Thien-2-yl substituted chlorins as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy and photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy
- Babu, Balaji, Sindelo, Azole, Mack, John, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Babu, Balaji , Sindelo, Azole , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/190578 , vital:45007 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2020.108886"
- Description: The synthesis and characterization of meso-tetra(thien-2-yl)chlorin (1) and meso-tetra(5-bromothien-2-yl)chlorin (2) is reported. These dyes have red-shifted absorption maxima compared to those of the analogous meso-tetraphenylchlorin (3). 1 and 2 have Q bands at 660 and 664 nm, respectively, singlet oxygen quantum yields of 0.60 and 0.64 and exhibit good photostability. The triplet states were found to have lifetimes of 8.6 μs in N2 purged DMF. Time-dependent cellular uptake of chlorins reached a maximum in MCF-7 cancer cells after 12 h. Upon irradiation with a Thorlabs M660L3 LED (280 mW cm−2), 2 exhibited better photocytotoxicity with an IC50 value of 2.7 μM against MCF-7 cells. The 2ʹ,7ʹ-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) assay provided evidence for intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species. Photodynamic inactivation of bacteria by the chlorins was also studied. 2 exhibits better activity with log reduction values of 7.42 and 8.34 towards Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively, under illumination for 60 min at 660 nm with a Thorlabs M660L3 LED (280 mW cm−2). These results demonstrate that 2 is a promising candidate for future in vivo experiments and merits further in-depth investigation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Babu, Balaji , Sindelo, Azole , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/190578 , vital:45007 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2020.108886"
- Description: The synthesis and characterization of meso-tetra(thien-2-yl)chlorin (1) and meso-tetra(5-bromothien-2-yl)chlorin (2) is reported. These dyes have red-shifted absorption maxima compared to those of the analogous meso-tetraphenylchlorin (3). 1 and 2 have Q bands at 660 and 664 nm, respectively, singlet oxygen quantum yields of 0.60 and 0.64 and exhibit good photostability. The triplet states were found to have lifetimes of 8.6 μs in N2 purged DMF. Time-dependent cellular uptake of chlorins reached a maximum in MCF-7 cancer cells after 12 h. Upon irradiation with a Thorlabs M660L3 LED (280 mW cm−2), 2 exhibited better photocytotoxicity with an IC50 value of 2.7 μM against MCF-7 cells. The 2ʹ,7ʹ-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) assay provided evidence for intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species. Photodynamic inactivation of bacteria by the chlorins was also studied. 2 exhibits better activity with log reduction values of 7.42 and 8.34 towards Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively, under illumination for 60 min at 660 nm with a Thorlabs M660L3 LED (280 mW cm−2). These results demonstrate that 2 is a promising candidate for future in vivo experiments and merits further in-depth investigation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Thirty years of Male Daughters, Female Husbands
- Magadla, Siphokazi, Magoqwana, Babalwa, Motsemme, Nthabiseng
- Authors: Magadla, Siphokazi , Magoqwana, Babalwa , Motsemme, Nthabiseng
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/298685 , vital:57727 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02589001.2021.1926442"
- Description: This paper examines the legacy of Ifi Amadiume's Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex in an African Society (1987) to African gender theorisation three decades after its publication. We argue that Amadiume's detailed ethnography of the Nnobi society provides an example of what can be achieved when African scholars centre local histories, languages, and kinship ties to provide contextualised understandings of sex and gender. In southern African societies, we assess the ways in which gender fluidity, drawing from local languages, age, seniority and lineage do not strictly fix sex to gender, thus providing possibilities for flexible gender structures that allow women to access institutions of power through the lineage as first daughters (umafungwashe) and wives, among others. We further examine the ways conservative patriarchal discourses continue distorting African cultures and traditions, thus undermining women's rights and access to social, cultural, economic and political power. We argue that current Eurocentric attempts that aim to delink sex and gender do not move us beyond the universalised binaries of gender and sex. Through revisiting local social and linguistic histories that practised gender fluidity and tolerance, we can also begin to challenge the conservative attitudes towards the LGBTQIA+ communities. Given the continued sexual and gender diversities that are being challenged daily in the African continent, it is timely that we revisit the historical meanings along with their contemporary implications for sexual citizenship and gendered power relations today.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Magadla, Siphokazi , Magoqwana, Babalwa , Motsemme, Nthabiseng
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/298685 , vital:57727 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02589001.2021.1926442"
- Description: This paper examines the legacy of Ifi Amadiume's Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex in an African Society (1987) to African gender theorisation three decades after its publication. We argue that Amadiume's detailed ethnography of the Nnobi society provides an example of what can be achieved when African scholars centre local histories, languages, and kinship ties to provide contextualised understandings of sex and gender. In southern African societies, we assess the ways in which gender fluidity, drawing from local languages, age, seniority and lineage do not strictly fix sex to gender, thus providing possibilities for flexible gender structures that allow women to access institutions of power through the lineage as first daughters (umafungwashe) and wives, among others. We further examine the ways conservative patriarchal discourses continue distorting African cultures and traditions, thus undermining women's rights and access to social, cultural, economic and political power. We argue that current Eurocentric attempts that aim to delink sex and gender do not move us beyond the universalised binaries of gender and sex. Through revisiting local social and linguistic histories that practised gender fluidity and tolerance, we can also begin to challenge the conservative attitudes towards the LGBTQIA+ communities. Given the continued sexual and gender diversities that are being challenged daily in the African continent, it is timely that we revisit the historical meanings along with their contemporary implications for sexual citizenship and gendered power relations today.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Three new biological control programmes for South Africa: Brazilian pepper, Tamarix and Tradescantia
- Byrne, Marcus J, Mayonde, Samalesu, Venter, Nic, Chidawanyika, Frank, Zachariades, Costas, Martin, Grant D
- Authors: Byrne, Marcus J , Mayonde, Samalesu , Venter, Nic , Chidawanyika, Frank , Zachariades, Costas , Martin, Grant D
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/414490 , vital:71152 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-cristal-v10-n1-a7"
- Description: Three weed biological control (biocontrol) programmes are described, all of which are considered to be ‘transfer projects’ that were initiated elsewhere, and on which South Africa has piggybacked its biocontrol efforts. Using knowledge and expertise from international collaborators, South African weed researchers are following a long tradition of transfer projects, which has been a largely successful and practical approach to biocontrol. Two Brazilian weeds, the Brazilian pepper tree Schinus terebinthifolia and the spiderwort Tradescantia fluminensis are being targeted, along with the Old-World trees Tamarix ramosissima and T. chinensis. The potential biocontrol agents are described and ranked for the two trees according to what has been discovered elsewhere, while the agent already released against T. fluminensis is rated (as poor), and other potential agents are considered. The addition of molecular techniques, climate matching and remote sensing in transfer projects can increase the chance of successful biocontrol and the inclusion of these techniques in the three new programmes is discussed. Transfer projects are a cost-effective and pragmatic way to pick winning biocontrol programmes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Three new biological control programmes for South Africa: Brazilian pepper, Tamarix and Tradescantia
- Authors: Byrne, Marcus J , Mayonde, Samalesu , Venter, Nic , Chidawanyika, Frank , Zachariades, Costas , Martin, Grant D
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/414490 , vital:71152 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-cristal-v10-n1-a7"
- Description: Three weed biological control (biocontrol) programmes are described, all of which are considered to be ‘transfer projects’ that were initiated elsewhere, and on which South Africa has piggybacked its biocontrol efforts. Using knowledge and expertise from international collaborators, South African weed researchers are following a long tradition of transfer projects, which has been a largely successful and practical approach to biocontrol. Two Brazilian weeds, the Brazilian pepper tree Schinus terebinthifolia and the spiderwort Tradescantia fluminensis are being targeted, along with the Old-World trees Tamarix ramosissima and T. chinensis. The potential biocontrol agents are described and ranked for the two trees according to what has been discovered elsewhere, while the agent already released against T. fluminensis is rated (as poor), and other potential agents are considered. The addition of molecular techniques, climate matching and remote sensing in transfer projects can increase the chance of successful biocontrol and the inclusion of these techniques in the three new programmes is discussed. Transfer projects are a cost-effective and pragmatic way to pick winning biocontrol programmes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Top-Down Synthesis of a Lamivudine-Zidovudine Nano Co-Crystal
- Witika, Bwalya A, Smith, Vincent J, Walker, Roderick B
- Authors: Witika, Bwalya A , Smith, Vincent J , Walker, Roderick B
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/183172 , vital:43918 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11010033"
- Description: Lamivudine (3TC) and zidovudine (AZT) are antiretroviral agents used to manage HIV/AIDS infection. A wet media milling top-down approach was used to develop and produce nano co-crystals of 3TC and AZT. Micro co-crystals were prepared by solvent evaporation and subsequently milled in the presence of two surfactants, viz., sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate 1000 (TPGS 1000). Optimisation was undertaken using design of experiments (DoE) and response surface methodology (RSM) to establish and identify parameters that may affect the manufacturing of nano co-crystals. The impact of SLS and TPGS 1000 concentration, milling time, and number of units of milling medium on the manufacturing of nano co-crystals, was investigated. The critical quality attributes (CQA) monitored were particle size (PS), Zeta potential (ZP), and polydispersity index (PDI). Powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy scanning electron microscopy, and cytotoxicity assays were used for additional characterization of the optimised nano co-crystal. The mean PS, PDI, and ZP of the optimised top-down nanocrystal were 271.0 ± 92.0 nm, 0.467 ± 0.073, and −41.9 ± 3.94 mV, respectively. In conclusion, a simple, inexpensive, rapid, and precise method of nano co-crystal manufacturing was developed, validated, and optimised using DoE and RSM, and the final product exhibited the target CQA.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Witika, Bwalya A , Smith, Vincent J , Walker, Roderick B
