Characterisation of the ultramafic and carbonatite components of the Schiel Alkaline Complex in the Limpopo Province of South Africa
- Authors: Mahomed, Uzayr
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Ultrabasic rocks South Africa Limpopo , Carbonatites South Africa Limpopo , Geology South Africa Limpopo , Mica South Africa Limpopo , Biotite South Africa Limpopo , Magmatism , Schiel Alkaline Complex , Phoscorite , Glimmerite
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/294768 , vital:57253
- Description: Owing to the poor documentation of the phoscorite-carbonatite association present in the Schiel Complex and the associated economic potential of other known phoscorite-bearing complexes, the Schiel Complex is widely thought to have similar economic potential. This complex is often compared to the lucrative Phalaborwa Complex, as it is thought to have crystallised from a common parental melt, with a similar age of emplacement. This study aims to provide clarity on the physical and chemical characterisation of the various rock types present in the Schiel Complex, with this study being the first petrological investigation based on fresh in-situ samples gathered from 3 borehole cores which were drilled by FOSKOR in the 1960s. The sampled sections of the ultramafics from the Schiel Complex are comprised of end-member rock compositions of either magmatic phoscorites or pyroxenites or metasomatic glimmerites, where gradational contacts between these various end-members produce rock varieties that contain characteristics of one or more end-member types. Carbonatite rocks are present as medium-grained, coarse-grained and banded calcio-carbonatite varieties where the carbonatite rocks are proposed as being the metasomatic medium for glimmerite production. Contrary to previous research, the structure of the ultramafic and carbonatite bodies are present as vein and veinlet structures which seem to originate from a single pipe-like body, from which these rock types intruded into the surrounding syenitic country-rock. Metasomatic alteration of the ultramafic sections of the Schiel Complex also show that the carbonatite rocks must have intruded after some ultramafic magmatism. The presence of the same minerals, with similar chemistries, in both the ultramafic and carbonatite rocks as well as similar REE chondrite-normalised plots show that the various rock types may have originated from a common parental magma, where the accumulation and crystallisation of minerals is the most likely factor in producing the various Schiel Complex rock varieties, causing silicate minerals to be present in the carbonate fraction of the magma, and carbonate minerals in the silicate fraction of the magma. Apatite is the expected rare earth element (REE) mineralising mineral in phoscorites, but is shown to be depleted in REE content in the Schiel Complex due to metasomatic fluid infiltration causing the scavenging and dissipation of REEs. These rocks have also crystallised containing no significant copper-bearing mineralisation, contrary to that which is seen in the Phalaborwa Complex. A comparison of mica minerals between the Schiel Complex rocks and the Phalaborwa Complex rocks show that the two complexes have undergone unique emplacement processes and should not be considered as sister complexes. Efforts to date the glimmerite and carbonatite rocks based on zircon grain U/Pb geochronology proved unsuccessful in constraining the current ages of emplacement provided by previous researchers, but rock relationships show that the current accepted sequence of events cannot be correct, providing scope for further research. This study provides an update on the chemical and physical characteristics, based on the only available sample suite of the ultramafic and carbonatite components, of the Schiel Complex, increasing the depth of documentation of these rare rock types and aiding in refuting some conclusions on the genesis, emplacement and evolution of the Schiel Complex proposed by previous research. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Geology, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
Constraints and enablements on quality improvement in higher education
- Authors: Browning, Leanne Elizabeth
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Education, Higher Aims and objectives South Africa , Education, Higher Evaluation , Quality assurance South Africa , Educational evaluation South Africa , Self-evaluation , Critical realism
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/294956 , vital:57273 , DOI 10.21504/10962/294956
- Description: This study contributes to the literature on quality improvement in higher education by examining the structural, cultural and agential constraints and enablements on a quality process at a university in South Africa. It examined four cases and developed an understanding of the complex interaction of structure, culture and agency and the mechanisms that enable or constrain quality improvement in higher education. The study drew on the literature on higher education quality for the theoretical basis for what is known contributes to the way in which quality assurance and improvement is implemented and its impact on the higher education context. Critical Realism provided the ontological framework and conceptual tools to understand and explore the complex social world within which the quality process took place. The literature on the morphogenetic approach provided the analytical framework for the data analysis and findings. The data consisted of a set of documents from a quality process that took place over a five-year period. The data analysis revealed that different departmental contexts impact on how mechanisms are activated. Each school context shapes the way in which people engage with the review process and consequently, processes and procedures are mediated in each context. This research therefore adds to the understanding of the way in which quality processes take place at a micro-level within an institutional context and informs the approach to quality improvement more broadly, nationally and internationally. The research contributes to the knowledge that will inform planning, policies and practices in quality improvement processes in higher education and the findings identify a number of factors (mechanisms) that should inform the way in which a quality process is facilitated, will enable effective self-evaluation and review processes, and consequently are more likely to lead to quality improvement. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
Culture, gender and forests: social differentiation in coping and adapting to climate change and other stressors in the south west and east regions of Cameroon
- Authors: Enokwena Baa, Ojongetakah
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Climatic changes Cameroon , Differentiation (Sociology) Cameroon , Climatic changes Social aspects Cameroon , Cultural awareness Cameroon , Environmental justice Cameroon , Social justice Cameroon , Environmental risk assessment Cameroon , Political ecology Cameroon , Ecofeminism Cameroon , Social capital (Sociology) Cameroon , Community forests Cameroon , Deforestation Cameroon
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/295040 , vital:57284 , DOI 10.21504/10962/295040
