The impacts of bottom-up and top-down drivers in shaping the herbivore community in Pafuri, Kruger National Park, South Africa
- Authors: Walker, Gareth Alexander
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435703 , vital:73180 , DOI 10.21504/10962/435703
- Description: Globally, terrestrial mammal populations are facing critical population declines and range contractions owing to habitat fragmentation and destruction, wildlife overexploitation, and climate change driven by expansion of the human population. Mammalian herbivores are integral for maintaining ecosystem structure and functionality. They do this this through herbivory, by acting as prey and cycling soil nutrients. The impacts of herbivores on ecosystems, however, vary with their spatial occupancy which is influenced by interacting bottom-up and top-down factors. Modelling the drivers of herbivore communities is no trivial task given the myriad of potential bottom-up and top-down factors, and the interactions between the two, as well as the species-specific variations in intrinsic functional traits (e.g., foraging strategy, body size, metabolic rate, etc.) influencing herbivore responses (e.g., social structure, space-use, activity patterns, etc.) to these drivers. Consequently, few studies have attempted to model both bottom-up and top-down drivers in structuring herbivore communities, particularly in an African context where predator-prey guilds include multiple species, exposed to high levels of human activity. Therefore, the overarching aim of my research was to quantify the relative effects of both bottom-up and top-down factors driving the herbivore community in the northern Pafuri region of Kruger National Park, South Africa. I utilized a combination of field (i.e., camera trap and vegetation surveys) and analytical (i.e., stable carbon isotopes from faeces and plants) techniques in conjunction with geospatial data to evaluate the impacts of bottom-up (i.e., forage quantity, quality, and water availability) and top-down (i.e., predation and anthropogenic risks) factors on herbivore spatial occupancy and activity patterns. Herbivore responses to bottom-up and top-down factors were species-specific, even among members of the same feeding guild. Specifically, I found that herbivores (varying in body size and foraging strategy) displayed temporal, spatial and in some instances, dietary shifts that reflect species-specific, ecological trade-offs between resource acquisition, and predator and human avoidance. For example, kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) displayed temporal and spatial avoidance of predators and humans, and exhibited previously undocumented levels of seasonal dietary shifts which suggests that the species traded forage acquisition for reduced predation and anthropogenic risks. Further, high levels of human activity appeared to eclipse the risks associated with natural predators resulting in human induced landscapes of fear. For example, warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) and zebra (Equus quagga) occupied habitats with higher predation risks, but displayed spatial avoidance of nature reserve boundaries which were synonymous with high levels of bushmeat poaching. Most studies focussing on the impacts of bottom-up and top-down drivers neglect to consider the roles that humans play in structuring ecological communities. The results of my thesis, however, emphasize the importance of including anthropogenic drivers when investigating the roles that various bottom-up and top-down factors play in shaping ecological communities. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-04-05
Issues in language acquisition planning in Zimbabwe: the case of Ndebele within the primary education system
- Authors: Masuku, Seabird
- Date: 2024-04-03
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/434626 , vital:73091 , DOI 10.21504/10962/434627
- Description: This thesis discusses pertinent language issues within the primary school system in Zimbabwe in view of complaints (over many years) of communities in the two Matabeleland provinces and Bulawayo about high failure rates of learners in the final grade 7 examinations. It also interrogates the government’s commitment to the development of indigenous languages in the primary school system, particularly in the three provinces mentioned above as mirrored in the 2013 constitution of the country. The study conducted traces the language trends exhibited currently back to their beginnings during the colonial era in language planning by the government and the policies that informed such planning. What obtains on the ground seems to be violating the principles behind the declaration of the International Mother Language Day (30C/62) proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999. On 16 May 2007 the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution A/RES/61/266, called upon Member States (Zimbabwe included) "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world". The amended education act of 2006 states that in Zimbabwe’s primary schools early learning must be done through mother tongue instruction then switch to English in grade 4 upwards. As a first step of a child’s academic life, the lower primary education needs to be conducted in the child’s mother tongue to bridge the gap between the child’s home environment and the new school environment as well as to reduce culture shock associated