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/183172 , vital:43918 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11010033"
- Description: Lamivudine (3TC) and zidovudine (AZT) are antiretroviral agents used to manage HIV/AIDS infection. A wet media milling top-down approach was used to develop and produce nano co-crystals of 3TC and AZT. Micro co-crystals were prepared by solvent evaporation and subsequently milled in the presence of two surfactants, viz., sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate 1000 (TPGS 1000). Optimisation was undertaken using design of experiments (DoE) and response surface methodology (RSM) to establish and identify parameters that may affect the manufacturing of nano co-crystals. The impact of SLS and TPGS 1000 concentration, milling time, and number of units of milling medium on the manufacturing of nano co-crystals, was investigated. The critical quality attributes (CQA) monitored were particle size (PS), Zeta potential (ZP), and polydispersity index (PDI). Powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy scanning electron microscopy, and cytotoxicity assays were used for additional characterization of the optimised nano co-crystal. The mean PS, PDI, and ZP of the optimised top-down nanocrystal were 271.0 ± 92.0 nm, 0.467 ± 0.073, and −41.9 ± 3.94 mV, respectively. In conclusion, a simple, inexpensive, rapid, and precise method of nano co-crystal manufacturing was developed, validated, and optimised using DoE and RSM, and the final product exhibited the target CQA.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Turn-on detection of cysteine by a donor-acceptor type quinoline fluorophore: Exploring the sensing strategy and performance in bioimaging
- Muthusamy, Selvaraj, Zhao, Long, Rajalakshmi, Kanagaraj, Zhu, Dongwei, Soy, Rodah, Mack, John, Nyokong, Tebello, Wang, Shengjun, Lee, Kang-Bong, Zhu, Weihua
- Authors: Muthusamy, Selvaraj , Zhao, Long , Rajalakshmi, Kanagaraj , Zhu, Dongwei , Soy, Rodah , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello , Wang, Shengjun , Lee, Kang-Bong , Zhu, Weihua
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185644 , vital:44406 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2021.109556"
- Description: Tracking the biothiol cysteine (Cys) in living systems is a significant responsibility to balance the redox environment and oxidative stress. A quinoline-7-nitro-1,2,3-benzoxadiazole (Q-NBD) fluorophore has been synthesized and characterized towards examination of Cys. The probe forms a quinoline-substituted phenol (Q-Ph-OH) after thiolysis of the NBD ether bond, leading to an increase of fluorescence at green channel. The turn-on sensing mechanism originates from the change in intramolecular charge transfer (ICT-OFF) along with an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) as suggested by spectroscopy measurements in solutions, time-dependent density-functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations and 1H NMR titration examination. Importantly, Q-NBD exhibited great sensitivity with a low limit of detection value of 89.5 nM and remarkable selectivity in various biothiols towards Cys. The sensor probe was successfully used for detecting both endogenous and exogenous Cys in PC3 living cells and spiked Cys in human urine samples.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Muthusamy, Selvaraj , Zhao, Long , Rajalakshmi, Kanagaraj , Zhu, Dongwei , Soy, Rodah , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello , Wang, Shengjun , Lee, Kang-Bong , Zhu, Weihua
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185644 , vital:44406 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2021.109556"
- Description: Tracking the biothiol cysteine (Cys) in living systems is a significant responsibility to balance the redox environment and oxidative stress. A quinoline-7-nitro-1,2,3-benzoxadiazole (Q-NBD) fluorophore has been synthesized and characterized towards examination of Cys. The probe forms a quinoline-substituted phenol (Q-Ph-OH) after thiolysis of the NBD ether bond, leading to an increase of fluorescence at green channel. The turn-on sensing mechanism originates from the change in intramolecular charge transfer (ICT-OFF) along with an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) as suggested by spectroscopy measurements in solutions, time-dependent density-functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations and 1H NMR titration examination. Importantly, Q-NBD exhibited great sensitivity with a low limit of detection value of 89.5 nM and remarkable selectivity in various biothiols towards Cys. The sensor probe was successfully used for detecting both endogenous and exogenous Cys in PC3 living cells and spiked Cys in human urine samples.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Ultrasound-Triggered Release of 5-Fluorouracil from Soy Lecithin Echogenic Liposomes
- Ezekiel, Charles I, Bapolisi, Alain M, Walker, Roderick B, Krause, Rui W M
- Authors: Ezekiel, Charles I , Bapolisi, Alain M , Walker, Roderick B , Krause, Rui W M
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/183115 , vital:43913 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13060821"
- Description: Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of death. The use of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been the major chemotherapeutic treatment for colorectal cancer patients. However, the efficacy of 5-FU is limited by drug resistance, and bone marrow toxicity through high-level expression of thymidylate synthase, justifying the need for improvement of the therapeutic index. In this study, the effects of ultrasound on echogenic 5-FU encapsulated crude soy liposomes were investigated for their potential to address these challenges. Liposomes were prepared by thin-film hydration using crude soy lecithin and cholesterol. Argon gas was entrapped in the liposomes for sonosensitivity (that is, responsiveness to ultrasound). The nanoparticles were characterized for particle size and morphology. The physicochemical properties were also evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction. The release profile of 5-FU was assessed with and without 20 kHz low-frequency ultrasound waves at various amplitudes and exposure times. The result reveal that 5-FU-loaded liposomes were spherical with an encapsulation efficiency of approximately 60%. Approximately 65% of 5-FU was released at the highest amplitude and exposure time was investigated. The results are encouraging for the stimulated and controlled release of 5-FU for the management of colorectal cancer.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Ezekiel, Charles I , Bapolisi, Alain M , Walker, Roderick B , Krause, Rui W M
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/183115 , vital:43913 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13060821"
- Description: Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of death. The use of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been the major chemotherapeutic treatment for colorectal cancer patients. However, the efficacy of 5-FU is limited by drug resistance, and bone marrow toxicity through high-level expression of thymidylate synthase, justifying the need for improvement of the therapeutic index. In this study, the effects of ultrasound on echogenic 5-FU encapsulated crude soy liposomes were investigated for their potential to address these challenges. Liposomes were prepared by thin-film hydration using crude soy lecithin and cholesterol. Argon gas was entrapped in the liposomes for sonosensitivity (that is, responsiveness to ultrasound). The nanoparticles were characterized for particle size and morphology. The physicochemical properties were also evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction. The release profile of 5-FU was assessed with and without 20 kHz low-frequency ultrasound waves at various amplitudes and exposure times. The result reveal that 5-FU-loaded liposomes were spherical with an encapsulation efficiency of approximately 60%. Approximately 65% of 5-FU was released at the highest amplitude and exposure time was investigated. The results are encouraging for the stimulated and controlled release of 5-FU for the management of colorectal cancer.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Unlocking the Diversity of Pyrroloiminoquinones Produced by Latrunculid Sponge Species
- Kalinski, Jarmo-Charles J, Krause, Rui W M, Parker-Nance, Shirley, Waterworth, Samantha C, Dorrington, Rosemary A
- Authors: Kalinski, Jarmo-Charles J , Krause, Rui W M , Parker-Nance, Shirley , Waterworth, Samantha C , Dorrington, Rosemary A
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/191802 , vital:45165 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/md19020068"
- Description: Sponges of the Latrunculiidae family produce bioactive pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids including makaluvamines, discorhabdins, and tsitsikammamines. The aim of this study was to use LC-ESI-MS/MS-driven molecular networking to characterize the pyrroloiminoquinone secondary metabolites produced by six latrunculid species. These are Tsitsikamma favus, Tsitsikamma pedunculata, Cyclacanthia bellae, and Latrunculia apicalis as well as the recently discovered species, Tsitsikamma nguni and Tsitsikamma michaeli. Organic extracts of 43 sponges were analyzed, revealing distinct species-specific chemical profiles. More than 200 known and unknown putative pyrroloiminoquinones and related compounds were detected, including unprecedented makaluvamine-discorhabdin adducts and hydroxylated discorhabdin I derivatives. The chemical profiles of the new species T. nguni closely resembled those of the known T. favus (chemotype I), but with a higher abundance of tsitsikammamines vs. discorhabdins. T. michaeli sponges displayed two distinct chemical profiles, either producing mostly the same discorhabdins as T. favus (chemotype I) or non- or monobrominated, hydroxylated discorhabdins. C. bellae and L. apicalis produced similar pyrroloiminoquinone chemistry to one another, characterized by sulfur-containing discorhabdins and related adducts and oligomers. This study highlights the variability of pyrroloiminoquinone production by latrunculid species, identifies novel isolation targets, and offers fundamental insights into the collision-induced dissociation of pyrroloiminoquinones.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Kalinski, Jarmo-Charles J , Krause, Rui W M , Parker-Nance, Shirley , Waterworth, Samantha C , Dorrington, Rosemary A
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/191802 , vital:45165 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/md19020068"
