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faces, disappearing

- Mbhele, Mbekezeli

Authors: Mbhele, Mbekezeli
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424952 , vital:72196
Description: My thesis explores township life through the eyes of a young boy, Sengwayo, whose life changes when a strange man arrives unexpectedly to stay with his family. The man is introduced as his uncle but nothing further is said about him. Sengwayo soon begins to experience visions and decides to find out who this man really is. His search for truth soon becomes obsessive and culminates in tragedy. As we follow Sengwayo in his quest of uncovering the truth it becomes difficult to differentiate between Sengwayo’s imagination and reality. This thesis collapses the distance between what is and what could be. It does this by alternating short sentences mostly used in the poetry of maskanda lyrics, and in the stream of consciousness found in jazz improvisation. In literary terms, the thesis draws influence from the rants and rhyme schemes of Lesego Rampolokeng, the tone and pace of Sony Labou Tansi and the surrealism in Mangaliso Buzani’s work. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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Feminist simulations: deep in the dream of a game

- Mackintosh, Tayla

Authors: Mackintosh, Tayla
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/425333 , vital:72230
Description: This study delves into how the worlds of computer gaming and fine art intersect, employing DIY feminism to reflect on the gendered world of gaming and the links between simulation, reality, and fantasy within the game of Minecraft. I argue for a feminine craft (crochet) to challenge masculine gaming oppressions and the lack of representation, acceptance, and visibility for women in gaming culture. My research question is taken from the End Poem seen when the player has beaten the game's main boss. There is a line within the poem that asks, “But what true structure did this player create, in the reality behind the screen?” (End Poem, 2022). This is the question I have sought to answer within this study, by exploring a methodological approach that combines autoethnography and phenomenology to create a reflexive personal narrative. , Thesis (MFA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Fine Art, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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Framing VBS: a textual analysis of Daily Maverick’s coverage of the VBS Mutual Bank heist in the years 2018-2020

- Nyulu, Siyamthanda Natascha

Authors: Nyulu, Siyamthanda Natascha
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/425256 , vital:72223
Description: This study investigates how Daily Maverick framed the VBS Mutual Bank scandal for its readers in the years 2018-2020. It utilises framing theory as the guiding theoretical framework in trying to understand how Daily Maverick portrayed the corruption case for its readers. This study also leans on social responsibility and normative theories of the press to analyse whether Daily Maverick fulfilled its role of facilitating dialogue between the elite and ordinary citizens of Limpopo affected by the corruption at the bank. Using a qualitative textual analysis, the thesis discusses how elite sources were quoted more than ordinary citizens who are affected the most by the corruption scandal. This allowed the elite to turn the VBS matter into a political spectacle whereas, because it is an example of failure in the financial sector, the heist caused further failures in municipalities already failing in Limpopo, North-West and Gauteng. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Journalism and Media Studies, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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Freshwater invasive alien crayfish species in South Africa: testing eDNA assessment and DNA barcoding

