Changes and continuities over time in the cultural significance of the Nyaminyami water spirit among the BaTonga people of northwestern Zimbabwe
- Authors: Matanzima, Joshua
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Water spirits -- Zimbabwe , Tsonga (African people) -- Zimbabwe , Tsonga (African people) -- Zimbabwe -- Religion , Tsonga (African people) -- Zimbabwe -- Rites and ceremonies , Tsonga (African people) -- Zimbabwe -- Social life and customs , Mythology, Tsonga , Mythology, Zimbabwean , Nyaminyami (Spirit)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/94189 , vital:31015
- Description: Research attests that beliefs in water spirits are an integral part of cultures of many indigenous communities across the globe. These water spirits play significant political, religious and socio-economic roles for the people concerned. However, the functions of water spirits are not constant, but change over time, especially when the people believing in water spirits undergo drastic socio- economic processes of change. It is in this context that this thesis traces the cultural significance over time, of the Nyaminyami water spirit, among some BaTonga people, living in the immediate vicinity of the Kariba gorge area, in north-western Zimbabwe. While previous studies document the existence of beliefs in Nyaminyami, none of these has systematically traced the historical significance of Nyaminyami, in terms of changes and continuities over time. Thus, this thesis makes a valuable contribution to knowledge with regards to the history and religion of the BaTonga people. The thesis argues that Nyaminyami‘s cultural significance or functions evolved over time, due to numerous socio- economic and political processes of change. The major changes that significantly influenced the practices relating to Nyaminyami include colonialism, Kariba dam construction and resettlement, the migration after resettlement in the 1960s and 1970s, the independence of Zimbabwe, and the alienation of the Kariba waterscape from the BaTonga. To be able to arrive at specific findings and conclusions, the thesis is underpinned by theories about resettlement, approaches to water divinities, and theories of religion and social change. The thesis has five ethnographic chapters that focus on specific time periods, illustrating the major socio- economic changes of each epoch, and showing how these changes impacted upon practices and beliefs relating to Nyaminyami. The thesis also documents how Nyaminyami beliefs are variedly distributed along different social variables that include gender, age, income and geographical location. In order to achieve the findings presented, the thesis utilized ethnographic evidence obtained from semi- structured interviews, participant observation, anthropology of extraordinary experience, document review and archival research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Matanzima, Joshua
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Water spirits -- Zimbabwe , Tsonga (African people) -- Zimbabwe , Tsonga (African people) -- Zimbabwe -- Religion , Tsonga (African people) -- Zimbabwe -- Rites and ceremonies , Tsonga (African people) -- Zimbabwe -- Social life and customs , Mythology, Tsonga , Mythology, Zimbabwean , Nyaminyami (Spirit)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/94189 , vital:31015
- Description: Research attests that beliefs in water spirits are an integral part of cultures of many indigenous communities across the globe. These water spirits play significant political, religious and socio-economic roles for the people concerned. However, the functions of water spirits are not constant, but change over time, especially when the people believing in water spirits undergo drastic socio- economic processes of change. It is in this context that this thesis traces the cultural significance over time, of the Nyaminyami water spirit, among some BaTonga people, living in the immediate vicinity of the Kariba gorge area, in north-western Zimbabwe. While previous studies document the existence of beliefs in Nyaminyami, none of these has systematically traced the historical significance of Nyaminyami, in terms of changes and continuities over time. Thus, this thesis makes a valuable contribution to knowledge with regards to the history and religion of the BaTonga people. The thesis argues that Nyaminyami‘s cultural significance or functions evolved over time, due to numerous socio- economic and political processes of change. The major changes that significantly influenced the practices relating to Nyaminyami include colonialism, Kariba dam construction and resettlement, the migration after resettlement in the 1960s and 1970s, the independence of Zimbabwe, and the alienation of the Kariba waterscape from the BaTonga. To be able to arrive at specific findings and conclusions, the thesis is underpinned by theories about resettlement, approaches to water divinities, and theories of religion and social change. The thesis has five ethnographic chapters that focus on specific time periods, illustrating the major socio- economic changes of each epoch, and showing how these changes impacted upon practices and beliefs relating to Nyaminyami. The thesis also documents how Nyaminyami beliefs are variedly distributed along different social variables that include gender, age, income and geographical location. In order to achieve the findings presented, the thesis utilized ethnographic evidence obtained from semi- structured interviews, participant observation, anthropology of extraordinary experience, document review and archival research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Chitin hydrolysis with chitinolytic enzymes for the production of chitooligomers with antimicrobial properties
- Authors: Oree, Glynis
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Chitin -- Biotechnology , Enzymes -- Biotechnology , Hydrolysis , Chitooligomers -- Biotechnology
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67887 , vital:29165
- Description: There are many diseases and illnesses in the world that require new drug treatments and chitin has been shown to produce chitooligomeric derivatives which exhibit promising antimicrobial and immune-enhancing properties. However, the rate-limiting step is associated with the high recalcitrance of chitinous substrates, and low hydrolytic activities of chitinolytic enzymes, resulting in low product release. To improve and create a more sustainable and economical process, enhancing chitin hydrolysis through various treatment procedures is essential for obtaining high enzyme hydrolysis rates, resulting in a higher yield of chitooligomers (CHOS). In literature, pre-treatment of insoluble biomass is generally associated with an increase in accessibility of the carbohydrate to hydrolytic enzymes, thus generating more products. The first part of this study investigated the effect of alkali- (NaOH) and acid pre-treatments (HCl and phosphoric acid) on chitin biomass, and chemical and morphological modifications were assessed by the employment of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectrometery (EDX) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Data obtained confirmed that pre-treated substrates were more chemically and morphologically modified. These results confirmed the fact that pre-treatment of chitin disrupts the structure of the biomass, rendering the polymer more accessible for enzymatic hydrolysis. The commercial chitinases from Bacillus cereus and Streptomyces griseus (CHB and CHS) are costly. Bio-prospecting for other chitin-degrading enzymes from alternate sources such as Oidiodendron maius, or the recombinant expression of CHOS, was a more economically feasible avenue. The chit1 gene from Thermomyces lanuginosus, expressed in Pichia pastoris, produced a large range CHOS with a degree of polymerisation (DP) ranging from 1 to above 6. TLC analysis showed that O. maius exhibited chitin-degrading properties by producing CHOS with a DP length of 1 to 3. These two sources were therefore successful in producing chitin-degrading enzymes. The physico-chemical properties of commercial (CHB and CHS) and expressed (Chit1) chitinolytic enzymes were investigated, to determine under which biochemical conditions and on which type of biomass they can function on optimally, for the production of value-added products such as CHOS. Substrate affinity assays were conducted on the un-treated and pre-treated biomass. TLC revealed that chitosan hydrolysis by the commercial chitinases produced the largest range of CHOS with a DP length ranging from 1 to 6. A range of temperatures (35-90oC) were investigated and CHB, CHS and Chit1 displayed optimum activities at 50, 40 and 45 oC, respectively. Thermostability studies that were conducted at 37 and 50oC revealed that CHB and CHS were most stable at 37oC. Chit1 showed great thermostablity at both temperatures, rendering this enzyme suitable for industrial processes at high temperatures. pH optima studies demonstrated that the pH optima for CHB, CHS and Chit1 was at a pH of 5.0, with specific activities of 33.459, 46.2 and 5.776 μmol/h/mg, respectively. The chain cleaving patterns of the commercial enzymes were determined and exo-chitinase activity was exhibited, due to the production of CHOS that were predominantly of a DP length of 2. Enzyme binary synergy studies were conducted with commercial chitinases (CHB and CHS) on colloidal chitin. Studies illustrated that the simultaneous combination of CHB 75%: CHS 25% produced the highest specific activity (3.526 μmol/h/mg), with no synergy. TLC analysis of this enzyme combination over time revealed that predominantly chitobiose was produced. This suggested that the substrate crystallinity and morphology played an important role in the way the enzymes cleaved the carbohydrate. Since CHOS have shown great promise for their antimicrobial properties, the CHOS generated from the chitinous substrates were tested for antimicrobial properties on Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Staphlococcus aureus. This study revealed that certain CHOS produced have inhibitory effects on certain bacteria and could potentially be used in the pharamceutical or medical industries. In conclusion, this study revealed that chitinases can be produced and found in alternate sources and be used for the hydrolysis of chitinous biomass in a more sustainabe and economically viable manner. The chitinases investigated (CHB, CHS and Chit1) exhibited different cleaving patterns of the chitinous substrates due to the chemical and morphological properties of the biomass. CHOS produced from chitinous biomass exhibited some inhibitory effects on bacterial growth and show potential for use in the medical industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Oree, Glynis
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Chitin -- Biotechnology , Enzymes -- Biotechnology , Hydrolysis , Chitooligomers -- Biotechnology
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67887 , vital:29165
- Description: There are many diseases and illnesses in the world that require new drug treatments and chitin has been shown to produce chitooligomeric derivatives which exhibit promising antimicrobial and immune-enhancing properties. However, the rate-limiting step is associated with the high recalcitrance of chitinous substrates, and low hydrolytic activities of chitinolytic enzymes, resulting in low product release. To improve and create a more sustainable and economical process, enhancing chitin hydrolysis through various treatment procedures is essential for obtaining high enzyme hydrolysis rates, resulting in a higher yield of chitooligomers (CHOS). In literature, pre-treatment of insoluble biomass is generally associated with an increase in accessibility of the carbohydrate to hydrolytic enzymes, thus generating more products. The first part of this study investigated the effect of alkali- (NaOH) and acid pre-treatments (HCl and phosphoric acid) on chitin biomass, and chemical and morphological modifications were assessed by the employment of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectrometery (EDX) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Data obtained confirmed that pre-treated substrates were more chemically and morphologically modified. These results confirmed the fact that pre-treatment of chitin disrupts the structure of the biomass, rendering the polymer more accessible for enzymatic hydrolysis. The commercial chitinases from Bacillus cereus and Streptomyces griseus (CHB and CHS) are costly. Bio-prospecting for other chitin-degrading enzymes from alternate sources such as Oidiodendron maius, or the recombinant expression of CHOS, was a more economically feasible avenue. The chit1 gene from Thermomyces lanuginosus, expressed in Pichia pastoris, produced a large range CHOS with a degree of polymerisation (DP) ranging from 1 to above 6. TLC analysis showed that O. maius exhibited chitin-degrading properties by producing CHOS with a DP length of 1 to 3. These two sources were therefore successful in producing chitin-degrading enzymes. The physico-chemical properties of commercial (CHB and CHS) and expressed (Chit1) chitinolytic enzymes were investigated, to determine under which biochemical conditions and on which type of biomass they can function on optimally, for the production of value-added products such as CHOS. Substrate affinity assays were conducted on the un-treated and pre-treated