South African photojournalists’ perception of digital technology’s impact on the credibility of news photographs is investigated in this study. Digital technology has the capabilities to produce “manipulated” photographs that appear realistic and credible. Credibility is dependent on a variety of factors including codes of realism and codes of production, which fit conventional codes of photographic representation. Manipulation is the act of deviating from accepted codes of photographic representation that may jeopardise the credibility of news photography. This thesis proposes a new theoretical framework that encompasses existing theories of semiotics, ideology, naturalism, realism and credibility. These theories underpin the definitions and discussion on manipulation and credibility. A descriptive survey is used which attempts to discover photojournalists’ views towards credibility. This research draws on qualitative research methods using a largely qualitative questionnaire, which generates both qualitative and quantitative data. The questions are formulated around two case studies of digitally manipulated photographs. The trends and responses in the research data are connected and discussed. The findings of this study are discussed in terms of credibility, awareness of the digital changes, the reason for the changes, the role of a caption, deletion techniques and background changes. The empirical situation is analysed in relation to the theoretical discussions and this study’s theorisation of photographic representation.

This PhD by published work consists of: • two single authored articles in refereed journals; • four jointly authored articles in refereed journals; • one jointly authored editorial; • one jointly authored book, including four single authored chapters; They were published in the period 2003-2013. Philip Gilligan submitted the jointly written publications as part of his submission for the award of Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Published Work in 2013. This thesis identifies substantive findings, theoretical insights, new questions and practice/policy implications arising from the published work. The body of work has and continues to stimulate debate about the need to recognise and appreciate the significance and relevance of religion and related belief in the lives of people accessing health and social care services in the UK. It outlines the general relevance and impact of religion and related belief and explores questions and research concerned with the extent to which social work takes these matters into account in its practices, polices and professional training. It prompts practitioners to reflect on their own and others’ religious beliefs by providing a framework of nine related principles to assist them in their professional practice. One key finding is the need for service providers and policy makers to develop new services that are more responsive to the diverse needs of people living in the UK today by recognising and adopting some of the diverse helping strategies employed and imported by different communities.

This paper is the result of an empirical research project analysing the decision behaviour of Austrian managers in ethical dilemma situations. While neoclassical economic theory would suggest a pure economic rational basis for management decisions, the empirical study conducted by the authors put other concepts to a test, thereby analysing their importance for managerial decision making: specific notions of fairness, reciprocal altruism, and commitment. After reviewing some of the theoretical literature dealing with such notions, the paper shows the results of an online survey working with scenarios depicting ethical dilemma situations. By judging such scenarios the respondents showed their preference for the named concepts, though with different degrees of confirmation. The results (with all limitations of an online survey in mind) support the theoretical work on the named concepts: Fairness elements (including Rawlsian principles of justice and an understanding of fairness as conceived by a reference transaction) play a major part in management decisions in ethical dilemma situations. Also, commitment as a behaviour that sticks to rules even if personal welfare is negatively touched, and reciprocal altruism as a cooperative behaviour that expects a reciprocal beneficial action from other persons have been concepts used by Austrian managers when analysing ethical dilemmas. The article also tries to put the results into a comparative perspective by taking into account other studies on ethical decision factors conducted with e.g. medical doctors or journalists, and by discussing intercultural implications of business ethics.

LL.M. (Human Rights Law) / Figures released recently by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs indicate that rhino are being poached in South Africa at an alarmingly high rate, meaning that they are being used like a never-ending commercial resource. It has been debated in South Africa that, if legal trade in rhino horn were to be introduced, it may be a solution to curbing rhino poaching. There are animal rights views that condemn the use and exploitation of nonhuman animals for the financial gain of human beings, one of the foremost rights views being that of Tom Regan. In his view, he proposes ways in which nonhuman animals can be perceived as more than just commercial resources. He elaborates on how nonhuman animals can be regarded as beings in their own right with a unique value that entitles them to respectful treatment and, at the very least, protection from harm and cruel treatment. Analyses and arguments made in this dissertation are not rooted in what the economic consequences of having trade in rhino horn would be. They are rooted in morality and in law to demonstrate why trade should be seen as a solution that is a last resort to curbing rhino poaching. The first chapter of this dissertation concerns itself with unpacking the central tenets and principles of Regan’s rights view in the context of how nonhuman animals can be regarded as beings rather than resources. The second chapter provides an analysis of approaches in environmental ethics that are relevant for preserving the rhino for future generations and how this could be achieved with reference to Regan’s rights view. The third chapter deals with the application of Regan’s rights view to legal and illegal trade in rhino horn. This will also include evaluation of plausible methods for securing rhino horn that are available in the event that legal trade in rhino horn is accepted as a solution to the current rhino poaching situation in South Africa.

