List of Titles

Improved nonlinear optical behaviour of ball type indium (III) phthalocyanine linked to glutathione capped nanoparticles

- Nwaji, Njemuwa, Oluwole, David O, Mack, John, Louzada, Marcel, Khene, Samson M, Britton, Jonathan, Nyokong, Tebello

Authors: Nwaji, Njemuwa , Oluwole, David O , Mack, John , Louzada, Marcel , Khene, Samson M , Britton, Jonathan , Nyokong, Tebello
Date: 2017
Subjects: To be catalogued
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/239654 , vital:50752 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2017.01.066"
Description: The synthesis of ball–type indium phthalocyanine (complex 4) and its covalent attachment to glutathione (GSH–) capped (Ag, Au, CdTeSe, CdTeSe/ZnO) nanoparticles are reported in this work. Furthermore, their photophysical and nonlinear optical behaviour were investigated. We observed a decrease in the fluorescence quantum yield with corresponding increase in the triplet quantum yield of the nanoconjugates in comparison to complex 4 alone. The reverse saturable absorption was found to be dependent on excited state absorption. The optical limiting threshold ranges from 0.40–0.78 (J/cm2). The nanoconjugate of the complex 4 with GSH–CdTeSe/ZnO (QD1) accounted for the most improved triplet state parameters and nonlinear optical behaviour in comparison to complex 4 and the other nanoconjugates studied in this work.
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Improved photocatalytic degradation of Orange G using hybrid nanofibers

- Ledwaba, Mpho, Masilela, Nkosiphile, Nyokong, Tebello, Antunes, Edith M

Authors: Ledwaba, Mpho , Masilela, Nkosiphile , Nyokong, Tebello , Antunes, Edith M
Date: 2017
Subjects: To be catalogued
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/239632 , vital:50750 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-017-3853-3"
Description: Functionalised electrospun polyamide-6 (PA-6) nanofibres incorporating gadolinium oxide nanoparticles conjugated to zinc tetracarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine (ZnTCPPc) as the sensitizer were prepared for the photocatalytic degradation of Orange G. Fibres incorporating the phthalocyanine alone or a mixture of the nanoparticles and phthalocyanine were also generated. The singlet oxygen-generating ability of the sensitizer was shown to be maintained within the fibre mat, with the singlet oxygen quantum yields increasing upon incorporation of the magnetic nanoparticles. Consequently, the rate of the photodegradation of Orange G was observed to increase with an increase in singlet oxygen quantum yield. A reduction in the half-lives for the functionalised nanofibres was recorded in the presence of the magnetic nanoparticles, indicating an improvement in the efficiency of the degradation process.
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Improvement of the pharmacological activity of menthol via enzymatic β-anomer-selective glycosylation

- Choi, Ha-Young, Kim, Bo-Min, Morgan, Abubaker M A, Kim, Joong Su, Kim, Won-Gon

Authors: Choi, Ha-Young , Kim, Bo-Min , Morgan, Abubaker M A , Kim, Joong Su , Kim, Won-Gon
Date: 2017
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67515 , vital:29106 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0468-0
Description: Publisher version , Menthol has a considerable cooling effect, but the use range of menthol is limited because of its extremely low solubility in water and inherent flavor. (−)-Menthol β-glucoside was determined to be more soluble in water (>27 times) than (−)-menthol α-glucoside; hence, β-anomer-selective glucosylation of menthol is necessary. The in vitro glycosylation of (−)-menthol by uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase (BLC) from Bacillus licheniformis generated (−)-menthol β-glucoside and new (−)-menthol β-galactoside and (−)-menthol N-acetylglucosamine. The maximum conversion rate of menthol to (−)-menthol β-D-glucoside by BLC was found to be 58.9%. Importantly, (−)-menthol β-D-glucoside had a higher cooling effect and no flavor compared with menthol. In addition, (−)-menthol β-D-glucoside was determined to be a non-sensitizer in a skin allergy test in the human cell line activation test, whereas menthol was a sensitizer.
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Improving fold resistance prediction of HIV-1 against protease and reverse transcriptase inhibitors using artificial neural networks:

- Sheik Amamuddy, Olivier, Bishop, Nigel T, Tastan Bishop, Özlem

Authors: Sheik Amamuddy, Olivier , Bishop, Nigel T , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
Date: 2017
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148261 , vital:38724 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1186/s12859-017-1782-x
Description: Drug resistance in HIV treatment is still a worldwide problem. Predicting resistance to antiretrovirals (ARVs) before starting any treatment is important. Prediction accuracy is essential, as low-accuracy predictions increase the risk of prescribing sub-optimal drug regimens leading to patients developing resistance sooner. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) are a powerful tool that would be able to assist in drug resistance prediction. In this study, we constrained the dataset to subtype B, sacrificing generalizability for a higher predictive performance, and demonstrated that the predictive quality of the ANN regression models have definite improvement for most ARVs.
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Improving singlet oxygen generating abilities of phthalocyanines

- Nwahara, Nnamdi, Britton, Jonathan, Nyokong, Tebello

Authors: Nwahara, Nnamdi , Britton, Jonathan , Nyokong, Tebello
Date: 2017
Subjects: To be catalogued
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188943 , vital:44800 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00958972.2017.1313975"
Description: Glutathione-capped graphene quantum dots (GQDs@GSH) were covalently linked to folic acid (FA). Aluminum tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (ClAlTSPc) was then adsorbed on the GQDs@GSH-FA conjugate to form GQDs@GSH-FA/ClAlTSPc or on GQDs@GSH and pristine GQDs alone to form GQDs@GSH/ClAlTSPc and GQDs/ClAlTSPc, respectively. We report for the first time on the photophysicochemical behavior of the resulting nanoconjugates. The fluorescence quantum yields of pristine GQDs, GQDS@GSH, or GQDs@GSH-FA conjugate were quenched upon non-covalent interaction (π–π) with ClAlTSPc. There was an increase in triplet quantum yields from 0.38 for ClAlTSPc alone to 0.60, 0.75, and 0.73 when ClAlTSPc was linked to pristine GQDs, GQDs@GSH, and GQDs@GSH-FA, respectively. The singlet oxygen quantum yields also increased from 0.37 for ClAlTSPc alone to 0.42 (for ClALTSPc with pristine GQDs), 0.52 (for ClAlTSPc with GQDs@GSH), and 0.54 (for ClAlTSPc with GQDs@GSH-FA). Thus, the present work may lead to a new generation of carbon-based nanomaterial photodynamic therapy agents with overall performance superior to conventional agents in terms of singlet oxygen generation, water dispersibility, and biocompatibility.
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Improving the cold tolerance of false codling moth, thaumatotibia leucotreta, for better performance in a sterile insect release programme