biomass. TLC revealed that chitosan hydrolysis by the commercial chitinases produced the largest range of CHOS with a DP length ranging from 1 to 6. A range of temperatures (35-90oC) were investigated and CHB, CHS and Chit1 displayed optimum activities at 50, 40 and 45 oC, respectively. Thermostability studies that were conducted at 37 and 50oC revealed that CHB and CHS were most stable at 37oC. Chit1 showed great thermostablity at both temperatures, rendering this enzyme suitable for industrial processes at high temperatures. pH optima studies demonstrated that the pH optima for CHB, CHS and Chit1 was at a pH of 5.0, with specific activities of 33.459, 46.2 and 5.776 μmol/h/mg, respectively. The chain cleaving patterns of the commercial enzymes were determined and exo-chitinase activity was exhibited, due to the production of CHOS that were predominantly of a DP length of 2. Enzyme binary synergy studies were conducted with commercial chitinases (CHB and CHS) on colloidal chitin. Studies illustrated that the simultaneous combination of CHB 75%: CHS 25% produced the highest specific activity (3.526 μmol/h/mg), with no synergy. TLC analysis of this enzyme combination over time revealed that predominantly chitobiose was produced. This suggested that the substrate crystallinity and morphology played an important role in the way the enzymes cleaved the carbohydrate. Since CHOS have shown great promise for their antimicrobial properties, the CHOS generated from the chitinous substrates were tested for antimicrobial properties on Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Staphlococcus aureus. This study revealed that certain CHOS produced have inhibitory effects on certain bacteria and could potentially be used in the pharamceutical or medical industries. In conclusion, this study revealed that chitinases can be produced and found in alternate sources and be used for the hydrolysis of chitinous biomass in a more sustainabe and economically viable manner. The chitinases investigated (CHB, CHS and Chit1) exhibited different cleaving patterns of the chitinous substrates due to the chemical and morphological properties of the biomass. CHOS produced from chitinous biomass exhibited some inhibitory effects on bacterial growth and show potential for use in the medical industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Climatic suitability of Dichrorampha odorata Brown and Zachariades (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a shoot-boring moth for the biological control of Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King and H. Robinson (Asteraceae) in South Africa
- Authors: Nqayi, Slindile Brightness
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: CLIMEX , Chromolaena odorata -- Biological control -- South Africa , Tortricidae -- South Africa , Bioclimatology -- Software
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92208 , vital:30681
- Description: Biological control using natural enemies introduced from the native range is an integral component of the management of Chromolaena odorata, a serious invader in the eastern regions of South Africa. A number of biological control agents for C. odorata have been released in South Africa, and one of them, Dichrorampha odorata, has failed to establish. To understand if D. odorata failed to establish due to climate incompatibility, its thermal physiology was investigated. Thermal tolerance data were used to determine the developmental thresholds and number of generations that D. odorata is capable of going through in South Africa per year. These predictions were generated using CLIMEX temperature data and the degree-day parameters K and t0. Developmental time decreased with increasing temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 30°C, with immature stages not able to complete development at 18°C and 32°C. The developmental threshold, to, was determined as 8.45 °C with 872.4 degree-days required to complete development (K), indicating that D. odorata is capable of producing a maximum number of 6.5 generations per year in South Africa. The CLIMEX data indicated that the east coast regions of South Africa, which are the heaviest invaded areas by C. odorata in South Africa, were climatically most suitable for D. odorata to. D. odorata lower (LLT50) and upper (ULT50) lethal temperatures were -4.5°C and 39.64°C for larvae and 1.83 and 41.02°C for adults, and D. odorata adults were able to maintain locomotory functioning at 4.4 to 43.7°C, respectively. Acclimation at low and high temperatures indicate that when D. odorata was kept at a lower temperature of 20°C for 7 days, it became tolerant to warmer and cooler temperatures (1.95 and 44.41°C) when compared to D. odorata reared at 25°C (3.36 and 43.67°C) and 30°C (5.92 and 42.93°C). Dichrorampha odorata is therefore climatically suitable for release and should establish in South Africa to control C. odorata. The establishment and persistence of D. odorata will not be limited by climatic conditions but rather the distribution of its host weed, C. odorata in South Africa. Also, this study presents a decision-making protocol for the release of D. odorata to allow better performance in the field.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Nqayi, Slindile Brightness
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: CLIMEX , Chromolaena odorata -- Biological control -- South Africa , Tortricidae -- South Africa , Bioclimatology -- Software
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92208 , vital:30681
- Description: Biological control using natural enemies introduced from the native range is an integral component of the management of Chromolaena odorata, a serious invader in the eastern regions of South Africa. A number of biological control agents for C. odorata have been released in South Africa, and one of them, Dichrorampha odorata, has failed to establish. To understand if D. odorata failed to establish due to climate incompatibility, its thermal physiology was investigated. Thermal tolerance data were used to determine the developmental thresholds and number of generations that D. odorata is capable of going through in South Africa per year. These predictions were generated using CLIMEX temperature data and the degree-day parameters K and t0. Developmental time decreased with increasing temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 30°C, with immature stages not able to complete development at 18°C and 32°C. The developmental threshold, to, was determined as 8.45 °C with 872.4 degree-days required to complete development (K), indicating that D. odorata is capable of producing a maximum number of 6.5 generations per year in South Africa. The CLIMEX data indicated that the east coast regions of South Africa, which are the heaviest invaded areas by C. odorata in South Africa, were climatically most suitable for D. odorata to. D. odorata lower (LLT50) and upper (ULT50) lethal temperatures were -4.5°C and 39.64°C for larvae and 1.83 and 41.02°C for adults, and D. odorata adults were able to maintain locomotory functioning at 4.4 to 43.7°C, respectively. Acclimation at low and high temperatures indicate that when D. odorata was kept at a lower temperature of 20°C for 7 days, it became tolerant to warmer and cooler temperatures (1.95 and 44.41°C) when compared to D. odorata reared at 25°C (3.36 and 43.67°C) and 30°C (5.92 and 42.93°C). Dichrorampha odorata is therefore climatically suitable for release and should establish in South Africa to control C. odorata. The establishment and persistence of D. odorata will not be limited by climatic conditions but rather the distribution of its host weed, C. odorata in South Africa. Also, this study presents a decision-making protocol for the release of D. odorata to allow better performance in the field.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Clinical psychologists’ perceptions of the phenomenon of schizophrenia in a psychiatric setting in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Hamman, Colette
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Schizophrenia -- Diagnosis -- South Africa , Schizophrenia -- Treatment -- South Africa , Schizophrenics -- Rehabilitation -- South Africa , Schizophrenics -- South Africa -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71398 , vital:29845
- Description: Numerous international and South African scholars are critical of the dominant research on the phenomenon of schizophrenia. Rather than refuting dominant biomedical psychiatric conceptualisations of schizophrenia, there is a call for incorporating a focus on the psychology of the person diagnosed with schizophrenia. In South Africa, the integration of the psychosocial components of psychotic experiences into the understanding and treatment of psychosis are still neglected in biomedically-focused psychiatric settings. In relation to this call, the role of clinical psychologists working within these settings seems pertinent. Against this background, this study aimed to explore and describe the perceptions of clinical psychologists, working in a psychiatric setting in South Africa, in relation to the phenomenon of schizophrenia. Informed by a social constructionist theoretical framework, this study utilised a qualitative research design and a semi-structured interview schedule. In-depth, individual interviews were conducted with three clinical psychologists and the transcribed interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. From the data, perceptions were identified as largely polarised in relation to the phenomenon of schizophrenia. These polarised perceptions included: Physical impact of schizophrenia versus social impact of schizophrenia; rehabilitation of schizophrenia versus recovery within schizophrenia; diagnostic frameworks as useful versus diagnostic frameworks as limiting; and institutionally-defined identity versus self-defined identity. In terms of these polarised perceptions, an overarching theme of the medicalisation versus the demedicalisation of schizophrenia was identified. Therefore, the perceptions of clinical psychologists in this study were largely polarised towards either a medicalisation of the phenomenon of schizophrenia or a demedicalisation of it. However, perceptions were also identified that evidenced an integration of the two sides of the polarities, and a holding of tension between seemingly incompatible or incongruent frameworks. The participants perceived psychologists as positioned in the middle ground between the medicalisation and demedicalisation of schizophrenia in a biomedical psychiatric setting. In response to the call for a focus on the psychology of the person diagnosed with schizophrenia, the findings support both the value and the need for an “integration of polarised perceptions”, “holding of the tension”, and “middle ground positioning” of clinicians between medicalised and demedicalised aspects of the phenomenon of schizophrenia.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Hamman, Colette
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Schizophrenia -- Diagnosis -- South Africa , Schizophrenia -- Treatment -- South Africa , Schizophrenics -- Rehabilitation -- South Africa , Schizophrenics -- South Africa -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71398 , vital:29845
- Description: Numerous international and South African scholars are critical of the dominant research on the phenomenon of schizophrenia. Rather than refuting dominant biomedical psychiatric conceptualisations of schizophrenia, there is a call for incorporating a focus on the psychology of the person diagnosed with schizophrenia. In South Africa, the integration of the psychosocial components of psychotic experiences into the understanding and treatment of psychosis are still neglected in biomedically-focused psychiatric settings. In relation to this call, the role of clinical psychologists working within these settings seems pertinent. Against this background, this study aimed to explore and describe the perceptions of clinical psychologists, working in a psychiatric setting in South Africa, in relation to the phenomenon of schizophrenia. Informed by a social constructionist theoretical framework, this study utilised a qualitative research design and a semi-structured interview schedule. In-depth, individual interviews were conducted with three clinical psychologists and the transcribed interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. From the data, perceptions were identified as largely polarised in relation to the phenomenon of schizophrenia. These polarised perceptions included: Physical impact of schizophrenia versus social impact of schizophrenia; rehabilitation of schizophrenia versus recovery within schizophrenia; diagnostic frameworks as useful versus diagnostic frameworks as limiting; and institutionally-defined identity versus self-defined identity. In terms of these polarised perceptions, an overarching theme of the medicalisation versus the demedicalisation of schizophrenia was identified. Therefore, the perceptions of clinical psychologists in this study were largely polarised towards either a medicalisation of the phenomenon of schizophrenia or a demedicalisation of it. However, perceptions were also identified that evidenced an integration of the two sides of the polarities, and a holding of tension between seemingly incompatible or incongruent frameworks. The participants perceived psychologists as positioned in the middle ground between the medicalisation and demedicalisation of schizophrenia in a biomedical psychiatric setting. In response to the call for a focus on the psychology of the person diagnosed with schizophrenia, the findings support both the value and the need for an “integration of polarised perceptions”, “holding of the tension”, and “middle ground positioning” of clinicians between medicalised and demedicalised aspects of the phenomenon of schizophrenia.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Collaborative health literacy development: a World Health Organization workplace health promotion approach to address tobacco use