with the sudden introduction of a new language. Studies, such as those done by Noormohamadi, (2008) and Mackenzie, (2013) have shown that children tend to understand better if they are taught in their mother tongue. In this thesis I seek to establish if the teaching of Ndebele at primary school reveals the socio-cultural ideology (awareness of circumstances surrounding individuals and how their behaviours are affected, specifically by their surroundings, social and cultural factors) and political ideology (thinking structures about the way policies should be run) underpinning language planning in Zimbabwe. It is my observation and argument that the Education Act proclaims what has not been practised on the ground through teacher training and deployment practices. To establish if the teaching of Ndebele at primary school reveals the socio-cultural and political ideologies underpinning language planning in Zimbabwe, I carried out research in Matabeleland South, Bulawayo and Matabeleland North provinces covering a total of 27 schools, 27 heads of school and 135 teachers. The research’s main aims were to find out if Ndebele was taught at school, by who and using what materials. It should be noted that mother tongue, in learning, acts as a basis of interpretation of subsequent concepts. When a child is learning new concepts or words in the second language, he or she first searches the equivalent in his or her mother tongue. If the primary language has not been developed well enough to have such equivalents, such a child is likely to have problems in forming new concepts in the second language. The role of language in meaning, therefore, is a variable that depends on the socio-geographical location of the languages and their speakers. The research established that, indigenous languages, Ndebele included, are not developed by the government through financial support for teaching material production and qualified teacher deployment. Instead, it was discovered that in Matabeleland there are some learners at primary school who are taught by a Shona-speaking teacher who cannot communicate properly with the learners. It should be remembered that a primary language is used by a child as the foundation to learn the basic concepts in his or her own language and to give him or her freedom to express himself or herself without the inhibitions imposed by an insufficient mastery of the medium of instruction. As a way of concluding the research I found it necessary that the use of mother tongue by learners at lower grades of primary school be strengthened through the deployment of teachers who can teach Ndebele properly because it provides a strong foundation for further education. Using the mother tongue, students learn to think, communicate and acquire an intuitive understanding of grammar. The mother tongue is; therefore, the greatest asset and vital tool people use to acquire new concepts. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-04-03
Falcipain 2 and 3 as malarial drug targets: deciphering the effects of missense mutations and identification of allosteric modulators via computational approaches
- Authors: Okeke, Chiamaka Jessica
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/432170 , vital:72848 , DOI 10.21504/10962/432170
- Description: Malaria, caused by an obligate unicellular protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium, is a disease of global health importance that remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported nearly 247 million malaria cases in 2021, causing 619,000 deaths, the vast majority ascribed to pregnant women and young children in sub-Saharan Africa. A critical component of malaria mitigation and elimination efforts worldwide is antimalarial drugs. However, resistance to available antimalarial drugs jeopardizes the treatment, prevention, and eradication of the disease. The recent emergence and spread of resistance to artemisinin (ART), the currently recommended first-line antimalarial drug, emphasizes the need to understand the resistance mechanism and apply this knowledge in developing new drugs that are effective against malaria. An insight into ART's mechanism of action indicates that ferrous iron (Fe2+) or heme, released when hemoglobin is degraded, cleaves the endoperoxide bridge. As a result, free radicals are formed, which alkylate many intracellular targets and result in plasmodial proteopathy. Aside from the existing evidence that mutations in the Kelch 13 protein propeller domain affect ART sensitivity and clearance rate by Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) parasites, recent investigations raise the possibility that additional target loci may be involved, and these include a nonsense (S69stop) and four missense variants (K255R, N257E, T343P, and D345G) in falcipain 2 (FP-2) protein. FP-2 and falcipain 3 (FP-3) are cysteine proteases responsible for hydrolyzing hemoglobin in the host erythrocytic cycle, a key virulence factor for malaria parasite growth and metabolism. Due to the obligatory nature of the hemoglobin degradation process, both proteases have become potential antimalarial drug targets attracting attention in recent years for the development of blood-stage antimalarial drugs. The alteration of the expression profile of FP-2 and FP-3 through gene manipulation approaches (knockout) or compound inhibition assays, respectively, induced parasites with swollen food vacuoles due to the