4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions
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Item South Africa’s earliest giant: The systematics and palaeobiology of a new species of sauropodomorph(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Moopen, Atashni; Choiniere, Jonah N.; Botha, JenniferSauropodomorph dinosaurs are characterized by their gigantic body size and quadrupedal postures, but they evolved from small, bipedal ancestors. Transitional non sauropodan sauropodomorphs from the Norian are key to understanding this evolutionary transition. A new Norian sauropodomorph (BP/1/8469) discovered in 2018 in the lower Elliot Formation of Qhemegha, Eastern Cape consists of a well-preserved, well-represented associated postcranial skeleton of a relatively large individual. This specimen provides novel information about the Norian transition in sauropodomorph body plan. This study presents the results of BP/1/8469, using comparative anatomical study, quantitative body mass and postural estimation, osteohistological enquiry, and phylogenetic systematics assessment. BP/1/8469 is a 1.8 to 3.1 metric tonne, facultative quadrupedal sauropodomorph. It was an adult that displays rapid, interrupted growth, similar to other sauropodiforms. Phylogenetic analysis of BP/1/8469 highlights incongruencies in sauropodomorph character datasets, flags considerable homoplasy in sauropodomorph evolution, and underscores the need for accurate homology statements.Item Bridging the gap: public space as an anchor for social-infrastructure and community integration in Braamfontein(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Kistan, Nicole; Bahmann, DirkBridging the Gap is about creating a new shared space within Braamfontein, that seeks to provide a space that alleviates the interpreted apprehension felt towards shared spaces in the city. This tension that stems from the inaccessibility of space, infrastructure and amenities are due to the exclusionary nature of socio-economic hierarchies. The approach redefines the perceptions and physical role public space holds by investigating its history. Shared space, which is becoming increasingly scarce, is placed as a new gateway to the city to create a new and improved way of life. The design intervention combines architectural, urban, and social concerns by reinterpreting shared spaces as a social platform, which introduces a pedestrian street on ground level on which the architecture manifests as a flexible modular typology. The proposal aims to create an integrated and sustainable future in Braamfontein by engaging users, space and the city to create an urban fabricItem Project Reality - Imagining the symbiotic relationship between virtual reality and the human narrative(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Peneda, MichaelWith virtual reality technology being ever more integrated in our daily lives, through the accessibility to technology such as smartphones, personal computers, the internet, and social media. The potential possibilities for exploration, education, historical preservation, spatial exploration and how we define reality are endless. With the Newtown precinct having historical, educational, and recreational facilities within the heart of Johannesburg yet not functioning as a true representation of a cultural precinct. It provides the perfect catalyst for a virtual reality centre that enables the public to access this technology and explore its vast potential whilst reviving and transforming Newtown into a functional cultural precinct. Whilst being supported by the surrounding public infrastructure as well as creating a new pillar to support the precinct. This virtual reality centre provides the ability for users to explore both the virtual realm and the physical, while being able to easily transition from one to the other. With new ways of engaging with spatial exploration, immersive education, and new representations of historical narratives. With the building functioning as an amalgamation of new representations of classical typologies such as museums, exhibition spaces, galleries, research development and education facilities. By housing the functionalities of these typologies within the centre yet representing them in new ways with unique ways of engaging with them.Item Looking through the activation lens :Exploring urban renewal in Lenasia through an activism centre(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Bawa, Mariam; Francis, LialeSouth Africa’s history of trauma has created traumatic spaces. As we search for a post-apartheid identity, South Africa finds itself in a healing place. This research project looks at addressing traumas of the past while understanding the healing of the present. Lenasia has undergone traumas of segregation and forced removals of diasporic groups. What is trauma? How does it affect people and places? Life comes with a lot of challenges, some greater than others. Exposure to events beyond our everyday human experience can create trauma within us. It is beyond human experience to have one’s home bulldozed and torn down by an oppressive government. Being segregated is not an ordinary human experience. Being dislocated from a community, jobs, and so much more are all traits that cause trauma. All of these factors have deeply affected communities in South Africa, especially those that are marginalised. Poverty, inequality, healthcare, unemployment, racism, and childcare create layers of extraordinary experiences resulting in trauma. The increase in unemployment and decay of government-provided amenities continue to affect us today. My thesis addresses these traumas through understanding the history of Lenasia and activism around the apartheid system. It also addresses urban decay using urban theory, phenomenology, placemaking, identity, and activism theories of change. The research will lead to an architectural intervention that addresses trauma and provides a platform for people to voice their stories. The intervention will take the form of a Youth Activist Centre that enriches the community by mobilising youth to participate in the community while allowing for a space of leisureItem [T]read Between the Lines Unraveling and Upskilling Hidden Communities in Orange Grove and Norwood(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Moshe, Khumo; Francis, LialeThis research explores the historical tension and socio-economic differences between Orange Grove and Norwood, which are neighbouring suburbs characterized by a diverse culture and a mixed-income profile. These tensions lie between and along major arterial nodes Louis Botha Avenue and Grant Avenue, which serve communities. Louis Botha Avenue is a transit route and Grant Avenue, is a local retail high street. The study investigates the potential of Patterson Park, located between Louis Botha and Grant Avenue, as a mediating space for these neighbourhoods. The park offers the opportunity for connection between these neighbourhoods through urban principles that create safe and comfortable public connections. The proposed intervention