated that all polymer engineered neural devices (PANi-alone matrix) were capable of efficiently supporting the growth of PC12 cells compared to the control over a period of 72 hours. The fundamental objective of this thesis was to test the applicability and capability of various biomaterial composites towards the repair and regeneration of neuronal tissue after traumatic spinal cord injury. Although drug-loaded scaffolds were also developed, only drug-free scaffolds (PLGA-Gliadin 5:5 electrospun nanofibers; PANi-Elastin-Collagen neurosponge; and Chitosan/Pluronic F127/β-glycerophosphate thermogel) were tested in vivo for the proof-of-concept. The 21-point scale BBB locomotor rating analysis demonstrated that PEND I (14), PEND II (19) and PEND III (18) provided significant motor recovery as compared to the lesion-control (5) group 28 days post-SCI and –implantation. The immunohistochemistry confirmed that reparative changes were accompanied by marked upregulation of iNOS, a notable influx of ED1-positive chronic inflammatory cells, the appearance of multinucleate cells characteristic of presumptive regenerative neuroblasts and near-complete loss of GFAP and NF-200 protein/structural integrity. Almost complete functional and neurostructural recovery was observed with post-SCI implantation of PEND II and III. In conclusion, the composite scaffolds tested in this research demonstrated immense potential in improving the neurological, neurochemical, and behavioral outcome after implantation post-SCI.
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    Financial inclusion in South Africa: An analysis of the financial sector regulatory framework and proposals for reform
    (2018-09) Duma, Amanda; Kawadza, Herbert
    Abstract Not Available.
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    Surgical aortopulmonary shunts - a thirty-seven year experience in a South African tertiary institution
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2019-11) Dladla-Mukansi, Nontobeko Charity; Cilliers, Antoinette; Mammen, Vijay; Vanderdonk, Kathy
    Introduction: The surgical aortopulmonary shunt is a valuable palliative procedure in the management of congenital heart diseases. There is a paucity of data regarding aortopulmonary shunts in the developing world, including South Africa. Objectives: The primary objective was to describe the demographic, clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of children between ages 0 and 14 years that underwent surgical aortopulmonary shunts. The secondary objectives were to describe trends in aortopulmonary shunt designs, outcomes in terms of morbidity and mortality, progression to definitive surgery and to assess patency of shunts. Material and Methods: A retrospective clinical audit of patient files who underwent an aortopulmonary shunt between 01 January 1980 to 30 December 2016 was undertaken at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) in Soweto, Johannesburg. The study period was divided into 3 stages and for descriptive purposes as follows: 1980-1991 refers to period 1, 1992-2003 refers to period 2 and 2004-2016 refers to period 3. Results: A total of 177 aortopulmonary shunts were done over the 37-year study period. Of these 177 patients, 165 (93.2%) patient files were available. Fifty-six percent of the patients included in the study were male. The majority of patients were from the Gauteng Province (76.8%). The four most common diagnoses across the entire study period were tricuspid atresia (26.0%), pulmonary atresia with VSD (23.7%), tetralogy of Fallot (23.2%) and complex cardiac lesions (16.9%), with no particular trend in the proportion of these diagnoses presenting across this study period. There was no statistical difference between period 1 and 2 (p-value a=0,328) and between period 1 and 3 (p-value b=0,548). The total number of all surgeries done over the entire study period was 2145, of which 8.3% were aortopulmonary shunts. Period 1 had the highest percentage [35 (10.9%)] of aortopulmonary shunts compared to the total number of surgeries performed. There was a decline in the number of aortopulmonary shunts performed over the study periods 1-3. With no statistical difference across periods as shown in table 1 with p-value a and b. Of the different types of aortopulmonary shunts, most patients [157 (88.7%)] had a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (BTS). The remainder of the shunts included 3 (1.7%) classic BTS, 12 (6.8%) central shunts and 5 (2.8%) unknown BTS. The percentage of modified BTS done increased from 80% in period 1 to 87.3% in period 2 and to 95.2% in period 3. Period 1 had the most complications (28.6%) compared to 11.4% in period 2 and 19.1% in period 3. Sepsis as a complication following surgery increased over the study period from 2.9% in period 1 to 3.8% and 7.9% in periods 2 and 3 respectively. Early mortality was 17.1%, 26.6% and 25.4% from periods 1-3 respectively. Late mortality declined from 17.0% in period 1 to 11.4% and 0% in periods 2 and 3 respectively. Only 37 (20.9%) patients were documented to have further