DSpace Repository

Welcome to the NWU Repository, the open access Institutional Repository of the North-West University (NWU-IR). This is a digital archive that collects, preserves and distributes research material created by members of NWU. The aim of the NWU-IR is to increase the visibility, availability and impact of the research output of the North-West University through Open Access, search engine indexing and harvesting by several initiatives.

Now showing 1 - 17 of 17

Recent Submissions

Developing a stakeholder involvement framework towards sustainable tourism route development in South Africa
(North-West University (South Africa), 2022) Ramoliki. M. J; Scholtz. M; Kruger. M; orcid.org/0000-0002-5203-0493
Tourism routes have increasingly been adopted as an economic development strategy in rural and underdeveloped communities. This is also evident in developing countries such as South Africa. The existence and success of tourism routes are mainly influenced by the active involvement of stakeholders such as tourism planners (the government), residents, and tourism and non-tourism business providers. Unfortunately, there are notable gaps in the understanding of tourism route development evident from the literature: a lack of community consideration during the development of a tourism product, a lack of collaboration between industry, government, and community, a lack of stakeholder engagements, and continuous collaboration. The tourism route planners (government) need to consider the residents' views and opinions before planning and developing potential tourism routes. The residents should form part in planning, developing, marketing, and managing tourism routes within their communities' boundaries. Tourism providers need to be aware of the products and services necessary for developing and successfully launching tourism routes as they are at the centre stage of the route development as some of them are the rightful owners of products and services to be included in the tourism route. This study contributes to the literature on stakeholder involvement during tourism route planning, development, and management by developing a stakeholder involvement framework towards sustainable tourism route development in South Africa. The Eagle tourism route in the Free State Province was the case study. The study’s goal was achieved through five objectives. The first two objectives were achieved through a critical review of the existing literature. The first analysis reviewed tourism routes, the key factors of their success, and sustainable tourism in addressing economic, environmental, and social responsibility during route development. The second review explored stakeholder involvement in tourism route development. The third objective established route planners’ (government) perceptions of the Eagle Tourism Route’s planning, development and management and how, according to them, the residents who live in communities along this route form part as stakeholders through interviews (qualitative approach). This ix objective links to Phase 1 of the data collection. During this qualitative phase of the study, five Free State Gambling, Tourism and Liquor Authority (FSGLTA) officials were interviewed from October to December 2019. The data was transcribed into text, and thematic content analysis was applied to identify the codes and sub-themes. The themes and sub-themes revealed how FSGLTA officials involved tourism stakeholders in the planning, developing, and managing tourism routes in the Free State (Eagle tourism route). Contrasting views were revealed, especially regarding the involvement of residents and other stakeholders in the development, management and marketing of the tourism route. The results informed and guided the development of the data collection tools in Phase 2. The fourth objective focused on the second phase of the data collection, where a concurrent triangulation strategy was applied, which involved simultaneous quantitative and qualitative phases of data collection, analysis, and result comparisons. This research strategy was employed to understand the involvement of permanent residents and tourism business providers in Paul Roux, Rosendal, Fouriesburg, Bethlehem and Clarens in Dihlabeng District Municipality in the planning, development, and management of the tourism route. Interviews were conducted among community members (n = 25) living in the towns or settlements that form part of the tourism route, while questionnaires were distributed to tourism business providers (n = 241). The comparison of the results included the critical aspects to be considered when routes are developed and the expected benefits of the tourism routes for both the residents and tourism business providers. The fifth objective was achieved through drawing conclusions and making recommendations regarding stakeholder involvement in tourism development. Based on the empirical results, the study proposes a practical stakeholder involvement framework towards tourism route development. The framework is conceptualised based on the review of seminal works and the empirical findings of this study. The framework proposes that the tourism route planners (government) adopt three phases and eight steps throughout the phases. Phase 1 Stakeholder analysis consists of two steps: Step 1 Identification of stakeholders and Step 2 Initial communication and invitations. Phase 2 Planning and cooperation consist of three steps: Step 3 Stakeholder engagement, Step 4 Route consolidation and Step 5 Stakeholder collaboration. Steps 4 and 5 operate x interchangeably and back and forth when necessary. Lastly, Phase 3 Implementation consists of three steps: Step 6 Tourism route launch/relaunch, Step 7 Tourism route marketing and Step 8 Tourism route review. The steps in the framework are circulatory, implying that after a particular period, the tourism routes must be assessed and evaluated, and if necessary, all eight steps need to be followed again based on the tourism routes’ performance. The findings of this study are significant to the literature on the government as tourism route planners (enablers), the involvement of communities residing within the tourism routes and tourism businesses operating within the tourism routes. This study has the following theoretical and practical contributions. Firstly, the study fills the gap in stakeholder analysis by identifying stakeholders and including communication and invitation of stakeholders as critical phases and steps in the framework. Secondly, the study fills the stakeholder engagement gap, which is the tourism route planners' responsibility and the gap in route consolidation through stakeholder collaboration. This study contributes to new information and guidance on launching a new tourism route or re-launching an existing tourism route and a tourism route review. Finally, the study contributes to a thorough understanding of the steps to take should the need for a tourism route review occur. The review occurs when tourism route planners and other stakeholders consider the route redundant or operating counter to how it was planned - such reviews should occur periodically (e.g., every 3rd year). Overall, the study provides an integrated step-by-step guide to tourism route planners (government) on the planning, development, marketing, and managing of tourism routes. The stakeholder involvement framework developed in this study is beneficial (especially from a developing country perspective) to the general tourism industry, academic institutions, local tourism route developers, FSGLTA, other provincial and national tourism authorities, and scholars and researchers.