- Description: Climate change adaptation scholars and practitioners are beginning to acknowledge that the impact of climate change and other related shocks and stressors will be felt, and reacted to, differently across genders and other types of intersecting social categories, such as age, wealth, and culture, in rural communities. However, to date, most research unpacking these differential impacts and responses has been limited to 'men' versus 'women'. Few studies go beyond this male-female dichotomy to include the different gender structures of households and the intersection with other social factors that contribute to marginalisation, such as ethnicity. This research aimed to explore how different gendered household types in two ethnically diverse communities, the Ejagham and the Baka communities in the SSouth West and East regions of Cameroon, experienced and responded to climate change and other stressors. The central argument of the study is that social differentiation present dynamics and complexities across intersecting identities which determines varied levels of vulnerabilities, adaptive capacity, and livelihood outcomes. The study thus sets out to examine cultural and gendered differentiation in household assets and livelihood activities, how multiple shocks and stressors are experienced, and the differentiated responses to these, focussing specifically on forest and social safety nets. The findings were used to develop an integrated understanding of the complex socially differentiated dimensions of vulnerability and adaptation within the two communities and the implications for more climate secure and equitable livelihoods. The study drew on social-ecological systems, social justice, and feminist political ecology as guiding theoretical lenses. The study further integrated the Moser gender planning and Harvard analytical frameworks as tools for unpacking gender inequality. It followed a mixed methods research design that included household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions that applied participatory exercises. Financial, human, and physical capital were arguably limited within all household types in both the Ejagham and the Baka communities. Social and natural capital were the most common form of assets that households relied on, with ‘savings groups’ in the Ejagham communities being particularly prevalent. Most households were involved in crop cultivation and forest product collection although there were gendered and cultural differences. Collection of wild fruits, medicinal plants, and condiments, for example, was a more common livelihood activity within the Baka communities and amongst female-headed households. Cultivation of pumpkins and vegetables was dominant amongst households in Ejagham, with these being grown mainly by women, while the cultivation of yams was done by men. Across both communities, female-headed households had less ownership of land compared to male-headed households. The current pressure on agricultural land in the Ejagham communities has decreased crop productivity, with female-headed households disproportionately affected by less ownership of land and thus, options to diversify agricultural activities. Similarly, the rise in individual and private land ownership, in response to resource scarcity and large-scale deforestation in East Cameroon, has further dispossessed female-headed households in the Baka communities, already marginalised by their ethnicity, of land. Inequitable access to assets and the disparity in ownership of these assets across the study communities was both a cause and effect of households' differential livelihood activities and responses to shocks and stressors. Several of the shocks and stressors households were exposed to differed across the two sites. The Ejagham communities, being predominantly agricultural, frequently identified warming temperatures as a climatic stressor and increased sensitivity to the impacts of these. The Baka faced similar climate stressors, although more frequent storms were mentioned as a shock by a significant number of households. The impacts of these storms include damage and destruction of houses due to the traditional construction methods used. Since women are often tasked with the building of houses this adds another layer of stress for them. In terms of idiosyncratic shocks, the death of the main breadwinner was most frequently reported in both communities as a non-climatic shock, although this was higher within the Ejagham communities than in the Baka communities, and particularly so for female-headed households. The varied experiences from multiple shocks and stressors resulted in households' differential coping and adaptation responses. Among the different response options, social and forest safety nets, especially the use and sale of forest products (NTFPs) remained the main response options used by households in both communities. Forest products further supported households during periods of food shortage, especially female-headed households in the Ejagham communities. Households further supported one another through social groups such as savings, farming, hunting (particularly for men) and NTFP collection (for women) groups. By exploring social-ecological interactions, the study highlights the complexities around gender inequalities, vulnerabilities, and responses across socially differentiated groups of people which should be considered in policy, practice, and research. Several of my findings challenge mainstream discourses that generally group women, for instance, as a homogenous category when looking at vulnerability. For example, findings revealed that it is possible for different types of households, both women and men, to be both advantaged and vulnerable at the same time, depending on the shock or stressor faced and the livelihood activities they engage in. The same also applies to ethnicity. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
Integrative systematic structuring of the widespread psammophiid snakes (Psammophiidae): a multi-evidence species delineation approach
- Authors: Keates, Chad
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Psammophis South Africa , Herpetology , Herpetology Africa , Molecular biology , Psammophis Classification , Psammophis Genetics , Psammophis Morphology , Psammophis Phylogeny , Morphology Mathematics , Psammophylax
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/295077 , vital:57288 , DOI 10.21504/10962/295079
- Description: Species form the foundations upon which we build our understanding of the natural world. Although a focus of much scientific attention, our understanding of species is stunted by the intrinsic ‘fuzziness’ of boundaries within nature. Due to the complexity of the evolutionary process, coupled with an ever-changing abiotic landscape, species are hard to delineate, even at the best of times. Whilst various species concepts and sophisticated delimitation methods have helped scientists tease apart species, many species complexes persist. This is because taxonomy is a discrete ordering system imposed upon the continuous and intercalated structure of life. To improve our understanding of a wide-ranging family of snakes, I investigated the taxonomy and evolutionary structuring within Psammophiidae using both molecular and morphological approaches, employing phylogenetic, phylogeographic, and morphometric analyses on the group. The systematic complexity of the family (as evidenced by past research) coupled with the group’s widespread distribution and ecological importance, made the taxon an ideal candidate for a broad-sweeping multi-level systematic analysis using multiple species delimitation methods. Additionally, in this thesis I attempted to build on the ground-breaking work of Christopher Kelly by addressing several knowledge gaps identified within the family, and in so doing, produce the most thorough evolutionary and taxonomic study of Psammophiidae possible. Given the taxonomic uncertainty associated with the family, Chapter Two used a representative sampling from every available species (near complete taxon sampling approach) in the family. The chapter used both standard and time-calibrated phylogenetic modelling and distance/threshold-based species delimitation, to elucidate the finer-level structuring within the family. Geometric morphometrics was used to determine whether there were diagnosable differences in head structure between the different genera. The final phylogenetic tree incorporated 320 samples, representing the most comprehensive phylogenetic reconstruction of the family to date. By using a near-complete taxon sampling approach, I was able to resolve previously unsupported