- Authors: Duxbury, Theodore Orlando
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Tobacco use -- Health aspects , Smoking -- Health aspects , Employee health promotion , Employee health promotion -- Computer programs , Rhodes University -- Employees -- Tobacco use
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/104116 , vital:29930
- Description: Background: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are a major global public health threat and tobacco use in particular is the leading cause of preventable illness and mortality globally. Furthermore, vulnerable and socially disadvantaged people get sicker and die sooner, especially because they are at higher risk of being exposed to harmful products such as tobacco and have limited access to health services. Tobacco use also has a major impact on the workplace, adversely affecting work productivity and increasing absenteeism. Both the living and work environments, therefore, play an important role in contributing towards the NCD epidemic. Demographics, culture, behaviour change reluctance and health literacy are all factors which exacerbate tobacco prevalence in South Africa. Workplace health promotion, however, is not well established in many workplaces. This study aimed to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a culturallysensitive and contextually-appropriate collaborative workplace health promotion literacy programme on tobacco use, utilizing tailored health information leaflets and the Rhodes University peer educators support staff, guided by the World Health Organization Workplace Health Promotion Framework. Method: The research was conducted using a participatory action research approach, which involved four phases: Firstly, the Exploratory phase assessed tobacco-related health promotion policies and practices at Rhodes University; and established facilitating and constraining factors related to tobacco use. Secondly, the Educational health promotion phase involved designing and testing a health promotion educational intervention to address tobacco use related challenges, which took the form of culturally sensitive and appropriate health information leaflets to be used as an educational intervention Thirdly, in the Implementation phase health promotion training workshops were conducted with volunteering Rhodes University Peer Educators. Finally, an Evaluation phase involved evaluating the tobacco health promotion programme presented to the Rhodes University Peer Educators through a focus group discussion; and evaluating Peer Educator recall on the tobacco related health information discussed during the training workshops through a post-post intervention questionnaire. Eight semi-structured interviews (SSIs) and seven focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with support staff, peer educators and key stakeholders to establish the need for a comprehensive workplace health promotion initiative, and to identify the facilitating and constraining factors to conducting such an initiative on tobacco use at the University. Three health information leaflets (HILs) were developed collaboratively with the Peer Educators following a series of scientific, end-user testing approaches. The HILs were tested for readability, comprehension, actionability and suitability. A four-day health promotion training programme was conducted to improve user friendliness, memory retention and recall of the HILs by the peer educators and to improve tobacco related health literacy aspects. The participants’ memory recall was evaluated using a pre- and post-, and post-post-intervention questionnaire to evaluate knowledge transfer. The study participants were also equipped with the completed HILs to distribute to their peers and to use as reference sources of information when needed in future. Results: The peer educators and institutional management supported the need for a tobacco workplace health promotion intervention. The intervention and evaluation phase of this study proved that health information material developed was readable, actionable, suitable, userfriendly, culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate. The workshops resulted in a significant increase in the participants’ tobacco related health knowledge. Through the adoption of a collaborative approach to the research, the participants felt empowered and ready to be agents of change amongst their peers in the workplace. Recommendations: The collective use of external expert reviewers, end-user testing techniques and validated computer programmes are recommended to improve the validity of health promotion research outcomes. A longitudinal study that focus on behaviour change, specifically, with health evaluation and monitoring aspects could be conducted as the next step to this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Duxbury, Theodore Orlando
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Tobacco use -- Health aspects , Smoking -- Health aspects , Employee health promotion , Employee health promotion -- Computer programs , Rhodes University -- Employees -- Tobacco use
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/104116 , vital:29930
- Description: Background: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are a major global public health threat and tobacco use in particular is the leading cause of preventable illness and mortality globally. Furthermore, vulnerable and socially disadvantaged people get sicker and die sooner, especially because they are at higher risk of being exposed to harmful products such as tobacco and have limited access to health services. Tobacco use also has a major impact on the workplace, adversely affecting work productivity and increasing absenteeism. Both the living and work environments, therefore, play an important role in contributing towards the NCD epidemic. Demographics, culture, behaviour change reluctance and health literacy are all factors which exacerbate tobacco prevalence in South Africa. Workplace health promotion, however, is not well established in many workplaces. This study aimed to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a culturallysensitive and contextually-appropriate collaborative workplace health promotion literacy programme on tobacco use, utilizing tailored health information leaflets and the Rhodes University peer educators support staff, guided by the World Health Organization Workplace Health Promotion Framework. Method: The research was conducted using a participatory action research approach, which involved four phases: Firstly, the Exploratory phase assessed tobacco-related health promotion policies and practices at Rhodes University; and established facilitating and constraining factors related to tobacco use. Secondly, the Educational health promotion phase involved designing and testing a health promotion educational intervention to address tobacco use related challenges, which took the form of culturally sensitive and appropriate health information leaflets to be used as an educational intervention Thirdly, in the Implementation phase health promotion training workshops were conducted with volunteering Rhodes University Peer Educators. Finally, an Evaluation phase involved evaluating the tobacco health promotion programme presented to the Rhodes University Peer Educators through a focus group discussion; and evaluating Peer Educator recall on the tobacco related health information discussed during the training workshops through a post-post intervention questionnaire. Eight semi-structured interviews (SSIs) and seven focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with support staff, peer educators and key stakeholders to establish the need for a comprehensive workplace health promotion initiative, and to identify the facilitating and constraining factors to conducting such an initiative on tobacco use at the University. Three health information leaflets (HILs) were developed collaboratively with the Peer Educators following a series of scientific, end-user testing approaches. The HILs were tested for readability, comprehension, actionability and suitability. A four-day health promotion training programme was conducted to improve user friendliness, memory retention and recall of the HILs by the peer educators and to improve tobacco related health literacy aspects. The participants’ memory recall was evaluated using a pre- and post-, and post-post-intervention questionnaire to evaluate knowledge transfer. The study participants were also equipped with the completed HILs to distribute to their peers and to use as reference sources of information when needed in future. Results: The peer educators and institutional management supported the need for a tobacco workplace health promotion intervention. The intervention and evaluation phase of this study proved that health information material developed was readable, actionable, suitable, userfriendly, culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate. The workshops resulted in a significant increase in the participants’ tobacco related health knowledge. Through the adoption of a collaborative approach to the research, the participants felt empowered and ready to be agents of change amongst their peers in the workplace. Recommendations: The collective use of external expert reviewers, end-user testing techniques and validated computer programmes are recommended to improve the validity of health promotion research outcomes. A longitudinal study that focus on behaviour change, specifically, with health evaluation and monitoring aspects could be conducted as the next step to this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Colloquial terms used in young adults’ talk about sexual practices, sexual subjectivities and sexual desires’
- Authors: Robertson, Cassandra Ann
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Youth -- Sexual behavior , Sex in popular culture , Communication and sex , Language and sex
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96551 , vital:31293
- Description: Much of the growth in sexualities‘ research has taken the form of large scale surveys, but there is also increased interest in qualitative approaches that provide useful insights into the experiential and subjective aspects of sexuality, and illuminate the social and cultural contexts shaping these experiences. The reason for this research is to provide a richer understanding of the language that young people employ when speaking about sexuality. This study examines young adults‘ talk about sexualities with a special focus on the way in which colloquial terms are deployed in this talk and through the presence of gendered and/or heteronormative assumptions. Data consisted of posts off a student-led social media site and the study design employed was a validity check group interview. The social media site allowed its followers to post anonymously about a range of sexualities related issues. Data were analysed thematically, using a deductive, critical, and post-structuralist approach with key insights drawn on from Michael Foucault, Adrienne Rich, Gayle Rubin, Judith Butler and Rosalind Gill. Three overarching themes emerged: young adults spoke to sexual practices, sexual subjectivities and sexual desires. A major focus of this talk is casual sex. This talk showed that there are attempts to undermine gendered and heteronormative power relations, for example, non-normative sexual experiences were not seen as deviant, although those who were engaging in monogamy and casual sex were constructed as deviant sexual subjects. Yet underpinning of these power relations still took place, for example, in the female missing discourse of desire, the internalisation of male sexual desires over female sexual desires and the sexual double standard. There was a clear divide between the sexual practices and sexual subjectivities that were considered to be good and bad. This research therefore has the potential to benefit sexuality interventions by bringing into sharp focus the actual experiences of young adults.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Robertson, Cassandra Ann
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Youth -- Sexual behavior , Sex in popular culture , Communication and sex , Language and sex
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96551 , vital:31293
