Early stage fishes, namely larvae and early juveniles, were collected from 12 estuaries and associated habitats in the warm temperate region of South Africa between July 1998 and December 2000. This study served to provide new information and expand on existing knowledge of early stage fish assemblages associated with various types of Eastern Cape estuaries. A total of 65 536 predominantly postflexion fish larvae were collected. Together with early juveniles, taxa comprised 72 species from 25 teleost fish families. Surf zones associated with two intermittently open estuaries showed that estuary-dependent marine species predominated in this zone. Early stage fishes responded positively during natural estuary opening events and concentrated along the estuary outflow plume, suggesting that cueing from estuary and/or river water may be taking place. A habitat study in the Swartkops Estuary, using light traps, showed that newly recruited larval fishes concentrated along the margins of the estuary and unlike their older juvenile counterparts, were poorly represented in eelgrass beds. A multi-estuary comparison, including seven permanently open and five intermittently open estuaries, indicated that early stage fish assemblages were more diverse than indicated by past investigations. Early stage fishes were also shown to concentrate in the mesohaline regions of these estuaries. Studies of estuaries with altered freshwater flow regimes were also included in the research. A regulated release of dam water in the euhaline Kromme Estuary failed to induce a cueing response from estuary-dependent marine fish larvae. This project showed that large amounts of freshwater are required to reverse the negative effects of river impoundments. The release study did show that estuary-resident fishes were sensitive to small natural pulses of freshwater and responded by spawning. However, excessive river supply through an inter-basin water transfer scheme was shown to have a flushing effect on the larvae and early juveniles of the estuary-resident Gilchristella aestuaria in the upper reaches of the Great Fish Estuary. This effect was evident in comparisons with the freshwater starved Kariega Estuary where concentrations of G. aestuaria, a species usually more abundant in freshwater rich estuaries, were considerably higher. This finding suggests that freshwater minima and maxima be considered when assessing and managing estuarine systems.

This short policy brief advocates for more attention to be paid to the potential of natural resource commercialisation as a means to livelihood security and poverty alleviation in rural South Africa. It is one of a set of four policy briefs based on the findings of several case studies across the country.

This thesis takes the form of an in-depth case study within which the play therapy process of an aggressive 5-year-old boy was explored. The aim of the research was to examine the abundant expressions of aggression that were present within his therapy, and in so doing reflect their rich communicative content and their relevance and purpose in the development of his Self. Object relations theory formed the lens and theoretical context for this research with Winnicott’s contributions and Parens' model of aggression being considered in particular. A detailed data resource of the therapy process was compiled and transposed into narrative form. These narratives were reviewed with a reading guide as a means to facilitate a hermeneutic exploration of the data. The emergent themes were considered against the case data and the current theory, which allowed for their further analysis and development. From this the value of using Parens’ model was considered and deemed useful although limited in its contribution. The analysis and the themes which emerged conveyed how within this case the child’s aggression presented as: a significant feature of his ambivalence towards relationships; a powerful and pervasive protective fantasy of omnipotence; inherently linked to his sense of self and self expression; and as actively involved in his True Self’s hope-filled attempts for an alternative experience. This thesis provides a descriptive account of a challenging case, offering insights into the value and meaningful content of aggressive behaviours, with the intention being to reflect that which is often not easily appreciated or readily observable within such a therapy process, a trace of hope.

It is a widely acknowledged fact that women’s access to the full rights of citizenship in the liberal state is restricted because of their unequal responsibility for childcare. The South African state, however, despite its theoretical commitment to gender equality, has failed substantially to engage with the issue of childcare and women’s citizenship. This is problematic because in failing to envisage a role for itself in supporting women with their responsibility for childcare, the state has not only neglected its Constitutional commitments to gender equality, but it has also failed to realise the benefits that could potentially accrue to children if women’s access to economic citizenship is not hampered by childcare. Recognising this problem, this thesis attempts to engender some debate as to how the South African state could feasibly correct this failure. In doing so, it uses feminist political theory as a basis and takes a critical view of the two childcare policies that have dominated the debate over women’s citizenship and childcare in Western liberal democracies – socialised care and the neofamilialist model. In concluding it attempts to provide an idea of what feasible, state-based childcare policies could look like in present-day South Africa.