relationships within the family whilst also identifying several novel instances of an under- and over-appreciation of species diversity within the family. Geometric morphometrics also identified clear distinctions between genera based on head shape (head width and ‘beakedness’). This chapter showcased the importance of complete taxon sampling and robust methodology for species delimitation and the deleterious effect of species concepts when implemented in isolation. In Chapter Three, I narrowed the scope of the study to focus on the genus level. Psammophylax (Fitzinger 1843) is an abundant, yet poorly studied genus of grass snakes, endemic to Africa. The generalist nature of the genus and wide-spanning distributions of the constituent species has given rise to several subspecies and a poor understanding of the taxonomic structuring within the genus. The overlapping distributions (sympatry) of many of Psammophylax species, coupled with the potential for cryptic speciation via mechanisms such as convergent evolution, made the group the ideal candidate for a broad-sweeping systematic study (as evidenced in Chapter Two). By applying the suite of analyses used in Chapter Two to the generic level, we aimed to determine the effectiveness of a multi-evidence species delineation approach when tackling systematic problems at lower taxonomic levels. A genetic phylogeny of six of the seven species was estimated using multiple phylogenetic and distance/ threshold-based species delimitation methods. To support the molecular analyses, we conducted morphological analyses on the body (traditional morphology) and head (geometric morphometrics) separately. Phylogenetic analyses recovered a similar topology to past studies, but with better resolution and node support. I found substantial genetic structuring within the genus, supported by significantly different head shapes between Ps. a. acutus and other Psammophylax species. Psammophylax a. acutus was recovered as sister to its congeners, and sequence divergence values and morphometrics supported its recognition as a new genus. Increased sampling in East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia) revealed that Psammophylax multisquamis is polyphyletic, necessitating the description of a new, morphologically cryptic, species from northern Tanzania. The distribution of Ps. multisquamis sensu stricto is likely restricted to Kenya and Ethiopia. Within this chapter, taxon-specific phylogenetic analyses yielded stronger intrageneric support as compared to Chapter Two, allowing for more defensible conclusions about taxonomical amendments. Geometric morphometrics proved similarly useful (as compared to Chapter Two) in teasing apart genera within the family but lacked the robustness to delineate species within Psammophylax with confidence, highlighting the apparent convergence of form within the genus. In Chapter Four, I investigated the evolutionary structuring within the Southern African endemic Psammophylax rhombeatus. The structural and environmental heterogeneity within the region has given rise to many morphological forms distributed throughout the country, with previous studies neglecting the associated molecular significance of these forms. Irrespective of their small sample sizes, both Chapter Two and Three identified substantial phylogenetic structuring within the species, making Ps. rhombeatus the ideal candidate for a multi-faceted systematic review, using a combination of phylogenetics, geometric morphometrics and, for the first time in this species, phylogeographic analyses. By investigating a single species, in detail, I was able to assess the effectiveness of the methodologies implemented in previous chapters on systematic sorting using the multi-evidence species delineation approach. Phylogenetic and haplotype analysis retrieved four well-supported clades: southeast South Africa (SESA), southwest South Africa (SWSA), north-eastern South Africa (NESA) and western South Africa (WSA). Although not variable enough to warrant taxonomic re-evaluation, the clades represented important genetic hotspots, with relatively high intraspecific genetic divergence values separating them, irrespective of the small geographic distances separating populations. This is likely a product of the taxon’s habitat-generalist lifestyle, enabling them to bypass vicariant barriers that might otherwise cause speciation in less versatile species. The clades are also geographically distinct, with little overlap, indicating previous vicariance, a finding that is supported by the split of Ps. rhombeatus from Ps. ocellatus in the mid-Pliocene, followed by the diversification of Ps. rhombeatus into four clades throughout the Pleistocene. The genetic structuring observed in Ps. rhombeatus may be a product of population expansion following ancient refugial isolation (potentially Last Glacial Maximum [LGM]). The molecular distinctiveness of the clades was not replicated in the morphological component of this chapter, with neither dorsal nor lateral geometric morphometric analyses of head shape showing any discernible distinctiveness based on geography. Whilst head shape has not been shown to be an effective delineator of evolutionary units at the species level (within this taxon), body colour, scalation, and snout-vent length has been linked to morphotypes within the species based on the work of Broadley (1966). These morphological groupings are loosely attributable to the molecular clades identified in the phylogenetic analyses, highlighting the complex interplay of genetic and morphological characteristics in the process of speciation, and their representation in systematic accounts. This thesis represents the most thorough evolutionary and systematic study of the family currently possible. In addition to identifying and describing both a new genus and species, this thesis also highlighted several instances of an over- and under-appreciation of species diversity within Psammophiidae. By applying a multi-evidence species delineation approach to this thesis, I show the intricacy of the evolutionary process (at various taxonomic levels) and showcase the ease to which species boundaries can be confounded when species concepts are implemented in isolation. These findings also highlighted the importance of sample size, sample range, species delimitation method on the outcome of taxonomic analyses, and their interpretation. Lastly, this thesis addressed the knowledge gaps left by Christopher Kelly’s PhD work and investigated the findings of recent papers that attempted to do the same. Whilst this study answers the questions of old, the taxon-intensive focus revealed several new knowledge gaps within the family, highlighting how much we know about snake systematics, and furthermore, how much we still need to learn about evolutionary structuring. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
Negotiating shame: An exploration of the body experience among young South African women who have attended or are attending University
- Authors: Spyker, Jessica Grace
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Shame , Body image in women , Body image Social aspects , College students Social conditions , College students Attitudes , Feminist aesthetics , Self-perception in women
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/294880 , vital:57265
- Description: Guided by phenomenological and feminist phenomenological perspectives, this research aimed to explore the ways in which young South African women, who were attending or had recently graduated from university, navigated body shame. It interrogated the socially situated ‘lived body’ and the way it was impacted by restrictive appearance ideals. Fifteen in-depth interviews were conducted, mostly through the video conferencing website Zoom. It became evident that women experienced their bodies in complex ways. There was evidence of conformity to as well as resistance against the “regime of shame”. Conformity and resistance often happened simultaneously. Both of these kinds of experiences were viewed as valid and explored in their own right. External messages around women’s bodies and how they should look had greatly influenced participants experiences of their own bodies. This included messages from discourses such as postfeminism and the body positivity movement, which informed the ways in which they navigated shame. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