accumulation of undegraded hemoglobin. Furthermore, missense mutations in FP-2 confer parasites with decreased ART sensitivity, probably due to altered enzyme efficiency and momentary decreased hemoglobin degradation. Hence, understanding how these mutations affect FP-2 (including those implicated in ART resistance) and FP-3 is imperative to finding potentially effective inhibitors. The first aim of this thesis is to characterize the effects of missense mutations on the partial zymogen complex and the catalytic domain of FP-2 and FP-3 using a range of computational approaches and tools such as homology modeling, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, comparative essential dynamics, dynamic residue network (DRN) analysis, weighted residue contact map analysis, amongst others. The Pf genomic resource database (PlasmoDB) identified 41 missense mutations located in the partial zymogen and catalytic domains of FP-2 and FP-3. Using structure-based tools, six putative allosteric pockets were identified in FP-2 and FP-3. The effect of mutations on the whole protein, the central core, binding pocket residues and allosteric pockets was evaluated. The accurate 3D homology models of the WT and mutants were calculated. MD simulations were performed on the various systems as a quick starting point. MD simulations have provided a cornerstone for establishing numerous computational tools for describing changes arising from mutations, ligand binding, and environmental changes such as pH and temperature. Post-MD analysis was performed in two stages viz global and local analysis. Global analysis via radius of gyration (Rg) and comparative essential dynamic analysis revealed the conformational variability associated with all mutations. In the catalytic domain of FP-2, the presence of M245I mutation triggered the formation of a cryptic pocket via an exclusive mechanism involving the fusion of pockets 2 and 6. This striking observation was also detected in the partial zymogen complex of FP-2 and induced by A159V, M245I and E249A mutations. A similar observation was uncovered in the presence of A422T mutation in the catalytic domain of FP-3. Local DRN and contact map analyses identified conserved inter-residue interaction changes on important communication networks. This study brings a novel understanding of the effects of missense mutations in FP-2 and FP-3 and provides important insight which may help discover new anti-hemoglobinase drugs. The second aim is the identification of potential allosteric ligands against the WT and mutant systems of FP-2 and FP-3 using various computational tools. Of the six potential allosteric pockets identified in FP-2 and FP-3, pocket 1 was evaluated by SiteMap as the most druggable in both proteins. This pipeline was implemented to screen pocket 1 of FP-2 and FP-3 against 2089 repositionable compounds obtained from the DrugBank database. In order to ensure selectivity and specificity to the Plasmodium protein, the human homologs (Cat K and Cat L) were screened, and compounds binding to these proteins were exempted from further analysis. Subsequently, eight compounds (DB00128, DB00312, DB00766, DB00951, DB02893, DB03754, DB13972, and DB14159) were identified as potential allosteric hits for FP-2 and five (DB00853, DB00951, DB01613, DB04173 and DB09419) for FP-3. These compounds were subjected to MD simulation and post-MD trajectory analysis to ascertain their stability in their respective protein structures. The effects of the stable compounds on the WT and mutant systems of FP-2 and FP-3 were then evaluated using DRN analysis. Attention has recently been drawn towards identifying novel allosteric compounds targeting FP-2 and FP-3; hence this study explores the potential allosteric inhibitory mechanisms in the presence and absence of mutations in FP-2 and FP-3. Overall, the results presented in this thesis provide (i) an understanding of the role mutations in the partial zymogen complex play in the activation of the active enzyme, (ii) an insight into the possible allosteric mechanisms induced by mutations on the active enzymes, and (iii) a computational pipeline for the development of novel allosteric modulators for malaria inhibition studies. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Field facilitation in open and distance learning in resource-constrained environments: a case of Mzuzu University, Malawi
- Authors: Kalima, Robert Chagwamtsoka
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431554 , vital:72785 , DOI 10.21504/10962/431554
- Description: As part of the drive to enhance students’ learning experiences and success for students pursuing the B.Ed Science programme through distance education at Mzuzu University (Mzuni), the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Steering Committee of Mzuni introduced the field facilitation strategy in 2014 to provide additional academic support to such students off campus. There have been questions, though, regarding the effectiveness of this strategy in terms of enhancement of student learning and success. This study, therefore, sought to examine the current field facilitation strategy in the B.Ed Science programme under the ODL mode of delivery, with a view to proposing improvements that would be made to the field facilitation strategy so that it enables enhanced learning and success in Science and Mathematics at Mzuni. Efforts to improve the current field facilitation strategy have