- Description: Sponges of the Latrunculiidae family produce bioactive pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids including makaluvamines, discorhabdins, and tsitsikammamines. The aim of this study was to use LC-ESI-MS/MS-driven molecular networking to characterize the pyrroloiminoquinone secondary metabolites produced by six latrunculid species. These are Tsitsikamma favus, Tsitsikamma pedunculata, Cyclacanthia bellae, and Latrunculia apicalis as well as the recently discovered species, Tsitsikamma nguni and Tsitsikamma michaeli. Organic extracts of 43 sponges were analyzed, revealing distinct species-specific chemical profiles. More than 200 known and unknown putative pyrroloiminoquinones and related compounds were detected, including unprecedented makaluvamine-discorhabdin adducts and hydroxylated discorhabdin I derivatives. The chemical profiles of the new species T. nguni closely resembled those of the known T. favus (chemotype I), but with a higher abundance of tsitsikammamines vs. discorhabdins. T. michaeli sponges displayed two distinct chemical profiles, either producing mostly the same discorhabdins as T. favus (chemotype I) or non- or monobrominated, hydroxylated discorhabdins. C. bellae and L. apicalis produced similar pyrroloiminoquinone chemistry to one another, characterized by sulfur-containing discorhabdins and related adducts and oligomers. This study highlights the variability of pyrroloiminoquinone production by latrunculid species, identifies novel isolation targets, and offers fundamental insights into the collision-induced dissociation of pyrroloiminoquinones.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Urban green infrastructure for poverty alleviation: evidence synthesis and conceptual considerations
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/401383 , vital:69730 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.710549"
- Description: The multiple benefits of urban green infrastructure (UGI) that support sustainable cities are increasingly acknowledged, and yet the bulk of research over the past decade or so has focused on only a small subset of the numerous benefits, notably recreation, physical and mental health, and regulating services. In contrast, there is very little information on the contribution of UGI to several of the other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in particular SDG 1 of reducing poverty, despite the pervasiveness of poverty globally. This paper considers the diverse direct and indirect ways in which UGI can contribute to poverty alleviation, drawing on the limited evidence from various regions of the world. The direct links between UGI and poverty alleviation is via three means, namely provision of (1) consumptive or provisioning goods such as wild foods and firewood, (2) employment in UGI development, maintenance, and restoration, and (3) land for urban agriculture, income generation and dwelling. There are also a number of indirect links such as cash savings, improved physical and mental health, improved social networks, improved educational outcomes, and regulation of potential natural disasters. However, the commonly unequal distribution of UGI within and between cities means that the poverty alleviation potential and benefits are inequitably distributed, often against those who are most in need of them, i.e., the urban poor. This demands greater attention to promoting the equitable distribution and quality of UGI and mainstreaming of UGI into poverty reduction strategies and programmes and vice versa, as well as greater examination of the links between UGI and poverty alleviation in a greater range of contexts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Urban green infrastructure for poverty alleviation: evidence synthesis and conceptual considerations
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/401383 , vital:69730 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.710549"
- Description: The multiple benefits of urban green infrastructure (UGI) that support sustainable cities are increasingly acknowledged, and yet the bulk of research over the past decade or so has focused on only a small subset of the numerous benefits, notably recreation, physical and mental health, and regulating services. In contrast, there is very little information on the contribution of UGI to several of the other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in particular SDG 1 of reducing poverty, despite the pervasiveness of poverty globally. This paper considers the diverse direct and indirect ways in which UGI can contribute to poverty alleviation, drawing on the limited evidence from various regions of the world. The direct links between UGI and poverty alleviation is via three means, namely provision of (1) consumptive or provisioning goods such as wild foods and firewood, (2) employment in UGI development, maintenance, and restoration, and (3) land for urban agriculture, income generation and dwelling. There are also a number of indirect links such as cash savings, improved physical and mental health, improved social networks, improved educational outcomes, and regulation of potential natural disasters. However, the commonly unequal distribution of UGI within and between cities means that the poverty alleviation potential and benefits are inequitably distributed, often against those who are most in need of them, i.e., the urban poor. This demands greater attention to promoting the equitable distribution and quality of UGI and mainstreaming of UGI into poverty reduction strategies and programmes and vice versa, as well as greater examination of the links between UGI and poverty alleviation in a greater range of contexts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Visible light responsive TiO2-graphene oxide nanosheets-Zn phthalocyanine ternary heterojunction assisted photoelectrocatalytic degradation of Orange G
- Nwahara, Nnamdi, Adeniyi, Omotayo, Mashazi, Philani N, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Nwahara, Nnamdi , Adeniyi, Omotayo , Mashazi, Philani N , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185446 , vital:44387 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2021.113291"
- Description: Herein, we report on the successful fabrication of a visible light-responsive TiO2 - graphene oxide nanosheets – Zn phthalocyanine (TiO2@GONS@ZnPc) ternary structure for the photoelectrochemical degradation of Orange G azo dye. The characterization of TiO2@GONS@ZnPc composite was achieved using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Our results show that the TiO2@GONS@ZnPc surface hybrid heterojunction promotes charge separation and electron migration, significantly improving the degradation efficiency with an applied potential. For the first time, we show the existence of a non-radical activation route for persulfate (PS) using such π electron-rich ZnPc-GONS catalysts. The degradation kinetics were found to follow pseudo first order kinetics. Electron spin resonance analyses suggested that neither hydroxyl radicals nor sulfate radicals were produced therein, and therefore were not responsible for the persulfate-driven oxidation of the OG dye. These findings suggest that both which GONS and ZnPc play a critical role in mediating the eventual charge transfer mediated PS activation. The results illustrate the remarkable capacity of the TiO2@GONS@ZnPc composite to rapidly degrade Orange G by a coupled TiO2@GONS@ZnPc-persulfate system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Nwahara, Nnamdi , Adeniyi, Omotayo , Mashazi, Philani N , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185446 , vital:44387 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2021.113291"
- Description: Herein, we report on the successful fabrication of a visible light-responsive TiO2 - graphene oxide nanosheets – Zn phthalocyanine (TiO2@GONS@ZnPc) ternary structure for the photoelectrochemical degradation of Orange G azo dye. The characterization of TiO2@GONS@ZnPc composite was achieved using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Our results show that the TiO2@GONS@ZnPc surface hybrid heterojunction promotes charge separation and electron migration, significantly improving the degradation efficiency with an applied potential. For the first time, we show the existence of a non-radical activation route for persulfate (PS) using such π electron-rich ZnPc-GONS catalysts. The degradation kinetics were found to follow pseudo first order kinetics. Electron spin resonance analyses suggested that neither hydroxyl radicals nor sulfate radicals were produced therein, and therefore were not responsible for the persulfate-driven oxidation of the OG dye. These findings suggest that both which GONS and ZnPc play a critical role in mediating the eventual charge transfer mediated PS activation. The results illustrate the remarkable capacity of the TiO2@GONS@ZnPc composite to rapidly degrade Orange G by a coupled TiO2@GONS@ZnPc-persulfate system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Why decolonialising feminist psychology may fail, and why it mustn't: The politics of signification and the case of' teenage pregnancy'
- Macleod, Catriona I, Masuko, Diemo, Feltham-King, Tracey
- Authors: Macleod, Catriona I , Masuko, Diemo , Feltham-King, Tracey
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/446327 , vital:74490
- Description: The calls to decolonise psychology and feminisms are a demand for action in overcoming past and current (neo) colonial injustices. Decolonisation has, however, been complex owing to the plurality, mutation, and masking of (neo)colonial systems. Within this context, decolonialising feminist psychology may fail. Homing in on the politics of signification, we argue that the colonial roots of many signifiers that serve to perpetuate gendered power relations are masked through their taken-for-granted status within psychology. We illustrate the latter through discussion of "adolescence", a signifier premised on colonialist thinking regarding individual and societal development. While gross forms of colonialist thinking regarding adolescence have disappeared, the "threat of degeneration" implicit in the concept remains. Drawing on critical work on "teenage pregnancy" in South Africa, we show how young womxn's reproductive health is impacted by the entrenchment of the threat of degeneration in educational and health responses. This discussion illustrates why decolonising feminist psychology must not fail. Alternative signifiers that serve the purpose of social justice and care should be foregrounded. These joint tasks (critique of (neo)colonialist signifiers and the enactment of transformation through foregrounding alternative signifiers) should underpin decolonising feminist psychology praxis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Macleod, Catriona I , Masuko, Diemo , Feltham-King, Tracey
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/446327 , vital:74490
- Description: The calls to decolonise psychology and feminisms are a demand for action in overcoming past and current (neo) colonial injustices. Decolonisation has, however, been complex owing to the plurality, mutation, and masking of (neo)colonial systems. Within this context, decolonialising feminist psychology may fail. Homing in on the politics of signification, we argue that the colonial roots of many signifiers that serve to perpetuate gendered power relations are masked through their taken-for-granted status within psychology. We illustrate the latter through discussion of "adolescence", a signifier premised on colonialist thinking regarding individual and societal development. While gross forms of colonialist thinking regarding adolescence have disappeared, the "threat of degeneration" implicit in the concept remains. Drawing on critical work on "teenage pregnancy" in South Africa, we show how young womxn's reproductive health is impacted by the entrenchment of the threat of degeneration in educational and health responses. This discussion illustrates why decolonising feminist psychology must not fail. Alternative signifiers that serve the purpose of social justice and care should be foregrounded. These joint tasks (critique of (neo)colonialist signifiers and the enactment of transformation through foregrounding alternative signifiers) should underpin decolonising feminist psychology praxis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Women’s experiences on the use of Implanon as a contraceptive method in a selected primary healthcare facility in KwaZulu-Natal
- Mgobhozi, Lucky N., Mbeje, Pretty N., Mchunu, Gugu G.