Opportunities for the inclusion of Environmental Education in the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate, Geography, Grade 11-12: a case study from Namibia
- Authors: Ashipala, Helena Taakondjo
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Environmental education Namibia , Geography Study and teaching (Secondary) , Teacher participation in curriculum planning Namibia , Geography teachers Training of Namibia , Student-centered learning Namibia , Action competence
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/245725 , vital:51399
- Description: Geography is widely recognised in Namibia as a subject within the curriculum that has been framed for understanding and resolving environment issues and sustainable development. It is in this light that this study examined the inclusion of opportunities for environmental education (EE)1 embedded in the Grade 11-12 Geography curriculum in the Namibian context. This study is undertaken as a case study of two schools in the Omusati region in northern Namibia. It investigated opportunities for EE that are embedded in the Geography curriculum using action competence as a lens to review the curriculum and how teachers are working with it in two rural school contexts. This study employed qualitative methods, specifically semi-structured interviews, an analysis of curriculum documents, classroom observations and focus group interviews. Ethical issues were taken into consideration throughout the study. The key findings from the study are: 1. The specification of EE has mainly emerged as a series of concerns that present as topics to be taught and compared with similar concerns in other parts of the world; 2. Teachers have little experience of what and how to teach and inform environmental education within their classrooms; 3. Learners are not actively involved in seeking and probing environmental concerns or in seeking solutions to these. These findings have been used to make recommendations that teachers: 1. Revisit and review the curriculum documents to carry theory into classroom practice; 2. Encourage learners’ participation to enhance their interest and emotional responsibility in environmental education. The study concludes by calling for further research into EE in Geography. This can be used to improve EE in the region where this study was conducted and beyond. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
The economic valuation of ecosystem services using deliberation as a tool for value elicitation
- Authors: Marriner, James Derek
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Seagrasses Economic aspects South Africa , Ecosystem services South Africa , Focus groups , Deliberative democracy South Africa , Nature Effect of human beings on South Africa , Environmental economics , Contingent valuation
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/294712 , vital:57247
- Description: Marine seagrass, Zostera capensis, is a highly productive flowering marine seagrass found on the eastern and southern coasts of South Africa and provides a variety of ecosystem services, which include reducing the effects of erosion, trapping nutrients, creating a nursery habitat for fish species and reducing sedimentation. Despite their formal protection status, Z. capensis meadows are regressing, often due to anthropogenic influences. Globally, multiple studies have documented the ecological importance of seagrass services, to both humans and nature, but economic evaluations of these services have not been as extensive. Numerous valuation methods have been used in literature and in practice to value non-market environmental resources and ecosystem services, where results vary. The most widely used non-market environmental valuation method is the contingent valuation (CV) method, which allows for the valuation of environmental resources that are not sold in the market through a stated willingness to pay (WTP) amount, contingent upon a particular scenario. However, the CV method is susceptible to various limitations and forms of bias. As a result, alternative environmental valuation techniques have been reviewed in literature. Deliberation has been suggested as an improved valuation approach to overcome the criticisms of the CV technique, as it increases respondents’ understanding and knowledge of the environmental resource under discussion, through the incorporation of debate, discussion, participation and social learning, thereby producing more reliable valuations of non-market environmental resources. The deliberative monetary valuation (DMV) method has been advocated as an important valuation method to achieve more comprehensive and reliable valuations of complex and unfamiliar public goods, such as ecosystem services. This thesis explored the determinants of WTP for the protection of seagrass, and whether deliberation can be used to supplement findings and values obtained from the individually sourced WTP values. As a result, the study used a dual-method approach to obtain both individual and deliberated WTP values from a range of stakeholders with varied socio-demographic characteristics by using both the CV method and a deliberative focus group, for the ecosystem services that seagrass Z. capensis provides to the Knysna community, South Africa. The results showed that age, education, use frequency and mistrust in local government were determinants in WTP, while deliberative elements uncovered that respondents’ knowledge of an environmental resource and a consideration of the valuation scenario were important factors in determining WTP. It was found that 55% of the respondents were willing to pay to conserve the ecosystem services of seagrass in the Knysna estuary through a monitoring programme. Among those that were willing, the mean WTP amount was approximately R132 per month per household. Although the circumstances in which the deliberative focus group discussion were run were not ideal because of the COVID-19 lockdown, the results showed some interesting potential benefits of using deliberation in complex public good valuation studies. , Thesis (MEcon) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
Understanding human‐wildlife conflict: a geographic study of the Pringle Bay chacma baboon troop
- Authors: Parsons, Wendy Jennifer
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Chacma baboon South Africa Pringle Bay , Human-animal relationships South Africa Pringle Bay , Radio collars , Geographic information systems , Chacma baboon South Africa Pringle Bay Geographical distribution , Chacma baboon Behavior South Africa Pringle Bay , Chacma baboon Effect of human beings on South Africa Pringle Bay , Geospatial data , User-generated content
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/294828 , vital:57259
