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The interrelationship between economic satisfaction, trust, commitment, and non-economic satisfaction in franchisee-franchisor relationships
Constantaras, Margaret Theresé; Mostert, P.G. (Pierre); Svensson, Göran (Inderscience, 2025-11)
This study aimed to uncover the interrelationship between economic satisfaction, trust, commitment, and non-economic satisfaction by also considering the mediating role of trust and commitment between the satisfaction constructs in franchisee-franchisor relationships. A total of 415 South African franchisees completed a self-completion online questionnaire. The research and two rival models showed that economic satisfaction has an unequivocal influence on non-economic satisfaction and that trust and commitment mediate this effect. The findings contribute to our understanding of the interrelationships between the study constructs, specifically in franchise relationships, and offer insights to franchisors about how stronger relationships with franchisees beyond their contractual obligations could be fostered. The study contributes by validating, for the first time in a franchise context, the interrelationship linking economic satisfaction, non-economic satisfaction, trust, and commitment previously conducted in business studies and furthermore confirms the mediating role of trust and commitment on the relationship between economic and non-economic satisfaction.
Context-specific pathways into adult female street-based sex work in Arcadia and Sunnyside, Pretoria
Myburgh, Gertruida Margaretha (University of Pretoria, 2019-01)
Researchers’ interest in the sex work phenomenon is not new and despite numerous studies alluding to the prevalence and nature thereof, the South African context of commercial sex work (CSW) entry remains poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of the study was to identify context-specific pathways into adult female street-based sex work in Arcadia and Sunnyside, Pretoria (Gauteng). In pursu1it of the aim of the study, the researcher endeavoured to compile a profile of sex workers, highlight possible risk factors which may shape an individual’s trajectory into CSW and describe the nature of adult female street-based sex work in Arcadia and Sunnyside, Pretoria (Gauteng). Due to the paucity of local studies regarding the research problem, objectives formulated for the study dictated the utilisation of a cross-sectional survey research design. Adult female street-based sex workers were approached in their area of work (Sunnyside and Arcadia), by means of non-probability sampling methods, where 60 face-to-face interviews were conducted utilising a structured questionnaire. Non-parametric procedures were used to determine significant relationships that could point to risk factors that play a meaningful role in shaping women’s pathways into CSW. The literature review elucidated various risk factors associated with CSW, which was subsequently supported by the current study’s findings. More than half of sex workers came from low socio-economic backgrounds (63.3%) and had poor educational levels (61.7%). Individuals who ran away from home were more likely to have experienced abuse prior to their involvement in sex work (r = - 0.3), as well as alluded to some substance use (r = - 0.3) and familial substance abuse (r = - 0.4). Sex workers who experienced abuse prior to their CSW involvement were less likely to have had previous employment (r = - 0.3). Furthermore, sex workers’ main motivation for their CSW involvement was related to financial need (93.3%) and unemployment (78.3%). Additionally, sex workers who were arrested were more likely to report experiences of police abuse. In light of the intersectionality of risk factors and the aim of the present study, the survey results alluded to four possible pathways for women into street-based CSW, which roughly comprise of economic circumstances, runaway behaviour, abuse and substance abuse. Therefore, the researcher recommends, amongst others, that the risk factors, which intersect in an across the different pathways, be considered by role-players in their service delivery to street-based sex workers.
Assessing the extent of and changes in the wildlife sector in Limpopo province, South Africa
Prinsloo , Cecilia (University of Pretoria, 2019-02)
The wildlife sector has grown rapidly over the past few decades and is considered a valuable asset for South African ecotourism, economy and conservation. However, there has been an increasing concern around its conservation efficacy, particularly with the industry becoming more intensive regarding its animal production. The growth of the wildlife sector, especially intensive breeding practices, has proliferated the use of fencing. Fences establish boundaries and protect wildlife, but may also cause mortality, inhibit animal movement, and can ultimately lead to landscape fragmentation which has been shown to have adverse effects on wildlife and the environment. To infer spatial changes in the wildlife sector across a ten year time frame, I used remote sensing procedures to manually map and quantify the changes in fences and camps (fenced areas) of wildlife properties based on satellite images of south-west Limpopo during 2007, 2012 and 2017. Results show an increase in intensive wildlife properties, total length of fences, and total number of camps from 2007 to 2017. The mean area of camps decreased over the ten year time period, accompanied by an overall increase in the number of smaller camps (≤200 ha) and a general decrease in larger camps (≥500 ha). Furthermore, the areas covered by smaller camps (≤200 ha) increased whilst the areas covered by larger camps decreased (≥500 ha) over the entire time period. The biggest changes in the wildlife sector occurred between 2012 and 2017, which suggest that the changes may be occurring progressively more and should therefore be urgently addressed. As fence maps would be very beneficial to wildlife researchers and managers, I pursued an alternative method to ‘automate’ the mapping of fences through image classification. Two image classification methods were used, namely Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF), to classify the satellite images of the wildlife sector in south-west Limpopo. The fence area obtained from the classified images did not however correspond with the manual fence map, due to the high variability in accuracy values, specifically overall accuracy and kappa index. The SVM and RF methods were statistically identical in accuracy values. Furthermore, it was found that some landscape characteristics, such as percentage elevation and presence of water, correlated with the overall accuracy of certain classified images. Therefore, image classification methods have the potential to map fences of the wildlife sector, and needs to be improved for future use. The extent of increase in intensive wildlife production and the rise of fences are disconcerting trends that may have detrimental consequences to wildlife and their environment. It is vital to increase research efforts to assess the extent and effects of fencing, and inform landowners of fence impacts in South Africa so as to mitigate the ecological effects of fencing. Remote sensing and image classification methods can be used to map the full extent of fences in the wildlife sector. Ultimately, the reduction and regulation of intensive wildlife management practices and fencing may significantly aid in conserving South African wildlife.
