The Binomial option pricing model plays an integral role in modern nance due to its simplicity to implement and pedagogical value. There are two ways of extending the Binomial model on one source of underlying risk. The rst is to expand the number of possible states after each time step which results in the multinomial model. The second is to increase the number of sources of underlying risk. In this dissertation, the extension of the Binomial model in both cases is discussed. Numerical investigation is done to evaluate convergence patterns and computational intensity of a number of non-vanilla options. These include rainbow, basket and digital options, as well as convertible bonds. Theoretical and actual convergence is discussed and compared. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Mathematics and Applied Mathematics / MSc / Unrestricted

This document describes the re-engineering principles applied in the design of a personnel transportation system for a platinum mine in the Rustenburg area of South Africa. It incorporates conveyor belt travelling, chairlift operation and also includes consideration of proposed changes / modifications to existing conveyor belt infrastructure. The purpose of the project was to identify the appropriate option and / or combination of transportation options through a process of evaluation that would be safe in terms of personnel transportation and cost effectiveness. If alternative measures could be found to transport personnel (in other words not using belt riding as a means of transport), it would have a significant positive spin-off increasing the availability of the belt, to increase production. This document therefore explores the feasibility of new interventions investigated. The design in consideration at the Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine consisted of two shaft systems, namely the North Shaft and South Shaft. Each shaft system comprises of twin decline shafts. One of which is equipped with a conveyor belt for rock and personnel transportation and the other with a winder for track bound material transport. From the date of commissioning of the shafts, the conveyor belt was used for personnel transportation. The conveyor belt is equipped with platforms for getting off and on the belt and a number of safety devices designed to ensure the safety of personnel travelling on the conveyor belt. Intensive training in the practical aspects of belt riding was given to each and every person and unsupervised riding on the belt was only undertaken once belt riding competence was demonstrated. Despite this, the safety results were poor, having experienced 106 injuries between 2006 and May 2013. No fatalities were reported during this period. It was therefore needed to investigate alternative means for personnel transportation or through engineered solutions to the current conveyor belt infrastructure in the safest, most effective and most economical way. There was a major risk of safety related stoppages being imposed following another belt accident / incident. This would prevent the mine from transporting personnel underground by belt and subsequently result in major production losses. From the commissioning of the Phase 2 shaft deepening project on both shafts, the decision was to install dedicated chairlifts for personnel transportation opposed to the man riding conveyor belt installed in the Phase 1 area. The chairlift installations were in operation since 2004 and no chairlift related incidents were recorded thus far. According to safety statistics it was clear that the chairlift installation is the safer method for the transportation of people in the shaft. To fulfil the objectives / scope of this investigation / study, it was recommended that both primary (new chairlift decline with infrastructure) and secondary options (modifications to the current conveyor belt infrastructure) be considered for implementation on both North Shaft and South Shaft to reduce / eliminate accidents / incidents as a result of belt transportation. The associated CAPEX would be approximately ZAR 200 million. Considering the future impact on the business as a whole, this would definitely be CAPEX well spent! / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Mining Engineering / MEng / Unrestricted

This study investigates the use of drama-in-education (hereafter DIE) to explore the ways in which South African adolescents construct and perform gender identity. The study provides a brief outline of Life Orientation as a leaning area as part of the South African national curriculum, based on principles of outcomes-based-education, to contextualise the study. It maps the theoretical underpinnings that informs the implementation of the case study by theorising writings on power, identity and gender, with specific focus on the work of Michel Foucault and Judith Butler. Furthermore, it conceptualises a pedagogical base for the use of drama-ineducation as methodology, by premising the work of Paulo Freire, as well as the dominant proponents of drama-in-education applicable to the case study. The theoretical underpinnings of the study, as well as drama-in-education serve to inform a critical discourse analysis of a case study conducted with Grade 10 learners in a secondary school in the Western Cape, South Africa. In the case study, this research explores ideas that influence the construction of gender identity as outlined by the Life Orientation curriculum, such as stereotypes, gender roles and power relations. The case study consists of a drama-in-education process, presented in 9 learning sessions. This study posits that DIE as a teaching methodology or instructional tool has the potential to stimulate modes of critical thought and understanding(s) of the ways in which gender identity is constructed. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Drama / MA / Unrestricted

Some validations of and extensions to the Parametric‐Historic procedure as developed in a two‐paper sequel by Andrzej Kijko and Gerhard Graham in 1998 and 1999 are presented. The source‐free distribution they derive is validated through a somewhat more rigorous mathematical derivation. The approach is also extended in two ways. The first extension involves direct application of the estimators, which they used to determine maximum regional magnitude, now to directly determine the maximum possible peak ground acceleration at a specific site. The second extension is a generalization of the distribution of peak ground acceleration in a semi‐closed form solution to incorporate a wider range of ground motion prediction equations. The first extension is straightforward and is simultaneously developed and validated by example application to actual ground motion data. The second extension is derived and then applied to a specific ground motion prediction equation as example to illustrate its performance. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Geology / MSc / Unrestricted