- Description: A better appreciation of the physical geography and environmental factors that play a role in the movement of the Chacma baboon troop in and around Pringle Bay (Overberg Municipality) and part of the Kogelberg Biosphere could lead to a better understanding of their movement. In turn, this insight may contribute to reducing the human‐wildlife conflict that has arisen in the town. Humanwildlife conflict escalated after the rapid urban development that followed the introduction of electricity in 1993. The baboon‐human conflict in Pringle Bay is, in part, due to habitat loss caused by urban development and the easy availability of food in the urban area. The wild animal’s natural behaviour (seeking food and fresh water) and the human way of living (food and waste management) has led to baboon habituation and increased raiding in the village. The objective of this geographic study was to understand the baboon troops spatial and temporal movements. Two methods are being used to track the baboon troop. The first method entails collection of data from GPS tracking collars which record the location of the baboons at 30 minute intervals. This is considered a reliable, but invasive and expensive method where the alpha male and female baboon had to be captured and fitted with tracking collars. The second method entails using volunteered geographic data, in this case, information from a WhatsApp baboon alert group. While this provided data at no real cost, the mining of the information was challenging and building a geodatabase was time consuming. However, this citizen science approach added valuable data and was able to identify human‐wildlife conflict sites in the urban area. The baboon location data was mapped using GIS. Primary and secondary spatial data was sourced and added to the geodatabase created in ArcMap 10.7. Various ArcMap tools were used in analysing the environmental factors (climate, vegetation, water sources and topography) together with the location data. Analysis of this data allowed the range of the baboons to be mapped, showing the maximum extent of the territory the baboons move in. The was refined by mapping their home range (defined as the area in which they spend 95% of the time) and their core area (in which they spend 50% of the time). High activity areas ‐ or hotspots ‐ were identified, as were the baboon sleep sites. The data allowed for habitat use and seasonal patterns of movement to be explored. A key finding of the research was that the baboons were observed outside of the urban area for 82% of the time. The baboons spent the majority of their time in mountain fynbos vegetation. Hotspot areas showing significant baboon activity were identified within the town and close correlation with their sleep sites and wetland areas was evident. No definitive seasonal or weather patterns were found that influence the baboon distribution. Baboon management is complex and difficult. The sustainability of the baboon troop is important for the biodiversity of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. While the baboons should not be encouraged to enter the urban area, the residents should play a role in reducing the availability of food and baboonproofing their properties. The Overstrand Municipality also needs to address waste management and waste collection in the town. Understanding the biogeography of the baboons and implementing the above‐mentioned mitigating management measures would encourage human‐wildlife coexistence and inform future baboon management plans. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Geography, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
Who are you? Online practices of self-representation of black gay men at Rhodes University on the geosocial networking application Grindr
- Authors: Olivier, Jason Eben
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Grindr (Computer program) , Gay men, Black South Africa Makhanda , Gay men Identity , Internet and gay men South Africa Makhanda , Social media and college students South Africa Makhanda , Masculinity South Africa Makhanda , Racism in the sexual minority community South Africa Makhanda , Sexism South Africa Makhanda , Rhodes University
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/294851 , vital:57262
- Description: The study investigates how young black gay men at Rhodes University use technology to explore their sexual identity and focuses specifically on their self-representation choices. Incorporating qualitative semi-structured interviews and a walkthrough of Grindr, the research asked participants to share their experiences of using Grindr, a geo-social networking application, and how their self-representation practices on the site contributed to their conception of what it means to be a young black gay man online. Using a thematic analysis of the data collected from five self-identified black gay Rhodes University students, findings indicate that self-representation choices of black gay men on Grindr become a complex experience influenced by overt sexist and racist micro-aggressions in an environment where masculinities operate in a hierarchy of desire, preference, and attractiveness with race operating as an important signifier of these even in a post-Apartheid South Africa that is celebrated for its world-class Constitution. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Journalism and Media Studies, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
Land use decision-making on residential plots in Fingo Village, Makhanda (Grahamstown), South Africa
- Authors: Memela, Sinenhlanhla
- Date: 2021-04-28
- Subjects: Land use South Africa Makhanda Decision making , Land use, Urban South Africa Makhanda Decision making , Residential real estate South Africa Makhanda , Urban ecology (Sociology) South Africa Makhanda , Urban gardening South Africa Makhanda , Urban livestock production systems South Africa Makhanda
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/322694 , vital:60589 , DOI 10.21504/10962/322694
- Description: This study seeks to understand land use decision-making dynamics on large residential plots in Fingo Village, Makhanda (Grahamstown). Fingo Village was selected as a study area because it is one of the poorest urban settings in South Africa where urban poverty is observed alongside access to land. A dominant economic perspective not only suggests that land use decisions are motivated by economic motives, but also implies that access to land would enable people to generate income from its use to improve their livelihoods. This study argues against an uncritical embrace of this assumption. Lefebvre’s production of space thesis provides a holistic understanding of the factors involved in the making of land use decisions. The focus of this study is on the dialectic process in the spatial triad– spatial practice, representational space and representations of space. This involved the reading of government policies and legislation together with local lived experiences to gain an understanding of the particular spatial practices seen in Fingo Village. Snowball and convenience sampling were used to select 36 household plots in Fingo Village. Primary data was gathered by means of semi-structured interviews and participatory mapping while additional information was sourced from secondary sources and desktop analysis. The findings of the study show that there is no uniform pattern of land use and success. Different land use activities found on the selected residential plots, including the main house, backyard flat or flats, spaza shops, a funeral parlour, livestock keeping, cultural use (a kraal for ancestral worship) and food gardening. These activities are motivated by residents’ perceptions and attitudes towards their spaces, as well as the value and meaning they attach to the land which is not limited to economic factors, but is also influenced by socio-cultural, political and biophysical considerations. Although some spatial practices are prohibited by the government, they are important to the residents. Other participants fail to use the land as would be expected by a conventional economic perspective, due to spatial conflict relating to different interests as a result of collective land ownership and the failure of municipalities to enforce policies and regulations. The fact that numerous factors influence households’ land use decisions means that access to land does not always directly translate into economic benefits. It is all about what people think or do about their land, as well as what the state lays out in terms of policy and legislation, that will influence whether those people with large plots of land will ‘prosper’ or not. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Geography, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04-28
