Teacher perceptions regarding training and their subsequent ability to integrate ICTs into marginalised rural schools : The ICT4RED Case Study
- Authors: Nkula, Kanya Zonke
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:20978 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5798
- Description: It is well documented that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) play an important role in education and that their use is associated with improving student learning and adding value to the curriculum. However, despite the opportunities that ICTs offer, numerous schools in South Africa face various barriers that result in the limited use of ICTs in the classroom. Literature has highlighted the lack of integration as one of these barriers. Teachers focus on teaching about ICTs where the focus is on developing computer literacy or technical knowledge rather than allowing students to learn through or with ICTs. This thesis aims to explore the concept of ICT integration in rural schools, where ICTs form an integral part of teaching and learning practices. It presents a number of theoretical considerations for ICT integration with a particular focus on teacher pedagogical beliefs and barriers to integration. Using interpretivism as the underlying philosophy and thematic analysis as the analysis tool, the author reflects on ICT integration in the ICT4RED project at Arthur Mfebe Senior Secondary School in the Eastern Cape Province. Furthermore, this thesis offers an in-depth understanding of integration barriers in rural marginalised schools. These barriers are presented in Thematic Maps as well as a framework which incorporates both theoretical considerations and themes that emerged from fieldwork.
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Teaching for conceptual understanding : an analysis of selected teachers' practice
- Authors: Kashima, Andreas Akwenye
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Teacher effectiveness -- Namibia , Student-centered learning -- Namibia , Constructivism (Education) -- Namibia , Problem solving , Teachers -- In-service training -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2037 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017348
- Description: The purpose of this study was to explore how teachers’ practice either supports or constrains learners’ conceptual understanding. The study is structured within an interpretive paradigm. The research takes the form of a case study and focused on the teaching practice of two purposefully selected teachers who had been identified as being effective/successful practitioners. The data was collected in two stages. In the first stage, qualitative data was collected by video recording six classroom lessons, three for each of the two participating teachers. In stage 2, participating teachers were individually interviewed. In these interviews the two participating teachers were asked to reflect on their classroom practice, through a process of stimulated recall, where their actions seemed to either support or constrain the development of learners’ conceptual understanding. The study identified a number of elements of the two teachers’ practice that related to the development of learners’ conceptual understanding in the classroom. These include building on learners’ prior knowledge, the use of concrete manipulatives, questioning that promotes critical thinking, and the use of multiple representations and connections. The study also identified elements of the two teachers’ practice that had the potential to constrain the development of learners’ conceptual understanding. These include the lack of opportunities for co-operative or peer-oriented learning, the absence of questioning that leads to discussion, and a scarcity of activities that build mathematical concepts through hands-on engagement. The study highlights the need for supporting teachers and helping them strengthen their practice with regard to those activities that support the development of conceptual understanding in their learners.
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The acute impact of extended aerobic exercise on cognitive performance
- Authors: Tichiwanhuyi, Tendayi Stephen
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Aerobic exercises , Cognition -- Effect of exercise on , Exercise -- Physiological aspects , Exercise -- Psychological aspects , Visual perception , Short-term memory , Motor ability , Human information processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5173 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018182
- Description: Previous research has established a relationship between exercise and cognition, with more emphasis on this ascertained link, being made on the effects of long term and endurance exercise on cognition. However, enhanced worker effectiveness relies on a strong acute collaboration of physical and cognitive performance during task execution. As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of extended aerobic exercise on visual perception, working memory and motor responses, and to achieve this 24 participants (12 males and 12 females) aged between 18 and 24 participated in a 2 bout cycling exercise. The experimental condition had cycling resistance set at 60 percent of each individual’s maximum aerobic output and the control condition had zero cycling resistance, where three cognitive tasks were performed at 10 minute intervals during the cycling exercise. The results showed that exercise did not affect any significant changes on the cognitive performance measures over the entire cycling duration, as well as during the exercise phase (cycling with resistance). However, visual perception improved significantly (p<0.05) immediately after exercise. This led to the conclusion that moderate to high intensity exercise when performed for an extended duration, has selective effects on certain cognitive performance measures, with the time at which the performance is measured during the exercise being a relevant factor to be considered for maximum activation effects of the exercise.