- Description: Much of the growth in sexualities‘ research has taken the form of large scale surveys, but there is also increased interest in qualitative approaches that provide useful insights into the experiential and subjective aspects of sexuality, and illuminate the social and cultural contexts shaping these experiences. The reason for this research is to provide a richer understanding of the language that young people employ when speaking about sexuality. This study examines young adults‘ talk about sexualities with a special focus on the way in which colloquial terms are deployed in this talk and through the presence of gendered and/or heteronormative assumptions. Data consisted of posts off a student-led social media site and the study design employed was a validity check group interview. The social media site allowed its followers to post anonymously about a range of sexualities related issues. Data were analysed thematically, using a deductive, critical, and post-structuralist approach with key insights drawn on from Michael Foucault, Adrienne Rich, Gayle Rubin, Judith Butler and Rosalind Gill. Three overarching themes emerged: young adults spoke to sexual practices, sexual subjectivities and sexual desires. A major focus of this talk is casual sex. This talk showed that there are attempts to undermine gendered and heteronormative power relations, for example, non-normative sexual experiences were not seen as deviant, although those who were engaging in monogamy and casual sex were constructed as deviant sexual subjects. Yet underpinning of these power relations still took place, for example, in the female missing discourse of desire, the internalisation of male sexual desires over female sexual desires and the sexual double standard. There was a clear divide between the sexual practices and sexual subjectivities that were considered to be good and bad. This research therefore has the potential to benefit sexuality interventions by bringing into sharp focus the actual experiences of young adults.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Communicating in/from the Cave: a communication for development/social change project aimed at enhancing communication, action and learning within the science cave, a learner-led Grade 10 science club in a public school in Makhanda
- Authors: Bombi, Thandi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa , Communication in science -- South Africa , Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Communication in science -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Student centered learning -- South Africa , Student centered learning-- South Africa -- Makhanda
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96837 , vital:31330
- Description: This research seeks to design, execute and reflect on a process where the principles and techniques of Communication for Development and Social Change are applied to enhance, support and develop qualitative changes within a learner-led Grade 10 science club at a public school in Makhanda. It draws and reflects on an ethnographic action research (Tacchi et al 2003) cycle proposed to explore the club’s communicative ecology (Foth & Hearn 2007) and resources, and understand how these have the potential to encourage the expression of voice (Couldry 2010: 580) and participation (Carpentier, 2011) in the members of the club. The research then attempts to understand the kind of communication, action and learning that takes place as well as the ways in which the framework is able to support the club (or not). The research uses an ethnographic narrative, told from the perspective of the researcher informed by field notes, interviews and participant reflections written during the intervention. This narrative, alongside an analytical summery of the club’s complex communicative ecology, tells the story of a club building confidence within a closed group and using that to connect with a wider public, articulating its needs, resources and potential supporting stakeholders for the club’s future development. The club is able to share its achievements with a community of peers and uses the platform of Facebook, to communicate with and inspire other like-minded people with an interest in science and their community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Bombi, Thandi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa , Communication in science -- South Africa , Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Communication in science -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Student centered learning -- South Africa , Student centered learning-- South Africa -- Makhanda
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96837 , vital:31330
- Description: This research seeks to design, execute and reflect on a process where the principles and techniques of Communication for Development and Social Change are applied to enhance, support and develop qualitative changes within a learner-led Grade 10 science club at a public school in Makhanda. It draws and reflects on an ethnographic action research (Tacchi et al 2003) cycle proposed to explore the club’s communicative ecology (Foth & Hearn 2007) and resources, and understand how these have the potential to encourage the expression of voice (Couldry 2010: 580) and participation (Carpentier, 2011) in the members of the club. The research then attempts to understand the kind of communication, action and learning that takes place as well as the ways in which the framework is able to support the club (or not). The research uses an ethnographic narrative, told from the perspective of the researcher informed by field notes, interviews and participant reflections written during the intervention. This narrative, alongside an analytical summery of the club’s complex communicative ecology, tells the story of a club building confidence within a closed group and using that to connect with a wider public, articulating its needs, resources and potential supporting stakeholders for the club’s future development. The club is able to share its achievements with a community of peers and uses the platform of Facebook, to communicate with and inspire other like-minded people with an interest in science and their community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Composition portfolio
- Authors: Cooper, Corinne Jane
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Xhosa (African people) -- Music , Musical bow -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sound recordings in ethnomusicology -- South Africa , Dywili, Nofinishi. The bow project , Music -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MMus
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168338 , vital:41568
- Description: In June 2014, I was introduced to Christine Dixie by a film maker I had worked with on a previous project. Christine was looking for a composer who could arrange a soundtrack around musical themes that she had commissioned from Jared Lang to accompany her video installation To Be King (Dixie 2014. Jared composed five different melodies that I wove into a palette of sounds that comprised the soundtrack. To Be King was exhibited at the National Arts Festival in 2014 as part of the Main Festival. It moved to Cape Town in 2015 and 2017, to Venice and London in 2017, and to Lithuania in 2018. In 2017, Christine approached me to compose a soundtrack for a different work, based again on seventeenth century Spanish artist, Velázquez’ painting ‘Las Meninas’ (1656), but this time, using a series of sculptures representing the different figures in the painting, a reinterpretation with strong Eastern Cape (South Africa) themes and associations. Christine proposed reimagining the figures in the painting by clothing them in Shweshwe 1 material and placing African masks on each of them, masks that she had sought out during her travels around Africa. The use of Shweshwe material, ties the figures very closely to the Eastern Cape, and in particular, close to where I grew up in Alice, just 60 kilometres away from where it is manufactured in King William’s Town. Alice is important in the unfolding of this portfolio as Ntsikana, purportedly the first Xhosa person to be converted to Christianity and a prophet, lived in Peddie (which is about 70 kilometers from Grahamstown and Rhodes University) and Gqora, near the Kat River District which is located in the Amathola District near Alice. (Kumalo 2015, p.26). Alice is steeped in history, and is the town where Lovedale Mission Station was founded in 1824 and later, the Lovedale Press in 1861. Therefore, this project felt close to my roots, hence this interaction between Western and African cultures is very relevant to my world view and has impacted on my scoring of this music. I was initially challenged by the idea that the project would require a deeper understanding of traditional Xhosa music and while I had been exposed to Xhosa culture while growing up in Alice, my formative years were largely shaped by the culture of my Christian parents who immigrated to South Africa from England during the 1960s. During the first decade of the twentieth century, in my capacity as a sound engineer, I was tasked with recording and mastering a double CD called The Bow Project. Various South African composers were invited to transcribe and paraphrase or reimagine traditional Xhosa bow music for the classical string quartet. The uhadi songs 2 of Nofinishi Dywili formed the basis for many of these intercultural explorations, and I recorded and mastered the string quartets as well as 12 individual recordings of Dywili’s music. I spent many hours listening to Dywili’s recordings while I mastered them, but though I was very familiar with how they sounded, I realised, as I started compiling this portfolio, that I was not familiar with their notation and rhythmic structures. I approach sound engineering with a very different ear and sonic perspective to that of a composer. To learn more about uhadi bow music I visited the International Library of African Music (ILAM) which is housed by Rhodes University in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Here I consulted with sound engineer and African music specialist, Elijah Madiba, on Xhosa instruments and traditional music-making. With Madiba’s assistance I listened carefully to different bow performances and examined a variety of instruments. After this introduction I loaned a selection of recordings from the ILAM collection and listened to them as carefully as I could. Every time I listened, I seemed to hear something different, both melodically and rhythmically. To gain a deeper understanding of how this music was created I decided to transcribe some of the songs. Following a steep learning curve I completed transcriptions of two songs with my transcriptions including a wealth of vocal parts. As my ears grew accustomed to the sound world I heard additional counter melodies. Notating the rhythms using staff notation was challenging, as this music is created according to a different format, but I am familiar with staff notation and if I was going to use this material while composing then I needed to remain with that which was familiar. I finally settled on notating with shifting time signatures and the first song is scored in bars of 3/4, 4/4, and 2/4 while the other song uses 3/4, 2/4. It was a very worthwhile exercise and after completion I humbly set about composing the eleven pieces that would musically express Dixie’s new work: Worlding the White Spirit Maiden (2019).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Cooper, Corinne Jane
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Xhosa (African people) -- Music , Musical bow -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sound recordings in ethnomusicology -- South Africa , Dywili, Nofinishi. The bow project , Music -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MMus
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168338 , vital:41568
- Description: In June 2014, I was introduced to Christine Dixie by a film maker I had worked with on a previous project. Christine was looking for a composer who could arrange a soundtrack around musical themes that she had commissioned from Jared Lang to accompany her video installation To Be King (Dixie 2014. Jared composed five different melodies that I wove into a palette of sounds that comprised the soundtrack. To Be King was exhibited at the National Arts Festival in 2014 as part of the Main Festival. It moved to Cape Town in 2015 and 2017, to Venice and London in 2017, and to Lithuania in 2018. In 2017, Christine approached me to compose a soundtrack for a different work, based again on seventeenth century Spanish artist, Velázquez’ painting ‘Las Meninas’ (1656), but this time, using a series of sculptures representing the different figures in the painting, a reinterpretation with strong Eastern Cape (South Africa) themes and associations. Christine proposed reimagining the figures in the painting by clothing them in Shweshwe 1 material and placing African masks on each of them, masks that she had sought out during her travels around Africa. The use of Shweshwe material, ties the figures very closely to the Eastern Cape, and in particular, close to where I grew up in Alice, just 60 kilometres away from where it is manufactured in King William’s Town. Alice is important in the unfolding of this portfolio as Ntsikana, purportedly the first Xhosa person to be converted to Christianity and a prophet, lived in Peddie (which is about 70 kilometers from Grahamstown and Rhodes University) and Gqora, near the Kat River District which is located in the Amathola District near Alice. (Kumalo 2015, p.26). Alice is steeped in history, and is the town where Lovedale Mission Station was founded in 1824 and later, the Lovedale Press in 1861. Therefore, this project felt close to my roots, hence this interaction between Western and African cultures is very relevant to my world view and has impacted on my scoring of this music. I was initially challenged by the idea that the project would