Gender bias in the field of economics: an analysis of South African academia
- Authors: Hitchcock, Siobhan
- Date: 2020-10-30
- Subjects: Sexism South Africa , Sexism in higher education South Africa , Economics Study and teaching (Higher) South Africa , Economics teachers South Africa , Women in higher education South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/366275 , vital:65850
- Description: In recent years there has been a growing focus internationally on the low participation of females in Economics, both in academia and business. While female enrolment in higher education, including other maths-based subjects, has grown substantially, this has not been the case for Economics. Economics, particularly as one progresses through postgraduate studies to doctoral degrees now stands out as an outlier. A number of reasons have been advanced for this, including the nature of the subject, the type of people it attracts and the lack of female role models. Male and female enrolments in South African HEIs have grown between 2007 and 2017, but females have grown at a faster rate, thus increasing the female share of total enrolments to 59%. Female students are more successful and so make up an even greater proportion of South African graduates. Female enrolments and graduates are also higher than in the US. As in the US there is a significant drop off in female representation when progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate studies in South Africa. When looking at Economics in South Africa in comparison to the broad CESM categories, female enrolment in Economics Bachelor degrees is significantly lower than in Business and Humanities, but on a par with STEM subjects. At the Doctoral level, there are sharp drop offs in female enrolments for all categories. Business and Economics are the laggards at the Doctoral level, below STEM and Humanities. Furthermore, females make up a minority of academic staff in South African HEIs, with males dominating in especially the higher academic ranks. As one moves up the academic ladder, the female share decreases. This research analyses gender compositions of staff and students at South African HEIs. National data are obtained from government publications and data relating to four specific South African universities was obtained directly from the universities. Questionnaires were sent to a sample of academic staff and students who are in the field of economics to identify whether there is a role model effect for economics students and whether female academics experience the same forms of biases, discrimination, or treatment as that identified in international studies. It was concluded that while there are drop offs in the overall female representation of students at the Masters and Doctoral levels in South Africa, this share is gradually increasing. Additionally, Economics seems to perform better than what is depicted in the US, and in comparison to some STEM subjects in South Africa. Furthermore, the environment within the field of academic economics for both female students and staff seems to be more positive than what the international literature depicts for the US. But there are nonetheless different levels of satisfaction between male and female academic economists. While the student surveys revealed that female Economics students do not attach great importance to female role models, there is some evidence of correlation between the percentage of female professors and the percentage of female PhD students across a range of STEM subjects in South Africa. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2020
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- Date Issued: 2020-10-30
Exploring pre-service teachers’ reflective practice in the context of video-based lesson analysis
- Authors: Chikiwa, Samukeliso
- Date: 2020-04-30
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/355357 , vital:64492
- Description: This study explored the development of reflective practice in foundation phase pre-service teachers in the context of video-based lesson analysis at a university in South Africa. The study was conducted in the field of mathematics education, responding to the urgent need to equip pre-service South African teachers with the knowledge and skills for effective mathematics teaching. The research is foregrounded by the continuing poor performance of South African learners in mathematics at all levels of education in the country, which has been linked to the inadequate knowledge and skills of mathematics teachers. Pre-service teacher education is putting considerable effort into improving the preparation of mathematics teachers and developing their ability to reflect on their teaching practice is one of the strategies being employed for this purpose. Research has demonstrated the importance of reflective practice (RP) in both developing and extending teachers’ mathematical knowledge for teaching. This study therefore contributes to current research that supports the development of RP as a professional skill for promoting the acquisition of knowledge for teaching in pre-service teacher education. The study adopted a qualitative case study approach with two phases of data collection. In Phase 1 I collected and analysed three sets of 19 pre-service teachers’ written reflections to establish the nature of the reflections that they developed when analysing video-recorded mathematics lessons of experienced teachers’ practice. Phase 2 was conducted with four PSTs who reflected on video-recorded mathematics lessons of their own practice, and similarly sought to investigate the nature of the reflections they developed when reflecting on practice. The four PSTs wrote one set of reflections on their own lessons, went through three sessions of facilitator-guided reflections, then wrote another set of reflections to establish if the support provided in small group facilitator-guided sessions improved their reflections. Iterative content analysis was employed to analyse the PSTs’ written reflections, using an analytic tool that I developed for this purpose through merging Lee’s (2007) and Muir and Beswick’s (2007) levels of reflection frameworks. My model had four levels of reflection: description, explanation, suggestion and reflectivity. The names of each of the levels connect to the key indicator for that level. PSTs’ written reflections were coded and analysed according to these levels. The study found that PSTs’ initial reflections were mostly description of general classroom events with little reflection at the levels of explanation and suggestion, and an absence of reflectivity. Most reflections focused on general events in the lesson rather than mathematical events, even though the six lens framework they were given to guide their reflections prompted them to steer their attention towards mathematical events. The second and third sets of reflections, although mostly still at level 1, showed some shifts towards explanation and suggestion, although an increased focus on mathematical events though reflectivity was still largely absent. No PST reached the fourth level of reflectivity in Phase 1. However, in Phase 2, the PSTs’ reflections after the three small group facilitator-guided sessions included some evidence of reflectivity. The findings suggest the need for pre-service teacher educators to make a concerted effort to teach PSTs what reflection is and how to reflect on their practice. The findings also showed the need for small group facilitator-guided support in the development of PSTs’ reflective practice. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2020
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- Date Issued: 2020-04-30
Determination of speaker configuration for an immersive audio content creation system
- Authors: Lebusa, Motebang
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Loudspeakers , Surround-sound systems , Algorithms , Coordinates
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163375 , vital:41034