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The associative behaviour of silky sharks, Carcharhinus falciformis, with floating objects in the open ocean
- Authors: Filmalter, John David
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Silky shark , Silky shark -- Behavior , Silky shark -- Marking , Silky shark -- Food , Tuna fisheries -- Bycatches , Fish aggregation devices , Underwater acoustic telemetry , Fish tagging
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5381 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018177
- Description: The silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis forms the primary elasmobranch bycatch in tuna purse seine fisheries using fish aggregating devices (FADs) in all of the world’s tropical oceans. Its life-history traits of slow growth, late maturation and low fecundity make it vulnerable to over exploitation, as is apparent from historical bycatch trends. Very little is known about the associative behaviour of this species with floating objects, information which is essential in formulating effective mitigation and management measures. This study aims to address this knowledge gap through the use of various electronic tagging techniques in conjunction with dietary analysis. Dietary data were collected from 323 silky sharks incidentally caught at FADs. Approximately 40 percent of the diet consisted of prey associated with FADs while the remaining 60 percent were non-associated species of crustaceans, cephalopods and fishes. These results suggest that the associative behaviour is not primarily driven by trophic enhancement, but is likely a combination of predator avoidance, social interactions and feeding. Fine-scale behavioural data from silky sharks associated with drifting FADs were collected through the use of acoustic telemetry techniques. Acoustic tags were implanted into 38 silky sharks (69- 116 cm TL) at eight FADs. FADs were equipped with satellite linked acoustic receivers and abandoned to drift freely. Presence/absence and swimming depth data were telemetered via the Iridium satellite system. A total of 300 d of behavioural data were collected from 20 tagged individuals. Individuals remain associated with the same FAD for extended periods (min = 2.84 d, max = 30.60 d, mean = 15.69 d). Strong diel patterns were observed in both association and swimming depth. Typically individuals moved away from FADs after sunset and return later during the night, then remain closely associated until the following evening. Vertical behaviour also changed around sunset with sharks using fairly constant depths, within the upper 25 m, during the day and switching to rapid vertical movements during the night, with dives in excess of 250 m recoded. Broader scale movement behaviour was investigated using pop-up archival satellite tags (PSATs). Tags were deployed on 46 silky sharks (86-224.5 cm TL) for a total of 1495 d. Light data were used to calculate geolocation estimates and reconstruct the sharks’ trajectories. Movement patterns differed between animals and according to deployment duration. Several extensive horizontal movements were observed, with an average track length of 3240 km during an average tag deployment of 44.02 d. Horizontal movement patterns were found to correlate very closely with drift patterns of FADs. Consequently, it appears that the movement behaviour of juvenile silky sharks is strongly influenced by the movement of drifting FADs in this region. Ghost fishing of silky sharks through entanglement in FADs was also investigated using data derived from PSATs as well as underwater visual censuses. Thirteen per cent of the tagged sharks became entangled in FADs and entangled sharks were observed in 35 percent of the 51 FADs surveyed. Using this information in conjunction with estimated time that sharks remained entangled in the FAD (from depth data from PSATs), and scaling up according to estimates of FAD numbers, it was found that between 480 000 and 960 000 silky sharks are killed annually in this manner in the Indian Ocean. Subsequent management measures in this region prevent the deployment of FADs with netting that could lead to entanglement. Overall, floating objects appear to play a significant role in the juvenile life stages of silky sharks in this region. While their association with floating objects is clearly advantageous in an evolutionary sense, under current tuna fishery trends, this behaviour is certainly detrimental for the population.
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The barefoot road
- Authors: Dingle, Brian Clinton
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , Creative writing (Higher education) , South African fiction (English) -- Study and teaching (Higher)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:5989 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017773
- Description: My novella is set in South Africa in a post-apocalyptic world. The drone technology theorised for the near future is widespread and scattered survivors live under the constant threat of drone strikes. The protagonist tries to negotiate these dangers and the looming threat of a slave empire to reconnect with his friends and family. He encounters bizarre hallucinations and flashbacks as a result of exposure to an unidentified gas.
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The biology, behaviour and survival of pupating false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a citrus pest in South Africa
- Authors: Love, Claire Natalie
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- South Africa , Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- Larvae -- Behavior , Citrus -- Diseases and pests , Citrus -- Diseases and pests -- Biological control , Biological pest control agents , Entomopathogenic fungi , Insect nematodes , Pupae
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5941 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018907
- Description: Control of the citrus pest, false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is crucial for the South African citrus industry. The economic losses and phytosanitary status of this pest, coupled with increased consumer awareness and demands, has created a need for effective, IPM-compatible control measures for use against the soil-dwelling life stages of FCM. Promising developments in the field of microbial control through the use of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have highlighted the need for research regarding pupation biology, behaviour and survival of FCM, as a good understanding of biology of the target organism is an important component of any biological control programme. The aim of this study was to improve the current understanding of FCM pupation habits through the manipulation of soil texture class, ground cover, shading, soil compaction, air temperature, and soil moisture in the laboratory. These findings would then be used to aid the biological control programmes using EPF and EPNs against FCM in the soil. Three soil texture classes (sandy loam, silt loam and silty clay loam) were obtained from orchards for use in the study. FCM larvae were allowed to drop into the soil of their own accord and the pupation behaviour that followed was then captured on film with pupae formed in the soil being kept in order to measure adult eclosion. In general, very few abiotic factors had a clear influence on FCM pupation. Larval wandering time and distance was short, but also variable between individuals. Distance did increase when soils were moist. Pupation depth was shallow, with pupal cocoons generally being formed on the soil surface. Depth of pupation was less than one centimetre for all abiotic conditions, with little burrowing into soil. Eclosion success was higher for sandier soils when these were dry and uncompacted, but the addition of both moisture and soil compaction increased FCM eclosion success. FCM was sensitive to desiccation when the soils were dry and temperature limits of 15 °C and 32 °C had a strongly negative impact on eclosion success. Preferences for particular abiotic conditions were limited to only certain moisture conditions when interacting with soil texture class and a preference for pupating in soil when it is available. Limited preference was found for particular soil textures despite this having a strong influence on eclosion success, but individuals did appear to pupate in close proximity to one another. Viable direct habitat manipulation for FCM control could not be identified. These results and all of the abiotic variables measured have important implications for EPF and EPN application, survival and persistence in the soil in order to improve the ability of these biological control agents to control FCM. These are discussed in each chapter.