surgery after the initial aortopulmonary shunt. Across all three study periods, no blocked shunts were documented. Conclusions: This study describes the characteristics and outcomes of aortopulmonary shunts over a 37-year period in a tertiary care resource limited low to middle income country setting. The commonest cardiac lesions for which aortopulmonary shunts are performed are tricuspid atresia, pulmonary atresia with VSD, tetralogy of Fallot and other complex cyanotic cardiac lesions. The frequency of aortopulmonary shunts compared to total surgeries has corrective surgery for these cardiac lesions. The modified BTS is the most frequently performed aortopulmonary shunt used for palliative surgery in our setting, which is a similar trend in developed countries. The morbidity and mortality in this study is higher than developed countries, with sepsis being the most common complication. Attention to infection control practises need to be emphasized peri- and post-operatively in our hospitals.
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    Customer retention strategies for the prepaid mobile telecommunications sector in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2010) Flynn, Teresa; Peters, Mark
    This study will propose ways in which companies can focus retention strategies in the local prepaid mobile telecommunications sector. Currently there is little academic literature on this topic, even though in-house marketing research has been done by the operators. The purpose of this research is to investigate the customer retention strategies in the prepaid mobile telecommunications sector in South Africa. This will be done by triangulation of what consumers believe is important in their retention, what the organisations deem as paramount, and what retention experts state are the motivators of retention. Data was collected using both a survey questionnaire for consumers, and through face to face interviews with marketing management at mobile telecommunications operators, as well as independent expert consultants on the topic of customer retention. The findings from this study were that the consumers want to keep the same cell phone number as it is part of their identity. The customer looks at the total offering when considering pricing, and not just certain costs, and prefers a prepaid model as spending is controlled in this manner. Both consumers and management agree that rewards and loyalty programs are seen as a value add, especially where they offer instant gratification. A reliable product is necessary for a consumer to stay with the company, as is accessibility to support and other products. Management realises that the total customer experience across all touch points is a retention enabler, with one really bad experience being enough cause for a customer to churn. The consumer survey indicated that customer service is a driver that all market players need to improve on. An organisation's brand allows a consumer to identify with the firm, and is more a pull factor than a push factor, unless it is perceived as dishonest or unethical. The only time a consumer's demographics came into play regarding customer behaviour was age making a difference was when using a cell phone to access the internet -older age brackets use it sparingly if at all. Although other value added services such as SMS and MMS are used across the board. Companies model consumer behaviour, and base it on data from previous churners to identify possible churners. Of these, only profitable churners are then recognised for retention campaigns. Retention campaigns are measured for success. The prepaid market makes up 80% of the mobile telecommunications market in South Africa, and the revenue they contribute is approximately 35% of the total. Therefore this customer base should not be neglected or ignored. Due to the demographics of emerging markets, prepaid offerings are the way of the future. The research paper finishes with several recommendations on how to enrich customer retention strategies for the prepaid mobile communication market.
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    The Case of Analytic Philosophy as ‘the Philosophy’ and Its Problem for the Decolonization of the Curriculum
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2018) Ramaphala, Dorcus; Etieyibo, Edwin
    In this research, I shall be examining two related issues. The first issue is about whether the presentation of analytic philosophy as the proper and only method of doing philosophy is justified. The second concerns the problems posed for the decolonization of the philosophy curriculum by this hegemonic and triumphant position of analytic philosophy as “the philosophy.” My motivation for engaging with these issues is to try and make the case for other philosophical traditions and methods, including African philosophy as legitimate and proper philosophical enterprises even when they do not share all or some of the traits and features of analytic philosophy. Success in making this case seems crucial to the project of decolonizing the philosophy curriculum.