M.Com. (Business Management) / Corporate social investment (CSI) does not have a universal definition, but corporations tend to interpret it according to the extent of their activity in community social programmes of development. It is of particular importance in South Africa given the fact that South Africa is still a developing country that struggles with high unemployment and inequality. This dissertation explores this concept of CSI in research that was conducted in the community of Letswaleng (Embalenhle), in Mpumalanga, in order to establish whether there is a relationship between the mining company that operates in the community and the community within which it operates. Mining corporations continue to assume little responsibility for the health, education or housing of the families of their black employees while operating in monopolistic conditions and making exorbitant profits. A wide variety of these mining opportunities have attracted multinational enterprises and local firms to invest in the region of Mpumalanga. The purpose of the research was to explore the relationship between the community and the mining company in terms of CSI initiatives. It was also to establish if there are any community structures to ensure that the mining company does consult with the community in making sure that they are kept informed concerning the plans of the mining house within the community. The nature of this research was exploratory, qualitative research and, for this reason, structured interviews were conducted and these were face-to-face. Corporate social investment is an issue that the government needs to take seriously by setting up audit committees to monitor the implementation of these ventures. Government structures such as the Department of Trade and Industry need to fund community structures in order for them to be more effective.

It is widely accepted that accounting education aims to produce competent professional accountants, who are capable of making a positive contribution to the profession and the society in which they work. The provision of a basis of ethical values should therefore be viewed as an important aspect of professional accountants’ education and training. In the face of increasing changes encountered by accountants, it becomes essential that they develop and maintain an attitude of learning to learn (i.e. Continuous Professional Development or CPD). In current times, an education programme for Chartered Accountants (CAs) needs to transcend the traditional approach that emphasised ‘transfer of knowledge’, with learning defined and measured strictly in terms of knowledge of principles, standards, concepts, facts and procedures at a particular time. This study aims to investigate the utilisation of the CPD of ethics among prospective CAs by analysing and statistically interpreting the perceptions and attitudes of a group of undergraduate students at a South African higher education institution, by means of an empirical survey. The objectives of this study are to: (i) demarcate the CA and his/her profession by studying undergraduate students’ perceptions; (ii) determine undergraduate students’ perceptions of CPD, life-long learning (LLL) and ethics, within the framework of a CA and his/her undergraduate education; (iii) investigate the perceived core values within the CA profession; and (iv) analyse specific aspects of the education and training of prospective CAs at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). / Professor Thea L. Voogt Professor Ben Marx

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Magister Theologiae - MTh / It is not possible in this paper to deal with all the moral problems revolving at the "beginning" and "end" of human life in the modern world. However, something must be said about the question regarding respect for human life vis-à-vis abortion and euthanasia, since they are widely discussed today and since they strike at the very heart of traditional morality. The dignity and worth of individual life cannot be derived from analysis of individual life itself. Humanity is not the measure of all things. Whatever value human beings have is strictly transitory unless it is in our relationship to some ultimate source of value outside us. Christian faith understands human value as being established by our relationship with God - a relationship created and given by God himself. It is because we have our being from God and are sustained by God that we can meaningfully affirm the value of individual human life. / South Africa

The diploma thesis analyses czechoslovakian society between 1948 and 1989 with help of ethical blindness concept. It focuses on former living conditions, ways of perceiving socialist system and how public adapted to it. Ethical blindness is a state of mind which makes us blind for the ethical dimension of our decision. It is unintentional and usually short-term, caused by individual characteristics and very strong context. The hypothesis lays in assumptions that ethical blindness was present during the communist era in Czechoslovakia and can be used to interpret passiveness of former public and its consequences. The thesis conerns also those who managed to release themselves from ethical blindness.

The objective of this research is to document the complex journey of wool from cradle to grave and beyond and to analyse the ethical and environmental cost of production from the farm to the knitwear factory, to retail and finally as post-consumer waste. The research findings make a contribution to the growing commercial and consumer in debate in this arcs. Under the spotlight is wool growing including genetic and chemical manipulation and environmental degradation. Human exploitation at manufacturing sites, in some of the poorest countries of the world is discussed. Finally, the involvement of government, charitable and commercial institutions in the business of textile waste disposal which currently takes the form of landfill, incineration and Third World dumping is highlighted. Experiments have been undertaken to produce a small range of knitwear yarns and garments composed of a blend of wool. cotton and polyester. regenerated from 100% post consumer waste originally in the form of wool garments, jeans and drinking bottles. This has involved an innovative collaboration with the local Authority, community groups, a national charity. a textile reclamation company, spinner and commercial knitter. The aim of the research both theoretical and practical is to demonstrate that there are practical ways to 'close the loop' and to flag up the need for design in the 21' Century to focus on post-consumer issues and the manufacture of aesthetic commercially viable products made from non-virgin materials.