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The black and its double : the crisis of self-representation in protest and ‘post’-protest black South African fiction
- Authors: Kenqu, Amanda Yolisa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Serote, Mongane Wally, 1944- -- Criticism and interpretation , Duiker, K. Sello -- Criticism and interpretation , Matlwa, Kopano -- Criticism and interpretation , Black people in literature , Race in literature , Protest literature, African (English) , Mimesis in literature , Black people -- Race identity -- South Africa , Serote, Mongane Wally, 1944- -- To every birth Its blood , Duiker, K. Sello -- Thirteen cents , Matlwa, Kopano -- Coconut
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2331 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020835
- Description: This study explores the crisis of representation in black South African protest and ‘post’-apartheid literature. Conversant with the debates on the crisis of representation in black South African protest literature from the 1960s to the late 1980s, the dissertation proposes a re-reading of the ‘crisis’ by locating it in the black writer’s struggle for an aesthetic with which to express the existential crisis of blackness. I contend that not only protest but also contemporary or ‘post’-protest black South African literature exhibits a split or fractured mode of writing which is characterised by the displacement/unheimlichheid produced by colonialism and apartheid, as well as by the contentious nature of that which this literature endeavours to capture – the fraught identity of blackness. In my exploration of the split or double narratives of Mongane Serote’s To Every Birth Its Blood, K. Sello Duiker’s Thirteen Cents, and Kopano Matlwa’s Coconut, I examine the representation of blackness through the themes of violence, trauma, powerlessness, failure, and unhomeliness/unbelongingness – all of which suggest the lack of a solid foundation upon which to construct a stable black identity. This instability, I ultimately argue, suggests a move beyond an Afrocentric perspective on identity and traditional tropes of blackness towards a more processual, fluid, and permeable post-black politics.
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The call centre labour process : a study of work and workers’ experiences at Joburg Connect, South Africa
- Authors: Magoqwana, Babalwa Mirianda
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Johannesburg (South Africa) -- Joburg Connect , Call center agents -- South Africa -- Johannesburg -- Case studies , Work environment -- South Africa -- Johannesburg -- Case studies , Customer services -- South Africa -- Johannesburg -- Case studies , Personnel management -- South Africa -- Johannesburg -- Case studies , Employee morale -- South Africa -- Johannesburg -- Case studies , Employees -- Attitudes -- Case studies , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Johannesburg -- Case studies , South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1991- , South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1994- , South Africa -- Social conditions -- 1994-
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3400 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018569 , Johannesburg (South Africa) -- Joburg Connect , Call center agents -- South Africa -- Johannesburg -- Case studies , Work environment -- South Africa -- Johannesburg -- Case studies , Customer services -- South Africa -- Johannesburg -- Case studies , Personnel management -- South Africa -- Johannesburg -- Case studies , Employee morale -- South Africa -- Johannesburg -- Case studies , Employees -- Attitudes -- Case studies , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Johannesburg -- Case studies , South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1991- , South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1994-
- Description: This thesis is an investigation of the call centre labour process focusing on both the way work is organised and experienced by the operators and the management of employee relations inside a local government workplace – The City of Johannesburg (COJ) Call Centre. The City of Johannesburg is used to understand labour process dynamics in local government. Johannesburg was recently named the ‘World’s Second Most Inspiring City’ (by Global City Index, 2014) possessing economic and political influence within and around South Africa. Johannesburg is the economic hub of the country, contributing nine per cent to the South African GDP. But it needs to be emphasised that the focus of this thesis is on the labour process rather than the City of Johannesburg. The nature of work in the COJ local government call centre involves answering calls about water, electricity, refuse removal, accounts and other general municipal services. The government’s objective was to have a more customer centred service delivery plan in compliance with the Batho Pele (People first) framework (RSA, 1997, White Paper on Local Government). This resulted in a shift in the government ‘mantra’ and philosophy from viewing Johannesburg residents as customers rather than citizens. This shift from public administration to New Public Management (NPM) has meant the introduction of private sector business principles into public services. This seeks to improve organisational and individual performance to enhance service delivery within South African municipalities. This is also meant to promote responsive and performance management culture. The study uses Labour Process Theory set out in Labour and Monopoly Capital (LMC-1974) by Harry Braverman to argue for the need to contextualise the labour process debate within the socio-political understanding of work in South Africa. In developing the argument about the narrow analysis of public sector call centres based on economic lines I have reviewed literature on call centres which is influenced by Michel Foucault and Harry Braverman to understand the public sector call centre labour process. Inspired by Adesina (2002) and Mafeje (1981) this study uses a ‘complementarity’ approach to knowledge. This means the local context tends to complement the global trends though not without contradictions within the local context. The case study approach was used for in-depth analysis of the local context through different methods (semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, observations and survey questionnaires) to collect data from different stakeholders within the City of Johannesburg between 2010 and 2013. The concept of a ‘(dis)connecting city’ is fitting for the COJ as this city connects the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa to the world through its commerce and political influence. Based on the challenges experienced in this local government call centre I attempt to show the the politicised nature of the public sector call centre labour process. I use the differential power relations in the frontline between customer and Joburg connect workers to illustrate this point. The lack of emphasis on the politicised nature of public sector call centres within literature is informed by the de-contextualised nature of these call centres. In the end, I argue that public sector call centre labour process is multilayered, contradictory and complicated because of these workers’ role as citizens, customers, community members and service providers from a politicised community environment.