- Authors: Mgobhozi, Lucky N. , Mbeje, Pretty N. , Mchunu, Gugu G.
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Contraception Article
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/7159 , vital:53073 , xlink:href=" https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v44i1.2187"
- Description: Background: The South African department of health recently introduced subdermal Implanon contraceptive implant with the aim to reduce teenage pregnancy and maternal mortality. First used in all public healthcare facilities across the country since early 2014, this method of contraception has been described as highly effective. However, some women have reported unbearable side effects, forcing them to remove the contraceptive implant early before its expiry date. Negligible emphasis has been placed on staff training and development to equip the nurses with new protocol and policies on Implanon. Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore experiences of women using Implanon as method of contraception at a selected primary healthcare facility in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Methods: A qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study design was used. A purposive sampling technique was used and a sample of seven women aged between 15 and 50 years was selected for this study. Semi-structured interviews were used in the data collection process. The Tesch’s method for data coding and data analysis was utilised. Necessary ethical measures were taken to ensure that the study is trustworthy. The study was conducted at Community Health Centre, KwaZulu-Natal between June 2017 and December 2018. Results: The findings showed that some participants were still willing to continue using this method of contraception regardless of the unwanted side effects. Major side effects reported were heavy menstrual bleeding, pain and discomfort, weight loss, insomnia and decreased sexual interest, which resulted in most participants stopping the use of Implanon. Conclusion: Most of the participants’ experience unwanted side effects because of poor screening, counselling and support. There is a clear demand to develop a screening tool and facilitate training of healthcare workers when initiating the use of Implanon. Keywords: Implanon; Implanon users; experiences; perceptions; primary healthcare
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Mgobhozi, Lucky N. , Mbeje, Pretty N. , Mchunu, Gugu G.
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Contraception Article
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/7159 , vital:53073 , xlink:href=" https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v44i1.2187"
- Description: Background: The South African department of health recently introduced subdermal Implanon contraceptive implant with the aim to reduce teenage pregnancy and maternal mortality. First used in all public healthcare facilities across the country since early 2014, this method of contraception has been described as highly effective. However, some women have reported unbearable side effects, forcing them to remove the contraceptive implant early before its expiry date. Negligible emphasis has been placed on staff training and development to equip the nurses with new protocol and policies on Implanon. Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore experiences of women using Implanon as method of contraception at a selected primary healthcare facility in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Methods: A qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study design was used. A purposive sampling technique was used and a sample of seven women aged between 15 and 50 years was selected for this study. Semi-structured interviews were used in the data collection process. The Tesch’s method for data coding and data analysis was utilised. Necessary ethical measures were taken to ensure that the study is trustworthy. The study was conducted at Community Health Centre, KwaZulu-Natal between June 2017 and December 2018. Results: The findings showed that some participants were still willing to continue using this method of contraception regardless of the unwanted side effects. Major side effects reported were heavy menstrual bleeding, pain and discomfort, weight loss, insomnia and decreased sexual interest, which resulted in most participants stopping the use of Implanon. Conclusion: Most of the participants’ experience unwanted side effects because of poor screening, counselling and support. There is a clear demand to develop a screening tool and facilitate training of healthcare workers when initiating the use of Implanon. Keywords: Implanon; Implanon users; experiences; perceptions; primary healthcare
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Youth Attitudes and Participation in Climate Protest
- Prendergast, Kate, Hayward, Bronwyn, Aoyagi, Midori, Burningham, Kate, Hasan, Mehedi, Jackson, Tim, Jha, Vimlendu, Kuroki, Larissa, Lukianov, Anastasia, Mattar, Helio, Schudel, Ingrid J, Venn, Sue, Yoshida, Aya
- Authors: Prendergast, Kate , Hayward, Bronwyn , Aoyagi, Midori , Burningham, Kate , Hasan, Mehedi , Jackson, Tim , Jha, Vimlendu , Kuroki, Larissa , Lukianov, Anastasia , Mattar, Helio , Schudel, Ingrid J , Venn, Sue , Yoshida, Aya
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/294471 , vital:57224 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2021.696105"
- Description: This article examines youth participation the school climate strikes of 2018 and 2019 (also known as #Fridays4Future), through an exploratory study conducted in seven diverse cities. Despite the international nature of the climate strikes, we know little about the factors that influenced youth participation in these protests beyond the global North. This matters because youth of the global South are disproportionately impacted by climate change and there is growing concern that the climate movement is dominated by narratives that marginalize the voices and priorities of Indigenous communities and people of color. In this context, the exploratory research reported here aimed to compare the attitudes of climate protesters (n = 314) and their non-protester peers (n = 1,217), in diverse city samples drawn from a wider study of children and youth aged 12–24 years, living in Christchurch (New Zealand); Dhaka (Bangladesh); Lambeth, London (United Kingdom); Makhanda (South Africa); New Delhi (India); São Paulo (Brazil); and Yokohama (Japan). Using cross-sectional data (N = 1,531) and binary logistic regression models, researchers examined three common explanations for youth participation in protest: availability (biographical and structural), political engagement (reported individual and collective efficacy of strikers and non-strikers), and self-reported biospheric values amongst participants. Results indicate that even in diverse city samples, structural availability (civic skills and organizational membership) predicted strike participation across city samples, but not political engagement (self-efficacy and collective efficacy). Youth who reported that ‘living in harmony with nature and animals’ was important for their wellbeing, were also more likely to strike than their peers. Descriptive statistics indicated that the majority (85 percent) of all protestors in this study agreed climate change was a serious issue and a startling 65 percent said that they think about climate change “all the time”. Reported rates of youth climate protest participation varied across city samples as did the extent to which participants reported having friends take part or expecting climate change to have a personal impact. While the study is exploratory, it points to the need for more extensive research to understand the diversity of youth participation in ‘global climate strikes’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Prendergast, Kate , Hayward, Bronwyn , Aoyagi, Midori , Burningham, Kate , Hasan, Mehedi , Jackson, Tim , Jha, Vimlendu , Kuroki, Larissa , Lukianov, Anastasia , Mattar, Helio , Schudel, Ingrid J , Venn, Sue , Yoshida, Aya
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/294471 , vital:57224 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2021.696105"
- Description: This article examines youth participation the school climate strikes of 2018 and 2019 (also known as #Fridays4Future), through an exploratory study conducted in seven diverse cities. Despite the international nature of the climate strikes, we know little about the factors that influenced youth participation in these protests beyond the global North. This matters because youth of the global South are disproportionately impacted by climate change and there is growing concern that the climate movement is dominated by narratives that marginalize the voices and priorities of Indigenous communities and people of color. In this context, the exploratory research reported here aimed to compare the attitudes of climate protesters (n = 314) and their non-protester peers (n = 1,217), in diverse city samples drawn from a wider study of children and youth aged 12–24 years, living in Christchurch (New Zealand); Dhaka (Bangladesh); Lambeth, London (United Kingdom); Makhanda (South Africa); New Delhi (India); São Paulo (Brazil); and Yokohama (Japan). Using cross-sectional data (N = 1,531) and binary logistic regression models, researchers examined three common explanations for youth participation in protest: availability (biographical and structural), political engagement (reported individual and collective efficacy of strikers and non-strikers), and self-reported biospheric values amongst participants. Results indicate that even in diverse city samples, structural availability (civic skills and organizational membership) predicted strike participation across city samples, but not political engagement (self-efficacy and collective efficacy). Youth who reported that ‘living in harmony with nature and animals’ was important for their wellbeing, were also more likely to strike than their peers. Descriptive statistics indicated that the majority (85 percent) of all protestors in this study agreed climate change was a serious issue and a startling 65 percent said that they think about climate change “all the time”. Reported rates of youth climate protest participation varied across city samples as did the extent to which participants reported having friends take part or expecting climate change to have a personal impact. While the study is exploratory, it points to the need for more extensive research to understand the diversity of youth participation in ‘global climate strikes’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
‘Bad choices’: Unintended pregnancy and abortion in nurses’ and counsellors’ accounts of providing pre-abortion counselling
- Mavuso, Jabulile M-J J, Macleod, Catriona I
- Authors: Mavuso, Jabulile M-J J , Macleod, Catriona I
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/444139 , vital:74195 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1363459320988873"
- Description: Little research tackles healthcare providers’ experiences in conducting pre-abortion counselling sessions in circumstances where pregnant persons may request an abortion. We report on a study conducted in South Africa, in which two nurses and two counsellors were asked about how they conduct these counselling sessions. Using a synthetic narrative approach, we present these health workers’ micro-narratives about their motivations for providing abortion services, the purpose of the counselling, their information-giving practices, and whether and how third parties are included in the counselling. We highlight how these micro-narratives are premised on discursive resources that problematise unintended pregnancy and abortion. These resources enable and justify directive counselling that undermines pregnant peoples’ reproductive autonomy. We locate such directiveness within dominant anti-abortion discourse and call for training to reframe normative understandings of abortion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Mavuso, Jabulile M-J J , Macleod, Catriona I
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/444139 , vital:74195 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1363459320988873"
- Description: Little research tackles healthcare providers’ experiences in conducting pre-abortion counselling sessions in circumstances where pregnant persons may request an abortion. We report on a study conducted in South Africa, in which two nurses and two counsellors were asked about how they conduct these counselling sessions. Using a synthetic narrative approach, we present these health workers’ micro-narratives about their motivations for providing abortion services, the purpose of the counselling, their information-giving practices, and whether and how third parties are included in the counselling. We highlight how these micro-narratives are premised on discursive resources that problematise unintended pregnancy and abortion. These resources enable and justify directive counselling that undermines pregnant peoples’ reproductive autonomy. We locate such directiveness within dominant anti-abortion discourse and call for training to reframe normative understandings of abortion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
