Various methods and techniques developed by researchers worldwide for enhancement and processing ATM, MSS· and TM remotely sensed data are tested. on LANDSAT 5 Thematic Mapper data from a part of the Barberton Greenstone Belt straddling the border between the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Swaziland. Various enhancement techniques employed to facilitate the extraction of structural features and lineaments, and the findings Of the ensuing photogeologlcal interpretation are compared with existing geological maps~ Methods for the detection of zones of hydrothermal alteration. are also considered. The reflectance from vegetation, both natural and cultivated, and the possible reduction of the interference caused by this reflectance, are considered in detail. Partial unmixing of reflectances through the use of various methods and techniques, some of which are readily available from the literature, are performed and its effectiveness tested. Since large areas within the study area are covered by plantations, the interfereiice from the two types of vegetation present (i.e. natural and cultivated), were initially considered separately. In an attempt to isolate the forested areas from the natural vegetation, masks derived through image classification were used to differentially enhance the various features. Results indicate that the use of any particular method to the exclusion of all others will seriously limit the scope of conclusions possible through interpretation of the information present. Enhancement of information in one domain will inadvertently lead to the suppression of information from one or more of the coexisting domains. A series of results from a sequence of procedures interpreted in parallel will in every case produce information of a higher decision making quality. / AC2017

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, for the Degree of master of Arts in Clinical psychology. / The aim of the research is to find out whether white male South Africans who Leave high school before completion of their studies differ significantly in the personality domains of neuroticism; extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness, from their counterparts who complete their high school studies. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / AC2017

A dissertation submitted to the Facult:y of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, for the degree of Master of Science, Johannesburg 1994 / Rhizosheaths are sandy coatings covering ~ ~ entire length of the roots of many grass species~ .: They consLab of a mass of sand and silica particles en4?eddedin a mucilaginous layer and are matted togethel.· by a meahwozk of prolific epidermal had.ns, A study of the phenomenon of zhd aosheat.ha in South African grasses was undertaken. Aspects which were invest.igated include the occurrence of rhizosheaths amongSouth African grasses and the influence of environmental ccndftions on th.e presenc~ and , extent of rhizosheath development. In addition, information was ~fsll!led on their possible functions in terms of their contribution (s ) to plant vigour, through their influence on (1 nutrient and water uptake, particularly in low nutrient soil~ in '~\ ;'';-''>"\\ arid areas. An extensive surv,sy of herbal:"iul!lspecimens was conducted at the .. National Herbarium in Pretoria. It Wasfound that the presence" of rhizosheaths is a genetically fixed trait, occurring in the majority of gra~s species in south Africa. The extent to which sheaths develop (the thickness of the sheat.h and the degree 'to which the soil particles are bound to the sheath), varies between, and sometimes wi thin;) species. ~< Ii' Seeds of three sheath forming grass spccf.es which occur in South Africa, Anthephora pubescens Nees, Digitaria exientib« Steud and Eragrostis pallens Hade, were gr.ownundez different condi.t.Lona of soil texture and different conditions of water and nutrient (nitrogen (N') and phosphorus: (P) aVailability. Sheath development was found to be more extensive the higher the sand (relative/.: to clay) content in the soil. In addition, rhizoFlheaths developed to a greater extent in sandy soil with high watsr and nutrient availabilityu Therefore, the extent to whi;chsheaths develop is a facultative response directly to sandy soil, rather than toe resulting lower water and nutrient availability in this snil. A:fter \: Jtudying a number of physiological and morphological factors of the indiv~dua.ls in the different water and uutrient treatments it appeared that rhizosheaths compensate",dfor low water availability. In additionq sheaths appeared to «compensate -. I.' for low N availability when this 101;1T availability was a result of low soil water contentc The influence of sheath thickness on immobile nutrient ion uptake was investigated.. 'l'his was achieved by stimulating withinspeoies variation in sheath thiokness and mea.suring the difference in P uptake. The individuals with thick sheaths extracted more p from the. soil, and ~rom a greater volume of soil, than individuals with thin sheaths. This was particularly evident in conditi.ons of low P availabili,;ty i thereby highlighting , the important influence of thick rhizoshea,ths in soils with a low """" p status. The microbial biomass (as indicat;ed by t.he microbial Nand carbon concentrations) in the sheath soil was compared to that in the l?}y_k soil and the rliizosphe:r.e/out.er ,rhizosphere soil of r{ tinsheathed/sheathep, roots. Fromthi~ study it w~s concluded that rhj..zosheaths influence the"mic;:roorganisms in the soil ~djacent, \, to the root surface, since the l.hizosheath I')oil had a sigl,.ificantly higher microbial biomass than the soil .1:romthe other regions. " Fron\.the study it was concluded that the pzeaence of rhj.z6sheaths :maybe a mechanismemployed byce~tain grass species in order to enhance their ability to t.olera,te dry soil, which has J.owNand P availability. This mechanismmaybe a. sUbstitute for increased root production and root branching as well a~ increased mycorrhizal associations in plants in arid, low nutrient status soils~