In the context of medical research, children are especially vulnerable to exploitation. As a result several codes of research ethics emphasise the need for special protection. Prior to the implementation of the National Health Act children participating in medical research enjoyed limited legal protection. Instead, research and ethical committees relied on non-research law and ethical guidelines to identify protective measures for children. The National Health Act establishes a platform for developing a wide range of legal norms for research on human subjects and supplements and strengthens the already existing principles related to informed consent. The Act deals specifically with consent for child participation in research. Section 71 requires written consent from a parent or legal guardian for a child to participate in all research conducted with minors, irrespective of age. In addition, minors with sufficient understanding must consent alongside their parents or legal guardians. While the purpose of the Act is to provide legal protection to participants, it fails to take into account the emerging autonomy of the adolescent sufficiently and ignores the fact that many children do not have parents or legal guardians and are cared for by alternative caregivers. These stricter controls are in contravention with other legislation such as the Children’s Act and Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, and may also undermine the constitutional rights of children. The study critically evaluates the consent requirements of the National Health Act with reference to the evolving capabilities of children and the exercise of their parents’ or caregivers’ parental or similar responsibilities and rights, and relevant suggestions are made. The study discusses the conceptual framework related to medical research on children and the applicable international and national regulatory framework. The position before and after the Act came into operation is also assessed. An evaluation of the requirements for consent to be informed is made and a description of the current legal framework related to the acquisition and exercise of parental responsibilities and rights is considered. Specific reference is made to situations where children do not reside with parents or guardians but with alternative caregivers. In conclusion, a comparative study is undertaken and relevant suggestions are made. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Private Law / LLM / Unrestricted

This dissertation aims to establish whether individuals who have to incur e-toll expenses in travelling between their home and workplace since the implementation of e-tolling on roads forming part of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), referred to as “e-toll commuting expenses”, should be allowed to deduct these expenses for income tax purposes. These individuals are referred to as salaried individuals or salaried work commuters. The implementation of e-tolling on GFIP roads has led to a situation where salaried work commuters who have to make use of these roads in travelling between their home and workplace will now have to incur this additional e-toll commuting expense without receiving any tax relief. Although e-toll commuting expenses meet the requirements of the general deduction formula in s 11(a) of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 (“ITA”) to qualify as a deduction for income tax purposes, there are other provisions in the ITA which effectively prohibit the deduction of such commuting expenses. Section 23(b) of the ITA prohibits the deduction of all commuting expenses on the basis that they constitute a domestic or private expense. This was the decision of the Appellate Division in Commissioner for Inland Revenue v De Villiers, which is the leading authority on this topic. This was also the decision in a number of court cases decided before and after this judgment was handed down. Section 23(b) has been amended by the Legislature from time to time and although these amendments related to the deductibility of home office expenses and not to the deductibility of commuting expenses, the reason behind these amendments are relevant to the topic of this dissertation. Furthermore, s 23(m) also effectively prohibits the deduction of such commuting expenses by limiting the number of specific deductions in s 11(a) that are available to salaried individuals. As this limitation does not apply to individuals who work as agents or representatives and who earn their income mainly from commission, the question arises whether the differentiation created by this section is rational and constitutionally permissible in terms of s 9(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. It is submitted that such differentiation is indeed rational. Considering the public’s vehement opposition to the implementation of e-tolling and in light of the fact that, internationally, public acceptance is one of the factors that affect the success of such a road pricing initiative, it is argued that a tax deduction should be granted to salaried work commuters for all e-toll commuting expenses incurred by them. It is submitted that such a deduction will improve public acceptance by addressing some of the equity and socio-economic concerns caused by e-tolling and improve compliance with the e-tolling payment provisions without leading to a significant increase in congestion on GFIP roads. Although this will reduce government’s revenue from income tax, the reduced government funding required by SANRAL can offset such loss in revenue due to increased public compliance with the e-tolling payment provisions. Finally, it is submitted that a tax deduction for e-toll commuting expenses should only be granted to salaried work commuters who are also registered users in terms of the E-Road Regulations in Government Gazette 36911. Such a deduction provision should also require salaried work commuters to keep records of when they incurred these deductions. It is also argued that the amount that ought to be allowed as a deduction should be determined by having regard to the social and economic impact of the provisions of the ITA on salaried work commuters and so as to alleviate their tax burden without eroding the existing tax base. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Mercantile Law / LLM / Unrestricted