- Mdidimba, Nonkazimulo Dorothea

Authors: Mdidimba, Nonkazimulo Dorothea
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424413 , vital:72151
Description: The expansion of the wild populations of the two invasive alien crayfish species, i.e., Cherax quadricarinatus and Procambarus clarkii in South Africa is of high concern. Given this, innovative and improved monitoring methods are required to be explored in order to effectively detect and manage their spread. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has shown promising and reliable results to detect and monitor alien crayfish in freshwater systems even at low densities. This research study aimed to field-test the application of eDNA for detecting and monitoring invasive alien freshwater crayfish species (IAFCs) in South African freshwater systems (Chapter 2). Further, this study also aimed to confirm the true taxonomic identity of the IAFCs in South African freshwater systems by using DNA barcoding to avoid potential misidentifications with morphological identification alone (Chapter 3). Also, ectocommensal temnocephalans and leeches attached to the crayfishes were also identified with DNA barcoding. The mitochondrial COI gene fragment of the crayfishes and the ectocommensal temnocephalans and leeches was amplified, sequenced, and used for species identification. For eDNA monitoring of C. cainii, C. quadricarinatus and P. clarkii, water samples were collected from Eastern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu Natal sites that are known to house these species. The current study did not detect the eDNA of the wild populations of both C. quadricarinatus and P. clarkii. This failure was encountered despite employing several methods, such as, end-point polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR (qPCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS). The eDNA assessment to detect IAFCs in the wild populations is discussed in detail, and corrective measures suggested (Chapter 2). However, only C. cainii was able to be detected by eDNA. Cherax cainii is housed/farmed in an aquaculture facility (Vaughn Bursey’s Stock Farm in Eastern Cape) with large number of individuals per pond. For this, NGS was able to detect C. cainii but the other two methods, end-point PCR and qPCR were not able to detect the species. Based on the results, refinement of eDNA monitoring methods for the South African freshwater systems is recommended. Evaluation of different DNA collection methods, preservation, DNA extraction kits and primer design to obtain effective eDNA detection is discussed as possible sources of error. Interestingly, the newly established population of P. clarkii in Mimosa Dam in Free State was infested with alien leeches, that were confirmed by DNA barcoding to be Helobdella europaea and Helobdella octatestica. Consequently, this study reports for the first time in South Africa the presence of this alien freshwater leeches. The presence of alien leeches and P. clarkii suggests a double invasion in Mimosa Dam, P. clarkii seems to continue expanding its range in the country. However, the long-established population of P. clarkii in Driehoek Farm in Mpumalanga, which has been in the country for over 30 years did not have any leech or temnocephalan infestation. This could suggest several interesting ecological phenomena, including environmental filtering over time of the co-invaders, differential source populations, and post-introduction adaptation. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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Gender and the COVID-19 pandemic: exploring female vendors’ coping strategies in Lichtenburg during the lockdown

- Marumo, Mmaki Lesego

Authors: Marumo, Mmaki Lesego
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/425141 , vital:72214
Description: The 2019 outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, and its subsequent spread around the world caused uncertainty in the economy and other aspects of life. Most governments around the world took drastic measures to stop the spread of the virus and save lives. The most common of these measures were restrictions on people’s movement and trade. As a result, the world of work in South Africa changed dramatically, with over a million workers losing their jobs. That said, South Africa acutely felt the negative income effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For those working in the informal economy, the five-week lockdown between March and May 2020 was a period of unprecedented insecurity and hunger, without work, income, or benefits. In light of the above, the study aimed to explore how female street vendors in Lichtenburg survived the impact of the COVID-19 national lockdown restrictions on trading activities between March 2020 and May 2020. The study sought to contribute to the understanding of the gendered impacts of the pandemic, particularly in relation to women in the informal economy, by examining the strategies and coping mechanisms adopted by them. Drawing on the sustainable livelihoods framework, this study examined the experiences of female street traders in Lichtenburg who were subjected to COVID-19 trade restrictions, assessed their coping strategies, and examined their support systems. The study was exploratory in nature, followed a qualitative approach, and adopted a case study design. Depending on the needs of the study, a purposive and convenience sampling techniques were chosen to address the research problem and questions. In order to explore women’s experiences on a specific topic, qualitative, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with a sample of six female street vendors in Lichtenburg. The collected data were analysed using the thematic analysis technique. In this regard, the findings show that the perception upheld that the informal economy is an employment shock absorber during economic crises has been proven otherwise by the COVID-19 pandemic. The loss of profits led to a reduction in trading activities, which in turn increased the hardships of women street vendors. These vulnerability and hardships were made worse by the absence of government support structures since they were unable to navigate the procedures and had no one to turn to in times of need. As a result of the lack of formal channels of support and appropriate policy interventions, street vendors were particularly vulnerable to the financial consequences of the pandemic, resulting in an unpleasant reality of unsustainable livelihoods in the face of COVID-19. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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Giving a voice and holding to account: a critical civic and democratic discourse analysis of The Big Debate South Africa TV show’s opportunities for ‘Political Listening’

