UWCScholar

This repository serves as a digital archive for the preservation of research outputs from the University of the Western Cape

Communities in UWCScholar

Select a community to browse its collections.

Now showing 1 - 5 of 11

Recent Submissions

The administrative reforms to fight corruption in the public sector of the democratic republic of the Congo.
(Univeristy of the Western Cape, 2003) Kalula, Mpiana
Corruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Public sector has reached epidemic proportions and much more needs to be done to fight it. The entrenchment of corruption has emerged as a serious problem in the DRC with significant negative consequences on administrative, political and economical development. The efforts to fight corruption in the DRC public sector need to be intensified. In this respect, the Democratic Republic of the Congo government, international organizations, and foreign governments must all do more to demonstrate and ensure that corrupt activities in the DRC will yield no current gains or future benefits. The fight against corruption in the public sector of the DRC requires ethical political leadership; in other words, a new socio-political morality (Perry, P.J., 1997, pp.29 -30). Ethical political leaders would have both the moral credibility and the ability to inspire society and influence institutions to pursue the goals of ethical and accountable governance in the interest of national development. On the other hand, public officials will not curtail or eliminate their corrupt activities if their political leaders are not exhibiting the requisite ethical and moral behavior. Fighting corruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, needs to be more closely linked to the benefits of good governance and a strong civil society.
Predictors of employee burnout among frontline bank staff in South Africa: a multi-theoretical approach
(Emerald Publishing, 2025) Sibindi, Ntandoyenkosi; Platen, Eckhard
Purpose – This study examines the antecedents of burnout among frontline employees in South Africa's banking sector, focusing on job demands, workload-life balance, work environment, and areas of work-life in the context of high-stress occupational environments. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative research design was employed, with data collected from 81 employees of a leading South African bank. The study utilized validated instruments to measure burnout and its predictors. Reliability testing, correlation, and regression analyses were conducted to assess relationships between variables and identify significant predictors. Findings – Job demands, workload-life balance, and areas of work-life significantly predict burnout, with job demands and workload-life imbalance emerging as the strongest predictors. The work environment exhibited no measurable impact on burnout. The internal consistency of scales was confirmed, and the model explained a significant proportion of burnout variance. Research limitations/implications – The study focuses on a single South African bank, which may limit generalizability. Future research should expand to other banks and sectors to validate findings and explore additional factors influencing burnout. Practical implications – Organizations can mitigate burnout by managing workloads, implementing employee assistance programs (EAPs), offering flexible work policies, and addressing work-life balance issues. These interventions can improve employee well-being and enhance performance in the banking sector. Originality/value – This study contributes to the limited research on burnout in emerging markets, particularly in the South African banking sector. It provides actionable insights for addressing burnout among frontline employees, emphasizing the importance of balancing job demands and resources.
Interventions by national government in provincial governments in South Africa: A critical analysis
(University of the Western Cape, 2025) Sigabi, Litha
This thesis critically examines the constitutional and procedural framework for national government intervention in provincial governance in South Africa, as provided under Section 100 of the 1996 Constitution. In doing so, it explores the grounds, procedures, and outcomes of these interventions. The thesis further evaluates the balance between the principles of cooperative governance and provincial autonomy, as well as the extent to which such interventions address systemic failures in governance, financial crises, and service delivery challenges. The study reveals that Section 100 interventions are often necessitated by severe governance breakdowns, such as non-compliance with financial regulations, mismanagement of resources, and the inability to meet constitutional obligations. The thesis critiques the absence of a clear regulatory framework governing the process of national interventions, which often undermines the effectiveness of these measures. It also emphasizes the need for enhanced procedural safeguards to prevent the abuse of intervention powers and to uphold provincial autonomy. Hence, the findings underscore the importance of aligning intervention measures with constitutional principles of cooperative governance, ensuring that interventions are temporary, proportionate, and aimed at restoring the capacity of provincial governments to perform their duties independently. The study therefore argues for constitutional amendments and legislative reforms to clarify the criteria and processes for interventions. The establishment of independent oversight bodies that monitor interventions and ensure that they achieve their intended outcomes without compromising the principles of federalism and decentralization should be strengthened.
Craniofacial cephalometrics of a sample of patients from Western Cape academic hospitals born with unilateral cleft lip and palate
(University of the Western Cape, 2024) Mvundla, Tebogo
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate craniofacial measurements of patients diagnosed with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), who presented at Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Red Cross Children's Hospital, and the University of the Western Cape Faculty of Dentistry. Materials and Methods: Ethics approval was received from the Biomedical Science Research Ethics Committee of the University of the Western Cape. The inclusion criteria were patients with non-syndromic UCLP prior to the alveolar bone graft. Craniofacial measurements of 53 UCLP patients were analysed using lateral cephalograms from electronic medical records. Both digital and analogue radiographs were included. Dolphin software version 11.95 Premium was used to compare 14 cephalometric angles (skeletal, dentoalveolar, and soft tissue) with existing data. Inter and intra-observer reliability were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and bootstrap confidence interval (CI).
Efficient removal of mercury Ions stabilized by gold solution using chitosan–guar gum polymer blend in basic media
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025) Mishra, Ajay Kumar; Tshikovhi, Azwifunimunwe; Mishra, Shivani Bhardwaj
The highly efficient removal of mercury metal ions at a higher pH (basic media) is barely reported in the literature. In this study, we developed a novel adsorbent by blending chitosan with guar gum, designed to effectively remove mercury ions from basic media by stabilizing them with a gold (Au3⁺) solution. The FTIR confirmed the compatibility of chitosan and guar gum through hydrogen bonding. The morphology of the blend exhibited an amorphous and porous structure. A mesoporous structure with a surface area, volume, and diameter of 11.843 (m2/g), 0.184 (cm2/g), and 17.072 nm, respectively, was confirmed by BET. The adsorption behavior was analyzed using isotherms and kinetics models, which best fitted with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich adsorption isotherm model, respectively. The adsorbent was shown to be an excellent candidate for the removal of mercury ions in water, with an adsorption efficiency of 92% at pH 12 in 60 min and a maximum adsorption capacity of 370.37 (mg/g).