require a deeper understanding of traditional Xhosa music and while I had been exposed to Xhosa culture while growing up in Alice, my formative years were largely shaped by the culture of my Christian parents who immigrated to South Africa from England during the 1960s. During the first decade of the twentieth century, in my capacity as a sound engineer, I was tasked with recording and mastering a double CD called The Bow Project. Various South African composers were invited to transcribe and paraphrase or reimagine traditional Xhosa bow music for the classical string quartet. The uhadi songs 2 of Nofinishi Dywili formed the basis for many of these intercultural explorations, and I recorded and mastered the string quartets as well as 12 individual recordings of Dywili’s music. I spent many hours listening to Dywili’s recordings while I mastered them, but though I was very familiar with how they sounded, I realised, as I started compiling this portfolio, that I was not familiar with their notation and rhythmic structures. I approach sound engineering with a very different ear and sonic perspective to that of a composer. To learn more about uhadi bow music I visited the International Library of African Music (ILAM) which is housed by Rhodes University in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Here I consulted with sound engineer and African music specialist, Elijah Madiba, on Xhosa instruments and traditional music-making. With Madiba’s assistance I listened carefully to different bow performances and examined a variety of instruments. After this introduction I loaned a selection of recordings from the ILAM collection and listened to them as carefully as I could. Every time I listened, I seemed to hear something different, both melodically and rhythmically. To gain a deeper understanding of how this music was created I decided to transcribe some of the songs. Following a steep learning curve I completed transcriptions of two songs with my transcriptions including a wealth of vocal parts. As my ears grew accustomed to the sound world I heard additional counter melodies. Notating the rhythms using staff notation was challenging, as this music is created according to a different format, but I am familiar with staff notation and if I was going to use this material while composing then I needed to remain with that which was familiar. I finally settled on notating with shifting time signatures and the first song is scored in bars of 3/4, 4/4, and 2/4 while the other song uses 3/4, 2/4. It was a very worthwhile exercise and after completion I humbly set about composing the eleven pieces that would musically express Dixie’s new work: Worlding the White Spirit Maiden (2019).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Cultural clusters as a local economic development strategy in rural, small town areas: the Sarah Baartman District in the Eastern Cape of South Africa
- Authors: Drummond, Fiona Jane
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Cultural industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Creative ability -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Arts -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Culture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71568 , vital:29879
- Description: It is increasingly recognized that the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) can play an important role in economic growth and development. Governments around the world, including South Africa, are implementing culture‐led economic growth and development strategies on national and regional scales. CCIs tend to cluster around large cities because of existing hard and soft infrastructure such as networking advantages and access to skilled labour, however, much less is known about the potential of the CCIs to drive rural development. This thesis thus investigates the potential of the CCIs to cluster in small towns and rural areas. Moreover, it examines the relationship between the CCIs and socio‐economic development. The CCIs have been touted as a catalyst for economic growth and development and so have often been used in urban regeneration schemes. The Sarah Baartman District (SBD) of South Africa’s Eastern Cape has identified culture as a potential new economic driver. Establishing a new development path is necessary as the former economic mainstay, agriculture, has declined in the region, creating poverty and unemployment problems. However, the SBD has only small towns which, according to the literature, are not suited to CCI clustering. Despite this, there is evidence of cultural clustering in some of the SBD’s small towns like Nieu Bethesda and Bathurst. This research therefore conducted an audit of the CCIs in the district and used geographic information systems (GIS) to map their locations by UNESCO Framework of Cultural Statistics (FCS) domains in order to determine the extent to which clustering has occurred in a small town setting. The audit identified 1 048 CCIs operating in the district and determined that clustering is possible within some small towns, depending on their demographic, economic, social, geographic and historic characteristics. For small towns where clusters exist or the potential for cluster formation is present, the domains in which the town holds a comparative advantage, based on domain proportions and location quotients, should be pursued for local economic development (LED). In this case, Visual Arts and Crafts and Cultural Heritage were prominent throughout the district while Design and Creative Services and Performance and Celebration had small regional concentrations. Theory suggests that the presence of CCIs is linked to higher levels of economic development as the creative class is more likely to be attracted to more highly developed areas, usually large cities. Furthermore, spillover effects from cultural activity promotes further development under the virtuous cycle. To investigate the relationship between CCI clusters and socio‐economic development, the locational data of municipal level CCI numbers is overlaid with a regional development indicator, a socio‐economic status index, which is based on census data and includes economic and social components. Results show that there is a general positive trend of CCIs locating in larger numbers (clustering) in areas with higher socio‐economic development performances.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Drummond, Fiona Jane
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Cultural industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Creative ability -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Arts -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Culture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71568 , vital:29879
- Description: It is increasingly recognized that the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) can play an important role in economic growth and development. Governments around the world, including South Africa, are implementing culture‐led economic growth and development strategies on national and regional scales. CCIs tend to cluster around large cities because of existing hard and soft infrastructure such as networking advantages and access to skilled labour, however, much less is known about the potential of the CCIs to drive rural development. This thesis thus investigates the potential of the CCIs to cluster in small towns and rural areas. Moreover, it examines the relationship between the CCIs and socio‐economic development. The CCIs have been touted as a catalyst for economic growth and development and so have often been used in urban regeneration schemes. The Sarah Baartman District (SBD) of South Africa’s Eastern Cape has identified culture as a potential new economic driver. Establishing a new development path is necessary as the former economic mainstay, agriculture, has declined in the region, creating poverty and unemployment problems. However, the SBD has only small towns which, according to the literature, are not suited to CCI clustering. Despite this, there is evidence of cultural clustering in some of the SBD’s small towns like Nieu Bethesda and Bathurst. This research therefore conducted an audit of the CCIs in the district and used geographic information systems (GIS) to map their locations by UNESCO Framework of Cultural Statistics (FCS) domains in order to determine the extent to which clustering has occurred in a small town setting. The audit identified 1 048 CCIs operating in the district and determined that clustering is possible within some small towns, depending on their demographic, economic, social, geographic and historic characteristics. For small towns where clusters exist or the potential for cluster formation is present, the domains in which the town holds a comparative advantage, based on domain proportions and location quotients, should be pursued for local economic development (LED). In this case, Visual Arts and Crafts and Cultural Heritage were prominent throughout the district while Design and Creative Services and Performance and Celebration had small regional concentrations. Theory suggests that the presence of CCIs is linked to higher levels of economic development as the creative class is more likely to be attracted to more highly developed areas, usually large cities. Furthermore, spillover effects from cultural activity promotes further development under the virtuous cycle. To investigate the relationship between CCI clusters and socio‐economic development, the locational data of municipal level CCI numbers is overlaid with a regional development indicator, a socio‐economic status index, which is based on census data and includes economic and social components. Results show that there is a general positive trend of CCIs locating in larger numbers (clustering) in areas with higher socio‐economic development performances.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Deconstructing “the South African jazz feel”: roots, rhythms and features of South African jazz
- Authors: Thorpe, Christopher John
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Jazz -- History and criticism , Jazz -- African influences , Jazz -- Africa --History and criticism , Jazz -- South Africa --History and criticism
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MMus
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76649 , vital:30612
- Description: South African jazz has established itself as a distinct and influential genre in modern popular music that merges musical elements from traditional South African musics with influences from U.S.-American jazz. Formed during a time of extreme social inequality in a divided country, South African jazz became the soundtrack of the struggle against social injustice and racial oppression, and was brought to international attention by artists such as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, and Abdullah Ibrahim who gave poignant musical expression to the hardships of the time. South African jazz is celebrated for its unique sound, original catalogue and all-important “feel”. To many listeners, performers and musicologists, it is this concept of feel that makes South African jazz so distinctive and inimitable. To date, however, much of the scholarly and popular literature on South African jazz has centred on the historical, social and political aspects of the music, with less attention given to close musical-textual analysis. A few studies have considered the melodic and harmonic language of iconic saxophonists and bass players but there are – to date – no close studies of rhythm and feel in South African jazz. Beginning to address this gap in the literature, this study uncovers some of the elements that constitute the South African jazz feel through close rhythmic and more general musical analyses of a selection of South African jazz recordings.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Thorpe, Christopher John
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Jazz -- History and criticism , Jazz -- African influences , Jazz -- Africa --History and criticism , Jazz -- South Africa --History and criticism
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MMus
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76649 , vital:30612
- Description: South African jazz has established itself as a distinct and influential genre in modern popular music that merges musical elements from traditional South African musics with influences from U.S.-American jazz. Formed during a time of extreme social inequality in a divided country, South African jazz became the soundtrack of the struggle against social injustice and racial oppression, and was brought to international attention by artists such as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, and Abdullah Ibrahim who gave poignant musical expression to the hardships of the time. South African jazz is celebrated for its unique sound, original catalogue and all-important “feel”. To many listeners, performers and musicologists, it is this concept of feel that makes South African jazz so distinctive and inimitable. To date, however, much of the scholarly and popular literature on South African jazz has centred on the historical, social and political aspects of the music, with less attention given to close musical-textual analysis. A few studies have considered the melodic and harmonic language of iconic saxophonists and bass players but there are – to date – no close studies of rhythm and feel in South African jazz. Beginning to address this gap in the literature, this study uncovers some of the elements that constitute the South African jazz feel through close rhythmic and more general musical analyses of a selection of South African jazz recordings.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Determining the hydrological functioning of the palmiet wetlands in the Eastern and Western Cape South Africa