- Mgqoboka, Banathi

Authors: Mgqoboka, Banathi
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/425245 , vital:72222
Description: The television studio debate genre was initially inspired by the 1960s television news coverage that captured the zeitgeist of American political campaigns and elections, which featured prominent political figures. The genre has since been adapted by broadcast networks around the world to facilitate politically-charged public discussions that allow ordinary people to pose significant questions and express their concerns or cynicism to the political elites in power. The Big Debate South Africa is a popular televised town hall debate show that began airing in 2009 on eMedia Investment’s eNCA and later on the SABC. During its ninth-season run, the show attracted an audience of up to 12 million. The programme is formatted to give South African citizens a voice to hold state leaders to account. Anthea Garman and Herman Wasserman’s (2014) research on citizenship and media in a democratic society, asserts that the media’s contribution to citizenship is often a way to encourage citizens to exercise their influence over political decisions and dialogue in an overt manner. Through observations and qualitative in-depth interviews, this tightly focused study analysed the third episode of The Big Debate South Africa’s ninth season, hosted by journalist and broadcaster Redi Tlhabi. It explored the show’s format and discourse to investigate how it creates opportunities for the practice of Susan Bickford’s (1996) conception of ‘political listening’ within the confines of hierarchical binary oppositions (‘Us and Them’ and ‘lay’/‘expert’). By deconstructing how civil society organisations, activists and citizens (‘lay’) interact with the political elites (‘experts’), this study chronicled how the show mediates these binary oppositions with an anticipation for them to collectively hear each other out. In examining the show’s structure as a participative civic political broadcast talk platform that promotes democratic deliberation, this study ultimately demonstrated the capacity of The Big Debate South Africa to pluralise democratic life in its practice of ‘political listening’. While the show advances equality and amplifies marginalised voices, this research also found that these significant practices seemingly only held temporary effects once the cameras shut down. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Journalism and Media Studies, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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Halogenated Aza-BODIPY dyes for photodynamic anticancer and antimicrobial activity studies

- Magwaza, Temlandvo Matshidiso

Authors: Magwaza, Temlandvo Matshidiso
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424514 , vital:72160
Description: This thesis reports on the synthesis and characterisation of differently substituted aza-BODIPY dyes for use in photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) activity studies. The aza-BODIPY dyes were synthesised by adding phenyl and naphthyl rings at the 3,5-positions of the aza-BODIPY core, with methylthiolphenyl (9a and 9b, respectively) or thien-2-yl rings (9c and 9d, respectively) at the 1,7-positions. 9a-c were iodinated at the 2-position to form 10a-c, respectively, while 9d was diiodinated at the 2,6-positions to form 10d. The methylthiolphenyl-substituted dyes (10a and 10b) were successfully conjugated to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to form nanoparticles conjugates (10a-AuNPs and 10b-AuNPs), while attempts to conjugate the thien-2-yl-substituted dyes were unsuccessful. The photophysicochemical properties of 9a-d, 10a-d and nanoconjugates 10a-AuNPs and 10b-AuNPs were investigated to determine their suitability for use in the applications. Adding heavy atoms such as iodine at the 2,6-positions of the aza-BODIPY led to enhanced singlet oxygen generation since these dyes displayed moderate to high singlet oxygen quantum yields. None of the dyes exhibited any fluorescence. The PACT activity studies for 9c-d, 10a-d, and the 10a-AuNPs and 10b-AuNPs were carried out against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with a Thorlabs M660L3 light-emitting diode (LED) with an irradiance of 280 mW/cm2 for all dyes other than 10d. A Thorlabs M730L4 LED with an irradiance of 160 mW/cm2 was used for 10d. Time dependence studies were only carried out against Staphylococcus aureus, so very low log reductions were observed against Escherichia coli in initial concentration studies. The 10a-AuNP and 10b-AuNP nanoconjugates exhibited high antimicrobial activity with a log reduction of 9.41 and 0.00% viable colonies, while the iodinated aza-BODIPY had a log reduction of 8.94. The in vitro photodynamic therapy activities and dark cytotoxicity were investigated against human MCF-7 breast cancer cells for dyes 9c-d and 10c-d with a Thorlabs M660L3 LED (280 mW/cm2) for all dyes. The dark cytotoxicity was minimal in each case with IC50 > 50. Iodinated dyes 10c and 10d had IC50 values of 11.6 and 8.2 μM, respectively, and non-iodinated dyes 9c and 9d had IC50 values of 12.5 and 19.2 μM. The heavy atom effect associated with the iodine atoms increases the singlet oxygen quantum yield and enhances the suitability of the dyes for photodynamic therapy. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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High-resolution hydraulic modelling as an approach to planning rehabilitation interventions in unchanneled valley-bottom palmiet wetlands: a case study of the Kromme River

