ResearchSpace
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Investigating the effectiveness of public procurement practices at the Public Works Department in the Midlands region.
(2022) Zulu, Samkelo Mbalizethu.; Chummun, Bibi Zaheenah.
Public procurement has an obligation to deliver services and ensure that its departments and entities perform at an optimum standard. There has been less research on public procurement practices in public works, hence the motivation behind this study is to uncover current procurement practices that hinder the objectives of public procurement. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of public procurement practices at the KZN Department of Public Works (DPW) in the Midlands region of South Africa. The study adopted qualitative research approach, an exploratory research design to gain insight on the effectiveness of public procurement practices at the KZN DPW. A purposive non-probability sampling method was utilised
for selecting the eight participants. The study used thematic analysis and three themes were derived from the research. The findings revealed that the current procurement process at KZN DPW is based on the national treasury practice notes, instruction notes and the supply chain management policy, regulations and departmental standard operational procedures. It was also found that the departmental procurement practices were failing to achieve their primary objectives as projects remained unapproved for long time because of poor internal tender system. It was also found that KZN DPW was ineffective in bridging the gap between who is hired and what is delivered, mostly due to lack of transparency and corruption. The research findings also revealed that lack of technical knowledge and skills, lack of capital, lack of technical tools and lack of highly skilled people are barriers to effective implementation of procurement systems at KZN DPW. New systems were introduced to utilise yet there was less or no training provided to the employees beforehand. It is recommended that KZN DPW provides an adequate environment that promotes fair and equitable treatment for potential suppliers when advertising tenders and reviewing quotations. It is also recommended that KZN DPW institute some regular internal financial, internal audit or management controls using independent officials, not those undertaking the procurement. The implementation of the cited recommendations would yield improved effectiveness of public procurement practices at the KZN DPW, Midlands Region in South Africa.
A CD8+ killing assay to measure T cell responses to infection with SARS-nCoV-2.
(2024) Padia, Uvedhna.; Ndhlovu, Zaza Mtine.; Papadopoulos, Andrea Olga.
The coordinated efforts of the innate and adaptive immune systems are essential for the effective control and clearance of novel SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-nCoV-2) infection. While the innate immune response provides an immediate but non-specific defense, the adaptive immune response offers specificity and long-lasting protection. Although anti-SARS-nCoV-2 immune responses are well-characterized, T cell responses are equally important. But, the role of cytolytic CD8+ T cell responses in vaccine-induced protection against SARS-nCoV-2 is poorly understood, partly because of a lack of robust assays which accurately measure virus-specific CD8+ T cell (CTL) cytotoxicity. The aim of this study was to develop an assay capable of measuring SARS-nCoV-2 specific CTL responses to both COVID-19 vaccines and natural infection. This study evaluated two fluorescence-based killing assays. The pseudovirus-based killing assay aimed to optimize a spike pseudotyped reporter virus to infect target cells for a SARS-nCoV-2-specific CD8+ T cell killing assay. The second assay measured cytotoxic CD8+ T cell responses by labelling antigen-presenting target cells with different concentrations of carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE), whereby fluorescence loss represented killing by autologous effector cells. For the pseudovirus approach, multiple transfection methods and target cell infection conditions were tested towards achieving a robust fluorescence readout in target cells. However, the assay did not produce a sufficient fluorescence readout to measure CD8+-mediated elimination of target cells. For the CFSE-based assay, different concentrations of CFSE were tested and optimized for antigen-specific and non-specific target cells respectively, followed by optimizing co-culture with autologous CD8+ T cells, both for ex vivo killing measurements or following cultured expansion of T cells. The assay was validated using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from people living with HIV (PLWH). The assay was then used to compare SAR-nCoV-2 specific CTL killing responses in PLWH and without HIV (PLWoH) vaccinated with Oxford/AstraZeneca, Coronavac or Ad26COV2.S. SARS-nCoV-2-specific CD8+ killing activity was generally low in COVID-19 vaccine recipients. Marginally higher responses were observed in PLWH receiving vector-based vaccines Oxford/AstraZeneca and Ad26COV2.S, than PLWoH. Overall, a CFSE-based CD8+ killing assay that can measure COVID-19 vaccine responses was successfully developed. Additionally, this assay can be adapted to measure CTL responses to other viruses and natural viral infections.
Examining the influence of leadership styles on organisational performance at pulp and paper mill in Durban.
(2023) Phoswa, Sinothi.; Vilakazi, Blessing Fika Mlondi.