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The cheetahs of the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana: population estimates, monitoring techniques and human-predator conflict
- Authors: Brassine, Eleanor I
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Cheetah -- Botswana , Northern Tuli Game Reserve , Animal populations -- Botswana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5922 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017800
- Description: Remaining viable cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) populations in Africa are threatened by direct persecution through conflict with farmers and habitat degradation and fragmentation. Botswana is considered a stronghold for free roaming cheetahs in Africa, yet the country has had relatively limited research on its cheetahs, and information from the east of the country is lacking. Data on the current status of populations is thus required to make informed management decisions. My study provides estimates of population density, abundance, distribution and status for the demographically open cheetah population of the Northern Tuli Game Reserve (NOTUGRE) in Botswana. The effectiveness of two population monitoring methods, namely camera trapping and a photographic survey, were also investigated. Moreover, I report on the level of conflict between livestock farmers and predators on rural communal farmlands within and adjacent to NOTUGRE. Data were collected between May 2012 and November 2013. Results indicate a low population density of 0.61 ± 0.18 adult cheetahs per 100 km² and a minimum population size of 10 individuals (nine adults and one cub). Camera traps placed at cheetah scent-marking posts increased detection rates and provided ideal set up locations. This approach, together with Spatial Explicit Capture- Recapture (SECR) models, is recommended for future studies. The long-term studies that are required to better understand the status of cheetahs in Botswana do not exist. Thus, photographic surveys may provide an alternative method for providing baseline data on population numbers, distribution and demography. The third aspect of my study gathered information on levels of livestock loss and human tolerance of predators through the use of interviews (n = 80). Conflict with subsistence farmers is a concern as livestock depredation is relatively high (9.1% of total livestock owned) and farmers had an overall negative attitude towards conservation of large predators. My results suggest that human-predator conflict in this area is more complex than the direct financial loss from depredation. Hence, reducing depredation rates alone is unlikely to change farmer tolerance of wildlife on farmlands. Improved, responsible farm management, including self-responsibility for livestock rearing, and positive appreciation for wildlife are necessary. The NOTUGRE cheetah population requires further research to understand possible threats to the population. Furthermore, a better understanding of the connectivity between cheetahs of NOTUGRE, South Africa and Zimbabwe is required. The number of cheetahs within NOTUGRE is too small to sustain a viable population, hence conserving cheetahs outside of the protected area should be a priority for the conservation of the population. This can only be achieved through assistance and involvement from national authorities, local people and conservation organisations.
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The cognitive rehabilitation of a sample of children living with HIV : a specific focus on the cognitive rehabilitation of sustained attention
- Authors: Basterfield, Candice
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: HIV-positive children -- Rehabilitation , Antiretroviral agents , HIV (Viruses) -- Side effects , Brain damage -- Patients -- Rehabilitation , Cognition disorders -- Patients -- Rehabilitation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3258 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017881
- Description: Pharmacological interventions to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) with antiretrovirals (ARVs), have dramatically improved the survival rates of HIV positive children maturing into adulthood. However, HIV-associated neurocognitive decline still persists in the era of ARVs. Within the framework of brain plasticity, a number of researchers have begun to assess the feasibility of cognitive rehabilitation therapy as a complement to ARVs to reverse neurocognitive decline as a result of HIV (e.g., Becker et al., 2012). Only one study has been conducted in South Africa, by Zondo & Mulder (2014), assessing the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation in a paediatric sample. The current research builds on the above mentioned study by implementing an experimental approach to examine the effect of cognitive rehabilitation in a sample of both HIV positive and HIV negative children. Five HIV positive and six HIV negative children were assigned to either an experimental or control group. The experimental group underwent two months of cognitive rehabilitation therapy remediating sustained attention, whereas the control group took part in placebo activities. Sustained attention measures were taken before and after the intervention training sessions, using a sustained attention subtest from the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-CH). A Mann Whitney U Test revealed that the experimental group (Mdn=38.50) did not differ significantly from the control group (Mdn = 37.00) after the cognitive rehabilitation intervention, U=12.00, z= -.55, p= .66, r= -.17. But a Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test found that there was a significant improvement from pretest scores (Mdn=31.00) to posttest scores (Mdn=38.00) following the rehabilitation for HIV positive participants in the sample, T=15.00, z = -2.02, p= .04, r= -.90. This raises the possibility that cognitive rehabilitation could be used as a low cost intervention in underdeveloped contexts
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The consideration and improvement of the sustainability performance monitoring framework for South African water boards
- Authors: Thompson, Craig Howard
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: South Africa -- Department of Water Affairs -- Management , Water-supply -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Performance -- Management , Environmental auditing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:858 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018916