- Authors: Smith, Caitlin
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Wetlands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wetland ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wetland management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Prioniaceae -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Prionium serratum -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/95956 , vital:31218
- Description: Wetlands provide a range of supporting, regulating and provisioning ecosystem services, including hydrological benefits such as flood attenuation and sustaining base flows. Despite their value, wetlands are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems in South Africa. Palmiet wetlands in the Eastern and Western Cape are particularly threatened. Palmiet (Prionium serratum) is a robust perennial plant that is endemic to wetlands and rivers located in the sandstones and quartzites of the Table Mountain Group (TMG), in the Eastern and Western Cape as well as the Natal Group sandstones in KwaZulu-Natal. Palmiet is described as an ecosystem engineer because of its ability to alter its environment and create large valley-bottom wetlands. The Krom River is an important water source for the city of Port Elizabeth and there has been a decline in palmiet wetlands along the Krom River as a result of alien vegetation invasion, agricultural activity, and gully erosion. Working for Water has been clearing alien vegetation and Working for Wetlands has been installing rehabilitation structures in the Krom River catchment for a number of years. There are, however, serious knowledge gaps in the understanding of palmiet wetland structure and function, particularly in respect of the hydrological functioning of these wetland systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the hydrology (surface and groundwater) behind these wetland systems. The investigation focussed on small-scale dynamics of the palmiet wetland system in order to increase general understanding of the surface water and groundwater processes of these wetland systems. Field work was concentrated on the Kompanjiesdrif and Krugersland palmiet wetlands in the upper K90A Krom River catchment. The investigation involved the installation of piezometers, water quality and stable isotope sampling and analysis, an Electrical Resistivity Tomography survey, and hydrological and mixing cell modelling. The results of the investigation indicate that the hydrological functioning of palmiet wetlands is closely linked with high sub-surface discharges typically associated with TMG aquifers. It is proposed that the palmiet wetlands are sustained by significant amounts of sub-surface water (both groundwater and interflow) moving through preferential flow paths in the alluvial fans and tributaries, which are in turn sustained by groundwater discharge from the surrounding sandstones and quartzites of the Nardouw Sub-group and Peninsula Formation. The palmiet wetlands clearly retain a significant amount of water, leading to the maintenance of prolonged flows, and a larger baseflow. However, it is hypothesised that the occurrence of palmiet as the dominant species in these wetlands is due to the sustained low flows related to catchment geology and high hydrological connectivity between the catchment and the wetland that is enabled by flow paths that allow the free flow of water from the catchment to the wetland. It is further proposed that palmiet is possibly more reliant on a consistent water supply for its existence and survival than it is on acidic nutrient-poor water and soils as stated by other authors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Smith, Caitlin
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Wetlands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wetland ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wetland management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Prioniaceae -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Prionium serratum -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/95956 , vital:31218
- Description: Wetlands provide a range of supporting, regulating and provisioning ecosystem services, including hydrological benefits such as flood attenuation and sustaining base flows. Despite their value, wetlands are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems in South Africa. Palmiet wetlands in the Eastern and Western Cape are particularly threatened. Palmiet (Prionium serratum) is a robust perennial plant that is endemic to wetlands and rivers located in the sandstones and quartzites of the Table Mountain Group (TMG), in the Eastern and Western Cape as well as the Natal Group sandstones in KwaZulu-Natal. Palmiet is described as an ecosystem engineer because of its ability to alter its environment and create large valley-bottom wetlands. The Krom River is an important water source for the city of Port Elizabeth and there has been a decline in palmiet wetlands along the Krom River as a result of alien vegetation invasion, agricultural activity, and gully erosion. Working for Water has been clearing alien vegetation and Working for Wetlands has been installing rehabilitation structures in the Krom River catchment for a number of years. There are, however, serious knowledge gaps in the understanding of palmiet wetland structure and function, particularly in respect of the hydrological functioning of these wetland systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the hydrology (surface and groundwater) behind these wetland systems. The investigation focussed on small-scale dynamics of the palmiet wetland system in order to increase general understanding of the surface water and groundwater processes of these wetland systems. Field work was concentrated on the Kompanjiesdrif and Krugersland palmiet wetlands in the upper K90A Krom River catchment. The investigation involved the installation of piezometers, water quality and stable isotope sampling and analysis, an Electrical Resistivity Tomography survey, and hydrological and mixing cell modelling. The results of the investigation indicate that the hydrological functioning of palmiet wetlands is closely linked with high sub-surface discharges typically associated with TMG aquifers. It is proposed that the palmiet wetlands are sustained by significant amounts of sub-surface water (both groundwater and interflow) moving through preferential flow paths in the alluvial fans and tributaries, which are in turn sustained by groundwater discharge from the surrounding sandstones and quartzites of the Nardouw Sub-group and Peninsula Formation. The palmiet wetlands clearly retain a significant amount of water, leading to the maintenance of prolonged flows, and a larger baseflow. However, it is hypothesised that the occurrence of palmiet as the dominant species in these wetlands is due to the sustained low flows related to catchment geology and high hydrological connectivity between the catchment and the wetland that is enabled by flow paths that allow the free flow of water from the catchment to the wetland. It is further proposed that palmiet is possibly more reliant on a consistent water supply for its existence and survival than it is on acidic nutrient-poor water and soils as stated by other authors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Discursive psychological analysis on the construction and performance of identity through rights talk on social media related to #FeesMustFall
- Authors: Mashaba, Tumelo Thabo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Identity , Right to education , Human rights , Social media -- Political aspects -- South Africa , College students -- Political activity -- South Africa , College students -- Attitudes -- South Africa , College students, Black -- Psychology -- South Africa , College students, Black -- Attitudes -- South Africa , College students -- Psychology -- South Africa , Student protestors -- Attitudes -- South Africa , Student movements -- South Africa , Internet and activisim -- South Africa , Internet in political campaigns -- South Africa , Higher education and state -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96668 , vital:31306
- Description: #FeesMustFall emerged at the end of 2015 after an announcement that tuitions would increase. The student protests occurred across higher education institutions within the country in which mass shutdowns were initiated, there was the presence of violence and the use of social media. The protests occurred in 2016 but experienced a shift in tone in terms of the violence present in the protests. The research sought to unpack how identity was constructed and performed through rights talk in regards to #FeesMustFall on social media. The methodology worked from a social constructionist perspective where the research consisted of a discursive psychological analytical approach to the texts presented. The discursive repertoires that were identified were: emotions repertoire; struggle repertoire; apartheid repertoire; racial repertoire; and rights repertoire. The subject positions revealed through the repertoires indicated that protesters and supporters constructed and performed their identity in particular ways. They were positioned as black; working class; victims who are enacting a sense of agency; denied their rights; have moral authority and are a parallel to the protesters under apartheid. The repertoire of struggle, racial and apartheid all link with each other. The rights repertoire is the foundation and the emotions repertoire is the tone of the student protests.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mashaba, Tumelo Thabo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Identity , Right to education , Human rights , Social media -- Political aspects -- South Africa , College students -- Political activity -- South Africa , College students -- Attitudes -- South Africa , College students, Black -- Psychology -- South Africa , College students, Black -- Attitudes -- South Africa , College students -- Psychology -- South Africa , Student protestors -- Attitudes -- South Africa , Student movements -- South Africa , Internet and activisim -- South Africa , Internet in political campaigns -- South Africa , Higher education and state -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96668 , vital:31306
- Description: #FeesMustFall emerged at the end of 2015 after an announcement that tuitions would increase. The student protests occurred across higher education institutions within the country in which mass shutdowns were initiated, there was the presence of violence and the use of social media. The protests occurred in 2016 but experienced a shift in tone in terms of the violence present in the protests. The research sought to unpack how identity was constructed and performed through rights talk in regards to #FeesMustFall on social media. The methodology worked from a social constructionist perspective where the research consisted of a discursive psychological analytical approach to the texts presented. The discursive repertoires that were identified were: emotions repertoire; struggle repertoire; apartheid repertoire; racial repertoire; and rights repertoire. The subject positions revealed through the repertoires indicated that protesters and supporters constructed and performed their identity in particular ways. They were positioned as black; working class; victims who are enacting a sense of agency; denied their rights; have moral authority and are a parallel to the protesters under apartheid. The repertoire of struggle, racial and apartheid all link with each other. The rights repertoire is the foundation and the emotions repertoire is the tone of the student protests.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Effect of substituents on the photophysical properties and nonlinear optical properties of asymmetrical zinc(II) phthalocyanine when conjugated to semiconductor quantum dots
- Authors: Mgidlana, Sithi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Nonlinear optics , Quantum dots , Phthalocyanines , Zinc
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/97152 , vital:31404
- Description: Various characterization techniques have been used to characterize the synthesized asymmetrical zinc phthalocyanines (ZnPc) derivatives. Techniques include Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry, matrix assisted laser desorption time of flight mass spectrometry (MALD-TOF MS), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), elemental analysis and Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR). The complexes are covalently linked to core/shell and core/shell/shell semiconductor quantum dots (SQDs) via amide bond formation. Photophysical properties of complexes improved in the presence of semiconductor quantum dots (SQDs). SQDs contain cadmium/telluride (CdTe) as core, coated in the first shell with zinc selenide (ZnSe) or zinc sulfide (ZnS) and with zinc oxide (ZnO) in second shell. The photophysical properties of the phthalocyanine (Pc) complexes and their conjugates with SQDs are investigated in solution. Triplet quantum yields of complexes improved in the presence of semiconductor quantum dots. The optical limiting behaviour of the Pc complexes and conjugates are assessed using the open aperture Z–scan technique at laser excitation wavelength of 532 nm with 10 ns pulse. Pcs complexes showed good nonlinear optical response with higher nonlinear absorption coefficient. The conjugates afforded higher nonlinear absorption coefficient than Pc complexes alone.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mgidlana, Sithi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Nonlinear optics , Quantum dots , Phthalocyanines , Zinc