- Description: Various spatialisation algorithms require the knowledge of speaker locations to accurately localise sound in 3D environments. The rendering process uses speaker coordinates to feed into their algorithms so that they can render the immersive audio content as intended by an artist. The need to measure the loudspeaker coordinates becomes necessary, especially in environments where the speaker layouts change frequently. Manually measuring the coordinates, however, tends to be a laborious task that is prone to errors. This research provides an automated solution to the problem of speaker coordinates measurement. The solution system, SDIAS, is a client-server system that uses the capabilities provided by the Ethernet Audio Video Bridging standard to measure the 3D loudspeaker coordinates for immersive sound systems. SDIAS deploys commodity hardware and readily available software to implement the solution. A server sends a short tone to each speaker in the speaker configuration, at equal intervals. A microphone attached to a mobile device picks up these transmitted tones on the client side, from different locations. The transmission and reception times from both components of the system are used to measure the time of flight for each tone sent to a loudspeaker. These are then used to determine the 3D coordinates of each loudspeaker in the available layout. Tests were performed to determine the accuracy of the determination algorithm for SDIAS, and were compared to the manually measured coordinates. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Computer Science, 2020
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- Date Issued: 2020
The economic contribution of the tourism accommodation sector in the Karoo
- Authors: Chandler, Biddy Lee
- Date: 2013-04-06
- Subjects: Hospitality industry South Africa Karoo , Karoo (South Africa) Economic conditions , Small cities South Africa Karoo , Tourism South Africa Karoo
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/366169 , vital:65838
- Description: Tourism is not only the world’s largest traded commodity in which many countries have gained economic advantage and stability, it is also a phenomenon of great economic and social significance. Tourism’s contribution, especially within developing countries and within emerging markets like South Africa, has become increasingly significant as it has created major economic growth and has highlighted areas of potential new sustainable development. The ultimate goal of achieving an increase in GDP and the creation of new employment opportunities is enhanced through the development of tourism. Considering the importance of the above and because the impact of tourism development in small towns is of significant economic benefit, research into this field is of value. This is the core of this study. As a result of tourism demand continually changing in small towns, mostly due to globalisation, demographic changes and agricultural changes, the need to continually update tourism data to ensure that tourism products remain highly rated is vital. This requires identifying tourists’ needs and supplying exactly what tourists demand. More specifically, evaluating tourist satisfaction and dissatisfaction will give accurate indications of a destination’s ability to satisfy its tourists, which is what will encourage repeat visits. The first objective of this dissertation was to qualitatively evaluate, through determining 27 product owners’ and 206 tourists’, opinions/perceptions of the tourism product offering in the Karoo. This study examined the accommodation sector of the tourism industry within 13 small towns in the Karoo. This is a fast growing and maturing industry. The study revealed that product owners and tourists expressed a positive attitude towards the growth of tourism in the Karoo, which they said was due to its heritage and authenticity, climate, desert tourism, natural beauty, ecotourism, remoteness, peace and quiet and acting as a refuge in an unspoilt natural environment. Amongst other recommendations, this result highlighted the importance of keeping closed the ‘gap’ between the expected product/level of service and the customer’s perception of the actual product/service received, by paying special attention to each of the identified tourist benefits. Most importantly, product owners, local tourism organisations (LTOs), municipalities, the government and all tourism stakeholders need to ensure that they work efficiently and effectively through transparent and collaborative relationships to ensure that they generate the highest possible returns from tourism investment through strategies that take cognizance of the above. The second objective of this dissertation was to quantitatively evaluate the economic impact of tourism through gathering and calculating 107 tourists’ spending data and 15 product owners’ expenditure data over a six month period between December 2010 and May 2011 in Graaff-Reinet. It was found that there was an increase over time in tourist spending, which led to an increase in direct income (net injection of visitor spending) and thus there was an increase in indirect income(affecting the level of product owners’ income)in the Graaff-Reinet economy. The key calculations in this study reflected a high multiplier of 1.2and a small amount of leakage (21%);and the final tourism economic impact of the accommodation sector in Graaff-Reinet wasR8940 982.00. This implies a positive economic contribution to this town. A focus on growing the tourist market is therefore a goal worth pursuing. This study provides up-to-date, statistically valid numerical/quantitative data as well as current qualitative data. However, gathering data for a longitudinal study would be highly beneficial to determine trends of how the tourism market in small towns is developing. This field has been given minimal attention, specifically within small towns. This dissertation was thus an attempt to initiate and motivate further ongoing efforts with regards to gathering, specifically economic, tourism data. Showing the positive economic contribution, and the multiple ripple effects that attracting tourists to an area can have, and the ultimate measurable economic benefit created through having a strong multiplier effect, will hopefully encourage all stakeholders to be confident and take the tourism industry more seriously. This highlights the need to recognise the economic impact potential of the tourism sector and to use the positive results identified in this study as a tool to lobby for tourism investment, which is unfortunately not reflected currently in many governmental programmes. Developing greater co-operation and co-ordination between the private and public sectors is needed: the most appropriate development model for the tourism industry being government led, private sector driven, community based and labour conscious in order for it to reap the benefits reflected in this tourism study. , Thesis (MEcon) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2013
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- Date Issued: 2013-04-06
The depositional history and evaluation of two late quaternary, diamondiferous pocket beaches, south-western Namibia
- Authors: Milad, Micael George
- Date: 2004-03
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/420934 , vital:71795