FEBRUARY, 2016 A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Development Planning. / Since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, significant strides have been made in (ensuring equal access to) education. With that Section 29 of the highest law in the land – the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996) – has made provision for the realisation of a basic education for all citizens. Moreover, significant portions of the national budget have since been set aside annually in ensuring the realisation of this right. Yet, the quality of education remains unequal across municipal space(s), even against the backdrop of the amalgamation of previously disadvantaged spaces (such as Luphisi) with affluent areas (such as Mbombela/Nelspruit). This has resulted in the persistence of ‘two worlds of education’ within municipalities as in the case of Mbombela Local Municipality. A world of well-resourced schools and exceptional matric pass rates flourish in Nelspruit/Mbombela, while a world of impoverishment and low academic performance rates is experienced in Luphisi. This research refers to this predicament as ‘structural inequalities between Model C and Rural Schools’ resulting in spatial educational inequalities. The research explores the problems re structural inequalities between Model C and Rural Schools, using the case of Sdungeni Secondary School in Mbombela Local Municipality’s Luphisi village to uncover these hindrances. The report departed by focusing on birth location and the socioeconomic background of learners and how this has a great influence in the kind of education a learner is likely to receive. Using the qualitative method of enquiry, which is a multi-layered type of research technique that crosscuts disciplines, fields, and subjects, the study arrived at presenting a cohort and demonstration of multiple truths rather than ‘a single truth’. The research brought to light that whilst the government has made concerted efforts at ensuring the equal structures of education in different municipal spaces, these efforts are still hampered by class (as a residue of apartheid) as well as government’s adoption of neoliberalist policies which further perpetuate the rich-poor divide. It was also noted that the confusion regarding the governance of schools – due in large part to traditional and/or structural issues – may be hindering the upgrading of rural schools with amenities and higher grades. Consequently, schools – by virtue of their location, morphology, still play a significant role in reproducing and perpetuating social class divisions as well as ordering different societies according to their ‘latently prescribed’ nature(s) of function

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Interpreting. Cape Town 2016. / The present study looks at the use of child interpreters in a South African context and its potential far-reaching, negative effects. Reference is made to studies conducted in other countries, with the aim of determining potentially similar findings locally. Focus groups and one-on-one interviews with service providers in contact with current child interpreters, as well as former child interpreters are conducted to establish their respective experiences with the phenomenon. Furthermore, questionnaires were also used as a data collection tool for subjects unable to attend interviews. The study employs a qualitative approach, with the use of a relatively small, but sufficient sample size. On the basis of the findings, the present report presents conclusions regarding the motives for the perpetuation of the practice of child interpreting, and it furthermore presents possible measures or regulations that need to be designed and implemented to protect the rights of the child interpreter. / GR2017