- Langner, Wiebke

Authors: Langner, Wiebke
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424610 , vital:72168
Description: This study employs high-resolution hydraulic modelling techniques to inform the planning of rehabilitation interventions in unchanneled valley-bottom palmiet wetlands, using the upper Kromme River wetlands as a case study. It investigates the impact of geomorphic processes on the morphology of the valley, how changes in valley morphology affect the flow characteristics (velocity, stream power, depth) of the river, and how these changes affect the geomorphic dynamics of the wetlands. An aerial LiDAR survey was conducted for a 23km-long reach of the upper Kromme River where the wetlands are situated. A high-resolution (5 m) DTM was created from the LiDAR data to examine the valley morphology. Focusing on three major wetland basins, the relationship between valley morphology and geomorphic processes was examined using high-resolution imagery that accompanied the LiDAR survey and Google Satellite imagery. The hydraulic modelling software HEC-RAS was used to investigate the spatial variation in velocity, stream power, and water depth down the surveyed length of the river. The model outputs provide insight into the effect of valley morphology on flow characteristics. The river appears to have a graded longitudinal profile, such that there is a systematic reduction in slope down its length. Water flowing down the river works, through the processes of erosion and deposition, to control the longitudinal slope, channel planform, and geometry to create a valley with a gentle longitudinal slope (approximately 1%) and a broad, near-horizontal valley-bottom in the mountainous landscape of the Cape Fold Mountains. The overall form of the Kromme River valley and wetlands is primarily a consequence of repeated cycles of cutting and filling. Tributary alluvial fans control the initiation of gully erosion in the wetlands, but their effect is diminished in a downstream direction. Despite a 10-fold increase in discharge down the 23km length of river for a given flood magnitude, there is no significant increase in flow velocity, stream power, or depth in a downstream direction. Consequently, the kinetic energy of the water in the lower wetland basin is surprisingly low. These conditions favour the establishment of palmiet. Flows in eroded reaches are much higher than in non-eroded reaches where discharge is spread across a broad valley bottom. In terms of palmiet establishment and regeneration, this means that areas dominated by depositional processes are best suited to the establishment of palmiet. Based on this information, optimal sites to trial new wetland rehabilitation strategies that employ palmiet were selected. This work supports the importance of understanding the role of geomorphology in wetland structure and dynamics when approaching wetland rehabilitation and is likely to be more sympathetic to natural processes than current interventions. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Geography, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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Identification of novel Arf1 GTPase inhibitors for cancer target validation