- Description: The South African Constitution ensures the right to adequate water, health services and a healthy environment (Government Gazette, 1996: 1251, 1255). Associated legislation and national strategies require that water resources and water services are rendered in a sustainable manner to ensure the rights enshrined in the Constitution are realised (Trialogue, 2010: 34; Government Gazette, 1998(c):11; Department of Water Affairs (DWA), 2003:9). South Africa is the 30th driest country in the world (DWA, 2013: iii), has impounded most of its surface water resources and has utilised 40 percent of the groundwater resource with remaining groundwater water quality uncertain (DWA, 2013:6-7). Despite achieving the basic water and sanitation Millennium Development Goals approximately 2.2 million and 4.5 million households still require access to basic services respectively (DWA, 2013:28-29). South Africa’s ten water boards play a key role in bulk water service provision. They supply 57 percent of the countries domestic water supply (DWA, 2013:19) and are required to provide sustainable water services (Government Gazette, 1997:35). The Department of Water Affairs (Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) as of June 2014) is mandated to monitor the performance of water boards and monitors of water boards through a Share Holders Compact (SHC) (Government Gazette, 1997: 50). The aim of the research is to achieve the following objectives: 1. Describe best practice for sustainability monitoring frameworks for water services. 2. Outline South Africa’s water services mandatory and voluntary requirements with regards to sustainability monitoring. 3. Evaluate South Africa’s current water services performance monitoring framework for water boards against findings from goals one and two. 4. Develop an improved framework for assessing South African water board’s performance in their compliance and sustainability journey. 5. Demonstrate the improved framework functionality with a sample of water boards audited performance data from the 2012/13 financial year. A qualitative normative theory evaluation research method was utilised to achieve first three objectives of the research. The objectives to first understand current best practice for sustainability monitoring frameworks and the mandatory requirements for water services sustainability monitoring frameworks in South Africa was achieved via an extensive literature review. The evaluation research method was used where South Africa’s current water services monitoring framework for water boards was evaluated for its adequacy to monitor sustainability compared with legislated requirements, national and international best practices (Hall et al, 2004: 55). Data collection for the evaluation research was sourced via documentation analysis. The 2012/13 water board audited annual reports, relevant national water services legislation, national and global water service sustainability monitoring best practices were critically reviewed. The review yielded a “thick description” of sustainability performance monitoring framework requirements that was used to evaluate the SHC (Holliday, 2002: 79). Despite the mandatory participation requirement for successful sustainability performance monitoring being met, the SHC was found to have inadequate aspects. It lacks an outcomes based approach, does not include environmental indicators, does not allow water board sustainability performance comparison and cannot indicate where individual water boards are on their sustainability journey. An improved sustainability performance monitoring framework for South African water boards is therefore proposed. This was developed with the assistance of an expert focus group drawn from multiple disciplines and organizations relevant to water board sustainability (Litosseliti, 2003: 8 and Hall et al, 2004: 51). The functionality of the framework is then demonstrated using 2012/13 audited performance data sourced from the annual reports of Overberg, Amatola, Rand and Umgeni Water boards. The proposed Water Services Sustainability Monitoring Framework (WSSMF) quantifies performance in terms of 10 water utility outcomes that are measured with 88 performance indicators that encompass the financial, social, environmental and governance dimensions of sustainability. The WSSMF demonstrated that the legislated intentions and best practice recommendations can be incorporated into an improved version of the SHC. Further refinement of the WSSMF is required. In depth engagement with DWS and all the water boards would promote the refinement of the indicator set, performance thresholds for indicators and indicator weighting. Further testing through a pilot project initiative would allow the WSSMF to be developed into a robust and adequate sustainability performance monitoring framework for South African water boards (Rametsteiner et al, 2011: 64; Muga and Mihelcic, 2008: 438; McAlphine and Birnie, 2005: 247 and van Leeuwen et al, 2012: 2192).
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The detection of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides in water, using nanotechnology
- Authors: De Almeida, Louise Kashiyavala Sophia
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Water -- Glyphosate content , Aquatic herbicides -- South Africa , Aquatic herbicides -- Physiological effect , Nanotechnology , Invasive plants -- South Africa , Genetic toxicology , Thiazoles , Tetrazolium , Immunotoxicology , Colorimetry , Nanofibers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4163 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019755
- Description: Glyphosate (N-phosphonomethylglycine) is an organophosphate compound which was developed by the Monsanto Company in 1971 and is the active ingredient found in several herbicide formulations. The use of glyphosate-based herbicides in South Africa for the control of alien invasive plants and weeds is well established, extensive and currently unregulated, which vastly increases the likelihood of glyphosate contamination in environmental water systems. Although the use of glyphosate-based herbicides is required for economic enhancement in industries such as agriculture, the presence of this compound in natural water systems presents a potential risk to human health. Glyphosate and glyphosate formulations were previously considered safe, however their toxicity has become a major focal point of research over recent years. The lack of monitoring protocols for pesticides in South Africa is primarily due to limited financial capacity and the lack of analytical techniques.
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The development of amine-based extractants for separation of base metals in a sulfate medium
- Authors: Magwa, Nomampondo Penelope
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Extraction (Chemistry) , Sulfates , Ligands , Benzimidazoles , Infrared spectroscopy , Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy , Metal ions , Metals
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4559 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020010
- Description: Tridentate benzimidazole-based ligands, bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl)sulfide (BNSN) and bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl)amine (BNNN), along with dinonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid (DNNSA) as a synergist, were investigated as potential selective extractants for Ni2+ from base metals in a solvent extraction system using 2-octanol/Shellsol 2325 (8:2) as diluent and modifier. However, extraction studies show a lack of pH-metric separation of the later 3d metal ions with bis((1-octylbenzimidazol-2-yl)methyl)sulfide (BONSN) and bis((1- decylbenzimidazol-2-yl)methyl)amine (BDNNN) as extractants, but extractions occurred in the low pH range with an opportunity for back extraction. This investigation suggested that tridentate ligands (at least those of the nature investigated here) are not feasible extractants for separation of base metal ions due to their lack of stereochemical “tailor-making.”