Prevalence and seasonal variations of rhinitis and associated factors in children in Gauteng and North-West province, South Africa
Rathogwa , Funzani (University of Pretoria, 2018-11)
BACKGROUND : Rhinitis is one of the most common global respiratory health problems. Despite its high prevalence, it is often undiagnosed and globally not much research in children has been conducted. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence, seasonal variations of rhinitis and associated factors in children living close to gold mine dumps in Gauteng and North West province, South Africa using previously collected data. METHODS : In a cross-sectional study of 3641 school children, we determined the prevalence and seasonal variations of rhinitis in communities living 1 to 2 km (exposed) and 5 km or more (unexposed) from five pre-selected mine dumps and assessed the associated risk factors with rhinitis in exposed and unexposed communities using STATA 14. RESULTS : The prevalence of rhinitis was reported to be 74.54% and 77.65% in exposed and unexposed communities respectively. The highest (39%) prevalence of rhinitis was observed in Autumn and the lowest (11%) was observed in Spring. Results from the multiple regression analysis indicated that living in exposed communities, tertiary level, being born in the same town, itchy eyes, increased truck frequency, cigarette smoke exposure in school increases the odds of rhinitis. CONCLUSION : To the best of our knowledge this study is the first of its kind in South Africa to investigate rhinitis and seasonal association. The results obtained in this study concur with those of studies done elsewhere in the world. The study found an alarmingly high prevalence of rhinitis in all communities and the highest prevalence in the Autumn season. More research is needed to better understand the trends of rhinitis thus it is worth investing resources into rhinitis research in South Africa.
Dismantling hegemonic conceptions of victimhood: German and peripheral narratives of wartime suffering in contemporary World War II fiction
Ruff, Tracey (University of Pretoria, 2018-08-05)
In recent years, scholars Michael Rothberg and Stef Craps have dedicated much of their work to the discussion and dismantling of competitive memory – a term that has featured prominently in Holocaust studies. In Multidirectional Memory: Remembering the Holocaust in the Age of Decolonization (2009), Rothberg emphasises how we can use the memory of the Holocaust as a platform to articulate other, lesser-known forms of trauma and suffering, such as historical sites of colonial violence and genocide. His theory is fundamentally concerned with the narrative of the marginalised Other (for example, Native Americans or African American slaves) and how we can contribute to the dismantling of hegemonic narratives of suffering through recognising the Other’s suffering. The central argument presented in this dissertation is that the selected fictional texts, Eva Weaver’s The Puppet Boy of Warsaw, Jim Shepard’s The Book of Aron, Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See, and Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, are multidirectional in nature because they are fundamentally concerned with discussing other, lesser-known World War II narratives of suffering (i.e. they dismantle the hegemony of the Holocaust narrative). While I also discuss French and Polish suffering, I mainly focus on German suffering during the wartime period. I analyse German suffering in each of the texts through the lens of Primo Levi’s concept of the gray zone and by discussing the figure of the ordinary German. By drawing on Levi’s concept of the gray zone and reading the characters in the selected texts in an empathetic manner, my study aims to contribute to a growing body of literature that has begun to rethink German and other peripheral World War II narratives of victimisation and suffering that were largely overshadowed by the memory of the Holocaust. This dissertation, therefore, contributes to broadening the field of Holocaust memory in memory studies, extending literature on multidirectional memory, and demonstrating how memories of the past can interact productively and thus enable us, in the contemporary moment, to think dialogically and help us recognise that not all memories are equally (and fairly) represented in both the public and scholarly sphere.