‘Don't educate them out of educating themselves’
- Krueger, Anton, Wunder, Albert
- Authors: Krueger, Anton , Wunder, Albert
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/225481 , vital:49226 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.5920/pam.1005"
- Description: Al Wunder's biography, in his own words: I had four lucky breaks that precipitated my becoming a teacher of improvised movement theatre. Between the ages of eight and fourteen I broke my right leg four different times. In 1962, I began modern dance classes with Alwin Nikolais as a physical therapy. His choreography and improvisation sections of class inspired me to teach and perform professionally. I spent eight years studying, teaching, choreographing, and performing with Nikolais. 1970 saw me move to the San Francisco Bay area where I opened a dance studio teaching Nikolais dance technique and improvisation. In 1971, I joined forces with Terry Sendgraff and Ruth Zaporah creating The Berkeley Dance Theater and Gymnasium. My focus was to create a way to teach dance technique through improvisation. I met my Australian wife, Lynden Nicholls, in 1981 when she came to study Motivity at Terry’s studio in Berkeley. In 1982, I moved to Melbourne, Australia where Lynden and I set up a dance studio. My focus changed from teaching dance technique improvisationally to teaching improvised movement theatre performance
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Krueger, Anton , Wunder, Albert
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/225481 , vital:49226 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.5920/pam.1005"
- Description: Al Wunder's biography, in his own words: I had four lucky breaks that precipitated my becoming a teacher of improvised movement theatre. Between the ages of eight and fourteen I broke my right leg four different times. In 1962, I began modern dance classes with Alwin Nikolais as a physical therapy. His choreography and improvisation sections of class inspired me to teach and perform professionally. I spent eight years studying, teaching, choreographing, and performing with Nikolais. 1970 saw me move to the San Francisco Bay area where I opened a dance studio teaching Nikolais dance technique and improvisation. In 1971, I joined forces with Terry Sendgraff and Ruth Zaporah creating The Berkeley Dance Theater and Gymnasium. My focus was to create a way to teach dance technique through improvisation. I met my Australian wife, Lynden Nicholls, in 1981 when she came to study Motivity at Terry’s studio in Berkeley. In 1982, I moved to Melbourne, Australia where Lynden and I set up a dance studio. My focus changed from teaching dance technique improvisationally to teaching improvised movement theatre performance
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
A trust framework to improve adoption of mobile banking by university students in South Africa
- Authors: van Heerden, Robyn
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems in education , Banks and banking, mobile , Education, Higher--Effect of technological innovations on
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20517 , vital:46073
- Description: Mobile banking, hereinafter referred to as m-banking, is a platform that allows individuals to conduct financial transactions using a mobile device at any given time. In today’s fast paced society, technologies have evolved to provide services that are convenient and benefit both the customer and service provider; these include m-banking. M-banking further encourages financial inclusion and economic growth, which are both crucial in South Africa. The aim of this research was to develop a trust framework to improve adoption of mobile banking by university students. This is an agency issue in the financial services industry as university students are a big segment of the future income earners and adopters of technology. Getting them to adopt and become regular m-banking users would significantly impact the revenue of banking institutions. The E-Commerce Acceptance Model and the Integrative Model of Organisational Trust were the two theoretical frameworks used as underlying theories to this study. A quantitative survey tool was employed to gather data at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape. After an extensive literature review, a questionnaire was formulated and distributed to students at the University of Fort Hare, of whom 471 responded. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected. Cronbach’s Alpha was employed to demonstrate the reliability of constructs used in the study and Pearson’s Product Moment. Correlation Coefficient r tested the strength of the relationships between these constructs. The study found that there are several factors that are significant, such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived risk when investigating trust and its influences on m-banking adoption amongst university students. As a result, the study recommends that banks should consider the above-mentioned factors in order to improve trust and increase m-banking adoption among university students in South Africa. , Thesis (MCom) (Information Systems) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-01
- Authors: van Heerden, Robyn
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems in education , Banks and banking, mobile , Education, Higher--Effect of technological innovations on
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20517 , vital:46073
- Description: Mobile banking, hereinafter referred to as m-banking, is a platform that allows individuals to conduct financial transactions using a mobile device at any given time. In today’s fast paced society, technologies have evolved to provide services that are convenient and benefit both the customer and service provider; these include m-banking. M-banking further encourages financial inclusion and economic growth, which are both crucial in South Africa. The aim of this research was to develop a trust framework to improve adoption of mobile banking by university students. This is an agency issue in the financial services industry as university students are a big segment of the future income earners and adopters of technology. Getting them to adopt and become regular m-banking users would significantly impact the revenue of banking institutions. The E-Commerce Acceptance Model and the Integrative Model of Organisational Trust were the two theoretical frameworks used as underlying theories to this study. A quantitative survey tool was employed to gather data at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape. After an extensive literature review, a questionnaire was formulated and distributed to students at the University of Fort Hare, of whom 471 responded. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected. Cronbach’s Alpha was employed to demonstrate the reliability of constructs used in the study and Pearson’s Product Moment. Correlation Coefficient r tested the strength of the relationships between these constructs. The study found that there are several factors that are significant, such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived risk when investigating trust and its influences on m-banking adoption amongst university students. As a result, the study recommends that banks should consider the above-mentioned factors in order to improve trust and increase m-banking adoption among university students in South Africa. , Thesis (MCom) (Information Systems) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-01
Analysing writing competence of learners in selected secondary schools in Zimbabwe
- Dube, Precious https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9715-4609
- Authors: Dube, Precious https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9715-4609
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: English language -- Composition and exercises , English language -- Rhetoric
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21246 , vital:47436
- Description: Writing has been identified as one of the most essential skills that learners require for their personal development and academic success because the world has become so text-oriented. However, learning to master writing skills is a problem that learners face in Zimbabwean secondary schools. Subsequently, the purpose of this study was to analyse the writing competence of learners in selected secondary schools in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe. Using some aspects of the product-process approach and the cognitive process theory of writing, the study intended to assess the level of writing competence of learners in selected schools in Zimbabwe. The study followed a qualitative approach and adopted a case study research design. A purposive selected sample for the interviews consisted of 40 learners and 8 teachers. Another set of data were collected through document analysis. Both sets of data were analysed thematically. Findings indicated that the secondary school learners in Zimbabwe had challenges related to contextualising the topic, coherence and cohesion. The results further revealed that the language of instruction had an effect on the writing competence of learners and primary school background influenced competence later in secondary schools. The results also showed that although competent and not-so-competent learners shared some similar writing strategies, most of the strategies they used when writing were different. It was also noted that most secondary school teachers did not teach writing skills and most of their teaching methods were teacher centred and therefore unlikely to promote competence in learners. The researcher recommended professional training courses and workshops for teachers, which would help them to teach learners to become competent in writing and in incorporation of ICT in the learning of English Language in secondary schools. It was further recommended that learners should be trained and encouraged to develop a culture of reading, as this is likely to effectively promote their writing skills. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-01
- Authors: Dube, Precious https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9715-4609
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: English language -- Composition and exercises , English language -- Rhetoric
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21246 , vital:47436
- Description: Writing has been identified as one of the most essential skills that learners require for their personal development and academic success because the world has become so text-oriented. However, learning to master writing skills is a problem that learners face in Zimbabwean secondary schools. Subsequently, the purpose of this study was to analyse the writing competence of learners in selected secondary schools in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe. Using some aspects of the product-process approach and the cognitive process theory of writing, the study intended to assess the level of writing competence of learners in selected schools in Zimbabwe. The study followed a qualitative approach and adopted a case study research design. A purposive selected sample for the interviews consisted of 40 learners and 8 teachers. Another set of data were collected through document analysis. Both sets of data were analysed thematically. Findings indicated that the secondary school learners in Zimbabwe had challenges related to contextualising the topic, coherence and cohesion. The results further revealed that the language of instruction had an effect on the writing competence of learners and primary school background influenced competence later in secondary schools. The results also showed that although competent and not-so-competent learners shared some similar writing strategies, most of the strategies they used when writing were different. It was also noted that most secondary school teachers did not teach writing skills and most of their teaching methods were teacher centred and therefore unlikely to promote competence in learners. The researcher recommended professional training courses and workshops for teachers, which would help them to teach learners to become competent in writing and in incorporation of ICT in the learning of English Language in secondary schools. It was further recommended that learners should be trained and encouraged to develop a culture of reading, as this is likely to effectively promote their writing skills. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-01
Effects of paclobutrazol and plant spacing on growth, yield, and after effect on sprout development in seed potatoes (solanum tuberosum l.)