- Daniel, Claire Ashleigh

Authors: Daniel, Claire Ashleigh
Date: 2017
Subjects: Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- South Africa , Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- Reproduction -- Effect of temperature on , Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- Biological control -- South Africa , Citrus -- Diseases and pests -- Biological control -- South Africa , Insect pests -- Biological control -- South Africa , Insecticides , Citrus fruit industry -- South Africa
Language: English
Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5271 , vital:20803
Description: The false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a major pest of citrus and other important crops in Sub-Saharan Africa. The introduction of a sterile insect technique (SIT) programme for FCM in South Africa has proven to be very effective in the control of FCM. The objective was to flood citrus orchards with large numbers of sterile males resulting in a ratio of at least 10 sterile to 1 wild moth, increasing the probability of a female moth mating with a sterile male. This target is often achieved and the programme is generally successful, however there are some challenges regarding this programme. The mass rearing environment, artificial diet, handling methods and irradiation have an impact on sterile insect quality as environmental differences between the rearing facility and field, influences the insect phenotype and competitiveness. This is evident as wild male moths can theoretically actively fly at a temperature of 12°C and laboratory-reared sterilized moths, due to the radiation treatment, appear unable to fly below 20°C. As a consequence, sterile males are out-competed by wild males during the cooler months of the year. This is detrimental to the SIT programme as FCM do not undergo diapause, meaning they are active during winter and will still reproduce. Therefore, to maximize the effect of the SIT programme, it is vital to increase the flight ability of mass reared sterile males at lower temperatures. Various studies have shown that by adding cryoprotectants to the basic laboratory diets increases the cold tolerance of certain insects and thus may allow them to be mobile at lower temperatures, however it imperative that any chemical used to augment the commercial diet of the insect has no negative effects on the insect physiology and development. To investigate this detail for FCM, five generations of FCM were reared on diets augmented with various known insect cryoprotectants. These augmented FCM were subsequently used in experiments designed to determine firstly, if the cryoprotectants had a positive result on the cold tolerance of the FCM, and secondly, if they had any adverse effects on other physiological aspects such as duration of development. Laboratory trials indicated that the flight ability of male FCM was improved when larvae were reared on diets augmented with trehalose and cholesterol (with an average of 40 % of cholesterol and trehalose augmented males that flew at 15 °C where 0 % of the control flew). Results obtained during the field trials support the laboratory results as there was a significant increase in the number of trehalose augmented moths caught in the field during March and July (winter). Results also showed potential for cholesterol to be used as an additive. Other important findings show that both cholesterol and trehalose have no negative impacts on developmental rate, pupal size, and egg production and viability. Trehalose was found to increase the pupal mass of male and female FCM, as well as the number of eggs laid per female. Cholesterol was found to increase developmental rate and the number of eggs laid. The main findings of this study were that diet additives could improve the massrearing of FCM for SIT and the competitiveness of the males, especially at lower temperatures. However, the additives were expensive and cost could well be a constraint to the wide scale implementation of the new technology.
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In conversation with Andrew Tshabangu and Thembinkosi Goniwe "Footprints" exhibition:

- Lila, Philiswa

Authors: Lila, Philiswa
Date: 2017
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146489 , vital:38530 , https://www.ru.ac.za/artsofafrica/exhibitionsperformances/inzwi/
Description: Inzwi! was an art event during the 2017 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown that celebrated the 5th anniversary of the Lucid Lunchbox, a student-led series of talks linked to the Arts of Africa and Global Souths research programme at Rhodes University. During the festival, five sets composed of three videos interjected the talks presented by Dineo Seshee Bopape and Beth Diane Armstrong, as well as a conversation between Andrew Tshabangu, Thembinkosi Goniwe and Philiswa Lila. The event intended to trigger reflection and dialogue, through a ‘wake-up call’ to grapple with our collective heritage and struggles, our fears and points of departure in order to envision futures. The selection of videos drew from the work of Rhodes Fine Art students, Alumni and Artists in Residence. Works on display addressed matters of identity (social, political and/or fictional); social engagement and activism; religious and spiritual practices in African contexts; race and white supremacy; and, finally, patronising relations in the art world. Borrowing from the words of Weléla Mar Kindred, the choreography of this event, like others that have been propelling black body politics in recent movements, is one of "communal healing, strength and solidarity".
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In vitro antimicrobial activity of the methanol extract and compounds from the wood of Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. aerial roots

- Meyer, Franck, Fannang, Simone Véronique, Noundou, Xavier Siwe, Krause, Rui W M, Teinkela, Jean Emmanuel Mbosso, Vardamides, Juliette Cathérine, Mpondo, Albert Emmanuel Mpondo, Azebaze, Anatole Guy Blaise, Nguedia, Jules Clément Assob