- Mqwathi, Nomxolisi Vuyokasi

Authors: Mqwathi, Nomxolisi Vuyokasi
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424666 , vital:72173
Description: The key regulators of both anterograde and retrograde vesicular traffic, adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation factors (Arfs), also coordinate various signalling pathways and regulate cellular processes required for cell survival and function. In addition to its role in mediating secretory trafficking in the Golgi apparatus, the involvement of Arf1 in signalling pathways that contribute to the formation and progression of cancer has become apparent, and the overexpression and deregulation of Arf1 activity has been associated with cancer cell invasion, proliferation and metastasis. As with other small GTPases, Arf1 must cycle back and forth between an inactive (GDP-bound) and active (GTP-bound) conformation to carry out its function. However, the cycle of Arf1 inactivation and activation is controlled by Arf GTPase activating proteins (Arf-GAPs) that stimulate Arf1 to hydrolyse the bound GTP to GDP and Arf guanine nucleotide exchange factors (Arf-GEFs) that facilitate GDP for GTP exchange on Arf1, respectively. The identification of Arf1 inhibitors that indirectly disrupt Arf1 function by blocking its interaction with Arf-GAPs or Arf-GEFs has generated interest in their use as possible anti-cancer agents. The suppression of Arf1 activation (by targeting Arf-GEFs) has been investigated as a potential cancer therapeutic target and resulted in inhibitor compounds that have micromolar-range activity against cancer cells and targets and promising results in mouse models, but experience problems with bioavailability when used in vivo. This motivates the search for novel Arf1 inhibitors for validation purposes to question whether Arf1 is a viable target for cancer therapy. The purpose of the study was to employ a recently developed colourimetric screening assay to identify inhibitors of Arf1 activation (Arf-GEF inhibitors) and deactivation (Arf-GAP inhibitors), with a focus on evaluating the potential of Arf1 deactivation as an entirely novel anti-cancer target. The proteins required for the assay (Arf1, Arf-GEF and -GAP domains and a reporter protein, GST-GGA3) were expressed in E. coli. and purified using affinity chromatography. The assay could detect the activation of Arf1 by the catalytic Sec7 domain of the three Arf-GEFs chosen for this study, but reproducibility was compromised by the occasional spontaneous activation of Arf1 in the absence of the Arf-GEFs. By contrast, the assay could reproducibly detect Arf1 deactivation by an Arf-GAP domain (Arf-GAP1GAP) and was subsequently used to screen a library of α-helix mimetics. Thirteen hit compounds with IC50 values ranging from 0.53 to 20.95 μM were found to inhibit Arf-GAP1GAP-mediated stimulation of GTP hydrolysis by Arf1-GTP in this assay format, however, they did not effectively suppress the proliferation of three tested cell lines (HeLa, MCF-7 and MCF-12A). Interestingly, the results obtained from fluorescence microscopy studies suggested that the compounds disrupt Golgi structure and Arf1 localisation, presumably by keeping Arf1 in its active conformation by blocking Arf-GAP1 function. This suggests that the compounds affect Arf1 function in cells, and may be used to explore the feasibility of targeting Arf1 deactivation for anti-cancer purposes in a wider range of cell lines and experiments. It has been reported that Arf-GAP1 inhibition is associated with the suppression of cell migration, and the potential of the compounds as metastasis inhibitors may also be explored. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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Implementing a sexual and reproductive citizenship intervention refinement instrument for youth sexuality education: a formative evaluation

- Mthethwa, Thobile

Authors: Mthethwa, Thobile
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/425008 , vital:72201
Description: While Out of School sexuality education (SE) programmes in South Africa have attempted to bridge the gap in the number of young people who receive SE, there is still a large number of youth between the age groups of 15 to 24 years who lack adequate sexual knowledge. The manner in which sex education is taught and its accessibility is accompanied by challenges, in particular in relation to empowerment. To better understand the effectiveness of sexual education programmes, evaluations of their content is needed. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether and how an Out of school SE programme run by Partners in Sexual Health (PSH) promotes understandings of sexual and reproductive citizenship. A formative evaluation of their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) facilitator’s manual was conducted (owing to COVID the actual programme was not run in the year data for this thesis were collected). To help perform the formative evaluation, the feminist sexual and reproductive citizenship (SRC) framework as conceptualized by Macleod and Vincent (2014) was used. The SRC framework consists of five key principles that, it is suggested, need to be adopted for SE programmes to be inclusive, namely, citizenship as status and practice, differentiated citizenship, private and public interstice, and politics of recognition, redistribution and reparation. An additional principle of inclusive and process-based educational practices was added into the five key principles. To analyse data, template analysis was used which enabled the researcher to create a priori of themes using the Masizixhobise toolkit which is informed by the SRC framework. Findings from this study reveal the interconnectedness between the different citizenship principles. Moreover, while the PSH SRHR programme promotes principles of the SRC framework, there are aspects of the SRC that are lacking from the programme. Therefore, the SRHR manual needs to take into account a spectrum of issues which include but are not limited to the incorporation of sexually diverse differently-abled individuals' sexual experiences and challenges when it comes to accessing SE. This means for SE programmes to achieve inclusivity and to be empowering, they need to encourage individuals to be agentic beings, engage in informed decision-making and encourage young people to take up their rights. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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International students’ experiences of othering in tertiary education in South Africa: an exploratory study