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The development of biological tools to aid in the genetic investigation of the black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceros mitochondrial genomes
- Authors: Parsons, Michelle
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/56059 , vital:26769
- Description: The black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceros are found in South Africa. A decline in the populations of these species has resulted due to human activities such as habitat fragmentation and poaching. This has contributed to the loss of genetic diversity amongst the black and white rhinoceros. Conservation and anti-poaching efforts are needed to help maintain genetic diversity. These efforts could be improved through the development of non-invasive techniques to examine DNA from threatened animals. The aim of this research was to develop a molecular technique which would allow for the identification of the black and white rhinoceros and to develop a molecular technique which would allow for intraspecies genetic variation to be examined. DNA extractions were performed on matched faecal and tissue samples that were collected from two regions in South Africa. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer sets were designed to investigate several regions of the rhinoceros mitochondrial genome. PCR optimisation was completed for the target regions. Sequencing was conducted on all final PCR products. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COIi) gene allowed for the rhinoceros family to be identified. This region was digested with the HindIII restriction enzyme, which allowed for the specific identification of either the black or white rhinoceros. A subsequent region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COIii) as well as the D-loop, hypervariable regions (HV1 and HV2), cytochrome b (cytb) and 16s rRNA regions were investigated. These regions displayed potential for establishing geographic origin for black rhinoceros samples, whereas the D-loop and HV2 show potential for the white rhinoceros. The white rhinoceros displayed sequence variation in the HV2 and cytb region, while variation was observed in the COIi and HV1 for the black rhinoceros. All investigated target regions allowed for the rhinoceros family to be identified. The COI (COIi and COIii), HV2 and cytb regions allowed for the subspecies of rhinoceros to be identified, however the D-loop was not able to identify the white rhinoceros species. The 16s rRNA and HV1 regions allowed for the correct subspecies of rhinoceros to be identified, however as the primers were only compatible for the black rhinoceros therefore a subsequent investigation is required for the white rhinoceros. The establishment of this novel PCR based technique to identify white and black rhinoceros will allow for efficient species identification in wildlife forensic cases. A biological method was established to study intraspecies variation for the white and black rhinoceros; however the investigated target regions did not yield sufficient genetic variation. The core techniques developed in this study will be valuable for future studies that wish to investigate genetic variation in mammal species.
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The developmental impact of non-contributory social grants in South Africa : a study of Ezibeleni, Queenstown
- Authors: Xaba, Mzingaye Brilliant
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa , Poor -- South Africa -- Queenstown , Poverty -- South Africa -- Queenstown , South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1991- , South Africa -- Social conditions -- 1994-
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3402 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018919
- Description: Amartya Sen argued that poverty was the “deprivation” of the capability to lead a “good life”, therefore ending poverty meant meeting basic physical and social needs, and enabling meaningful economic and political choices. The principal objective of this research was to investigate whether (and if so, in what ways) post-apartheid state-provided non-contributory cash social grants in South Africa reduced “poverty” in Sen’s sense. This thesis used Ezibeleni, a historically black working class township at Queenstown, in the Eastern Cape, as a reference area. Using in-depth interviews, it found that social grants did help reduce poverty, both in terms of helping meet basic needs and enabling grant recipients to make more choices, including facilitating job searches and small businesses. However, it was also found that grants fall short of ending poverty, as the grants were too small to adequately cover basic needs in the context of large family sizes, a serious and long-term lack of resources, persistent unemployment, and high indebtedness, and could also enable only a limited expansion of choices. The grants played a positive role, but were inadequate to remove the “unfreedoms” facing the poor.
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The diets of co-occuring anurans in a small South African river: assessments using stomach contents, stable isotope ratios and fatty acid profiles
- Authors: Sikutshwa, Likho
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54405 , vital:26562
- Description: During their life cycle amphibians change their habitat and feeding, and are important consumers in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The trophic ecology of anurans has been studied intensively using gut content analysis, but very little work has been done using biochemical techniques such as stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. These biochemical techniques produce data that allow for additional inferences about the trophic ecology of anurans, as they reveal what the organisms assimilated over time rather than what was recently ingested. The investigation of the feeding ecology and trophic interactions of anurans using gut content analyses together with stable isotope and fatty acid analyses will help us to better understand their ecological roles. The objective of this thesis was to assess the feeding ecology of four anurans (Amietia angolensis, Amietophyrnus rangeri, Strongylopus grayii and Xenopus laevis) in a temperate river using a combination of gut content, stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. Frogs, tadpoles and potential food sources were sampled in two sites (upstream and downstream) in the Kowie River, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Gut content analyses identified 147 prey items belonging to 12 prey orders in the stomachs of the sampled specimens. In both A. angolensis and S. grayii the most important prey category was Coleoptera, followed by Hemiptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera at both sites. Aquatic prey items (aquatic hemipterans, chirinomids and blackflies) were the most important food sources for X. laevis (Alimentary Index (IAi) = 6.4; 5.2; 4.2). In Am. rangeri, Hymenoptera was the most important prey category (IAi = 8.3). The trophic niche overlap between A. angolensis and S. grayii was biologically significant (> 0.6), and in the remaining species there was no significant trophic niche overlap. Amietia angolensis showed a larger trophic niche (Levin’s measure; B = 7.7 and Bst = 0.84 downstream, and upstream B = 7.6 (Bst = 0.82) compared to the other species. The gut content analyses showed that frogs feed on a variety of prey items that constitutes food sources from both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Stable isotopes indicated that aquatic derived sources contributed significantly more towards the diets of X. laevis, A. angolensis tadpoles and S. grayii tadpoles compared with the other anurans, whereas aquatic and terrestrial derived food sources contributed equally to the diets of A. angolensis and S. grayii. Increased trophic positions in A. angolensis and S. grayii occurred throughout their development. The four different species had similar fatty acid profiles in the upstream region, and fairly similar δ13C values, suggesting that they probably consumed similar food. Fatty acid profiles of anurans in the downstream region showed distinct separations among the species. Tadpoles had high levels of diatom-associated fatty acids (20:5ω3; A. angolensis tadpole – 8.4 %, S. grayii tadpole – 9.4 % upstream and downstream; 9.1 and 6.1 % total fatty acids (TFA), respectively). All four species had substantial contributions from bacterial fatty acids, and large proportions of saturated fatty acids (30.6 - 50.0 %) including those with 14 and 18 carbons, indicating that bacterial and detritus food sources played an important role in their diets. The fatty acid profiles revealed high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and essential fatty acids (EFAs) in all species, indicating a good quality of food and that the quality of food consumed was similar among species. The results demonstrated the usefulness of a combination of traditional techniques (gut content techniques) and biochemical techniques (stable isotopes and fatty acid analysis) for assessing consumption and assimilation. The amphibian assemblages examined derived much of their energy from terrestrial and aquatic sources. This information will allow more precise and comprehensive assessments of trophic interactions in freshwater habitats, along with aiding in future amphibian conservation and management efforts.