been informed by an empirically based understanding of the shortfalls and strengths of the existing field facilitation strategy for ODL students in the B.Ed Science programme. To enhance students’ learning and success for ODL students in resource-constrained contexts such as Mzuni and similar contexts, the study adopted a qualitative case study design guided by tools from the second generation of the Cultural Historical Activity Theory. Qualitative data was obtained in two phases, a contextual profiling phase and a modified Change Laboratory Workshop phase. The modified Change Laboratory Workshops were conducted through the social media application ‘WhatsApp’ rather than in person as is usually done. Qualitative data in the contextual profiling phase was obtained from three categories of participants, namely, Science and Mathematics lecturers, Science and Mathematics field facilitators, and Science and Mathematics students. The contextual profiling phase included surveys, focus group interviews, individual interviews with lecturers at Mzuni and the field facilitators from the five satellite learning centres of Mzuni, and document analysis. The contextual profiling data acted as the mirror data for the next phase of data generation (Change Laboratory Workshop phase). The findings indicated that the support currently rendered by field facilitators to ODL Science and Mathematics students was inadequate and consisted of a shallow mode of instruction focusing on v traditional ways of teaching and learning. This meant that the field facilitators focused on lecturing as a pedagogical strategy for supporting the learning of Science and Mathematics. This was largely because the support offered to field facilitators by Mzuni was inadequate and did not empower them to generate their own strategies of conducting field facilitation innovatively and creatively, which would in turn empower the students to engage actively and reflectively in their own learning activities. This was due to structural, historical and cultural tensions that existed in the larger system (the university system). The implementation of the field facilitation strategy was challenged by such conflicts in the university structure which manifested themselves in the smaller activity system (the field facilitation activity system) which is the focus of this study. Thematically, such conflicts included students’ attributes, institutional policies, institutional pedagogy and the material and digital divide which Mzuni has not harnessed to support field facilitation. The study further established that institutional sensitivity to the conflicts raised above would result in an improved field facilitation strategy as the conflicts at the higher level (university level) have an impact on what happens in the smaller systems, for example the ODL in general and the field facilitation activity system in particular. The improved field facilitation strategy was supposed to recognise ODL students as students in transit from the traditional face-to-face learning context to the novel ODL learning context. As such, the transitional period of study from secondary school to university, particularly to year one, required an intensive field facilitation support strategy, and thus greater institutional support for both field facilitators and students for enhanced learning experiences and success that would eventually result in improved students’ retention and throughput. The findings of this study will therefore inform all those involved in ODL, particularly those in resource-constrained contexts, to be conscious when implementing ODL innovations. Serious consideration of the contexts in which the innovations are to be implemented is critical. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Primary and Early Childhood Education, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Identification of novel therapeutic agents targeting Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) lytic replication
- Authors: Okpara, Michael Obinna
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/432181 , vital:72849
- Description: Access restricted. Expected release date 2025. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Mechanisms conditioning the implementation of an integrated quality assurance and enhancement approach at a South African University of Technology
- Authors: Mabote, Ntele Emily
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431576 , vital:72787 , DOI 10.21504/10962/431576
- Description: Literature related to quality in higher education argues that achieving an integrated approach which balances improvement and accountability in a single quality assurance (QA) system, is not easy. In response to the literature, I decided to conduct a realist study to identify mechanisms that can enable or constrain the implementation of an integrated approach in a single quality assurance system at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). The scope of my study was limited to teaching and learning as one of the University’s core functions. An integrated approach encouraged a deliberate focus and attention on transformative learning and teaching. The main research question, “what mechanisms enable or constrain the implementation of an integrated approach to quality assurance and enhancement at the Tshwane University of Technology,” underpinned this study. I used Bhaskar’s critical realist philosophy as an underlabourer for