A thesis Submitted in full fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Marketing) at the University of the Witwatersrand, 2016 / With an increase in competition, the retail industry is experiencing a paradigm shift as marketers revert to innovative retail experiences to influence consumer buying behaviour. Therefore, it is of interest to examine how consumers experience store environments in order for retailers to design atmospherics that are conducive to influencing purchase decision-making. Although several studies have explored store environment and consumer buying behaviour, few studies have explored atmospheric cues as a holistic construct to investigate the effect of these on brand loyalty and purchase intention. More specifically, few studies have explored this topic in a fashion retail context among the black middle class woman in South Africa. This paper aims to determine whether store environment influences consumers’ purchase intention and brand loyalty of fashion products. By means of a proposed conceptual model, store environment is the predictor variable, with brand experience, brand trust, brand satisfaction and brand attitude as the mediating variables, and purchase intention and brand loyalty as the outcome variables. The present study undertakes a quantitative approach in which 501 online surveys are distributed among black middle class woman to explore the influence of store environment on purchase intention of fashion brands. The findings support all nine proposed hypotheses. Therefore indicating that store environment influences consumers’ brand experience, brand trust, brand satisfaction and brand attitude. Likewise, the latter branding variables have a significant influence on brand loyalty, and ultimately purchase intention. The contribution of this paper is threefold. Firstly, by exploring the importance of store environment on consumer behaviour, this study adds to contextual knowledge on experiential retailing, fashion consumption and the buying behaviour of the emerging black middle class. Secondly, it adds to existing literature in retail management and fashion marketing. Theoretically, it is positioned in experiential marketing and contributes to empirical literature that focuses on consumer behaviour, branding, and retail. Lastly, by investigating store environment and it’s influence on consumers’ purchase intentions, the findings provide marketing practitioners with a better understanding of strategies that can be employed to influence consumers buying behaviour through the design of a conducive store environment. / MT2017

Thesis (M.M. (Finance & Investment)--University of the Witwatersrand, 2011. / This paper attempts to answer if the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) can or should emulate the funding methodology of the Brazilian Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES). The funding methodology of BNDES is discussed in terms of how it sources and applies its funds within the Brazilian economy following the Brazilian government’s strategy; compares this to industrial policy formulation in the South African economy and the IDC taking into consideration the South African economic structures, banking system and the multiple developmental institutions South Africa has. The conclusion answers if South Africa will be able to emulate BNDES.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Business and Executive Coaching. Johannesburg, 2017 / This study assessed the dynamics of the coach-coachee matching process in the South African context with a specific focus on the experiences and perspectives of participants. It took place in Johannesburg within the South African context of business executive coaching, which is growing in popularity in corporates. It involved seven Top 40 organisations listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) that had implemented executive coaching as a management development tool. The participants comprised 22 participants consisting of 15 coachees, four HR/OD managers, and three coaches. A constructivist-interpretivist paradigm and in-depth semi-structured interview technique for data collection was used. The key findings were about organisation-coachee and coach-coachee matching dynamics. Organisation-coachee dynamics included factors contributing to positive organisation-coachee dynamics such as organisational coaching culture and formal programme; trained internal coaches; geographic access to coaches; availability of choice of coaches; a dedicated matching person; group coaching and an enabling use of technology. Factors that contributed to negative organisation-coachee dynamics were limited coach experience; remedial coaching; negative feedback and limiting technology use. Coach coachee dynamics included factors contributing to positive coach-coachee matching dynamics such as complementarity of personality, values and beliefs of the coach and coachee dyad, and various others on the preferred demographics of coach and coachee. Factors that contributed to negative coach-coachee dynamics included unmet expectations of the coachee; lack of trust; personality clash; crossing of the coaching relationship boundaries; and negative impact of coach-coachee demographics. The conclusions of this study indicated that organisations should consider the dynamics involved in matching coaches to coachees by assessing the coaching needs of prospective coachees and helping them find a suitable coach. Furthermore, effective management of both processes and dynamics has an influence on the success or otherwise of the coaching relationship. / MT2017