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management, specialising in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation Johannesburg, 2017 / This study examined the relationship between business failure and macroeconomic fluctuations within business cycles of South Africa’s economy for the time period 1980 to 2016. The study also sought to understand where, if any, immediate and lag correlations between fluctuations and business failure could be established. To understand this connection, this study used longitudinal data sets of different macroeconomic factors and studied their influence on business failure. The vector error correction model (VECM) was used to determine the long-term relationship between failure and each of the other variables. Additionally, Granger Causality was applied to establish whether the macroeconomic variables investigated in this study can be constructed to predict the probability of business failures. Three classes of macroeconomic predictor variables were considered. Firstly, well-known international variables in the form of GDP and CPI were used. Secondly, the study incorporated the three Composite Business Cycle indicators- leading, coincident and lagging. Lastly, behavioural indicators were used to incorporate the views of the actual businesses and their customers, which for this the study were the Business and Consumer Confidence Indices. After examining the effects the 7 macroeconomic variables had on business failure, the study found that there is a long-run relationship between the Composite Lagging Business Cycle indicator, the Business Confidence and Consumer confidence, which influenced Business Failure. Additionally, it was noted that Business Failure influence the Composite Lagging Business Cycle indicator in the long-run. The study additionally found that Business Failure may Granger Cause the Composite Leading Business Cycle indicator Outcomes of the study are potentially vital for entrepreneurs to understand the timing of entry into markets based on macroeconomic fluctuations through their cycles in certain industries. Business owners can make proactive financial and strategic decisions vital for survival of their business through the expansion and especially in the contraction cycles of the macroeconomic environments. / MT2017

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management (Business and Executive Coaching). Wits Business School Johannesburg, 2017 / The study occurs against a backdrop of the growth of the coaching industry globally as it increases in popularity (Linley, 2006; Filley-Travis & Lane, 2006) particularly in organizational settings, where coaching is increasingly being relied upon as a significant part of learning and development (Joo, 2005). Despite the exponential growth, there is still no recognition of professional status by the state and society at large in the way that other professions are recognised. In 2008 the global coaching convention resolved to explore the feasibility of professionalisation in the different markets. Locating this global discussion on professionalization of coaching in the South African market, this study was conducted to establish the status of this market and to provide an understanding of the factors underlying the professionalization of coaching in South Africa and their respective contribution to the status quo. The study approaches the developments from several perspectives including the sociology of the professions and stakeholder theory. Taking a qualitative research methodology approach, data was obtained from semi-structured interviews with stakeholders and archival data including policies, legislation and websites. The Burrage multi-actor framework (Burrage, Jaraush, & Siegrist, 1990) was used as a guideline for sampling in order to provide a multiple stakeholder perspective. There were different discussion guides for the different stakeholder groupings. In total, there were fourteen interviews conducted. Data was analysed using Atlas software. Findings of the study reveal that the developments in the South African executive coaching industry have not followed the path of traditional professions as described by Willensky (1964). The prevailing position reflects a mixture of traditional and modern characteristics of professionalisation. To a large extent, there was consensus on the issues that are common across all stakeholder groupings, although there was some dissent as these stakeholder groupings have varying motives and positions. There was greater divergence of view within professional associations as a single stakeholder group. Part of this is reflected in the disparate occupational strategies pursued. / MT 2017