- Lobakeng, Tsholofelo

Authors: Lobakeng, Tsholofelo
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424986 , vital:72199
Description: Despite rising cases of xenophobia in South Africa, international students remain committed to enrolling in its universities. Surprisingly, there is limited research looking into xenophobia in tertiary institutions. Therefore, the present study aimed to contribute to the scarcity of knowledge on the experiences of international students in South Africa. Thus, the study explored experiences of Othering among international students in tertiary education in South Africa and how they make sense of these experiences. Purposive and snowballing sampling techniques were employed to recruit international students (N=5) from Botswana, China, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Data was collected through semi-structured, face-to-face online interviews. Participants reported experiencing a variety of non-violent forms of Othering, such as feeling excluded due to the intentional use of local languages in both classroom and social settings; being rejected by local students who refused to work with them; and being accused of stealing opportunities from local students. At an institutional level, participants reported systemic Othering rooted in unsupportive policies and practices that led to a negative and oppressive environment. The findings support previous research studies that purport the Othering of international students in higher education in South Africa mainly manifests through non-violent and covert forms. Moreover, participants attributed Othering of immigrants to racism, a perceived lack of exposure to diversity among locals, perceived lack of compassion for immigrants, and the tendency to scapegoat immigrants for the lack of employment opportunities in the country. The findings underscore the intricate nature of Othering and the need for further research to gain a greater understanding of this complex phenomenon. Furthermore, the findings highlight the importance of implementing effective strategies of inclusion and integration of international students at these institutions of higher learning. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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Investigating pedagogical practices of English First Additional Language educators in Grade 12 short stories: a case study

- Jabe, Sizwe

Authors: Jabe, Sizwe
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424052 , vital:72119
Description: The focus of this study was to investigate pedagogical practices of English First Additional Language educators in teaching Grade 12 short stories. An interpretive qualitative case study of three educators from three high schools in Chris Hani West district, in Eastern Cape were purposefully selected. Lesson observations, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis (lesson plans) with three English FAL educators were used to collect data. Shulman’s (1986) Pedagogical Content Knowledge was used as the theoretical framework and analytical tool for the study. Data revealed ineffective teaching strategies and on-the-surface subject matter knowledge that hampers the critical teaching of short stories. It also showed that educators have limited knowledge of learners’ learning difficulties and how to address them. The study recommends less teacher talk that was observed in many classes, to be replaced by extended discussions on the part of the learners. Educators should establish a variety of contemporary teaching strategies which put critical thinking and active learning before examination preparation. Lastly, educators, in their teaching of short stories, should consult various resources and attend content workshops to keep subject knowledge up to date. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Humanities, Study of Englishes of Africa, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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Investigating teachers’ perceptions on translanguaging pedagogy in a multilingual intermediate ESL classroom: a comparative study of two primary schools in Namibia

- Rheeder, Veneza Memory

Authors: Rheeder, Veneza Memory
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Translanguaging (Linguistics) , Second language acquisition , Multilingual education Namibia , Primary school teachers Attitudes , Native language and education Namibia , Primary school teaching Namibia
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419760 , vital:71673
Description: International literature has tested the effectiveness of translanguaging as a pedagogic tool to enhance learning in a bilingual classroom; however, with the recent curriculum reform and education sector policy, there is no direct claim in the National policy frameworks on the prominence of translanguaging as an effective tool in classroom pedagogy in Namibian schools. This research attempted to investigate the role of translanguaging as a pedagogic tool to enhance learning in the multilingual intermediate English Second Language (ESL) phase as the Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) for the intermediate phase, Grades 4-7, in the Erongo Region, Namibia. The study is within the interpretive paradigm and adopts a qualitative methodology using a qualitative multi-case study approach of exploring and understanding differences and similarities between cases. Data collection consisted mainly of open-ended interviews and observations (purposive sampling) of the participating teachers. The research sites and study participants were purposely selected as both schools, diversely located in urban and rural contexts of the region, are enacting the National Language Policy as proposed. This entails using Mother Tongue Instruction (MTI) from Grades 0-3 and then transitioning to English-monolingual instruction from Grades 4 onwards. The study was designed to investigate the role of translanguaging pedagogy in enhancing learning in the Second Language (L2) classroom, without prejudice of social classes - the elite and marginalized communities. It investigated the extent to which teachers’ use of translanguaging pedagogy enhances ESL learning as the LoLT to intermediate phase learners transitioning from MTI to English-only instruction. The main theories underpinning this study are the Vygotskian and Translanguaging theories supported by Krashen and Cummins’ Cognitive Underlying Proficiency (CUP) Model. The outcomes of the study reveal that in both schools translanguaging was supported by content subject teachers and English LoLT teachers and that it positively contributed to improving learner understanding of important concepts in several subjects. However, Mother Tongue (MT) teachers did not support the use of translanguaging and believed that it slowed down the learning of English. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Institute for the Study of Englishes in Africa, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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Investigation into methods of recovering campylobacter spp. from river water samples