- Jokazi, Khuselo Bernad https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8620-9838
- Authors: Jokazi, Khuselo Bernad https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8620-9838
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Potatoes , Plant regulators
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21323 , vital:48406
- Description: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an herbaceous plant that belongs to the genus Solanum, in the Solanaceae family which is comprised of about 2 800 species (Sahair et al., 2018). Potato domestication can be traced back to the sixteenth century in the South American continent (Hawkes, 1978). The potato crop became a staple food for greater parts of the world towards the end of the seventeenth century. It is not clear when the crop was introduced to the African continent, although the literature indicates that it was grown in some parts of the continent by the late seventeenth century (Hawkes, 1978). Potato is a very bulky crop and is a source of high energy per given area of land (Tsegaw, 2005). Nutritionally, the crop is rich in carbohydrates and provides a considerable amount of protein, with a good balance of amino acids, vitamins (C, B6, and B1, folate), minerals (potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium), and the micronutrients iron and zinc. Potatoes are also a source of high dietary fiber, especially when eaten unpeeled. In addition, potatoes are rich in antioxidants, including polyphenols, vitamin C, carotenoids, and tocopherols (Bradshaw and Ramsay, 2009). Potatoes play a very important role in the global food system. It is South Africa’s most important vegetable crop (DAFF, 2012). Worldwide, it ranks fourth topmost important food crops following wheat, maize, and rice (Esmaielpour et al., 2011; Bradshaw and Ramsay, 2009), followed by barley (Allemann et al., 2003). South Africa is the 27th largest producer in the world and the 3rd largest producer in Africa after Egypt and Malawi (FAOSTAT, 2015). In the year 2014, potatoes were produced in 51 435 hectares of land, which yielded over 2 million tons (DAFF, 2015). This crop is produced in sixteen producing regions throughout South Africa with the Limpopo, Free State, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and Eastern Cape provinces being the leading regions (DAFF, 2015). Because of the different climatic regions in South Africa, potatoes are planted at different times of the year. As a result, the country enjoys fresh potatoes throughout the year (DAFF, 2014). According to the Potato Industry Research Strategy 2014-17 under Potato South Africa, the past few years have seen a decrease in the area of land under potato production, with an increase in the average yield per area. This yield increment can be accredited to an increase in the production under irrigation system, the use of improved cultivars and seed quality, and the application of research results (PSA, 2014). World potato production indicates that intensive cultivation has led to an increment of potato yields between 1960 and 1999, even though there was a reduction in the area planted with the crop (Fabeiro et al., 2001). However, there is a large gap between potential potato yield and actual yield per hectare. Research undoubtedly holds great potential for narrowing this gap. In order to do so, there is a need to understand the factors limiting potato yield. Temperature, plant spacing, and seed tuber quality are amongst the most significant factors affecting potato growth, yield, and quality. Potatoes are very adaptive; at present, they can be produced in different climatic regions. They are temperate crops, which prefer a cool and humid climate (Haverkort, 1990), but care should be taken to avoid high-stress periods such as temperature extremes. The optimum temperature for haulm growth and net photosynthesis is in the range between 15℃ and 25℃, and 20℃ is the optimum temperature for tuberization. Tuberization is inhibited by temperatures above 29℃, as the photoassimilate partitioning towards the tubers is decreased, leading to an increase in shoot growth (Gawronska et al., 1992). Plant spacing is usually determined by the target market and cultivar. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-01
- Authors: Jokazi, Khuselo Bernad https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8620-9838
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Potatoes , Plant regulators
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21323 , vital:48406
- Description: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an herbaceous plant that belongs to the genus Solanum, in the Solanaceae family which is comprised of about 2 800 species (Sahair et al., 2018). Potato domestication can be traced back to the sixteenth century in the South American continent (Hawkes, 1978). The potato crop became a staple food for greater parts of the world towards the end of the seventeenth century. It is not clear when the crop was introduced to the African continent, although the literature indicates that it was grown in some parts of the continent by the late seventeenth century (Hawkes, 1978). Potato is a very bulky crop and is a source of high energy per given area of land (Tsegaw, 2005). Nutritionally, the crop is rich in carbohydrates and provides a considerable amount of protein, with a good balance of amino acids, vitamins (C, B6, and B1, folate), minerals (potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium), and the micronutrients iron and zinc. Potatoes are also a source of high dietary fiber, especially when eaten unpeeled. In addition, potatoes are rich in antioxidants, including polyphenols, vitamin C, carotenoids, and tocopherols (Bradshaw and Ramsay, 2009). Potatoes play a very important role in the global food system. It is South Africa’s most important vegetable crop (DAFF, 2012). Worldwide, it ranks fourth topmost important food crops following wheat, maize, and rice (Esmaielpour et al., 2011; Bradshaw and Ramsay, 2009), followed by barley (Allemann et al., 2003). South Africa is the 27th largest producer in the world and the 3rd largest producer in Africa after Egypt and Malawi (FAOSTAT, 2015). In the year 2014, potatoes were produced in 51 435 hectares of land, which yielded over 2 million tons (DAFF, 2015). This crop is produced in sixteen producing regions throughout South Africa with the Limpopo, Free State, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and Eastern Cape provinces being the leading regions (DAFF, 2015). Because of the different climatic regions in South Africa, potatoes are planted at different times of the year. As a result, the country enjoys fresh potatoes throughout the year (DAFF, 2014). According to the Potato Industry Research Strategy 2014-17 under Potato South Africa, the past few years have seen a decrease in the area of land under potato production, with an increase in the average yield per area. This yield increment can be accredited to an increase in the production under irrigation system, the use of improved cultivars and seed quality, and the application of research results (PSA, 2014). World potato production indicates that intensive cultivation has led to an increment of potato yields between 1960 and 1999, even though there was a reduction in the area planted with the crop (Fabeiro et al., 2001). However, there is a large gap between potential potato yield and actual yield per hectare. Research undoubtedly holds great potential for narrowing this gap. In order to do so, there is a need to understand the factors limiting potato yield. Temperature, plant spacing, and seed tuber quality are amongst the most significant factors affecting potato growth, yield, and quality. Potatoes are very adaptive; at present, they can be produced in different climatic regions. They are temperate crops, which prefer a cool and humid climate (Haverkort, 1990), but care should be taken to avoid high-stress periods such as temperature extremes. The optimum temperature for haulm growth and net photosynthesis is in the range between 15℃ and 25℃, and 20℃ is the optimum temperature for tuberization. Tuberization is inhibited by temperatures above 29℃, as the photoassimilate partitioning towards the tubers is decreased, leading to an increase in shoot growth (Gawronska et al., 1992). Plant spacing is usually determined by the target market and cultivar. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-01
Parenting and moral behaviour: an exploration of young mothers raising children in golf course, Alice, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Nyatanga, Georgina
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Parenting , Child rearing
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22339 , vital:52027
- Description: Regardless of the efforts that have been put forward to reduce adolescent pregnancies on a global scale, the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy is still on the rise, and this has ultimately led to young motherhood to be a common feature in many societies, South Africa inclusive. A number of factors have contributed towards the parenting capacity of young mothers to nurture their children towards developing warranted behavior to be questioned. Owing to this, this study embarked on a journey to explore how young motherhood influences the development of immoral or unwarranted behavior in children in Golf Course, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Informed by the theoretical lenses of the Moral Development Theory, Social Learning Theory, and the Systems Theory; the study aimed to answer the following questions: (i) How does young motherhood influence the development of immoral behavior in children? (ii) What are the types of immoral behaviors that children raised by young mothers are involved in? (iii) What are the possible strategies that can be implemented to curb the prevalence of immoral behavior in children raised by young mothers? The study adopted a qualitative research approach with a case study research design. Data was collected through in depths interviews from the young mothers and key informants. A semi structured interview schedule was used as a data collection instrument. Non-probability sampling technique was used, and the sample of the study was obtained through purposive sampling. Twenty-five participants (twenty young mothers and five key informants) were recruited to participate in the study using the fore mentioned technique. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected data. The study revealed the following aspects: young mothers are confronted with a number of challenges which affect their parenting capacity and nurturing of their children; a majority of children raised by young mothers in Golf Course exhibit a number of unwarranted behavior which is influenced by their family situation and the nature of parenting they receive; lastly training in parenting, availability of child protection services and development of support group services for young mothers were identified as the strategies that can be employed to reduce the development of unwarranted behavior in children raised by young mothers. Based on the findings, the study recommends that government entities together with non-governmental social service providers provide the financial, social support and mental support to young mothers to empower and capacitate them so that they can be able to adopt positive parenting skills which are necessary towards nurturing warranted behavior in children. The study also recommends that young mothers must be conscious of their lifestyle and life choices as these have a direct impact on the behavior of their children. The study concludes that if the conditions of children raised by young mothers are to be enhanced, the prevalence of immoral or unwarranted behavior amongst children raised by young mothers will drop drastically. , Thesis (MSW) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-01