Wraps are an unleavened, flat, and circular bread that is 1- 2 mm thick. White bread flour made from wheat is extensively used in the manufacture of wraps in South Africa. Low grade flour is a by product of milling and can be used as a cheaper alternative to white bread flour. Its high phenolic content and associated antioxidant activity may offer potential health benefits such as reduction in the risk of lifestyle diseases related to oxidative stress. In addition, its relatively higher dietary fibre content offers potential anti-diabetic properties unlike white bread flour which has a high glycaemic index. However the weak gluten quality of low grade flour can compromise the dough rheological properties and quality of wraps. Xanthan gum can improve weak gluten quality by mimicking the viscoelastic properties of gluten. Xanthan is also known to improve the quality of baked products. The objective of this research was to produce a health beneficial wrap of good quality using low grade flour with added xanthan gum. Low grade wheat flour was used to manufacture wraps. Xanthan gum (0.5% and 0.25% (w/w)) was added to low grade flour. The dough rheological properties of the flour, the quality, and shelf life of the wraps were determined. White bread flour was used as a reference sample in this research. Water absorption, and Farinograph mixing stability of low grade flour increased with increasing concentration of xanthan gum. Low grade flour with 0.5% xanthan gum had similar mixing stability to white bread flour. Mixing tolerance index (MTI) of low grade flour decreased with addition of xanthan gum, and the MTI of low grade flour with 0.25% xanthan gum was similar to white bread flour. At 50% flour hydration (constant hydration), as well as at flour hydration according to Farinograph water absorption (adapted hydration), the dough tenacity of low grade flour was increased by the addition of xanthan gum, while the dough extensibility was decreased by xanthan gum addition. At adapted hydration, the dough extensibility of low grade flour with 0.5% xanthan gum was similar to the dough extensibility of white bread flour. The P/L ratio expresses the relationship between the dough strength, and the dough extensibility. The P/L ratio of low grade flour with 0.5% xanthan gum had a value of 0.5 which makes it suitable for bread making. The pasting viscosities of low grade flour increased with the addition of xanthan gum. Wraps made from low grade flour did not puff during baking. Xanthan gum addition however did improve puffing in wraps made from low grade flour. The puffing of wraps made from low grade flour with 0.5% xanthan gum was similar to the puffing of wraps made from white bread flour. Wraps could only be stored for three days before mould growth was visible. Wraps made from low grade flour with 0.25% xanthan gum had the lowest rollability score, a lower modulus and higher extensibility over time. On day 0, all wraps exhibited a B-type crystallinity as determined by X-Ray diffractometer. The % crystallinity of all wraps increased over storage time. Percent crystallinity increased from 5% to 11.6% for wraps made from white bread flour; for wraps made from low grade flour it increased from 7% to 11%; for wraps made from low grade flour; with added xanthan gum (0.25%) it increased from 7% to 12%, and for wraps made from low grade flour with added xanthan gum (0.5%) it increased from 5.1% to 13%. A thermogram peak on the DSC was only visible on day 3 of storage between 95 and 102◦C for the wrap made from white bread flour. The total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of wraps made from low grade flour were higher than those of wraps made from white bread flour. Simulated gastro-intestinal digests of the wraps had higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity than the acidified methanol extract. The relatively higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of wraps made from low grade flour indicates that they may offer potential health benefits. Low grade flour however produces a poor quality wrap, with a reduced shelf life. Addition of xanthan gum to low grade flour improves dough rheology, as well as the quality of wraps. This is possibly due to the interactions which occur between xanthan gum and wheat proteins, as well as between xanthan gum with the amylose of the starch molecule. The wraps with 0.25% xanthan gum produce wraps with a better quality. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Food Science / MSc / Unrestricted