This research aims to interrogate the question of “Challenges and Opportunities: The Wal-Mart Effect In South Africa”. The research aims to investigate the potential effect that Wal-Mart will have on labour, the local economy and consumers in South Africa. This is in the broader context of neo-liberal globalisation. The key findings regarding stakeholders’ engagement around the issues of Wal-Mart’s arrival and the role of the state, the resistance by local and international trade unions, the detrimental effects on the local and informal economies, the failure of the South African macro-economic policy environment and the positive effect that Wal-Mart will have on consumers are all presented and analysed. The key message that emerges is that neo-liberal policies in South Africa have eroded labour rights, and hampered the development of the local economy. Although Wal-Mart’s arrival could exacerbate this, it simultaneously provides a springboard for resistance and a unique opportunity to rethink the policy framework of the country. In a country with high levels of poverty, Wal-Mart may force local retailers to become increasingly competitive and to provide goods to consumers at a lower cost – which is obviously something that will benefit local consumers. Furthermore Wal-Mart’s strength is in its systems and processes which is something that could benefit South African companies as they learn from the giant retailer. Wal-Mart’s entry into South Africa will have to be carefully managed and monitored to ensure the maximum benefit for all stakeholders, and to limit the adverse effects of the retail giant.

The high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in children is mainly due to the adoption of an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle. The disorder is also associated with obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and increased blood levels of triglycerides, free fatty acids and glucose. Although metabolic syndrome and its metabolic complications can be managed by the use of conventional medicines such as fenofibrate and metformin, there is a growing use of plants with medicinal properties. Aloe vera has been used for several medicinal purposes such as wound and burn healing, treatment of diabetes and treatment of cancer. Aloe vera also has biological activities that include anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and laxative effects. Previous studies exploring the metabolic effects of Aloe vera have been in adult animals where metabolic syndrome was induced by the use of pharmacological agents. However, its beneficial effects in growing children who are at risk of developing metabolic syndrome have not been fully explored. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of a crude Aloe vera leaf extract on circulating metabolic substrates, the morphometry and morphology of the gastrointestinal tract and the liver function of growing rats. Fifty-nine male Sprague-Dawley rats of 21 days old were randomly divided into one of six treatment groups. Group I (control) was fed normal rat chow (NRC) with plain gelatine cubes (vehicle). Group II received a high carbohydrate diet (HCD) with plain gelatine cubes; Group III received normal rat chow and fenofibrate at 100mg.kg-1; Group IV received a HCD and fenofibrate at 100mg.kg-1; Group V received a normal rat chow and Aloe vera at 300mg.kg-1; Group VI received a HCD and Aloe vera at 300mg.kg-1. The Aloe vera and fenofibrate were suspended in gelatine cubes and administered daily. After 20 weeks of feeding, the rats were fasted over night and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. The rats were then euthanazed after 48 hours of re-feeding and tissues were collectedfor further analysis. The data was expressed as mean ± SEM and analyzed by a one-way ANOVA. A repeated measures ANOVA was used for statistical analysis of the data from the oral glucose tolerance test. The values were considered statistically significant when p < 0.05 followed by a Bonferroni Post hoc test. After 20 weeks, the growing rats fed a high carbohydrate diet had a significantly higher body mass than the other groups (p < 0.05, ANOVA), however the administration of fenofibrate prevented the high carbohydrate-induced increase in body mass whilst Aloe vera was not effective. Linear growth as measured by the tibial length was not significantly different between the groups (p >0.05, ANOVA). There was no significant difference in the mass and relative density of the tibia bones of the rats between the groups. Feeding rats a HCD resulted in a higher (p< 0.05, ANOVA) visceral fat mass in the rats. Fenofibrate administration prevented the HCD-induced visceral fat mass gain whilst Aloe vera administration had no effect. Whilst the treatments did not result in any significant differences in the lengths and mass of the small intestine, the mass of the large intestine was significantly