- Authors: Nyatanga, Georgina
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Parenting , Child rearing
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22339 , vital:52027
- Description: Regardless of the efforts that have been put forward to reduce adolescent pregnancies on a global scale, the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy is still on the rise, and this has ultimately led to young motherhood to be a common feature in many societies, South Africa inclusive. A number of factors have contributed towards the parenting capacity of young mothers to nurture their children towards developing warranted behavior to be questioned. Owing to this, this study embarked on a journey to explore how young motherhood influences the development of immoral or unwarranted behavior in children in Golf Course, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Informed by the theoretical lenses of the Moral Development Theory, Social Learning Theory, and the Systems Theory; the study aimed to answer the following questions: (i) How does young motherhood influence the development of immoral behavior in children? (ii) What are the types of immoral behaviors that children raised by young mothers are involved in? (iii) What are the possible strategies that can be implemented to curb the prevalence of immoral behavior in children raised by young mothers? The study adopted a qualitative research approach with a case study research design. Data was collected through in depths interviews from the young mothers and key informants. A semi structured interview schedule was used as a data collection instrument. Non-probability sampling technique was used, and the sample of the study was obtained through purposive sampling. Twenty-five participants (twenty young mothers and five key informants) were recruited to participate in the study using the fore mentioned technique. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected data. The study revealed the following aspects: young mothers are confronted with a number of challenges which affect their parenting capacity and nurturing of their children; a majority of children raised by young mothers in Golf Course exhibit a number of unwarranted behavior which is influenced by their family situation and the nature of parenting they receive; lastly training in parenting, availability of child protection services and development of support group services for young mothers were identified as the strategies that can be employed to reduce the development of unwarranted behavior in children raised by young mothers. Based on the findings, the study recommends that government entities together with non-governmental social service providers provide the financial, social support and mental support to young mothers to empower and capacitate them so that they can be able to adopt positive parenting skills which are necessary towards nurturing warranted behavior in children. The study also recommends that young mothers must be conscious of their lifestyle and life choices as these have a direct impact on the behavior of their children. The study concludes that if the conditions of children raised by young mothers are to be enhanced, the prevalence of immoral or unwarranted behavior amongst children raised by young mothers will drop drastically. , Thesis (MSW) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-01
Scholarly utilization of Liberation Archives at the University of Fort Hare, with a view to their transformative, emancipatory purpose
- Authors: Booi, Vuyani Gweki
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Archives , Documentation
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21157 , vital:47185
- Description: The aim of the study is to assess the scholarly utilization of the liberation struggle archives in South Africa, and to determine their transformative and emancipatory purpose; focusing particularly on the archives at the University of Fort Hare, the historic alma mater of many liberation leaders. The objectives of this study are: to determine the purpose of the of deposit of documents in the archives, to investigate the ease of accessto the documents and their utilization, as well as to establish standards of assessment and to make recommendations for a more efficacious use of these valuable assets The nature of this study is interdisciplinary andcalls for the use of qualitative methodologies, including archival research and historic research. The primary sources for this research include administrative files, minutes, memos, reports, correspondence, newspaper articles, speeches, and audio-visual sources at the National Heritage and Cultural Studies Centre (NAHECS), at the University of Fort Hare. The analysis of organizational texts, citations and content analyses arethe tools that the researcher used. The study looks at the historiography of archives in general, with a focus on contested historical processes, and crossed purposes in theestablishment of political archives. The thesis draws on theoriesof the role of “liberation archives” in societies in transition to analyze the South African liberation archive as an alternative subtext, presenting distinct signposts of transformation of the national archival landscape. Key to the analysis and historiography of the South African liberation archives project is the role that the University of Fort Hare played, in cooperation with the liberation movements, including the African National Congress, the Pan African Congress, the Azanian People’s Organization /Black Consciousness Movement and the New Unity Movement, as well as the contribution made by individual prominent leaders of these organizations, in ensuring the liberation archives are housed at University of Fort Hare. The study provides an overview of the context in which the liberation archives were deposited at Fort HareUniversityand it identifies the objectives and expectations of the organizations in making this decision, including internal contestations and controversies that surrounded the Fort Hare Archives Project. The study discloses critical contestations over the project, evident in, (i.) the African National Congress (ANC) Archives dispute and its implications for the Liberation Archives at the University of Fort Hare (UFH), (ii). UFH`s attempts to resolve the dispute, (iii). the transfer of archives from the Center for Cultural Studies to the Fort Hare Library, the Commission of enquiry, or Task Team instigated to consider the significance of the dispute and controversy, key objectives, and key expectations for the liberation archives organizations and of the role of theUFH, for the transformative, emancipatory role of the archives. All these considerations bear crucial implications for the conclusion and recommendations of the study.The researcher argues that the historic speeches of Mr. Tambo and Mr. Mandela at UFHhad a significant impact on the considerations of the liberation organizations and their leaders regarding the placing of the archives atUFH, and it persuaded these organizations to see value and significance in choosing the university as the historic site where their liberation archives and materials ought to be housed. Despite good intentions regarding the value of these archives for decolonization of knowledge, there has been no systematic effort to encourage the integration of archival material into the curricula, learning materials, teaching, research or community engagement programs, where these documents are stored, in the rural Eastern Cape. There has been no internally driven strategy at Fort Hare to attract university academics and researchers to do in-depth research on the liberation archives. There are few incentives to encourage postgraduate students to undertake research on themes covered by the liberation archives. Because ofa lack of financial and material resources, personnel and instruments, there are few community engagement and outreach programs. The researcher recommends, on this basis, that the University of Fort Hare promote systematic research on the liberation archives, establish a research chair in liberation history studies; and that liberation archives be used as a vehicle to develop an emancipatory curriculum, where liberation archives are repositioned, especially in the Humanities and Social Sciences. UFH should also revive oral history on the liberation struggle as part of research that should transform scholarship. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-01
- Authors: Booi, Vuyani Gweki
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Archives , Documentation
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21157 , vital:47185
- Description: The aim of the study is to assess the scholarly utilization of the liberation struggle archives in South Africa, and to determine their transformative and emancipatory purpose; focusing particularly on the archives at the University of Fort Hare, the historic alma mater of many liberation leaders. The objectives of this study are: to determine the purpose of the of deposit of documents in the archives, to investigate the ease of accessto the documents and their utilization, as well as to establish standards of assessment and to make recommendations for a more efficacious use of these valuable assets The nature of this study is interdisciplinary andcalls for the use of qualitative methodologies, including archival research and historic research. The primary sources for this research include administrative files, minutes, memos, reports, correspondence, newspaper articles, speeches, and audio-visual sources at the National Heritage and Cultural Studies Centre (NAHECS), at the University of Fort Hare. The analysis of organizational texts, citations and content analyses arethe tools that the researcher used. The study looks at the historiography of archives in general, with a focus on contested historical processes, and crossed purposes in theestablishment of political archives. The thesis draws on theoriesof the role of “liberation archives” in societies in transition to analyze the South African liberation archive as an alternative subtext, presenting distinct signposts of transformation of the national archival landscape. Key to the analysis and historiography of the South African liberation archives project is the role that the University of Fort Hare played, in cooperation with the liberation movements, including the African National Congress, the Pan African Congress, the Azanian People’s Organization /Black Consciousness Movement and the New Unity Movement, as well as the contribution made by individual prominent leaders of these organizations, in ensuring the liberation archives are housed at University of Fort Hare. The study provides an overview of the context in which the liberation archives were deposited at Fort HareUniversityand it identifies the objectives and expectations of the organizations in making this decision, including internal contestations and controversies that surrounded the Fort Hare Archives Project. The study discloses