Exploring the impact of texting on the formal writing of English second language high school learners
(North-West University (South Africa), 2024) Marewo, Patricia; ; ; ; ;
This study explored the impact of textspeak on the formal writing of a selected group of English second language high school learners. The general aims of the study were to establish how widespread the use of textspeak (the kind of language and spelling often containing short forms of words that people use when they are writing text messages) is among high school learners in the chosen community, sourcing the relevant English language educators’ perspectives on the phenomenon of textspeak, assessing whether there is any evidence of the use of texspeak features in the written work of learners as well as identifying the types of textspeak features if any, used by grade 8 and 11 learners in their written work. Seventy learners from a Setswana dominated school in a lower income community in Potchefstroom, North West province participated in the study. The study included 32 grade 8 learners and 38 grade 11s. Questionnaires were completed by the learner participants to determine the frequency and volume of their textspeak use and features of textspeak they reportedly use while texting. Learners also wrote an essay attached to the questionnaire for the purpose of discovering whether textspeak features were present in the written work. Textspeak resembles standard English in many ways however, it has defining linguistic properties that distinguish it. These features included lack of punctuation, punctuation used inappropriately, use of abbreviations and acronyms, use of letters and numbers, use of more punctuation than is necessary, use of shortenings/contractions, use of slang, use of smileys, grammar as well as spelling errors which are not textspeak related. The results of this study indicate that high school students are ardent textspeak users and that socio-economic variables do not factor significantly into cell phone accessibility. Many reported using textspeak in their written work. However, the written work shows that textspeak represents a tiny fraction of language. Despite containing a few textspeak features, the essays contained a lot of non-standard features which were not textspeak related. These errors pertained to concord, word classes and punctuation, and were a result of not applying formally taught rules. Consequently, with the small number of textspeak features made by a relatively small number of students (mostly in grade 11), there could be other factors that influence students’ writing. Put differently, from the results of this study, there is little need for concern about the impact of textspeak on the future of standard written English. This is not to suggest however, that possible dangers of textspeak are ruled out; 80% of the teachers’ responses hint to the negative impacts of textspeak. Five English language teachers from the same school also completed a questionnaire regarding the visible textspeak features in the learners’ written work. They commented on the use of textspeak in relation to academic writing. Four of the five teachers indicated that textspeak hampers written literacy. One educator noted that textspeak has a positive impact on written literacy.