- Description: The two Late Quaternary, diamondiferous pocket beach deposits studied here are situated along a 10 km stretch of the storm-dominated, Atlantic coastline of the Sperrgebiet, south-western Namibia. The pocket beaches are approximately 130 km north of the Orange River mouth, which is widely accepted as a long-lived point source for diamonds sourced from the interior of southern Africa. A total of fourteen pocket beach deposits were recently evaluated in this area, but only two of these, namely Site 2 (to the south) and Site 3 (to the north), are considered here. The main diamondbearing horizons are beach gravels, which occur within, and form part of, the pocket beach sequences. The beach gravels are mostly blanketed by sand overburden, meaning that exposures available for study were limited, and much reliance was placed on borehole logging and observations of evaluation sample tailings. The main aims are to unravel the depositional history of the pocket beach sequences, identify the controls on diamond mineralisation in the beach gravels, and critically examine two different methods of estimating average diamond size for the deposits. In pursuit of these aims, sedimentological characteristics of the unconsolidated pocket beach deposits were recorded using small diameter drill holes, hydraulic grab bulk samples, trench exposures and surface outcrops. The surface geology, geomorphology and modern wave patterns were mapped using high-resolution, Airborne Laser Survey imagery coupled with extensive field checking. Three-dimensional geological modeling software was used to gain insight into the subsurface morphology of the deposits. Fossil shell samples were used to aid interpretation of ancient depositional environments and to date parts of the pocket beach sequences. Variations in diamond concentration and the size of diamonds were recorded using bulk samples, some of which were taken from a trench, but most of which were excavated using a hydraulic grab tool called the GB50. Finally, by using diamond size data from Site 3, sample data from diamondiferous beach gravels to the south of the study area and sample campaign simulations, two alternative methods of evaluating average diamond size in marine gravel deposits were appraised.The pocket beach sequences occur within north-south trending valleys of a major deflation basin and are separated from one another by rocky headlands. The ridge-and-valley topography of the deflation basin has resulted from differential erosion of Late Proterozoic basement rock units, alternating layers of which differ greatly in their resistance to the long-lived, local denudationalprocesses. On the basis of the stratigraphic information collected from the unconsolidated pocket beach valley fills, interpreted within the context of global, Late Pleistocene sea level records, the following depositional history is deduced : a) Deposition of sheetflood gravels by ephemeral streams, activated during a regressive phase. b) Transgression, culminating in the deposition of a gravel beach, representing a sea level highstand of +4 metres above mean sea level (mamsl) at between 120 000 and 130 000 BP. c)A regressive phase, resulting in deflation of former valley fills to the bedrock valley floor and accompanied by re-activation of ephemeral stream activity to form sheetflood deposits; this represents a protracted period of subaerial exposure of the +4 m gravel beach deposit. d) Deposition of a great volume of sediment in the valleys during the latter stages of the transgression from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The sequence generated during this phase, which started at ca. 9 000 BP, contains : i) pan/coastal sabkha sediments, ii) shallow, sheltered bay sediments, iii) back-barrier lagoonal sediments, iv) a gravel beach deposit representing a sea level stillstand at -5 mamsl, laid down between 7 600 and 5 600 BP, v) another gravel beach deposit representing the well-known Middle Holocene sea level highstand at +2 to +3 mamsl, laid down at ca. 5 000 BP, and which terminated the transgression from the LGM. e) A minor regression to the current sea level, accompanied by progradation of the shoreline to its current position. This progradational marine unit consists almost entirely of sand and grit, reflecting the lack of gravel supply to this part of the coastline in the most recent past. f) Deposition of modern coastal dunes, which cap the pocket beach sequence and are the youngest sediments in the study area. Using trench and hydraulic grab evaluation sample results, in combination with analysis of wave patterns and field observations, the following local controls on the density distribution (ie. concentration) and size distribution of diamonds in the gravel beach deposits (+4, -5 and +2 to +3 mamsl stands) are recognised: a) Gravel beach depositional processes, which are responsible for clast sorting on the beach, have influenced the density and size distribution of diamonds. The infill zone, or beach toe, favours maximum diamond concentration while diamond size decreases from the imbricate zone (intertidal) to the infill zone (subtidal). b) Wave energy is identified as the dominant local control on diamond size distribution, but has also influenced diamond concentration to a limited degree. Larger diamonds are intimately associated with coarser beach gravels, both of which are a reflection of increased wave energy. Higher concentrations of diamonds are sometimes associated with zones of coarser gravel and therefore greater wave energy. c) The time of deposition of the host gravel beach is seen to be the dominant controlling factor with respect to diamond concentration. This is seen as evidence of significant temporal variation in the availability of diamonds in the littoral evironment. A significant reduction (20%) in average diamond size from Site 2 to Site 3, over a distance of only 6 km, is evident. The following were identified as reasons for this reduction in diamond size : a) Longshore sorting processes, of which the long-lived northerly littoral drift is a key part, are known to have played a role in the diminution of diamond size northwards from the Orange River mouth point source. However, it is believed that this can only partly account for the observed 20% reduction in diamond size. b) Input of sediment and smaller diamonds at Site 3, reworked out of an older, Eocene-aged marine succession in the hinterland, is recognised as a possible additional reason for the large reduction in diamond size from Site 2 to Site 3. It is also speculated that the large size of the pocket beach at Site 3, relative to Site 2, may have resulted in lower average wave energy at Site 3, with consequent reduced average diamond size. Diamond size in the beach gravels of Site 3, as well as in beach gravels elsewhere in the Sperrgebiet, is seen to be lognormally-distributed within geologically homogeneous zones. In theory, lognormal mean estimators represent the best method of estimating average diamond size in such cases, whereas the arithmetic mean estimator has the tendency to overestimate when large outlier values occur. Lognormal mean estimators have the added benefit of providing for the calculation of confidence limits, which are becoming increasingly more important as financial lending institutions insist on better quantification of the risk involved in resource estimates. Sample campaign simulations demonstrate, for the kinds of diamond size-frequency distributions typical of beach gravel deposits at Site 3, that there is no significant improvement in the accuracy of average diamond size estimates when lognormal mean estimators are used instead of the arithmetic mean estimator. This is because the variance (a ) of the diamond populations is low, and large outlier values are extremely unlikely to occur. However, simulation of a diamond population with high variance, drawn from a sample of beach gravels near the Orange River mouth, shows that lognormal estimators produce significantly more accurate results when a is large. Since individual diamond weights were not recorded during evaluation sampling of Site 3, numerical solution of lognormal estimators is not possible, and these would need to be solved using a less accurate graphical method. It is therefore recommended that individual diamond weights are recorded in future sampling campaigns, allowing for the use of lognormal mean estimators, and the calculation of confidence limits for average diamond size estimates. , Thesis (MSc) -- Science, Geology, 2004
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- Date Issued: 2004-03