The shopping centre industry is booming and shopping centres are built and planned in areas where previously there were no formal shopping opportunities. The profile of the typical South African shopper or consumer has changed from the traditional white affluent consumer to a diverse mix of heterogeneous cultures and nationalities and saw exponential growth in the spending power of the black middle class consumer. The focus of the study was to investigate consumers’ shopping centre behaviours, with specific reference to the attractiveness of the shopping centre, travel distance, patronage frequency and transportation used. The primary objective of this study was to determine the perceptions of black consumers regarding the attractiveness of the Riverside Mall, a shopping centre in Nelspruit, the capital city in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. Various secondary objectives investigating possible differences relating to demographic profiles and other shopping centre behaviours and the perceptions of the consumers regarding the attractiveness factors were also investigated. The secondary objectives also included grouping the individual attractiveness attributes into factors as well as assessing the ability of the attractiveness factors to predict the overall shopping centre attractiveness. A two-stage research design, also called pluralistic design, was used for this study. Phase one was a qualitative design consisting of focus groups and personal interviews; and stage two a quantitative design. A total of 400 black shoppers were interviewed using a selfadministered questionnaire that was distributed within the shopping centre during the intercept survey. The descriptive statistics are reported as well as regression analysis, factor analysis, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests results. Findings from the research indicated that respondents visit shopping centres on a regular basis for shopping, browsing and socialising. The respondents indicated that the shopping centre was overall attractive and the individual shopping centre attractiveness attributes were grouped into four factors after the factor analysis: entertainment and facilities, quality and atmospherics, convenience and way-finding and decor. No differences on the perceptions of attractiveness factors between male and female consumers could be found. The traditional view of male and females differing in their enjoyment of shopping or time spent in a shopping centre seem not be substantiated in this research but the results however confirm that due to several possible reasons, such as duel income families, men are more exposed to shopping and visiting shopping centres and as such display similar behaviour than females. The age group 25 - 40 years, indicated differences in their perception of the attractiveness factors. These shoppers are a distinctive and discerning group and their perceptions of shopping centre attractiveness are different from shoppers in other age groups. The regression analysis revealed that Factor 1 ‘Entertainment and Facilities’ had the biggest effect on the overall attractiveness of the shopping mall. The constant changes in consumer preferences and needs necessitate a constant reevaluation and updating of the retail offerings. The challenge will be to provide a unique and novel destination, where consumers can meet to satisfy their need for social interaction, whilst engaging in their shopping. It is recommended that shopping centre managers should conduct regular climate studies in their environments to enable them to identify problems and suggestions from the respondents. Various strategies to improve marketing, infrastructure, entertainment, providing variety as well as creating a sustainable competitive advantage was suggested. Recommendations for further research include the need to explore the possibility that the cultural influence might cause both male and female shoppers to experience shopping in a similar way. / Thesis (DCom)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Marketing Management / DCom / Unrestricted

This thesis is an ethnographic account of the complex and diverse experiences of children growing up in the context of an AIDS epidemic in Chiweshe Communal lands, Zimbabwe. To capture the personal experiences and views of children in a context of AIDS and political economic change in rural Zimbabwe, fieldwork was conducted over 15 months, from January 2007 to March 2008 for the collection of stories, drawings, dreams, and songs from children aged 4 to 16 years. Analysis showed that, despite their extreme context, the children in Chiweshe created temporary friendships, relations of patronage, and informal organisations with and without adults, to obtain their survival needs. They also appropriated spaces and discourses for play, work, and learning, necessary for their daily needs. It is argued that childhood agency emerged through these self-initiated activities, within multiple contextual constraints of poverty, illness, and loss. These findings challenge the one-sided, adult-centric accounts of childhood which portray children as pre-socialised victims, passive, incompetent, ignorant, and silent, on issues pertaining to AIDS and related notions of sexuality, sickness, death, work and politics. It is suggested that recognition of such instances of children‘s competence and creativity is crucial for interventions aimed at reducing the suffering, untimely deaths, and various forms of deprivation that often characterises contexts ravaged by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Anthropology and Archaeology / DPhil / Unrestricted

This study investigates how community radio can meet the agricultural information needs of small-scale farmers. It focuses specifically on the Mchinji Community Radio, and explores the ways in which it can adapt its programming to meet the agricultural information needs of the small-scale farmers of the Mchinji district in Malawi. A literature review discusses the benefits and limitations of using radio as a medium to communicate information to small-scale farmers, and how community radio has been used to meet the agricultural information needs of small-scale farmers in developing countries. An appropriate methodology extracted primary data on the special agricultural information needs and the special features of the information-seeking behaviour of the small-scale farmers in the Mchinji District. Twenty-five small-scale farmers from Gomani 2 Village in Mchinji district were interviewed, and open-ended interviews were conducted with four key staff members of the Mchinji Community Radio. Personal observation provided another source of data, and was used for triangulation purposes. The key findings are that the majority of the small-scale farmers make little use of the latest ICTs, such as mobile phones, television, and the Internet. The most popular sources of agricultural information are the extension officers and the radio. Most of the farmers prefer agricultural information in the local Chichewa language, and only a few contribute their views, skills, and expertise to the radio station. They specifically need information on training, maize production, weather reports, current global agricultural affairs, and cultural programmes that involve agriculture. The study proposes a strategy for the Mchinji Community Radio that combines programming and communication planning, partnerships, sustainability planning, and quality checks. The implementation of this strategy will ensure that Mchinji Community Radio meets the agricultural information needs of the small-scale farmers of Malawi’s Mchinji district. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Information Science / MA / Unrestricted