Authors: Meyer, Franck , Fannang, Simone Véronique , Noundou, Xavier Siwe , Krause, Rui W M , Teinkela, Jean Emmanuel Mbosso , Vardamides, Juliette Cathérine , Mpondo, Albert Emmanuel Mpondo , Azebaze, Anatole Guy Blaise , Nguedia, Jules Clément Assob
Date: 2017
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/126154 , vital:35854 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2017.03.026
Description: Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem., an edible plant belonging to the family of Moraceae, is traditionally used against skin infections and allergies besides having diuretic properties. This study aimed at investigating the antimicrobial activity of the wood of F. elastica aerial roots against a set of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus; Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Providencia stuartii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a yeast (Candida albicans). A mixture of linear aliphatic alkanes with n-hexacosane as major compound, β-sitosterol, biochanin A, sitosteryl 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), elasticamide (2), elastiquinone (3) and ficusoside B (4) were purified and characterized. Antimicrobial activities, expressed as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), indicated that the methanol extract showed MIC of 39.1 μg/mL; the lowest values were obtained for 3 and 4, with MIC as low as 4.9 μg/mL, smaller than the values of reference antibiotics (25 μg/mL). Furthermore, as most of the studied samples exhibited Minimum Microbicidal Concentration/Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MMC/MIC) ratios lower than 4, a microbicidal effect was clearly exhibited. The overall results provided evidence that the wood of F. elastica aerial roots, as well as some of its isolated components might be potential sources of new antimicrobial drugs.
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Indigenous and traditional musics in the school classroom : a re-evaluation of the South African Indigenous African Music (IAM) curriculum

- McConnachie, Boudina

Authors: McConnachie, Boudina
Date: 2017
Subjects: Ethnomusicology , Indigenous people -- Music , Music -- Instruction and study -- Africa , Music -- Instruction and study -- Curricula -- Africa
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
Identifier: vital:21182 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6806
Description: Musical ideals set by European standards and values, entrenched through colonial oppression and promoted by the continued veneration of Western culture need to be re-evaluated. Despite the intention of the ANC government, through the Department of Basic Education's Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement music curricula, to integrate Indigenous Knowledge and musics into the South African classroom, evidence shows that opportunities to do so are not seized. With reference to the proclaimed values of an African sensibility in the model of the South African music education curriculum, the history of its development and the current pedagogical movement towards transformation in the production of knowledge and the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge (IK), this thesis questions why teachers in government schools in South Africa are not executing the Indigenous African Music (IAM) syllabus in the CAPS FET music curriculum. Taking the history of music education and the development of curriculum models and frameworks into account, it interrogates what strategies could improve the application of the current music curriculum in government schools in South Africa. These questions are addressed in the thesis by way of a discussion of the music curriculum and what its praxis in the classroom reveals about its efficacy, through observations and personal experiences, the observations of teachers and student teachers, a comparison with the experience in Zimbabwe, and an analysis of the music curriculum as it is currently devised and implemented. Straddling three methodological approaches, namely the ethnographic, the autoethnographic and the action research approach this study finds that the CAPS FET music curriculum does provide realistic opportunities to engage with African Indigenous and traditional music. This, however, is dependent upon the training of the teacher, facilities available in the classroom and the prior knowledge of the learner. A fundamental flaw of this curriculum is the approach to practical assessment of Indigenous and traditional African musics and the lack of assessment criteria and practical guidelines. In addition, the findings suggest that the fault regarding implementation of the curriculum lies in the training of students (who become teachers) at tertiary level, where an integrated approach to skills development regarding Indigenous African music is suggested.
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Inequality, social comparisons and minimum income aspirations: Evidence from South Africa