- Ngoni, Nandipha

Authors: Ngoni, Nandipha
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424177 , vital:72130
Description: Campylobacter species are slender, gram-negative, rod-shaped, spiral- or curved-shaped with single or pairs of flagella. They are the leading cause of diarrheal disease globally, consumption of and contact with water contaminated by faeces is a major risk factor for transmission of these organisms to humans. Rivers used for recreation and domestic and agricultural activities represent all the risk factors for Campylobacter spp. pollution and human exposure. Campylobacter spp. However, effective methods to recover Campylobacter spp. from river water samples are lacking, indicating the need for the development of more efficient methods of detection and isolation of these organisms from environmental water samples. Campylobacter detection in a water sample is critical to ascertain potential risks to humans. The aim of this study was to determine a suitable method for the detection of Campylobacter spp. from river water samples and the objectives were to (i) to evaluate the performance of different methods used for the recovery of Campylobacter spp. from environmental water samples based on Campylobacter colony count and PCR identification results, (ii) isolate and enumerate Campylobacter cells from river water samples, and (iii) identify Campylobacter spp. in river water samples. The Bloukrans River was chosen for this study because it is suspected to be contaminated by faecal inputs from nearby informal settlements without adequate sanitation, as well as untreated/insufficiently treated effluents from nearby wastewater treatment plants. First, the physicochemical quality of the river water and the presence of faecal contamination were assessed to confirm suitability for Campylobacter spp. survival and presence. Then different approaches to sample, concentrate and recover Campylobacter spp. from river water samples were assessed. The different methods assessed were (i) direct enrichment of water samples without prior concentration, (ii) prior concentration of water samples by centrifugation followed by membrane filtration of supernatant, and after that, pooling the residue and pellet together for enrichment, (iii) sampling by the Moore Swab technique. For all three methods, enrichment in Bolton broth supplemented with Bolton antibiotics was conducted. This was followed by plating on modified cefoperazone charcoal deoxycholate agar (mCCDA) and incubation under a microaerophilic atmosphere at 42°C for 48 h. Colony morphology, Gram staining and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to identify and characterize the microorganisms. The growth of blue colonies on the mFc agar surface confirmed presence and faecal pollution of the Bloukrans River. The physicochemical properties, based on the range of pH measured at different sites of the river (between acidic 3.45 to 6.42 and alkaline 7.2 to 8.74) indicate that Campylobacter spp. can thrive in the river. Based on the results from enumeration and sequencing of colonies recovered by each method, it was discovered that the most suitable method to recover Campylobacter spp. from river water samples is by prior centrifugation (14,000 × g for 30 minutes) followed by membrane filtration of the supernatant, and subsequent pooling of the residue and pellet. The pooled residue and pellet might have increased Campylobacter spp. concentrations aiding more growth during the enrichment of Campylobacter spp. from the river water samples. Results from enumerating Campylobacter spp. cells from river water samples indicate that Campylobacter spp. are present in Bloukrans River. The sequence obtained from the PCR product indicates that the species found were Campylobacter jejuni (96% homology as evaluated by BLAST). This study provided a procedure effective for obtaining a satisfactory quantitative recovery of Campylobacter spp. from environmental waters, a critical need for quantitative microbial risk assessment studies. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Institute for Water Research, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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Investigation of brewery waste grains and microbial fuel cells as value-additive technologies improving solvent production yields in Clostridium acetobutylicum (ATCC 824) fermentation