the study and Archer’s social realism as an analytical framework to enable me to seek answers to the research questions. The study took the form of a case study at TUT. Data was generated through document analysis and thirty-five semi-structured interviews with agents from across the various levels and campuses of TUT. In keeping with a social realist study, I used Archer’s concept of analytical dualism to analyse structure, culture, and agency separately, and their interplay. My findings indicated that compliance and accountability are related cultural mechanisms and were dominant in the University’s cultural system. This signalled a strong emphasis on quality assurance (QA) rather than quality enhancement (QE). In addition, the findings showed that the University has established sufficient structural and agential enablements to assure the quality of learning and teaching. However, there is a need to integrate transformative cultural mechanisms into the University’s QA system. Furthermore, there were limited structural, cultural, and agential enablements to encourage enhancement. In this regard, I recommended mechanisms that should be in place for an integrated QA and QE approach to be successful at TUT. My main argument is that an institutional context that encourages structural, cultural, and agential QA and QE mechanisms to work in tandem can enable an integrated QA and QE approach. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
A framework for understanding the role of culture and the transmission of women entrepreneurship promotion in South Africa
- Authors: Karasi, Yvonne https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8822-281X
- Date: 2023-06
- Subjects: Women in economic development -- South Africa , Businesswomen -- South Africa , Women-owned business enterprises -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28569 , vital:74421
- Description: Developing countries are increasingly recognising the need for promoting women entrepreneurship. Within Africa, women’s contribution tends to be ignored. Thus, gender discrimination, the lack of finance, limited education, limited technical skills, role conflicts, and culture are among the most cited barriers for women entrepreneurship. Recent literature challenges the notion that all aforementioned factors are barriers to entrepreneurial action. To contribute to knowledge, this study sensitises the culture element. Accordingly, there is a growing body of knowledge that is viewing culture as an enabler (and not a barrier) of women entrepreneurship. Two factors are at the core of this argument: (1) culture, as it is understood, in the contemporary literature is not appropriately conceptualised from an African perspective. (2) The definition of entrepreneurship as it relates to the developing countries is restrictive. These definitions ignore various economic activities undertaken mostly by women, which if carefully considered are indeed entrepreneurship. Therefore, it was appropriate for this thesis to explore the issues of both culture and entrepreneurship within the existing body of literature with the intention of gaining a knowledge of the dynamics of women's entrepreneurship in Africa. The scant research that has been done on the entrepreneurial dynamics of women and, in particular, how culture influences the latter, was recognized as a lacuna in the existing body of literature. Consequently, this study considered cultural determinants of entrepreneurship as well as the transmission of entrepreneurship across generations. The thesis was undertaken using a qualitative methodology. Using snowballing sampling technique, female entrepreneurs from 3 provinces (i.e., Gauteng, Limpopo, and Eastern Cape) in South Africa participated in the study. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed, among others, that there is a misconception on what constitutes “true African culture.” Thus, results suggest that the conceptualisation of culture in the African context, contrasts the conceptualisation in previous (non-African) literature. Furthermore, some elements of culture are indeed barriers. Interestingly, personal factors such as characteristics of women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial intentions have also contributed to the barriers to women entrepreneurship. Finally, the study proposes a framework for leveraging culture to be an entrepreneurial enabler for women entrepreneurship. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-06
Foreign direct investment, institutions and economic growth in the selected Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries
- Authors: Onceya, Siyabulela
- Date: 2023-06
- Subjects: Investments, Foreign -- Africa, Southern , Southern African Development Community -- Economic conditions , Economic development -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28672 , vital:74497