- Posel, Dorrit, Rogan, Michael

Authors: Posel, Dorrit , Rogan, Michael
Date: 2017
Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa South Africa -- Economic conditions South Africa -- Social policy Economic development -- Political aspects -- South Africa
Language: English
Type: Book , Text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59510 , vital:27621 , ISBN 9780868106359 , DOI 10.21504/10962/59509
Description: We investigate the formation of minimum income aspirations in South Africa, a country with high rates of poverty together with very high and rising rates of inequality. A number of empirical studies in both developed and developing countries have shown that income aspirations increase with the individual’s own income and with the income of others in their community, relationships which are explained by processes of adaptation through habituation and social comparison. However, the relationship between income aspirations and inequality has received far less empirical attention. We analyse the minimum income question (MIQ) asked in nationally representative household survey from 2008/2009 to test for evidence of aspirations failure among the poor in South Africa, and to investigate whether high levels of local inequality dampen or stimulate minimum income aspirations, and particularly among those living in poverty.
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Informal employment in the global south Globalization, production relations, and “precarity”

- Rogan, Michael, Roever, Sally, Chen, Martha A, Carré, Françoise

Authors: Rogan, Michael , Roever, Sally , Chen, Martha A , Carré, Françoise
Date: 2017
Subjects: To be catalogued
Language: English
Type: text , book chapter
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477942 , vital:78138 , ISBN 978-1-78743-287-1 , https://doi.org/10.1108/S0277-283320170000031010
Description: In this chapter, we aim to illustrate some of the forms taken by informal employment in the global south and how these can best be understood by adopting a wider analytical lens than has been applied in much of the precarious employment literature. We draw on the findings of a recent study of the working conditions of urban informal workers from 10 cities in the global south. The study consisted of focus groups (15 in each city) conducted through the framework of a participatory informal economy appraisal as well as a survey of 1,957 home-based workers, street vendors, and waste pickers. Our findings illustrate a number of ways in which these three groups of informal workers are embedded within the formal economy. While they are not engaged in wage employment, they play subordinate roles to both formal sector firms within global production networks and unequal production relations and to the state through, inter alia, constrained access to public spaces and regulation. In order to interpret these findings, we apply “relational” lens to demonstrate how risks and costs are transferred to workers who constitute the “real economy” in much of the global south. Given the often disguised connections between informal employment and the formal economy, this approach also provides a bridge to understanding precarious working conditions and the effects of globalization outside of the industrialized north.
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Information and propaganda in the federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland with special reference to print and radio propaganda for Africans, 1953-1963

- Zimudzi, Tapiwa Brown

Authors: Zimudzi, Tapiwa Brown
Date: 2017
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6957 , vital:21204
Description: This thesis contributes to the history of the information and propaganda policy and practice of the government of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland by examining this government's pro-Federation print and radio propaganda for Africans in the Federation. Using a multi-theoretical approach, it analyses the character of this propaganda, highlighting its main methods and themes as well as the policy considerations, plus political and economic circumstances that gave rise to it. It also discusses how Africans in the Federation reacted to this propaganda and assesses its effectiveness in gaining the support of these Africans for Federation and the policies of the Federal government. The thesis argues that Federal government propaganda aimed at gaining the support of Africans for Federation was predominantly panic-driven propaganda and was the product of an information panic that lay at the heart of the very idea of Federation itself. This information panic arose out of the Federal government's belated recognition of the strength of African opposition to Federation and of how this opposition seriously threatened the continued survival of the Federation. It is also argued that this panic-driven pro-Federation propaganda elicited largely hostile reactions from the majority of Africans in the Federation and failed to persuade them to support Federation.
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Inhalable particulate systems for anti-tubercular drug delivery