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) March 2017 / The objective of this study is twofold: first to evaluate the magnitude of the effect of endogenous and exogenous risk factors in the success of South African (SA) small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); second, to develop a framework for an integrated risk assessment model that can be used to assess SA SMEs holistically. Drawing from the entrepreneurial ecosystem, systems perspective, GEM framework and complex theory, an integrated risk assessment model framework that is person-centric, interdisciplinary, and multidimensional (individual, firm and environment) is formulated. This was a cross-sectional, quantitative study, which followed a post-positivist approach. Primary data, with a sample size of 286, was collected from SA SMEs through self-administered questionnaires. Data analysis included correlational analysis, backward elimination method, hierarchical multiple regression and mediation analysis. Financial capital, entrepreneurial self-efficacy on growth and risk perception emerged as significant predictors of SME success. However financial capital is by far the most influential predictor of financial performance. The results also confirmed the mediating effect of financial capital between entrepreneurial self-efficacy (finance and growth) and financial performance. Entrepreneurs who are confident can raise enough capital for their businesses, thus producing successful SMEs. Government policies and support programmes need to take a holistic view when supporting SMEs. While taking a holistic view, priority needs to be put on making capital available for entrepreneurs to develop and grow their businesses. Training programmes can focus on up-skilling entrepreneurs regarding entrepreneurial tasks that can improve their self-efficacy in management, financial understanding, and growth of their businesses. The study’s findings are important in that they help funders realise that business plans and financial projections are not the most important predictors of SME success, thus the need to review current risk assessment models. / MT 2017

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology by Coursework and Research Report, Johannesburg, 2017 / Experiences of transgender individuals in South Africa have largely remained marginalised and silenced by a discriminatory, gender binary and prescriptive society, in spite of progressive legislation within the constitution. The literature reviewed substantiated such experiences both within and outside of the South African transgender communities, further illuminating the need to deepen the understanding of transgender and gender identity dynamics. Through in depth face-to-face interviews with five self-identified adult transgender participants, the present study documented experiences identified as they navigated their gender identity and expression from dissonance towards gender congruency. The interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis. The results of the qualitative interviews revealed multiple beneficial factors as well as challenges whilst navigating gender congruent identity and expression. As a result, seven overarching themes were identified broadly defined as: (1) gender identity and dissonance; (2) gender expression; (3) challenges to gender congruency; (4) protective factors and coping strategies; (5) ‘coming out’; (6) toward gender congruent expression and (7) activism. / XL2018

Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Social Work. / This study aimed at analyzing the social service programmes of 30 randomly selected 'progressive organisations' in terms of: 1. the nature of services offered 2. their rationale for service delivery 3. the goals of service delivery 4. the values and principles underlying service delivery 5. the strategies and methods used for service delivery 6. the outcome of services as perceived by the progressive organisations. on the basis of the information gathered, it was intended that this study would contribute towards an evolving understanding of the indigenisation process ocourring in social service delivery in South Africa. A qualitative-descriptive research design was used. A total of 103 organisations which met the requirements of a 'progressive organisation' with a 'social service programme' Were identified in the PWV area. From this universe, a 26% sample of 27 organisations was randomly drawn. An administered schedule was utilised in order to gather data from the respondents. Data was prooessed according to the SAS (Statistical Analysis of the Social sciences) programme. It was found that a move towards indigenisation has begun to emerge. This model of welfare has been in direct contrast to the traditional formal welfare system in South Africa Which historically was based on the ideology of apartheid. The major conclusions arising out of this study were that the progressive social service organisations under study were contributing towards the development of authentic social service delivery by: Incorporating social services into their programmes in order to meet the unmet social welfare needs of people, These unmet needs arose as a direct result of an inadequate formal welfare system in South Africa. Playing a major role in fulfilling peoples' unmet soclial welfare needs by offering services which welte traditionally not offered by most welfare organisations in South Africa. Incorporating new methodologies in to their service delivery as part of their commitment to make their services accessible and accountable to consumers. Being acutely conscious of the duality of their political and service objectives and delliberately striving to promote both. This combination of political and service objectives was carried out by including social development principles into service delivery. A general theme encapsulates the recommendations of this study. This refers to incorporating the experiences of the progressive social service movement into: social policy making education and training of social workers and, into furthering the process of authentication and indigenisation of social welfare in South Africa. It is further recommended that the indigenisation experiences of other countries should be studied in order to provide 'useful insights in the planning of a more appropriate model of social welfare in South Africa. / Andrew Chakane 2019