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.

Communities in NWU Repository

Select a community to browse its collections.

Now showing 1 - 5 of 18

Recent Submissions

The impact of coalition governments on selected metropolitan municipalities in South Africa
(North-West University (South Africa)., 2025) Nkwatle, Boikanyo; Lekaba, F.G; Motloung, S
This study investigated the influence of coalitions on the administration of local government within South African metropolitan municipalities. Employing a desktop research approach, the research delves into the evolving political dynamics shaped by coalition governance structures and their ramifications on service delivery and operational efficiency. With a focus on South African metros, the study explored the emergent trend of coalitions as a significant aspect of the country's political landscape, shedding light on their multifaceted impacts. The findings underscored the increasing prominence of coalitions as a defining feature of South African politics, signalling a paradigm shift in governance strategies. Notably, the study identified a discernible negative impact of coalitions on the operational mechanisms and service provision within metropolitan municipalities. Despite their intended role in fostering collaboration and consensus-building, coalitions are observed to engender challenges in the effective functioning of local government entities. An analysis of the electoral landscape reveals a fragmentation of political representation across various parties, each advocating distinct interests and constituencies. Coalition agreements, consequently, emerge as pivotal frameworks for power distribution among participating parties, shaping the dynamics of governance and decision-making processes. The diversification of representation resulting from coalition formations highlights a significant transformation in local government structures, reflecting the evolving nature of political engagement at the grassroots level. Coalitions are found to exert a transformative influence on the political landscape of South African metros, catalysing shifts in traditional power dynamics and ideological alignments. By incentivising cooperation and negotiation among disparate political entities, coalitions have fostered a climate of consensus-building, albeit amidst inherent challenges. The imperative for coalition partners to navigate complex interparty dynamics underscores the necessity for building trust and fostering effective communication mechanisms. In conclusion, the study illuminates the intricate interplay between coalitions and local government administration in South African metropolitan municipalities. While coalitions offer a potential avenue for enhancing inclusivity and promoting collaborative governance, their emergence presents formidable challenges to operational efficiency and service delivery.
Succession Planning Strategies for Small Family-Owned Businesses
(Emerald Group Publishing Ltd., 2021) Samuel Buckner, Samuel Jr
Some business owners lose young, skillful midlevel leaders to competitors because of limited training to prepare a potential successor for senior leadership roles. Family business owners lack succession strategies to transfer business operations to a junior leader that can lead to business closure and increased community unemployment. Using the transformational leadership framework, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the succession planning strategies that small family-owned business owners use to train the next generation of leaders in the southeastern region of the United States. The data sources included a semistructured interview with two business owners and leadership training manuals for planned succession. The three themes that emerged using thematic analysis are acknowledging the challenges of the generational gap, coaching the potential successor to run the business, and planning for business sustainability. The overriding recommendation is that successful next-generation transitions require strategic planning by the business owner and the successor as soon as possible. Entrepreneurs of small businesses may use the findings to develop a strategic plan to train and transition middle managers to senior leader roles. The implications for social change include enhancing business sustainability, leading to continued employment and local products for members of the community.
Acceleration and transport of relativistic electrons in the parsec-scale jets of the microquasar SS 433
(American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2024) H.E.S.S. Collaboration
SS 433 is a microquasar, a stellar binary system with collimated relativistic jets. We observed SS 433 in gamma rays using the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.), finding an energy-dependent shift in the apparent position of the gamma-ray emission of the parsec-scale jets. These observations trace the energetic electron population and indicate the gamma rays are produced by inverse-Compton scattering. Modelling of the energy-dependent gamma-ray morphology constrains the location of particle acceleration and requires an abrupt deceleration of the jet flow. We infer the presence of shocks on either side of the binary system at distances of 25 to 30 parsecs and conclude that self-collimation of the precessing jets forms the shocks, which then efficiently accelerate electrons
Analysis of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) as an Approach to Resolving Conflicts in Africa: The cases of Libya, Sudan and Central African Republic
(North-West University (South Africa)., 2025) Tsotetsi, Meketsi; Croucamp, P.A
This study intended to investigate the application of R2P doctrine in the African continent with reference to Libya, Sudan and Central African Republic as case studies for the discussion. The African region continues to struggle with intra-states conflicts since 1960s. This study objectives were to examine whether superpowers use the doctrine of R2P to strive towards national interest, to examine the role of state and non-state actors such as civil society organizations in supporting the implementation of the R2P approach in resolving conflicts in Africa, review (analytically and comparatively) the relevant theories suggested for its explanatory capacity as it pertains to the case studies and the notion of R2P and to examine the power of veto within the UNSC when it comes to theimplementation of R2P in Africa. The study research method focused mainly on Qualitative methodology which was used to study this approach to resolving conflicts in Africa through different data collection techniques, such as case studies and documentary analysis. The selected method was adopted to furnish a comprehensive and detailed description of the study undertaken. This study has discovered that the African Union has been marginalized and manipulated in global politics when it comes to African conflict resolution mechanism, for instance, in the case of Libya, African Union voice was ignored by the United Nationsand European Union which led to the NATO intervention which was a disaster, even though R2P was implemented differently in Sudan, Libya and Central African Republic, the African Union showed effectiveness in fostering peace and ending conflict in the Africa region. Itcan be argued that the international community has failed to implement the doctrine of R2P in all 3 cases based on the study I conducted. The biggest setback for the doctrine of R2Pin the African region is the national interest of superpowers who tends to use the doctrine of R2P to push or fulfil their political agenda, for instance, the international community was so fast in reacting to Libya case while the international community dragged their feets in Sudan and CAR, based on these findings, it is more evident that the superpowers use the doctrine of R2P for their national interest which challenges the effectiveness of R2P in the African region. Furthermore, the study discovered the use of veto power by P5 of the UNSC, for instance, the case of Sudan, where Russia and China used their veto power to defend their national interest in oil and weaponry sector.
Unveiling extended gamma-ray emission around HESS J1813−178
(EDP SCIENCES S A, 2024) H.E.S.S. Collaboration; Aharonian, F.; Benkhali, F. Ait; Aschersleben, J.; Ashkar, H.; Backes, M.; Baktash, A.; Martins, V. Barbosa
Context. HESS J1813−178 is a very-high-energy γ-ray source spatially coincident with the young and energetic pulsar PSR J1813−1749 and thought to be associated with its pulsar wind nebula (PWN). Recently, evidence for extended high-energy emission in the vicinity of the pulsar has been revealed in the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) data. This motivates revisiting the HESS J1813−178 region, taking advantage of improved analysis methods and an extended dataset. Aims. Using data taken by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) experiment and the Fermi-LAT, we aim to describe the γ-ray emission in the region with a consistent model, to provide insights into its origin. Methods. We performed a likelihood-based analysis on 32 hours of H.E.S.S. data and 12 yr of Fermi-LAT data and we fitted a spectro- morphological model to the combined datasets. These results allowed us to develop a physical model for the origin of the observed γ-ray emission in the region. Results. In addition to the compact very-high-energy γ-ray emission centred on the pulsar, we find a significant yet previously undetected component along the Galactic plane. With Fermi-LAT data, we confirm extended high-energy emission consistent with the position and elongation of the extended emission observed with H.E.S.S. These results establish a consistent description of the emission in the region from GeV energies to several tens of TeV. Conclusions. This study suggests that HESS J1813−178 is associated with a γ-ray PWN powered by PSR J1813−1749. A possible origin of the extended emission component is inverse Compton emission from electrons and positrons that have escaped the confines of the pulsar and form a halo around the PWN.