- Nkanga, Christian Isalomboto

Authors: Nkanga, Christian Isalomboto
Date: 2017
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/37966 , vital:24720
Description: Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly infectious microbial disease that is currently dominating public health concerns. Among the pharmacological issues in the management of TB are the poor bioavailability of some anti-TB drugs, mostly due to the fast first-pass metabolism, and high drug load needed for combination therapy. These result in a lengthy treatment with several adverse effects causing decreased patient compliance. These factors often lead to the therapeutic failure and promote the development of drug resistant strains, justifying the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Liposomes are lipid-based particulate vehicles known to be the most clinically appointed drug carriers currently. Liposomal systems are reported to be rapidly engulfed by macrophages - where the mycobacterium often resides. This makes liposomes appropriate vehicles for targeted anti-TB drug delivery. Many research groups have reported the potential of liposomes systems to deliver anti-TB drugs. However, the costly formulation status of liposomes, due the use of expensive synthetic or highly purified natural phospholipids, is a limitation to the treatment of a poverty related infectious disease like TB. The aim of this study was to design and develop liposomes for pulmonary delivery of anti-TB drugs using crude soybean lecithin (CL) and its purirified version. CL is an FDA- approved naturally occurring phospholipid mixture that is quite cheap and readily available. Various liposome batches were prepared using a film hydration method and characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Liposomes composed of CL and cholesterol (Chol) in a 3:1 mass ratio were selected for drug encapsulation based on the following characteristics: polydispersity index (PDI, 0.28), mean particles sizes (PS, 502 nm) and zeta potential (ZP, -56 mV). Isoniazid (INH) was encapsulated as a model drug using a freeze-thaw loading technique and an HPLC method was validated for quantitative analysis. The physicochemical properties of INH-loaded liposomes were comprehensively investigated using thermal, microscopy and spectroscopic techniques. This formulation showed a high encapsulation efficiency (%EE) of 78%, much better than the liposomes made from purified lecithin, 20%. Other characteristics of INH- loaded liposomes, which make them attractive for pulmonary TB therapy, are presented in this dissertation. These include a controlled release of 50% of the encapsulated INH over 12 hours. Finally, rifampicin (RIF) was added as a hydrophobic model drug and several evaluations were conducted on these dual drug-loaded liposomes. Of particular interest, it was noted that the dual drug-loaded liposomes made of CL alone showed the highest %EE (59% for INH and 90% for RIF) compared to those containing Chol or those made of purified lecithin. Surprisingly, the average PS of the dual CL-based liposomes (1114 nm) was in the size range reported for optimum deep lung deposition and macrophage uptake. In addition, the mean ZP of these liposomes (-63 mV) seems to be favourable for their shelf stability and internalization by macrophages. Overall, these findings show that the dual CL-based liposomes developed would be promising for macrophage-targeting pulmonary delivery of anti-TB drugs.
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Integrating Afrocentric approaches for meaningful learning of science concepts

- Chikunda, Charles, Ngcoza, Kenneth M

Authors: Chikunda, Charles , Ngcoza, Kenneth M
Date: 2017
Subjects: To be catalogued
Language: English
Type: text , book chapter
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436248 , vital:73252 , ISBN 978-3-319-45989-9 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45989-9_
Description: Economic and social development in any modern country re-lies heavily on a sound scientific and technological base. Es-sentially, science constitutes an area of any nation’s education system where many of the skills that are needed to stimulate development are learned, such as securing good health, fighting diseases, protecting the environment, farming and de-veloping agriculture and developing new industries and tech-nologies and even building resilience to climate change. There is a need therefore for a country to harness the intellectual and scientific capacity of its young people. Ironically, however, sci-ence (especially physical sciences) is one of the least popular areas within the educational system of most developing countries. Research shows that students’ and especially girls’ low interest in science and their relatively negative attitudes are at least partially attributed to the way science is taught at school.
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Integrating biodiversity considerations into urban golf courses: Managers’ perceptions and woody plant diversity in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

- Jarrett, Mitchell, Shackleton, Charlie M

Authors: Jarrett, Mitchell , Shackleton, Charlie M
Date: 2017
Subjects: To be catalogued
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180353 , vital:43356 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/1747423X.2017.1325525"
Description: Rapid rates of urbanisation affect biodiversity through habitat fragmentation and loss. Because urban golf courses are large green spaces, they potentially harbour much biodiversity if managed for such. The area of untransformed land of golf courses in the Eastern Cape (South Africa) was determined using Geographic Information System (GIS), the woody plant composition of a subsample was determined by field sampling and the greenkeepers were interviewed. There was a significant relationship between climate and woody cover, species richness and percentage native plants but not species diversity. There was no relationship between management scores and species richness, diversity and percentage native. Significant relationships were evident between woody plant species richness and course income, number of grounds staff, number of club members and greenkeepers’ years of experience. These results suggest a complex suite of factors that play a role in the woody plant composition of urban golf courses and their contribution to urban biodiversity.
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Integrating Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for greater local level resilience: lessons from a multi-stakeholder think-tank