In this study we apply the knowledge of fuzzy sets to group structures and also to decision-making implications. We study fuzzy subgroups of finite abelian groups. We set G = Z[subscript p[superscript n]] + Z[subscript q[superscript m]]. The classification of fuzzy subgroups of G using equivalence classes is introduced. First, we present equivalence relations on fuzzy subsets of X, and then extend it to the study of equivalence relations of fuzzy subgroups of a group G. This is then followed by the notion of flags and keychains projected as tools for enumerating fuzzy subgroups of G. In addition to this, we use linear ordering of the lattice of subgroups to characterize the maximal chains of G. Then we narrow the gap between group theory and decision-making using relations. Finally, a theory of the decision-making process in a fuzzy environment leads to a fuzzy version of capital budgeting. We define the goal, constraints and decision and show how they conflict with each other using membership function implications. We establish sets of intervals for projecting decision boundaries in general. We use the knowledge of triangular fuzzy numbers which are restricted field of fuzzy logic to evaluate investment projections.

This commentary looks at the influences of globalisation on broadcasting policy reforms in Zambia and South Africa, with specific focus on such processes as deregulation, privatisation, commercialisation, communitarianism and technological convergence. It concludes that globalisation does not affect southern African countries uniformly; rather, it is refracted in accordance with the different cultural and political experiences of such countries.

This lecture looks at the role of the media in promoting an enhanced citizenship, locating the debate within the discourse of development and freedom. It identifies threats to what can be characterised as a 'media-citizens compact', such as media over-commercialisation. It concludes that public-service media are cardinal to the enjoyment of citizenship rights and freedoms.

This presentation gives a descriptive and analytical overview of the implementation of the Rhodes eResearch Repository system at Rhodes University, building on an ETD programme started in 1998. This project involves staff from Rhodes University Library and the Information Technology Division, with the approval of the Dean of Research. With the support of Management and a strong university IT culture of using open source software, Rhodes University Library planned the implementation of the system without major bureaucratic obstacles. We did, however, experience limited budgetary support and severe staff constraints. This poster aims to encourage institutions with limited resources to start IR programmes and emphasizes the short space of time required “to get up and go”.

This inaugural lecture is in two parts: each related to a different nexus of the four types of scholarly activity. The first reflects on my career and is an examination of how I have developed as a teacher and learner. The key scholarly activities being discovery, integration and teaching. The second part reflects on the evolution of my research interests and leads up to an examination of the land question in South Africa. The scholarly activities in this part of the lecture are discovery, integration and application.

What role can the commercialisation of natural resource products play in the efforts to reduce poverty and vulnerability and how can this be enhanced? With poverty alleviation at the top of the global development agenda, this is a question posed by many scholars, practitioners, donor agencies and government departments operating at the environment-development interface. However, recent commentary on this issue is mixed and ambiguous, with some observers being quite optimistic regarding the potential of these products, while others hold a counter view. This thesis explores the livelihood contributions and poverty alleviation potential of four products traded locally in the Bushbuckridge municipality, South Africa; namely traditional brooms, reed mats, woodcraft and a beer made from the fruits of Sclerocarya birrea. A common approach, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, was used to investigate the harvesting, processing and marketing arrangements, sustainability and livelihood contributions of each product. The results illustrate that any inference regarding the potential of the trade to alleviate poverty depends on how poverty is defined and interpreted, and on whether the role of these products is assessed from a holistic livelihood perspective that includes notions of vulnerability, alternatives and choice, diversification and the needs of rural producers themselves. Overall, the products studied were key in enhancing the livelihood security of the poorest members of society, forming an important safety net and assisting in raising household incomes to levels equivalent to the wider population, but generally were unlikely, on their own, to provide a route out of poverty. However, there were notable exceptions, with marked variation evident both within and across products. Incomes often surpassed local wage rates, and a minority of producers were obtaining returns equivalent to or greater than the official minimum wage. Other benefits, such as the opportunity to work from home or to diversify the livelihood portfolio, were also crucial, with the trade representing different livelihood strategies for different households. When viewed within the context of rising unemployment and HIV/AIDS these findings assume greater significance. While the trades were complex and growth limited, livelihood benefits could be improved on a sustainable basis if the sector was given the attention and support it deserves.