- Description: Examining the relationship between economic growth and foreign direct investment (FDI) has been a subject of discussion for many researchers, economists, and policy analysts mainly in developing regions. It is important to note that, recent literature highlights that there are other country-specific conditions such as state of institutions which are important in attracting FDI inflows into a country. Given this, the study analysed the relationship between FDI, institutions and economic growth in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for the period 1990- 2020. The analysis was carried out at both cross- country (2010 to 2018) and individual country level (1990 to 2018). The main objectives of the study were to review the trends of FDI inflow into the region, institutional framework, and trends economic growth in the region as well as member countries. Secondly, to analyse the impact of FDI inflow and institutions on economic growth in the selected SADC countries. Thirdly, to examine how institutions and other factors determine the amount of FDI inflow to the selected SADC countries an provide policy recommendations. Existing literature has documented the relationship between FDI and economic growth. However, the significance of this study is that it provides an analysis of the impact of FDI inflows on economic growth in the SADC region at both cross-country and country specific level. At cross- country level, the Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM) was utilized as the estimation technique. The empirical results revealed that there exists a positive relationship between FDI and economic growth both in the short run and long run. The results also revealed that institutions in combination with financial sector development have a positive effect on economic growth in the SADC region. This gives support to the complimentary view of the importance of institutions and financial sector development as important factors determining the extent to which FDI influences economic growth. Guided by economic theory which suggests that there is a two-way relationship between FDI and economic growth, granger causality tests were performed to check the direction of effect between the two variables. The empirical results revealed that there is a bi-directional relationship between FDI, institutions and economic growth. This in a way suggest that the past values of each of the variables, explains the current values of the other variables. On the other hand, at country level, utilising the Autoregressive Distributed Lag model, empirical results revealed that the effects of FDI and institutions on economic growth is positive and significant. However, this was not found to be the case for Mauritius and Namibia. Given the significant role played by FDI in promoting economic growth, the study also investigated the factors determining the inflow of FDI into the SADC region focusing on the role played by institutions and other factors utilising GMM technique. The empirical results revealed that, in addition to institutions, financial development, infrastructure, and education also play an important role in determining the inflow of FDI into these countries. To a greater extent the same findings were also established at country level. Of great importance the study recommends that at a country level, countries should develop and adopt policies that strengthen good governance and sound institutions. These policies must be implemented and monitored to attract more FDI both in the short-run and long-run. , Thesis (DCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-06
Implementation of grade progression policy and its implications for progressed grade 12 learners’ identities
- Authors: Mdingi, Khayalethu Chris
- Date: 2023-06
- Subjects: Grade repetition , Education -- Standards
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28524 , vital:74380
- Description: The aim of progressing learners is to allow them to move with their age cohort, thereby boosting their motivation levels. It is believed that this would encourage these learners to study hard and produce good academic results. The Grade Progression Policy also assumes that the dropout rate caused by learners’ academic underperformance would be reduced. Despite the existence of the Grade Progression Policy, it seems that there is still high failure and dropout rates among progressed Grade 12 learners in the Eastern Cape Province. This qualitative case study was premised on the interpretivist paradigm and explored the implementation of the Grade Progression Policy and its implications on progressed Grade 12 learners’ identities. Twelve teachers (four principals, four Departmental Heads, four Post Level One teachers), and four learners were purposively selected in four secondary schools in the Amathole East Education District. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis. The data was analysed by means of thematic approach. The data showed that the implementation of Grade Progression Policy brought about learner-teacher adversarial relations. Findings also showed that teachers had a negative attitude to the Grade Progression Policy and were unwilling to adapt to change. They had low morale and blamed the Department of Education for not giving them support. With regards to the implications of grade progression on Grade 12 learners’ identities, it emerged from the data that these learners were negatively affected by the implementation of this policy as their self-esteem was reportedly low. They felt stigmatized and regarded themselves as learners who could not achieve academically. Although most of the selected learners reported that it enhanced their motivation levels, it also transpired from the data that progressed Grade 12 learners were not achieving academically and were inadequately given support by the teachers. The study concluded therefore that the policy did not sufficiently address the intention of the DoE in terms of improving learners’ academic performance and enhancement of learners’ psychosocial identities. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-06