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The diversity of root fungi associated with Erica species occurring in the Albany Centre of Endemism
- Authors: Bizabani, Christine
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Ericaceae , Ericas , Roots (Botany) -- Diseases and pests , Mycorrhizal fungi , Polymerase chain reaction , Fungi -- Classification
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4160 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018575
- Description: South Africa has the highest species diversity of ericaceous plants belonging to the Erica genus. There are over 850 identified species in the Cape Floral Region. The Albany Centre of Endemism (ACOE) is located within this region and is a hotspot of diversity consisting of various plant genera. The success of Erica plants is ubiquitously attributed to mycorrhizal relationships they engage in with a diverse group of fungi. This symbiosis is known as the ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) association. The overall aim of this study was to establish the diversity of root fungi associated with Erica plants using morphological, molecular and 454 pyrosequencing techniques. Six Erica species were identified using leaf and flower morphology according to taxonomic keys. The identified plants were Erica cerinthoides, Erica demissa, Erica chamissonis, Erica glumiflora, Erica caffra and Erica nemorosa. Roots from sampled plants were stained and examined microscopically to determine their mycorrhizal status. Ericoid mycorrhizal associations together with dark septate endophyte (DSE) structures and hyphae that did not form any specific structure were observed in all the roots. In addition arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) structures in the form of vesicles were detected in E. glumiflora and E. cerinthoides. In order to identify the culturable fungi associated with the respective hosts, sterilised roots were placed on various culture media for cultivation. Thereafter isolated fungi were morphologically classified into 67 morphotypes. These were mostly sterile and darkly pigmented. Non-sporulating mycelia of variable colouration such as white, cream-yellowish, beige, green and brown were also observed. Further identification was carried out using molecular techniques. DNA was extracted separately from pure cultures and amplified using ITS1 and ITS4 primers in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thereafter sequencing and Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) were used to identify the isolates to generic level. The fungi were taxonomically classified into 54 operational taxonomic units and 94 percent were Ascomycetes and Helotiales was the dominant order. Unclassified Helotiales with affinities to fungi currently identified as Epacrid root fungus was common in all hosts. Other isolates that were identified included Oidiodendron, Meliniomyces, Phialocephala, Cadophora, Lachnum, Leohumicola Cryptosporiopsis, Chaetomium, Acremonium and Epicoccum species. Basidiomycetes were represented by two OTUs belonging to the genus Mycena. Four OTUs comprised fungi that had no significant alignments in the reference databases. Direct root DNA extraction together with 454 pyrosequencing was used to detect the diversity of culturable and unculturable fungi associated with the identified hosts. The ITS2 region was targeted for sequencing. Although Ascomycetes remained the dominant phyla, Basidiomycetes were also detected in all host plants. Glomeromycota was present in E. caffra and E. cerinthoides. Helotiales was dominant in all Erica plants with the exception of E. cerinthoides and E. chamissonis which were dominated by the order Chaetothyriales. The OTUs identified to genus level included Epacris pulchella root fungus, Oidiodendron cf. maius, Acremonium implicatum, Leohumicola, Lachnum, Capronia and Mycena species. Culture-based techniques and pyrosequencing detected similar fungal composition comprising Ascomycetes, while, pyrosequencing was able to detect Glomeromycetes and Basidiomycetes.
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The Ecca type section (Permian, South Africa) : an outcrop analogue study of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs
- Authors: Campbell, Stuart Alexander
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Hydrocarbon reservoirs -- Ecca Group , Geology, Stratigraphic -- Permian , Paleogeography -- Ecca Group , Shale gas -- Ecca Group , Shale gas reservoirs -- Ecca Group , Ecca Group , Ripon Formation (South Africa) , Collingham Formation (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5083 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018199
- Description: The Karoo Basin of South Africa holds an estimated 906 billion to 11 trillion cubic meters of unconventional shale gas within the shales of the Whitehill and Collingham formations of the Ecca Group. Evaluation of this potential resource has been limited due to the lack of exploration and a scarcity of existing drill core data. In order to circumnavigate this problem this study was undertaken to evaluate the potential target horizons exposed in outcrops along the southern portion of the Karoo Basin, north of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province. Detailed field logging was done on the exposed Whitehill and Collingham formations as well as a possible conventional sandstone (turbidite) reservoir, the Ripon Formation, along road cuttings of the Ecca Pass. Palaeocurrent data, jointing directions and fossil material were also documented. Samples were analysed for mineralogy, porosity, permeability, and total organic carbon content (TOC). The extensively weathered black shales of the Whitehill Formation contain a maximum TOC value of 0.9% and the Collingham Formation shales contain a maximum TOC value of 0.6%. The organic lithic arkose sandstones of the Ripon Formation are classified as ‘tight rock’ with an average porosity of 1% and an average permeability of 0.05 mD. The Whitehill Formation in the southern portion of the Karoo Basin has experienced organic matter loss due to low grade metamorphism as well as burial to extreme depths, thus reducing shale gas potential. The Ripon Formation is an unsuitable conventional reservoir along the southern basin boundary due to extensive cementation and filling of pore spaces.