neighbours Paterson Park and is driven by the imitiate human interactions. It aims to establish a maker’s guild and trade training centre, providing opportunities and possibilities for marginalized individuals, local entrepreneurs, businesses, and the community. The facility will impart essential urban principles for successful neighbourhoods and emphasize the significance of public art, craft in construction, along with facilitating better contractor-client relationships.Item Fuelling change: Harnessing water hyacinth for Bio-Fuel, a catalyst for changein Hartbeespoort(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Shippon, Angelique; Goncalves, KevinThe Hartbeespoort community has long grappled with the invasive water hyacinth, a menace causing ecological and economic harm to the man-made Hartbeespoort Dam since the 1970s. After research and interviews, it’s clear that trapped pollution is the core issue, rendering conventional control methods insufficient. In response, this architectural thesis presents Fuelling Change, an innovative solution merging agro-industry, natural water purification, and tourism through 5 sub-programs. The primary objective is to transform the water hyacinth challenge into a self- sustaining ecosystem that both generates income for management and enhances water quality. This involves a digester plant to control hyacinth growth through utilization, collaborating with local farmers to establish a closed-loop nutrient cycle, and rejuvenating the social fabric with a promising Waterfront initiative. Employing an Emancipatory research approach empowers the community, while integrating critical regionalism and biophilic design ensures authenticity and alignment with the area’s identity. The proposed design converts an ecological crisis into a catalyst for positive change, fostering socio-economic regeneration in Hartbeespoort. Agro-industry: industry connected with agriculture. Emancipatory research: define & add to list [ ii ] ABSTRACTItem Essays on Agricultural Finance, Financial Development, and Economic Growth in Nigeria(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Ayodele, Ademola Emmanuel; Tweneboah, GeorgeThis study examines essays on agricultural finance, financial development and growth in Nigeria. It focuses on investigating the individual and joint effects of agriculture finance and financial development indicators on growth. Also, the research computed the threshold of agricultural finance at which financial development indicators optimizes inclusive growth in Nigeria. To achieve these research objectives, we adopted both the Endogenous growth and Solow-Swan theoretical foundation; and employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag (QARDL) techniques. The study utilized time series data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin and World Bank World Development Indicators (WDI) covering 1980 to 2022. The results reveals that agriculture finance exerted significant negative impact on economic growth in the short-run; however, the long-run impact of agriculture finance on economic growth is positive. Also, it was observed from that financial development indicators (bank deposit, credit to private sector and market capitalization) have positive impact on economic growth. Although, bank deposits exerted negative impact on agricultural output growth, credit to private sector and market capitalization impacted positively on agricultural output growth. Furthermore, it was observed from the QARDL results that positive links exist between agriculture finance, financial development indicators and inclusive growth in the short-run. Also, the interactive effects of agriculture finance and financial development indicators on inclusive growth were positive in the short and long-run periods. Lastly, the threshold effects of agricultural finance suggest an optimal level that maximizes inclusive growth, indicating policymakers should consider an 11% to 14% allocation of GDP per employed person to the agricultural sector. Therefore, the study recommends as key access to agricultural credit, as well as ensuring proper monitoring to boost growth in Nigeria. Importantly, credit to the agricultural sector should be kept within the established threshold level, since agricultural finance might exert some adverse effects on inclusive growth when it exceeds the established threshold levels.Item Shaping Coverage of #Feesmustfall: Investigation of Facebook and Twitter as agenda-setters for South African Newspapers The Times, Daily Sun and The Star(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2018) Mthembu, Vuyo; Cowling, LesleyThe purpose of this research is to investigate social media as an agenda-setter and source of news for print media. The #FeesMustFall student protests, which began on 14 October 2015, is used as a case study for the purposes of the research. The first phase of the project involved collecting and analyzing news articles from the Daily Sun, Times and The Star newspapers. Additional data was collected from Twitter and Facebook to identify the top posters around #FeesMustFall and analyze whether any issues pertinent in social media were covered by the print publications mentioned above. The second phase drew on information from journalists and newspaper editors at the three newspapers. The findings were that social media did play a role as an agenda-setter in varying degrees in the respective newspapers and that there are implications for Journalists in South Africa, in utilizing the platform, in their day to day work.Item Exploitation of Natural Resistance Genes, Mutation and Phytosanitation to Eliminate Cassava Geminiviruses(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-09) Kung’u, Mercy Wambui; Nyaboga, Evans; Rey, ChrissieNot AvailableItem Analysis of Mining Taxation in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2011-05) Shikwambana, CallousMining is one of the principal industries in the South African economy, and thus fulfils an important role from the perspective of the fiscus. Mining is a high-level risk investment which involves massive capital expenditure as well as prolonged periods of non-production of mining income. It is because of this that mining taxation receives special treatment. The term ‘mineral’ is central to determining whether or not a taxpayer can be regarded as being carrying on mining operations in South Africa. A mining process usually involves different stages before minerals are obtained, being prospecting and pre-production stages, followed by the production and post-production stages. Income is earned and expenditure is incurred in all the different stages in the life of a mine. The research report will critically evaluate what is meant by ‘mining and mining operations’ as defined in the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 (‘the Act’). The research report concludes with an analysis and evaluation of how income earned and expenditure incurred in the different stages in the life of a mine are treated in determining the taxable income in respect of a mining taxpayer.