- Du Toit, Ryan Guillaume

Authors: Du Toit, Ryan Guillaume
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424643 , vital:72171
Description: The production of the solvent compounds acetone, ethanol and butanol through fermentation of organic feedstocks using Clostridia species could be a promising route for biofuel production. However, the cost of raw materials, low yields and the complexity of anaerobic fermentation continue to hinder this means of generating these compounds. The research presented in this Thesis investigated low-cost interventions that could decrease the costs of production and to direct the synthesis of fuel compounds using microbial fuel cells. Low-cost anaerobic chambers were designed and constructed for the propagation and manipulation of Clostridium acetobutylicum, selected as a low-risk microbial catalyst. Fermentation was monitored using in situ pH measurements and a combination of turbidity measurements, nutrient assays (especially total carbohydrates) and HPLC-RI detection as a means of monitoring the consumption of nutrients (glucose), production of precursor compounds (butyric acid) and the formation of solvent molecules (acetone/ethanol and butanol) during fermentation by this organism. Brewer’s spent grains were tested as a sustainable and low-cost feedstock for solvent production, comparing the effects of sterilising before fermentation, or allowing resident microflora to remain during Clostridium-catalysed solvent production. Sterilised spent grains significantly improved the production of solvent molecules (e.g. 12.97 ± 0.38 g/L of butanol yielded, compared to 0.40 ± 0.33 g/L for defined media sampled during the solventogenic phase); compared to these, the use of non-sterilised brewer’s grain decreased both the reproducibility and yields of fermentation (8.66 ± 1.6 g/L of butanol). Microbial fuel cells were studied as a possible means of altering electron transfer to/from electrode-attached Clostridia to control the metabolic shift in bacteria from acidogenesis to solventogenesis. The base line MFC (11.00 ± 4.69 g/L) fermentation experiment did produce higher acetone/ethanol than the baseline batch experiment MB (5.47 ± 4.48 g/L), indicating an improvement to solvent production in C. acetobutylicum (ATCC 824) in a MFC fermentation. In this study, MFC-1 demonstrated remarkable superiority over MB in terms of butyric acid production, yielding significantly higher concentrations while also improving acetone and ethanol production. However, the enhanced butyric acid production did not correspond to significantly increased butanol yields when compared to batch fermentation of chemically defined media. These findings highlight the potential of MFC-1 as an efficient approach for enhancing the fermentative production of valuable compounds, with a particular focus on butyric acid and acetone/ethanol. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biotechnology Innovation Centre, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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It’s an African proverb: conceptualizing narratives through the use of African subject matter

- Chithambo, N'lamwai Luntha

Authors: Chithambo, N'lamwai Luntha
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/425311 , vital:72228
Description: The research by practice is made up of three points of interest that aim to incorporate storytelling into the work with reference to the comic book genre. These points of interest are: experiences of mental health issues from a young man’s perspective, a unique autobiographical experience unpacking the young man’s mental health struggle and African oral traditions. These three points of interest work towards the goal of using African subject matter to uncover and present a meaningful narrative of a young man dealing with mental health problems and his father figure’s ongoing sit-down conversation with him. This mini-thesis breaks down the different components of the research by practice and analyses each component while drawing from various theorists and artists. The mini-thesis also builds up to the idea of using original African subject matter (e.g. African oral traditions, specifically African objects, subjects, and locations) as a means of cultivating a locus of African identity in the comic book industry. The research by practice intersects with this mini-thesis in that it acts as an example of how I visualise African subject matter being used in the theorising and creation of comic books. , Thesis (MFA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Fine Art, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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Kant and the experience of skepticism: rranscendental arguments, skepticism, and a version of the problem of the justification of foundational assumptions

- Grecia, Hadley

Authors: Grecia, Hadley
Date: 2023-10-13
Subjects: Uncatalogued
Language: English
Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/425078 , vital:72207
Description: Immanuel Kant is a key thinker in the History of Western Philosophy whose ideas continue to fascinate contemporary English-speaking academic philosophers. One such idea is Kant's conception of transcendental arguments. Although these arguments do not originate in Kant's philosophy, Kant's conception of them occupies a special place in the English-speaking literature on the topic. A growing trend in this literature is to claim that Kant's transcendental arguments are unique because they aim to achieve an anti-skeptical end through deductive means. I call the basic assumption behind readings of transcendental arguments like these the deductive/anti-skeptical assumption. This assumption claims that deduction is the best means to achieve an anti-skeptical end. In this thesis, I argue that accepting this assumption is one way to misinterpret transcendental arguments because—even though it seems compelling at first blush—it must be false. The resultant twist is that transcendental arguments cannot be deductive, which, in turn, means that understanding that Kant's transcendental arguments are not deductive in nature is itself no small detail for understanding the version of Kant's 'not-deductive' solution to skepticism developed here. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Philosophy, 2023
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Date Issued: 2023-10-13

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