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/97152 , vital:31404
- Description: Various characterization techniques have been used to characterize the synthesized asymmetrical zinc phthalocyanines (ZnPc) derivatives. Techniques include Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry, matrix assisted laser desorption time of flight mass spectrometry (MALD-TOF MS), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), elemental analysis and Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR). The complexes are covalently linked to core/shell and core/shell/shell semiconductor quantum dots (SQDs) via amide bond formation. Photophysical properties of complexes improved in the presence of semiconductor quantum dots (SQDs). SQDs contain cadmium/telluride (CdTe) as core, coated in the first shell with zinc selenide (ZnSe) or zinc sulfide (ZnS) and with zinc oxide (ZnO) in second shell. The photophysical properties of the phthalocyanine (Pc) complexes and their conjugates with SQDs are investigated in solution. Triplet quantum yields of complexes improved in the presence of semiconductor quantum dots. The optical limiting behaviour of the Pc complexes and conjugates are assessed using the open aperture Z–scan technique at laser excitation wavelength of 532 nm with 10 ns pulse. Pcs complexes showed good nonlinear optical response with higher nonlinear absorption coefficient. The conjugates afforded higher nonlinear absorption coefficient than Pc complexes alone.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Ekhakhamela
- Authors: Machi, Nolwazi Fortunate
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Xhosa poetry
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76332 , vital:30549
- Description: My collection of isiZulu poems is based on my rural and traditional upbringing. It draws on language and customs which have shaped and defined me as a woman born in the South of KwaZulu-Natal. I write about how I have to conform to both a rural life and an urban one that forms my second world. I find myself having to switch between these lives, which benefits me a lot, and I feel a responsibility to bring hope to young people especially from the rural side, that nothing is wrong with being who and where they are. My writing is influenced by authors such as Nazim Hikmet, Mafika Gwala, and Mazisi Kunene who encourages black writers to write about their own customs and stories rather than embracing ‘western civilization’ and foreign languages. I also like the contemporary subjects and the humour in Dr Nakanjani Sibiya’s work.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Machi, Nolwazi Fortunate
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Xhosa poetry
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76332 , vital:30549
- Description: My collection of isiZulu poems is based on my rural and traditional upbringing. It draws on language and customs which have shaped and defined me as a woman born in the South of KwaZulu-Natal. I write about how I have to conform to both a rural life and an urban one that forms my second world. I find myself having to switch between these lives, which benefits me a lot, and I feel a responsibility to bring hope to young people especially from the rural side, that nothing is wrong with being who and where they are. My writing is influenced by authors such as Nazim Hikmet, Mafika Gwala, and Mazisi Kunene who encourages black writers to write about their own customs and stories rather than embracing ‘western civilization’ and foreign languages. I also like the contemporary subjects and the humour in Dr Nakanjani Sibiya’s work.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Empire in Lusaka: hip-hop, young men and masculinity in an African city
- Authors: Mulolani, Happy
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Empire (Television program : 2015) -- Influence , Hip-hop -- Zambia -- Lusaka , Young men -- Zambia -- Lusaka , Young men -- Psychology -- Zambia -- Lusaka , Young men -- Social conditions -- Zambia -- Lusaka , Rap musicians -- Zambia -- Lusaka , Masculinity -- Zambia -- Lusaka
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92650 , vital:30736
- Description: This study examines young Zambian men who are aspiring hip hop artists in Lusaka and the meanings they make of the representations of masculinity in Empire, a popular US television drama. Broadcast locally via satellite on the South African cable network, DStv, Empire narrates the story of a family of powerful men as they battle for the control of Empire, a successful hip-hop label. Of significance is how the programme’s representations of masculinity resonate with the young men’s own ideas of masculinity within a highly patriarchal and conservative urban African space. The young male hip-hop artists encounter their everyday experiences in a context of a range of socio-economic challenges within the urban space of Lusaka which presents them with very limited economic opportunities and resources. Underpinned by a constructivist approach, this reception study explores how these young male artists encounter their everyday experiences in the city and how its structural constraints are navigated through hip-hop, a highly popular local cultural form. The male artists’ reactions to the programme are dependent on their socio-economic location and the types of skills and resources they draw on in order to traverse their everyday experience of city life which concurrently is perceived as exclusionary and as impacting on their livelihoods and aspirations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mulolani, Happy
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Empire (Television program : 2015) -- Influence , Hip-hop -- Zambia -- Lusaka , Young men -- Zambia -- Lusaka , Young men -- Psychology -- Zambia -- Lusaka , Young men -- Social conditions -- Zambia -- Lusaka , Rap musicians -- Zambia -- Lusaka , Masculinity -- Zambia -- Lusaka
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92650 , vital:30736
- Description: This study examines young Zambian men who are aspiring hip hop artists in Lusaka and the meanings they make of the representations of masculinity in Empire, a popular US television drama. Broadcast locally via satellite on the South African cable network, DStv, Empire narrates the story of a family of powerful men as they battle for the control of Empire, a successful hip-hop label. Of significance is how the programme’s representations of masculinity resonate with the young men’s own ideas of masculinity within a highly patriarchal and conservative urban African space. The young male hip-hop artists encounter their everyday experiences in a context of a range of socio-economic challenges within the urban space of Lusaka which presents them with very limited economic opportunities and resources. Underpinned by a constructivist approach, this reception study explores how these young male artists encounter their everyday experiences in the city and how its structural constraints are navigated through hip-hop, a highly popular local cultural form. The male artists’ reactions to the programme are dependent on their socio-economic location and the types of skills and resources they draw on in order to traverse their everyday experience of city life which concurrently is perceived as exclusionary and as impacting on their livelihoods and aspirations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Environmental drivers of the composition and distribution of larval fish assemblages off the south coast of South Africa
- Authors: Trassierra, Jaqueline Anne
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Fishes -- Larvae -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fishes -- Larvae -- Migration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fishes -- Larvae -- Dispersal -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68154 , vital:29207
- Description: The species composition, distribution and patterns of vertical migration of larval fish assemblages were investigated in March and in September 2013 within two adjacent log spiral bays, Algoa Bay and St Francis Bay, on the south coast of South Africa. Fish larvae were collected by means of a boat towed bongo net (57 cm diameter; mesh aperture 500 μm). An onshore (2 km) and an offshore (3 km) station were each sampled twice during the daytime (06:00 – 18:00) with two horizontal tows: near the surface (0.5 m) and close to the bottom (12 m). Tows were repeated at night (18:00 – 23:00) for onshore sites. Larval catches included 16 fish families and 40 species. A multivariate analysis indicated that the species composition was significantly different between Algoa Bay and St Francis Bay, with Engraulidae, Blenniidae, Sparidae, Soleidae and Cynoglossidae making important contributions to the larval fish catch in Algoa Bay, while Blenniidae, Engraulidae, Tripterygiidae, Sparidae and Gobiesocidae contributed significantly in St Francis Bay. Differences in assemblage composition were noted between the Spring (September–October) and Autumn (March-April) months. The species composition of larval fish assemblages was related to wind speed, wave height, cloud cover, sea water temperature, depth, average current speed and direction. Wind speed, wave height, temperature and depth significantly contributed to the variation in larval fish densities. Abundances of larval fishes were greater offshore than onshore, larvae from pelagic eggs dominated catches offshore, while larvae from demersal eggs dominated onshore catches. Habitat structure strongly influenced the composition of larval fishes between the bays and abundances were significantly greater at night than during the day. Most larval fishes displayed a reverse diel vertical migration pattern and were most influenced by predators, wind speed and cloud cover. This study shows that larval fish assemblages are highly complex and patchy. Spawning mode, individual species behaviour, diel vertical migration, current structure, depth, temperature, wind speed, cloud cover and type of habitat substratum all influence larval fish composition and distribution in the nearshore waters of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Trassierra, Jaqueline Anne
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Fishes -- Larvae -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fishes -- Larvae -- Migration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fishes -- Larvae -- Dispersal -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68154 , vital:29207
- Description: The species composition, distribution and patterns of vertical migration of larval fish assemblages were investigated in March and in September 2013 within two adjacent log spiral bays, Algoa Bay and St Francis Bay, on the south coast of South Africa. Fish larvae were collected by means of a boat towed bongo net (57 cm diameter; mesh aperture 500 μm). An onshore (2 km) and an offshore (3 km) station were each sampled twice during the daytime (06:00 – 18:00) with two horizontal tows: near the surface (0.5 m) and close to the bottom (12 m). Tows were repeated at night (18:00 – 23:00) for onshore sites. Larval catches included 16 fish families and 40 species. A multivariate analysis indicated that the species composition was significantly different between Algoa Bay and St Francis Bay, with Engraulidae, Blenniidae, Sparidae, Soleidae and Cynoglossidae making important contributions to the larval fish catch in Algoa Bay, while Blenniidae, Engraulidae, Tripterygiidae, Sparidae and Gobiesocidae contributed significantly in St Francis Bay. Differences in assemblage composition were noted between the Spring (September–October) and Autumn (March-April) months. The species composition of larval fish assemblages was related to wind speed, wave height, cloud cover, sea water temperature, depth, average current speed and direction. Wind speed, wave height, temperature and depth significantly contributed to the variation in larval fish densities. Abundances of larval fishes were greater offshore than onshore, larvae from pelagic eggs dominated catches offshore, while larvae from demersal eggs dominated onshore catches. Habitat structure strongly influenced the composition of larval fishes between the bays and abundances were significantly greater at night than during the day. Most larval fishes displayed a reverse diel vertical migration pattern and were most influenced by predators, wind speed and cloud cover. This study shows that larval fish assemblages are highly complex and patchy. Spawning mode, individual species behaviour, diel vertical migration, current structure, depth, temperature, wind speed, cloud cover and type of habitat substratum all influence larval fish composition and distribution in the nearshore waters of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Evaluation of SNPs of G6PD, with regard to the 3D conformational, structural and stability alterations, in order to investigate the clinical implications and potential applications