lower in the rats that received the HCD alone (p < 0.05, ANOVA). Fenofibrate administration resulted in a significantly increased liver mass compared to the other groups (p < 0.05, ANOVA). However there was no significant difference in the lipid and glycogen content in the liver. Fasting concentrations of metabolic substrates (glucose, triglycerides and free fatty acids) were not significantly different between the groups and no significant differences were observed in the circulating concentrations of insulin and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (ANOVA; p>0.05). The OGTT did not show any abnormalities in the ability of the rats to handle a glucose load between the groups. An indirect assessment of liver function was performed by measurements of the blood concentrations of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBIL), alkaline transaminase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). There were significantly increased (p<0.05) ALP levels in rats fed NRC + FENO compared to the others. TBIL levels were significantly lower in rats fed a NRC + Av (p< 0.05, ANOVA) however the TBIL levels were within the normal range. The alkaline transaminase (ALT) levels were not significantly different between the groups (p < 0.05, ANOVA) and GGT was not detectable in any of the groups. Weaning rats onto a high carbohydrate diet and feeding them the diet for 20 weeks resulted in the development of visceral obesity without altering the glucose tolerance and metabolic substrates. The treatment with fenofibrate prevented the high carbohydrate diet-induced visceral adiposity however compared to fenofibrate, treatment with the Aloe vera leaf preparation was not significantly effective.

The following dissertation explores the experience and representations of child abandonment in urban Johannesburg, South Africa. I examine this complex social behaviour through a number of perspectives specifically: how it is portrayed in the media; how it is represented and managed by child protection officers; the lived experience of the abandoning mother and the abandoned child; and finally how it is understood in the context of Western biomedical principles and those of indigenous African ancestral beliefs. I suggest that child abandonment has been individualised and medicalised in South Africa. Individualised, in that it has been termed a problem that falls entirely within the domain of poor women, and frequently that these women are young teenagers. Medicalised in that a social behaviour that is not new, is increasingly being defined in medical terms through the portrayal and labelling of the abandoning mother as emotionally unstable and criminally insane. I argue that this has been done in an attempt to motivate for stricter surveillance and control over women’s sexual reproductive health and to divert attention from the state’s role in addressing this growing social challenge.

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 in Strategic Marketing, Johannesburg 2016 / Purpose – This paper investigates the brand knowledge and perceptions of South Africans living abroad. It also establishes whether South Africans living abroad are brand advocates for South Africa. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on key literature relating to knowledge transfer, brand advocacy and nation branding. Data were collected through a self-administered online survey to South Africans living abroad through the Brand South Africa database. Correlation, partial correlation and linear regression were used to identify linkages between knowledge transfer, brand advocacy and nation branding. Findings – The conceptual model in conjunction with the hypotheses presented is a start in the direction of establishing a framework to understanding the value of nation branding in the South African knowledge economy. Findings showed significant relation between knowledge transfer, brand advocacy and nation branding. Research limitations/implications – cross-sectional data were used and further research should examine data for multiple years in order to conduct longitudinal studies. Practical implications – The study has demonstrated that nation branding is an important concept to consider in relation to the diaspora. A strong nation brand help to increase exports, attract tourism, investment and immigration. Nation branding has become an essential part of a country’s sustainable development. Originality/value – The study analysed the relationship between knowledge transfer, brand advocacy and nation branding must be seen as a development strategy for home nations to tap the knowledge and skills of their expatriate professionals in developing economies such as South Africa. / GR2018