This study examined the influence of leadership styles on organisational performance using a pulp and paper mill in Durban (PPMD) as a case study. The goal was to gather employees' perceptions at all employment levels. This study focused on four leadership styles: autocratic, democratic, transactional, and transformational. The researcher selected these styles because they are widely used in the business environment and common at PPMD. The specific objectives were to determine the leadership style mostly used by managers at PPMD; to examine the impact of applying autocratic, democratic, transactional, and transformational leadership on organisational performance at PPMD; to explore the feasibility of applying different leadership styles in one organisation; and to examine the challenges PPMD leaders face in practising the current leadership styles for organisational performance. As this study used quantitative methodology, a probability random sampling method was used to select individuals for inclusion in the sample. The study applied a formula Yamane (1967) developed to determine a suitable sample size. Using a five-point Likert scale, the structured questionnaire was administered to 302 employees throughout the organisation. Microsoft Excel was used to analyse the quantitative data from the respondents. The study revealed that PPMD leaders predominantly use a transactional leadership style. The correlation coefficient analysis indicated that transactional and transformational leadership styles positively impact organisational performance. The investigation further revealed that the democratic leadership style does not influence organisational performance, whereas the autocratic leadership style negatively impacts organisational performance. The findings also indicated that PPMD managers practice all four leadership styles examined within the scope of
this study. The study further highlighted challenges leaders may face while practising any of the four leadership styles explored in this study, including employee resistance toward change. It is recommended that PPMD leaders adopt any leadership style or a combination of styles examined in this study, depending on the circumstances or time. However, they must avoid using autocratic leadership style because of its significant negative impact on employee performance, which in turn has a detrimental impact on organisational performance. Managers in PPMD must recognise each leadership style's strengths and weaknesses because one approach can yield unfavourable results. Leadership styles must be blended, and leaders must know when to use a specific approach.
Investigating challenges of near infrared spectroscopy in the cane testing services at South African Sugar Association.
(2023) Chiliza, Nozibusiso Pretty.; Chummun, Bibi Zaheenah.
The primary routine laboratory analysis of measuring sugar content is conducted using standard refractometry and polarimetry. A secondary method, near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, offers various benefits and limitations and is well established to monitor the quality of raw sugarcane received by sugar mills for pricing. The perceived problem is that Cane Testing Services has been testing using traditional analytical chemistry methods performed by different individuals utilising various instruments and chemicals. NIR spectroscopy means analysis is performed by one individual in a short time and no chemicals are needed, which causes potential redundancies in some existing positions. An investigation of the challenges that accompany NIR spectroscopy implementation is required to understand its impact and consequences for the organisation. This study is descriptive in nature; a qualitative research approach using structured interviews therefore gathered data on the challenges of implementing NIR spectroscopy, to provide a description of the technology function, and to make recommendations regarding solutions to the challenges. Five managers and five supervisors at Cane Testing Services were interviewed to collect data. Thematic analysis was conducted to code the data into categories and themes. The study findings identified challenges such as poor communication, NIR spectroscopy being a secondary method, organisational structure, and fear of change. The conclusions of this study are that the significant benefits of NIR spectroscopy are environmental safety benefits, cost efficiency, and time saving.
Implementation management and personnel reskilling are essential to offset potential job losses.
Examining the effectiveness of foster child grant in South Africa: a case study of Richmond.
(2022) Blose, Musawenkosi Raymond.; Chasomeris, Mihalis Georgiou.
The intention of this case study was to examine the effectiveness of the foster child grant in the Richmond area of South Africa. Social workers who administer the “foster child grant” are study participants. The foster child grant was initially meant to help kids who had been taken from their biological families and placed in alternative care because of either their vulnerability, neglect, or abuse. The case study of Richmond area was to examine the effectiveness of the foster child grant in South Africa. The study used a mixed-methods approach to research. The Richmond Service Office's social workers who are directly involved in the management of the foster child grant provided information through in-depth semi-structured interviews. The study also employed secondary data from the Central Foster Child Register Annexe D of Richmond Service Office. Total purpose sampling, a non-probability sampling method, was utilized in the study. Based on the research 18 social workers who are directly involved in the management of the foster child grant in Richmond service office were chosen for the study. Out of 18 social workers in Richmond Service Office only 13 social workers availed themselves for the study. The study's outcomes discovered that the grant is adequate for meeting the Richmond area beneficiaries' needs for food, clothes, and education. The following suggestions were provided by social workers who are directly involved in the administration of foster child grants in the Richmond area: regularly check on academic investments and Richmond Children's court's compliance with application of “Section 186 of the Children's Act No. 38 of 2005”. According to research conducted in the Richmond area, foster parents can be as young as 21 or as old as 93, and the youngest foster children is 2 years old. The most foster parents in the Richmond area are generally female. Based on the study's outcomes, the grant is adequate for beneficiaries in the Richmond area, but it may be increased to cover some additional expenses like savings plans, which are necessary to ensure that these kids have a bright future.