- Authors: Sanabria, Natasha Mary-Anne
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76500 , vital:30574
- Description: Expected release date-April 2020
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Sanabria, Natasha Mary-Anne
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76500 , vital:30574
- Description: Expected release date-April 2020
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2019
Exploration of challenges in bringing traditional medicine into SA’s healthcare system, using medicinal plants for treatment of waterborne diarrhoeal diseases as a case study
- Authors: Keche, Priscilla
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Traditional medicine -- South Africa , Waterborne infection -- South Africa , Diarrhea -- South Africa , Healers -- South Africa , Medical care -- Quality control , Medicinal plants -- South Africa , Diarrhea in children -- South Africa , World Health Organization
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/118035 , vital:34588
- Description: Thesis (MSc)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Biotechnology Innovation Centre (RUBIC), 2019.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Keche, Priscilla
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Traditional medicine -- South Africa , Waterborne infection -- South Africa , Diarrhea -- South Africa , Healers -- South Africa , Medical care -- Quality control , Medicinal plants -- South Africa , Diarrhea in children -- South Africa , World Health Organization
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/118035 , vital:34588
- Description: Thesis (MSc)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Biotechnology Innovation Centre (RUBIC), 2019.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Exploring a shift in teacher practices after going through an intervention on the integration of local knowledge in grade 9 physical science lessons
- Authors: Mika, Rauha T
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Physical sciences -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Ethnoscience -- Study and teaching -- Namibia , Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Curriculum planning -- Study and teaching -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96801 , vital:31323
- Description: It has been advocated by many scholars that the integration of local or indigenous knowledge into science classrooms might make science more relevant and accessible to learners, particularly in culturally diverse classrooms. As a result, the Namibian Grade 9 Physical Science curriculum expects teachers to integrate learners’ local or indigenous knowledge in their science classrooms. Despite these ideals, there are no clear instructions on how to go about doing this. This is exacerbated in part by the poor or lack of continuing professional development for science teachers. It is against this background that this study sought to explore an intervention on the integration of local or indigenous knowledge in Grade 9 Physical Science lessons. The study is underpinned by an interpretive paradigm and is informed by Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory and Wenger’s community of practice. Within the interpretive paradigm, a qualitative case study approach was employed. It was carried out in four schools with four Physical Science teachers from Otjiwarongo circuit in Namibia. Qualitative data were generated using workshop discussions, document analysis, semi-structured interviews, classroom observations and reflections. A variety of data generation techniques were used for triangulation and validity purposes. Data were subsequently analysed inductively to come up with themes. The findings of the study revealed that before the intervention the teachers involved in this study had little knowledge about the integration of local or indigenous knowledge in science lessons. However, after their voluntary participation in the intervention, they were enabled to develop and mediate model lessons that integrated local or indigenous knowledge in their classrooms which their learners subsequently found to be stimulating. The findings of the study further revealed that integrating local or indigenous knowledge in science lessons had the potential to promote active participation by learners and foster learning using easily accessible resources. The study thus recommends that teachers should, where possible, strive to integrate learners’ local or indigenous knowledge in science lessons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mika, Rauha T
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Physical sciences -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Ethnoscience -- Study and teaching -- Namibia , Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Curriculum planning -- Study and teaching -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96801 , vital:31323
- Description: It has been advocated by many scholars that the integration of local or indigenous knowledge into science classrooms might make science more relevant and accessible to learners, particularly in culturally diverse classrooms. As a result, the Namibian Grade 9 Physical Science curriculum expects teachers to integrate learners’ local or indigenous knowledge in their science classrooms. Despite these ideals, there are no clear instructions on how to go about doing this. This is exacerbated in part by the poor or lack of continuing professional development for science teachers. It is against this background that this study sought to explore an intervention on the integration of local or indigenous knowledge in Grade 9 Physical Science lessons. The study is underpinned by an interpretive paradigm and is informed by Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory and Wenger’s community of practice. Within the interpretive paradigm, a qualitative case study approach was employed. It was carried out in four schools with four Physical Science teachers from Otjiwarongo circuit in Namibia. Qualitative data were generated using workshop discussions, document analysis, semi-structured interviews, classroom observations and reflections. A variety of data generation techniques were used for triangulation and validity purposes. Data were subsequently analysed inductively to come up with themes. The findings of the study revealed that before the intervention the teachers involved in this study had little knowledge about the integration of local or indigenous knowledge in science lessons. However, after their voluntary participation in the intervention, they were enabled to develop and mediate model lessons that integrated local or indigenous knowledge in their classrooms which their learners subsequently found to be stimulating. The findings of the study further revealed that integrating local or indigenous knowledge in science lessons had the potential to promote active participation by learners and foster learning using easily accessible resources. The study thus recommends that teachers should, where possible, strive to integrate learners’ local or indigenous knowledge in science lessons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Exploring how Grade 11 Biology teachers mediate learning of osmosis when using easily accessible resources in the Oshikoto Region, Namibia
- Authors: Nangolo, Rosalia Ndawapeka
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Biology -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Osmosis -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Ethnobiology -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92595 , vital:30740
- Description: Exploring the use easily accessible resources to carry out the hands-on practical activities to science learning has become one of the significant aspects in the educational research, particularly in science education. It could be deduced from the literature that hands-on practical activities are useful, enjoyable and foster conceptual understanding. The National Curriculum for Basic Education advocates empowering teachers to be knowledgeable on use of hands-on practical activities to produce learners who are scientifically equipped. Yet, the performance of the learners in Science and Mathematics continues to be worrisome and has not been improving over years as reported in TIMSS reports. For instance, the Namibian Examiners’ Reports have repeatedly reported that Biology is one of the subjects that are poorly performed. Essentially, the section on osmosis has been identified as one of the scientific concepts that is problematic to learners. In my view, in order for learners to understand osmosis and its associated concepts, there is a need to strengthen the use of hands-on practical activities. It is recognized that this is something that is lacking in most rural Namibian schools especially where laboratory resources are scarce. It is against this background that the goal of this study was to explore how Grade 11 Biology teachers mediate learning of osmosis when using easily accessible resources. This study is underpinned by an interpretive paradigm. Within the interpretive paradigm, a qualitative case study approach was employed to obtain in-depth understanding on how Biology teachers mediate learning. This study was conducted in two conveniently selected secondary schools in the Oshikoto region, which I could easily access. It focused on four Grade 11 Biology teachers. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews, workshop discussions, lesson observation and stimulated interviews. Vygotsky’s (1978) socio-cultural theory was used as a lens to analyse my data. The findings from semi-structured interviews revealed that teachers demonstrated positive attitudes towards teaching of osmosis using easily accessible resources. However, challenges regarding inadequate materials that hinder the teaching and learning process were registered. Another finding of this study was that teachers used a variety of mediation tools such as prior and local knowledge, language and easily accessible resources to enhance learning. The study thus recommends that, if teachers are exposed to numerous professional development platforms that include the use of easily accessible resources might improve their pedagogical approaches.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Nangolo, Rosalia Ndawapeka
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Biology -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Osmosis -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Ethnobiology -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92595 , vital:30740
- Description: Exploring the use easily accessible resources to carry out the hands-on practical activities to science learning has become one of the significant aspects in the educational research, particularly in science education. It could be deduced from the literature that hands-on practical activities are useful, enjoyable and foster conceptual understanding. The National Curriculum for Basic Education advocates empowering teachers to be knowledgeable on use of hands-on practical activities to produce learners who are scientifically equipped. Yet, the performance of the learners in Science and Mathematics continues to be worrisome and has not been improving over years as reported in TIMSS reports. For instance, the Namibian Examiners’ Reports have repeatedly reported that Biology is one of the subjects that are poorly performed. Essentially, the section on osmosis has been identified as one of the scientific concepts that is problematic to learners. In my view, in order for learners to understand osmosis and its associated concepts, there is a need to strengthen the use of hands-on practical activities. It is recognized that this is something that is lacking in most rural Namibian schools especially where laboratory resources are scarce. It is against this background that the goal of this study was to explore how Grade 11 Biology teachers mediate learning of osmosis when using easily accessible resources. This study is underpinned by an interpretive paradigm. Within the interpretive paradigm, a qualitative case study approach was employed to obtain in-depth understanding on how Biology teachers mediate learning. This study was conducted in two conveniently selected secondary schools in the Oshikoto region, which I could easily access. It focused on four Grade 11 Biology teachers. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews, workshop discussions, lesson observation and stimulated interviews. Vygotsky’s (1978) socio-cultural theory was used as a lens to analyse my data. The findings from semi-structured interviews revealed that teachers demonstrated positive attitudes towards teaching of osmosis using easily accessible resources. However, challenges regarding inadequate materials that hinder the teaching and learning process were registered. Another finding of this study was that teachers used a variety of mediation tools such as prior and local knowledge, language and easily accessible resources to enhance learning. The study thus recommends that, if teachers are exposed to numerous professional development platforms that include the use of easily accessible resources might improve their pedagogical approaches.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019