Knowledge, awareness, and molecular epidemiology of fasciolosis in dairy cattle slaughtered in three commercial abattoirs in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Mpisana, Zuko
- Date: 2023-06
- Subjects: Farm management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy cattle -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fascioliasis
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28173 , vital:73792
- Description: Flukes and snail-borne diseases present significant challenges to livestock production, particularly impacting the dairy industry in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Despite the challenges faced by the dairy sector, the level of knowledge and awareness among dairy farm personnel regarding the prevalence of bovine fasciolosis is unknown in Eastern Cape Province. Additionally, the genomic sequence of Fasciola spp. in dairy cattle slaughtered under abattoir conditions remains undisclosed. The primary objective of the titled study is to evaluate the knowledge, awareness, and molecular epidemiology of fasciolosis in dairy cattle slaughtered in three commercial abattoirs in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. A structured questionnaire was prepared and randomly administered to 152 dairy farm personnel to investigate the knowledge and awareness of the aetiology, risk factors, and clinical signs of bovine fasciolosis among dairy farm personnel in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A higher proportion of respondents from coastal regions were knowledgeable about the aetiology P equals 0.001 and the intermediate host P equals 0.000 of fasciolosis than those from the inland farms. A higher proportion of dairy farm personnel were not knowledgeable about the clinical signs of fasciolosis P equals 0.000 and the zoonotic potential P equals 0.001 of the disease. All farm personnel knew that season P 0.001 is a risk factor associated with snail-borne disease and occur throughout the year. However, the majority 63.2 percent of farm personnel agreed that fasciolosis was more prevalent in the summer followed by spring 27.6 percent, autumn 4.7 percent and winter 4.7 percent. Experiment 2 examined the body condition scores, fluke intensity, liver pathology, and carcass quality of various dairy cattle genotypes affected by Fasciola spp. infection, within three high-capacity abattoirs located in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Milder infections were significantly noted to occur at a higher rate P 0.05 in Cross-bred cattle 46.9 percent followed by Holstein Friesian 39.5 percent and Jersey 30.9 percent cattle. Conversely, moderate infections were more prevalent P 0.05 among Jersey cattle 28.0 percent followed by Holstein Friesian 15.4 percent and Cross bred 1.9 percent cattle. Severe infections were more frequent P 0.05 in Holstein-Friesian 45.1 percent, followed by Jersey 41.9 percent and then Cross-bred 31.7 percent cattle. Heavy infections were observed in cattle with poor body condition scores in CA3. Mild infections were observed more in cattle with moderate body condition scores in CA3 and CA1 and less in CA2. Chapter 5 compared the detection rate of Fasciola infections using four different methods real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction qPCR faecal sedimentation, antibody enzyme linked immunosorbent assay Ab ELISA and post-mortem liver examination among naturally infected cattle slaughtered at the abattoirs in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A total of 145 slaughter cattle were screened for Fasciola infestation by liver examination, and corresponding samples from individual animals were analysed in the laboratory using Ab ELISA faecal sedimentation, and qPCR. The detection rate by liver inspection gold standard was significantly P 0.0001 higher than that by sedimentation and Ab ELISA but not significantly P 0.05 different from that by qPCR P equals 0.198. Post-mortem liver examination 94.5 percent and qPCR 90.4 percent had higher detection rate compared to Ab ELISA 22.6 percent and sedimentation 3.53 percent, respectively. The agreement between Ab ELISA and sedimentation was poor to slight kappa equals to minus 0.09 and with qPCR it was 0.008. The fourth experiment investigated genomic sequence of Fasciola spp. from faecal sample of slaughtered dairy cattle in Eastern Cape Province South Africa. Sequential and phylogenetic analyses were conducted to detect the presence of Fasciola spp. from the faecal samples obtained at the high throughput abattoirs. Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica ITS 2 sequences were obtained by amplifying the 364 bp and 300 bp genes, respectively using species specific conventional PCR assays followed by cloning and sequencing. The phylogenetic tree revealed the presence of Fasciola hepatica as the only aetiological agent infecting dairy cattle in the Eastern Cape Province South Africa. The study concluded that dairy farm personnel lacks knowledge about zoonotic potentials, aetiological agents of fasciolosis high fluke intensity and its impact on carcasses sensitivity and suitability of detection methods. The study observed Fasciola hepatica as the only trematode spp. present in Eastern Cape Province South Africa. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-06