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The economics of institutions, institutional governance and efficiency: the case of water distribution in Lower Sundays River Valley
- Authors: Madigele, Patricia Kefilwe
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54777 , vital:26611
- Description: The institutional dynamics, policies and legislation that were prevalent during the apartheid era have left imprints that are difficult to ignore as they still dictate the interaction between different elements in the water sector to date. During the apartheid era, the formulation of policies was informed by racial segregation, resulting in a socio-economic pattern that dictated the distribution and access of resources for the people of different races in the country. Post-apartheid, the National Water Act has established the basis for management of water resources on a catchment basis (for equity, efficiency and sustainability), and the Water Services Act aims to ensure everybody has access to basic water supply and sanitation services. Regardless of the improvements in water supply to the rural sector made by the South African government, many of the current patterns of water use are still characterised by inequality, inefficiency, and inadequacy. The poor remain marginalised, and emerging farmers and poor rural communities have limited access to water resources while water continues to be used inefficiently by some farmers in the agricultural sector with few incentives to improve its water use efficiency. Despite the existence of the thriving citrus industry in the area, around 60% of people in the Sundays River Valley Municipality (SRVM) live below the poverty datum line. The inequality between the municipal populace and the commercial citrus industry is noticeable and the inequitable water redistribution is prevalent in the Lower Sundays River Valley (LSRV). The problem of disrupted water supply is prevalent in the catchment. However, there is also currently no physical shortage of water in the catchment. Therefore, the currently experienced problems with water supply in the LSRV are consequence of a lack of effective institutions and infrastructure, not of physical water scarcity. It is argued in this paper that there is a notable lack of understanding about the design of institutions for water management in developing countries. The vast majority of research on water management and access is premised on neoclassical economics ideas related to water markets and pricing among others. The neoclassical economics approach, however, does not adequately define the role of institutions in shaping the direction of water access and supply. This study uses new institutional economics (NIE) arguments to define the institutional arrangements and dynamics defining the water sector in South Africa, using the Lower Sunday River Water Users Association (LSR-WUA) as the case study. It aims at analysing the institutional governance and performance of the using equity, efficiency and effectiveness as key indicators. The various research methods employed in this study include; interpretive and post-positivist paradigms, quantitative and qualitative research, the case study research method and in-depth key informant interviews. It is concluded that that the current and future decisions made by the LSR-WUA are not entirely independent of those made in the past under Sundays River Irrigation Board (SRIB). The thesis argues that such factors as old effective networks, vested interests of commercial farmers, sunk costs towards the building of canals, among other factors, may have influenced the dependence of the LSR-WUA on the SRIB’s set path. It is further concluded that the absence of contractual agreement between the LRS-WUA which acts as the bulk water supplier, and the SRVM which acts as both the water services authority (WSA) and the water service provider (WSP) creates an institutional arrangement deficiency. Such an institutional arrangement vacuum can lead to a failure of the water institutions in the catchment to provide water resources effectively. The study further argues that because the post-apartheid National Water Policy of South Africa is largely influenced by neoclassical economics foundations, the desired results in the water sector, such as equitable distribution of water resources, have not yet been fulfilled completely.
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The effect of extracellular Hsp90β and TGF-β1 on colon cancer biology
- Authors: Perks, Tamarin
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/55896 , vital:26753
- Description: The TGF-β signaling pathway is known to be one of the most commonly mutated pathways in human cancers, while Hsp90 is a bone fide drug target that is involved in regulating the conformation and activity of many oncoproteins. The role of intracellular Hsp90 in cancer has thus far been established and there is a growing link between extracellular Hsp90 and cancer metastasis, as well as the role of TGF-β in metastasis. This study aimed to analyse the interaction between Hsp90 (both intracellular and extracellular) and the TGF-β machinery in cancer cells, as well as to determine the effect of these proteins on cellular responses on the biology of cancer cells. This was achieved by studying the expression of Hsp90; TGF-βRII and TGF-β1 in cancer cell lines of various origins using flow cytometry, ELISA, and western blot analysis. The genetically paired SW480 and SW620 colon cancer cell lines, derived from a primary tumour and lymph node metastasis, respectively, were selected for further study due to differences in expression levels and activation of the TGF-β1 pathway. SW480 cells expressed double the level of TGF-βRII compared to SW620 cells, while SW620 expressed two times more extracellular TGF-β1 than SW480 cells. A direct interaction between TGF-β1 and Hsp90β was determined in vitro, and confirmed in vivo in SW620 cells. Growth, adhesion and migration were analysed in SW480 and SW620 cells. SW480 cells adhered significantly faster than SW620 cells, while SW620 cells had a greater rate of migration. Inhibiting the TGF-β pathway, specifically TGF-βRI, using SB 431542, as well as inhibiting Hsp90 with novobiocin, caused an increase in migration in SW480 cells. Only the addition of TGF-β1 in combination with Hsp90 as well as SB 431542 caused an increase in migration in SW620 cells. The canonical TGF-β1/TGF-βRI/TGF-βRII pathway may be constitutively active in SW620 cells and the inhibition of TGF-βRI may suggest an alternate pathway or receptor in both SW480 and SW620 cells.
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