Malaria remains one of the most devastating vector-borne parasitic diseases in tropical and subtropical regions. Approximately 40% of the world’s population lives in malaria endemic areas mostly in developing countries. The estimated global incidence is about 225 million cases and 80% of these cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa. The approximated global deaths due to malaria every year is about 700,000 people and 90% occur in Africa. In South Africa, parts of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal have endemic malaria. The incidence of malaria in South Africa by province is 56, 2 cases per 100,000 population at risk; 31,1 cases per 100,000 population at risk and 3,3 cases per 100,000 population at risk for Mpumalanga; Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal, respectively. Approximately 80% of the cases are imported from malaria endemic countries and diagnosed in the South African health facilities. It is therefore important that these cases are disentangled from local cases using environmental or climatic conditions as proxy measures especially in light of South Africa eradication goal. Methodology Secondary data used in this study were obtained from Mpumalanga Department of Health, South African Weather Services, Statistics South Africa and Global Climatic Research Units. These data were analysed from 2001 to 2010 to determine the correlation between surrounding climatic or environmental conditions and malaria incidence in Mpumalanga Province. The Pearson correlation was used to assess for significant correlations between malaria incidence and environmental or climatic conditions. A negative binomial regression model was used to identify and quantify factors significantly association with malaria risk. The Kulldorff spatial and space-time scan statistic was used to detect significant clustering of malaria cases in space and space-time. Results The incidence of malaria has decreased significantly since 2001 to 2010 in Mpumalanga Province. The decline has been observed from 1,304 cases per 100,000 population at risk in 2001 to less than 200 cases per 100,000 population at risk in 2010. About 96% of malaria cases were reported from Ehlanzeni District and less than 4% were reported from Gert Sibande and Nkangala Districts. The temperature, rainfall and humidity were statistically significant in all months from all years (p<0.05). The temperature, rainfall and humidity had a significant positive correlation with malaria cases. An excess of 1,752 and 104 malaria cases were detected in May and June over time when using weather stations data. When using remote sensed data, an excess of 1,131; 3,036; 4,009; 994 and 235 cases were observed from March, April, May, June and July, respectively. Discussion and conclusion The significant positive correlations between malaria cases and temperature, rainfall and humidity suggested that for an increase in each unit factor, malaria cases also increases. The excess number of cases observed especially during the winter season, suggested the likelihood of the importation of those cases. These results were in accordance with results from previous studies.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce. Johannesburg, South Africa, May 2016 / Since McKinsey and Company (1998) coined the term “the war for talent” (Axelrod, Handfield-Jones, & Welsh, 2001; Michaels, Handfield-Jones & Axelrod, 2001) in response to a lack of highly skilled and talented employees in the labour market and the need for organisations to compete for this limited talent pool, the topic of talent management has received a remarkable degree of practitioner and academic interest (Bhatnagar, 2007; Collings & Mellahi, 2009; Vaiman, Scullion & Collings, 2012). The scarcity of highly skilled and talented employees has resulted in a paradigm shift, with the “old reality” (people need companies) replaced by new business realities (companies need talented and highly skilled people). This has forced organisations to institute aggressive talent management policies, practices and strategies to attract, develop, and optimise the available talent in both the broader market place and specific industries. The effective management of highly skilled and talented employees has also emerged as a major source of competitive advantage for organisations, resulting in desirable consequences such as organisational commitment, employee engagement, job satisfaction, and lower turnover intentions. Based on this premise, this study sought to investigate the direct and indirect (mediated) relationship between employees’ perception of the organisation’s current talent management practices, organisational commitment, employee engagement, job satisfaction and their intention to quit the organisation. The mediating characteristics of organisational commitment, employee engagement, and job satisfaction on the relationship between the perceived talent management practices and employees’ intention to quit are also investigated. A cross-sectional, survey-based descriptive research design utilising quantitative research methods was adopted to acquire information and primary data needed for analysis. The study was carried out on highly skilled and talented employees (supervisors, line managers, senior managers and directors) of a multinational fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) food manufacturing company in South Africa. The target population of the research comprised of (N = 267) 267 employees of the surveyed organisation with a sample size of (N = 151) 151 respondents. A standardised questionnaire adapted from five instruments ̶ talent management practices (Human Capital Institute, 2008), organisational commitment (Allen & Meyer, 1990), employee engagement (Schaufeli & Bakker, 2003), job