Euthanasia as the Right to Life: An African Philosophical Perspective
(North-West University (South Africa), 2024) Phetla, Lekwetse; ; ; ; ;
This dissertation philosophically investigates the concept of euthanasia and traces the potential impact of legalisation thereof in South Africa. A lacuna in this context is the formulation of euthanasia as a Right to Life from the basis of the Constitution and relating this legal precedent to local African thought. Indeed, euthanasia as a Right to Life has not been a widely explored idea from a Southern African perspective, and its intersection with African thought is explored even less commonly. In this study I draw inspiration from both Western and African sources, since both converge in the South African milieu (the Western approach is particularly relevant in terms of legal frameworks, and the African approach in terms of the broader social context). On the one hand this dissertation explores the idea of euthanasia as a Right to Life from a legal-philosophical perspective, whereby I evaluate and critically analyse South African law and how it may accommodate the legalisation of euthanasia. On the other hand, this dissertation examines African thought in relation to euthanasia to highlight the importance of African concepts such as dignity, quality of life, and personhood, for paving the way for the societal acceptance of euthanasia after possible legalization. By following the intersection of these two lines of thought I investigate our views as a nation with regard to what it means to be a person who can freely make end-of-life decisions in contemporary South Africa. It is highly unusual for a pro-euthansia position to be taken in an African philosophical perspective. A few African thinkers such as Menkiti, Gyeke, and Molefe who have taken up the task of writing on euthanasia, take in a relatively anti-euthanasia perspective. This project therefore aims to set itself apart from other modes of thinking on the subject matter.
Communication between iDUC and its supporting stakeholders aimed at building and maintaining long-term relationships
(North-West University (South Africa), 2024) Van Zyl, Marné; Kloppers, Elizabeth Maria; Bezuidenhout, L; 11804157- Kloppers, Elizabeth Maria
iDUC is a non-profit organisation (NPO) situated in Potchefstroom. It is dedicated to raising awareness of sexual assault and supporting rape victims in the community. iDUC’s survival depends on its ability to build and maintain positive long-term relationships with the stakeholders who support it financially and through collaborations. In the past, iDUC almost had to shut down due to a lack of supporting stakeholders. After an intervention, the NPO gained new stakeholders. In this study, it is argued that iDUC should apply the principles of two-way symmetrical communication and the relationship strategies identified in the stakeholder relationship management theory, supplemented by some stewardship strategies, to build and maintain positive long-term relationships with its new supporting stakeholders. The aim of the study was to determine the state of iDUC's communication with its supporting stakeholders. With this, the main research question was: To what extent does iDUC utilise two-way symmetrical communication with their supporting stakeholders to build and maintain positive long-term relationships? This research question was answered by following a qualitative research approach to determine both iDUC’s and their supporting stakeholders’ perceptions of the communication between them. Following a comprehensive literature review, semi-structured interviews were conducted with two representatives from iDUC and nine supporting stakeholders. Both sets of participants indicated a lack of two-way communication, with reference to dialogue, mutual understanding and responsibility. The iDUC representatives and supporting stakeholders had differing perceptions of participatory culture, networking towards task sharing, relationship nurturing and reciprocity, since iDUC had positive perceptions of these constructs, while most of the stakeholders did not. The only aspect of communication that both the iDUC representatives and stakeholders were positive about was conflict management. The empirical study, therefore, indicated that iDUC did not utilise two-way symmetrical communication with its supporting stakeholders in a manner that would build and maintain positive long-term relationships. Notably, the stakeholders’ expectations of communication aligned with most of the normative principles of two-way symmetrical communication and stakeholder relationship management theory. Based on the stakeholders’ feedback, it appears that adherence to the principles of these theoretical perspectives should contribute to long-term relationships, but that the NPO should customise its communication in certain respects, based on stakeholder preferences.
Exploring the Use of Data in a Digital Twin for the Marine and Coastal Environment
(ISPRS Int., 2025) Haupt, Shelley; Sibolla, Bolelang; Molapo, Raymond; Mdakane, Lizwe; Fourie, Nicolene
The ocean plays a vital role in our society and represents a constantly changing landscape that is not well understood and therefore needs continuous monitoring and research. Sustainable monitoring is essential to assess both the current and future state of our oceans. However, conventional monitoring faces significant challenges, including issues of accessibility, and spatial and temporal constraints. The development of digital twins of the ocean (DTO) offers an emerging technology that could revolutionise our understanding of marine and coastal environments. Current DTO have shown effectiveness in monitoring marine and coastal environments in the European context. However, there is a need for a DTO for the Southern African and Western Indian Ocean regions that addresses specific concerns that are relevant to these regions. Successful development of a DTO depends on the availability of high-quality data. Therefore, various data inputs are necessary to build an accurate digital twin. This paper explores the data that can be utilised in a DTO, detailing how different ocean variables are collected and integrated into the digital twin. As a first step towards the development of a DTO in these regions, the paper proposes a data management plan and its implementation in the development of DTO. The data management plan is based on the phases of data in a geospatial data life cycle. Challenges regarding the management of data in this DTO and possible solutions are presented in the conclusion.