Browsing by Author "Nicolaides, Angelo"

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    An assessment of the roles of Frere and Cetshwayo in British hegemonistic ambitions in Southern Africa which led to the destruction and fragmentation of the Zulu State by the Anglo-Boer War of 1879
    (2002) Nicolaides, Angelo; de Villiers, J.
    This thesis provides a detailed account of events leading up to the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, and undertakes to explain inter-alia, why the war came about The focus of the study is thus on the roles of personalities including especially, Lord Carnarvon, Secretary of State for the Colonies), Theophilus Shepstone, (Natal's Secretary for Native Affairs), Sir Bartle Frere (the High Commissioner) and Cetshwayo kaMpande (King of Zululand). The war of 1879 arose out of predominantly British hegemonistic ambitions. Frere was entrusted by Carnarvon to implement a confederation policy in southern Africa. The latter consequently engineered a war on the pretext that the Zulu Kingdom was a menace to the Colony of Natal that had to be eliminated before confederation could be possible. Frere therefore exploited certain border incidents and maligned the character and rule of Cetshwayo whom he chose to label a tyrannical oppressor. Contrary to instructions from Sir Michael Hicks Beach at the Colonial Office and indeed the British Cabinet, Frere then sent an ultimatum to Cetshwayo that could not possibly have been accepted by the Zulus, given the nature of their polity - it would have lost its very way of life. Most of the issues can best be understood and analysed by looking at the Victorian Age and the promoters of British Imperialism. A salient feature of the Victorian Age was that Britons were by and large always likely to misinterpret some of the assumptions upon which African and indeed Zulu thought and actions were based. Victorians, such as Frere, by using their own set of values as the criteria for judgement, adopted postures in southern Africa which can only be interpreted as mischievous, false and irrelevant Frere was 'colonial' and patronizing and displayed an arrogance towards his superiors and the Zulus. Zulus had their own vivid perception of their problems, as well as their own sets of values, customs, beliefs , political and socio-economic structures. Frere was determined to manipulate events in southern Africa for his own ends and regarded himself as the champion of imperialism. He deluded himself further into regarding Cetshwayo as a monarch whose state was based on the institutions of militarism and forced labour- the very negation of liberty. It is evident that the relationship between Cetshwayo and his subjects was not a simple one but it was one which developed from Shakan times and which was clearly accepted by most subjects. As militaristic as it appeared to be, the Zulu state was not planning to embark on a war. It was forced by circumstances created by Frere into one which culminated in its dismemberment In reading the thesis and considering the various factors we should constantly bear in mind the questions: Was Frere sincere in his actions or was he out for personal aggrandisement and to what extent was Cetshwayo an oppressive autocrat?
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    Service quality, empowerment and ethics in the South African hospitality and tourism industry and the road ahead using ISO9000/1
    (2008) Nicolaides, Angelo; Moodley, S.
    The study investigates the concept of quality service in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry. What quality service means to different customers may vary considerably from individual to individual and from country to country. It is nevertheless an indispensable aspect of business which has far more points of congruence than diversity. Customers are the very lifeblood of a service industry business and indeed all businesses. It is therefore vital that management permanently remove any and all of the obstacles which appear in quality service provision. What is the remedy to poor service and how can management be proactive in the pursuit of excellence in quality service provision? This research strives to analyze various opinions and theories on what it is precisely that quality service means and how hospitality and tourism managers can benefit their operations by ongoing commitment to quality service provision and by genuinely empowering and motivating their employees. South Africa as a growing international tourist destination needs to improve its service provision to meet global standards-ISO9000/1 is the ideal tool. To an extent, using the WEB and Internet can also greatly improve the Tourism and Hospitality industry quality service provision in South Africa and give the country a strategic competitive advantage in the international marketplace. Ethical behaviour in the hotel industry is also non-negotiable. Ethics is “good economics”. Suggestions are made as to how an ethics policy including a formal code of conduct can be developed which defines the standards of personnel behaviour in hotels. All employees can and should be motivated to provide excellence in service quality and positively influence the behaviour of employees under their charge. An appropriate and conducive to business approach is not only desirable but non-negotiable. ISO9000/1 certification implementation in the hotel industry has many benefits for companies which hold it and addresses most of the issues stated above.