satisfaction (Weiss, Dawis, England, & Lofquist, 1967), and intention to quit (Arnold & Feldman, 1982) measured on a Likert type of scale was utilised to collect primary data. A non-probability sampling technique (convenience sampling) was used to collect primary data. The scales used in the study reported Cronbach Coefficient Alphas above the minimum recommended 0.70 margin (Field, 2009) suggesting that the measuring instrument is reliable. The study utilised multiple linear regression analysis to test the proposed hypotheses. The results showed direct significant relationships between the variables under study, suggesting that investing in effective talent management practices relating to talent acquisition, workforce planning, talent development, performance management, talent retention, and other practices may result in desirable outcomes for the organisation. These include enhanced organisational commitment, high levels of employee engagement, increased employee job satisfaction, and reduced turnover intentions. It is recommended that organisations in South Africa and the organisation under study, in particular, develop talent management practices and strategies that can be implemented and applied in the organisation in order to attract and retain highly skilled and talented employees. It is further recommended that organisations develop effective, practical and holistic talent management practices and strategies that will not only attract talent, but also address organisational commitment, employee engagement, job satisfaction, and the retention of highly skilled and talented employees, thus boosting organisational performance and productivity. / MT2017

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Johannesburg, South Africa March 2016 / This study examined the movements of white-backed (Gyps africanus) and Cape vultures (G. coprotheres) to assess their habitat preferences, measure seasonal changes in foraging behaviour, and examine where vultures are at risk of electrocution by and collision with power lines. White-backed and Cape vultures are two Old World vulture species found in southern Africa. They are listed as Critically Endangered and Endangered respectively, with massive population declines over the past three decades. These declines are due to poisoning, habitat loss, lack of food, use in traditional medicine, and electrical infrastructure mortality. Vultures provide key ecosystem services such as reducing disease transmission, cycling nutrients, and attracting tourists and therefore, a loss of vultures could cost the continent millions of US dollars. Thirteen vultures (five white-backed and eight Cape vultures) were tracked using either DUCK-4A or BUBO-4A GPS-GSM trackers (Ecotone Telemetry, Sopot, Poland). Birds were tracked between April 2013 and October 2014. These data were used to examine the habitat suitability of both species using MaxEnt habitat suitability modelling. Key drivers of country-wide habitat suitability for white-backed vultures were mean temperature (30.9% contribution), precipitation seasonality (22.0% contribution), and biome (19.5% contribution), while key drivers for Cape vultures were distance to artificial feeding station (24.8% contribution), and precipitation seasonality (50.5% contribution). Anthropological variables (land use, cattle density, and population density) contributed very little to the models. Using the same tracking data, seasonal changes in foraging movements were examined, particularly in relation to hypothetical food availability. Data were categorised by seasons (winter, spring, summer, and autumn) using weather data over the past decade. There was little evidence for seasonal movement in white-backed or Cape vultures which may be because food availability is not the limiting factor regardless of time of year. Lastly, a model was constructed in MaxEnt using the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Wildlife and Energy Programme dataset of white-backed and Cape vulture electrocutions by and collisions with power lines. Voltage was a major contributor to risk in every model for both collision and electrocution. This is likely to be related to the type and height of the power line structures rather than actual voltage. Either land use or population density also contributed to all four models. Slope contributed to white-backed vulture models while feeding station and elevation contributed to Cape vulture models. Each of these variables probably relates not only to the likelihood of vulture presence but also how vultures behave in the area (e.g. flying lower in natural or low population areas to forage more effectively therefore putting them at higher risk of collision). This study suggests that management initiatives should include carefully placing vulture feeding stations to change foraging patterns and provide safe, uncontaminated carrion, and proactive retrofitting of high risk power lines to reduce the high unnatural mortality in white-backed and Cape vultures in South Africa. It is important to continue to improve these models using more tracking data from more populations of white-backed and Cape vultures, and more electrocution and collision data gathered from regular, randomly selected power line surveys. / M T 2016