critical contestations over the project, evident in, (i.) the African National Congress (ANC) Archives dispute and its implications for the Liberation Archives at the University of Fort Hare (UFH), (ii). UFH`s attempts to resolve the dispute, (iii). the transfer of archives from the Center for Cultural Studies to the Fort Hare Library, the Commission of enquiry, or Task Team instigated to consider the significance of the dispute and controversy, key objectives, and key expectations for the liberation archives organizations and of the role of theUFH, for the transformative, emancipatory role of the archives. All these considerations bear crucial implications for the conclusion and recommendations of the study.The researcher argues that the historic speeches of Mr. Tambo and Mr. Mandela at UFHhad a significant impact on the considerations of the liberation organizations and their leaders regarding the placing of the archives atUFH, and it persuaded these organizations to see value and significance in choosing the university as the historic site where their liberation archives and materials ought to be housed. Despite good intentions regarding the value of these archives for decolonization of knowledge, there has been no systematic effort to encourage the integration of archival material into the curricula, learning materials, teaching, research or community engagement programs, where these documents are stored, in the rural Eastern Cape. There has been no internally driven strategy at Fort Hare to attract university academics and researchers to do in-depth research on the liberation archives. There are few incentives to encourage postgraduate students to undertake research on themes covered by the liberation archives. Because ofa lack of financial and material resources, personnel and instruments, there are few community engagement and outreach programs. The researcher recommends, on this basis, that the University of Fort Hare promote systematic research on the liberation archives, establish a research chair in liberation history studies; and that liberation archives be used as a vehicle to develop an emancipatory curriculum, where liberation archives are repositioned, especially in the Humanities and Social Sciences. UFH should also revive oral history on the liberation struggle as part of research that should transform scholarship. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-01
Sedimentology, petrography and geochemistry of the Kuruman Banded Iron Formation in the Prieska area, Northern Cape Province of South Africa
- Mbongonya, Mainly Abongile https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2241-8558
- Authors: Mbongonya, Mainly Abongile https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2241-8558
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Mines and mineral resources -- South Africa , Sedimentology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21345 , vital:48492
- Description: The sedimentary sequences hosted by the Griqualand West Basin within the Transvaal Supergroup, Northern Cape Province of South Africa, contain several iron and manganese ore deposits. Many studies have been conducted in the Griqualand West basin, particularly within the northern Ghaap plateau compartment where most iron and manganese mines are located, with less attention to the southern Prieska Compartment. Thus, the current study is targeted at the Kuruman Formation in the Prieska area to investigate the geological occurrence, including sedimentology, geochemistry, origin, and post-depositional alteration of the banded iron formation (BIF). Four stratigraphic sections were measured, and the fifth section was only mapped for lithology and sedimentary facies. These sections constitute portions of the stratigraphic sequence of the Transvaal Supergroup that occurs within the study area. The stratigraphic sequence of the area comprises nine successional cycles with five upward fining cycles and four upward-coarsening cycles. These cycles reflect fluctuation of the sea level and shallowing- and filling-up processes of the final basin. Four mineral paragenetic groups constituting primary minerals, diagenetic minerals, low-grade minerals, and weathering mineral assemblages were encountered in the area. The primary mineral assemblage includes magnetite, hematite, siderite, chert, quartz, and smectite. The diagenetic assemblage minerals in the area are martite, quartz (cement), illite, calcite, ankerite, and stilpnomelane. Low-grade assemblage minerals are riebeckite, crocidolite, and minnesotaite, whereas goethite, limonite, calcite (calcrete), quartz (silcrete), and clay minerals are the supergene (weathering) assemblage minerals. These mineral assemblages were confirmed by microscope petrography, XRD, SEM-EDX, and diagenesis studies. Eight sedimentary facies including Horizontal-laminated BIF facies (Hlb), Horizontal thin to medium bedded BIF facies (Hbb), Ripple laminated BIF facies (Rlb), Thin to medium bedded mudstone facies (Mbm), Medium to thick-bedded mudstone facies (Tbm), Medium to thick-bedded fine-sandstone facies (Mts), Laminated dolomite stromatolite facies (Ld), and Dome-shaped stromatolitic BIF facies (Dbif) were identified in the field. Five facies associations including Facies association 1 (Hlb + Hbb), Facies association 2 (Hlb + Hbb + Mbm + Tbm), Facies association 3 (Hlb + Hbb + Mbm + Tbm + Rlb), Facies association 4 (Mbm + Tbm + Mts), and Facies association 5 (Ld + Dbif + Mts) have been recognised. Mineralogy, petrography, and geochemical studies indicate that the studied samples have all been subjected to recent weathering that altered the primary mineralogy and the geochemical composition. Mineral assemblages of the Kuruman BIF within the Prieska area are dominated by quartz, which constitutes about 53 wt.percent, followed by the iron oxides averaging about 44 wt.percent. Other minerals such as carbonates and silicates are only occurring in concentrations of less than 3 wt. percent combined. The Prieska BIF is enriched in cobalt, tungsten, molybdenum, barium (Ba), and nickel compared to the BIF in the northern parts of the Griqualand West basin and other localities. Post-depositional mineral alteration studies show that most of the primary minerals had suffered various degrees of alteration. The bulk of quartz, silicate, and iron oxide minerals in the area have been recrystallized, partially replaced, dissolved, or leached out. Multiple formation processes were involved in the origin of the banded iron formation: (1). Deposition of iron-rich mud material in the deep ocean floor and formation of a mixture of iron-rich mud (felutite) on the seafloor; (2). Differentiation of felutite and formation of disseminated iron-oxide from mud; (3). Cohesion and diagenesis of disseminated iron-oxide and formation of iron-rich (magnetite/hematite) and silica-rich (chert/quartz) patches, lenses (pod), microbands, and laminations; (4). Consolidation and compaction, leading to the formation of the final banded iron formation (BIF). , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-01
- Authors: Mbongonya, Mainly Abongile https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2241-8558
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Mines and mineral resources -- South Africa , Sedimentology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21345 , vital:48492
- Description: The sedimentary sequences hosted by the Griqualand West Basin within the Transvaal Supergroup, Northern Cape Province of South Africa, contain several iron and manganese ore deposits. Many studies have been conducted in the Griqualand West basin, particularly within the northern Ghaap plateau compartment where most iron and manganese mines are located, with less attention to the southern Prieska Compartment. Thus, the current study is targeted at the Kuruman Formation in the Prieska area to investigate the geological occurrence, including sedimentology, geochemistry, origin, and post-depositional alteration of the banded iron formation (BIF). Four stratigraphic sections were measured, and the fifth section was only mapped for lithology and sedimentary facies. These sections constitute portions of the stratigraphic sequence of the Transvaal Supergroup that occurs within the study area. The stratigraphic sequence of the area comprises nine successional cycles with five upward fining cycles and four upward-coarsening cycles. These cycles reflect fluctuation of the sea level and shallowing- and filling-up processes of the final basin. Four mineral paragenetic groups constituting primary minerals, diagenetic minerals, low-grade minerals, and weathering mineral assemblages were encountered in the area. The primary mineral assemblage includes magnetite, hematite, siderite, chert, quartz, and smectite. The diagenetic assemblage minerals in the area are martite, quartz (cement), illite, calcite, ankerite, and stilpnomelane. Low-grade assemblage minerals are riebeckite, crocidolite, and minnesotaite, whereas goethite, limonite, calcite (calcrete), quartz (silcrete), and clay minerals are the supergene (weathering) assemblage minerals. These mineral assemblages were confirmed by microscope petrography, XRD, SEM-EDX, and diagenesis studies. Eight sedimentary facies including Horizontal-laminated BIF facies (Hlb), Horizontal thin to medium bedded BIF facies (Hbb), Ripple laminated BIF facies (Rlb), Thin to medium bedded mudstone facies (Mbm), Medium to thick-bedded mudstone facies (Tbm), Medium to thick-bedded fine-sandstone facies (Mts), Laminated dolomite stromatolite facies (Ld), and Dome-shaped stromatolitic BIF facies (Dbif) were identified in the field. Five facies associations including Facies association 1 (Hlb + Hbb), Facies association 2 (Hlb + Hbb + Mbm + Tbm), Facies association 3 (Hlb + Hbb + Mbm + Tbm + Rlb), Facies association 4 (Mbm + Tbm + Mts), and Facies association 5 (Ld + Dbif + Mts) have been recognised. Mineralogy, petrography, and geochemical studies indicate that the studied samples have all been subjected to recent weathering that altered the primary mineralogy and the geochemical composition. Mineral assemblages of the Kuruman BIF within the Prieska area are dominated by quartz, which constitutes about 53 wt.percent, followed by the iron oxides averaging about 44 wt.percent. Other minerals such as carbonates and silicates are only occurring in concentrations of less than 3 wt. percent combined. The Prieska BIF is enriched in cobalt, tungsten, molybdenum, barium (Ba), and nickel compared to the BIF in the northern parts of the Griqualand West basin and other localities. Post-depositional mineral alteration studies show that most of the primary minerals had suffered various degrees of alteration. The bulk of quartz, silicate, and iron oxide minerals in the area have been recrystallized, partially replaced, dissolved, or leached out. Multiple formation processes were involved in the origin of the banded iron formation: (1). Deposition of iron-rich mud material in the deep ocean floor and formation of a mixture of iron-rich mud (felutite) on the seafloor; (2). Differentiation of felutite and formation of disseminated iron-oxide from mud; (3). Cohesion and diagenesis of disseminated iron-oxide and formation of iron-rich (magnetite/hematite) and silica-rich (chert/quartz) patches, lenses (pod), microbands, and laminations; (4). Consolidation and compaction, leading to the formation of the final banded iron formation (BIF). , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-01