- Pereira, Taryn, Shackleton, Sheona E, Donkor, Felix Kwabena

Authors: Pereira, Taryn , Shackleton, Sheona E , Donkor, Felix Kwabena
Date: 2017
Subjects: Climatic changes -- South Africa , Climatic changes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- South Africa
Language: English
Type: text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62027 , vital:28097
Description: The last few years have seen one of the most severe droughts in recent times in the southern African region, and news headlines are increasingly full of warnings about heavy storms, fires and floods. There is no doubt that extreme hydro-meteorological events, and their multiple and potentially disastrous impacts, are at the forefront of the public consciousness at the present time and are one of the key concerns regarding the impacts of climate change in the region. While the links between extreme climate events, disaster risk reduction (DRR - see Box 1) and climate change adaptation (CCA - see Box 2) are recognised in the South African Climate Change White Paper, this is not the case for the whole region. Furthermore, even if there is national recognition of the need to synergise these two spheres of endeavour, this does not always trickle down to effective policy, planning and implementation at the local level.
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Integrating local indigenous knowledge in the teaching of water conservation by senior primary school Natural Science teachers: a Namibian case study

- Visagie, Ronald Arnold

Authors: Visagie, Ronald Arnold
Date: 2017
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6907 , vital:21199
Description: The conservation of biodiversity to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations is a cornerstone for sustainable development. In response to this, one of the aims of Basic Education in Namibia is to develop an environmentally friendly society which has a concern for the conservation of water. Thus, the National Curriculum of Basic Education [NCBE], 2010, p. 8) expects Grade 6 Natural Science learners to be competent in using simple scientific models, methods and skills to make scientific sense of the natural environment; and most importantly for the learners to relate the implications of this scientific understanding to their personal and social health and the sustainable use of all natural resources for future generations. Additionally, teachers are encouraged to make innovative use of various knowledge systems including indigenous knowledge. However, there is no mention of how teachers should make use of local indigenous knowledge (IK) when teaching the topic on water conservation in particular. It is against this backdrop that in this study I sought to understand how two Grade 6 Natural Science teachers use local indigenous knowledge in their classrooms to teach the topic of water conservation. This interpretive case study was carried out in collaboration with a rural community in the Erongo region. Data were collected in three stages. The first stage was the gathering of information through document analysis to strengthen my context. Documents such as the National Curriculum, Science Curriculum, Syllabi, Grade 6 Natural Science textbooks and SATs results were analysed to gain some insight and understanding of the issue before conducting interviews. In the second phase of this study I conducted semi-structured interviews with the Topnaar community members and two teachers. This was followed by classroom observations. Additionally, I used stimulated recall interviews (SRI) to provide clarity on how teachers use prior knowledge and mediate learning when teaching the topic water conservation using indigenous knowledge. The study is informed by Vygotsky’s (1978) socio-cultural theory in conjunction with Shulman’s (1986) pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). Since a classroom is a social unit where interactions occur between teachers and learners, and learners and learners, these theories provided a useful lens for observing lessons and analysing teachers’ content knowledge and how they mediate learning using local indigenous knowledge. A thematic approach to data analysis was adopted and qualitative data were analysed inductively. The findings of the study revealed that the indigenous knowledge amongst the Topnaars are governed by the ideals of Ubuntu. Findings also revealed that proper planning is needed to incorporate IK into science lessons as it may clear up misconceptions that may arise from indigenous knowledge. The study recommends that teachers and curriculum planners should explore different indigenous practices that are linked to the topics in the curriculum or syllabus to enhance learning and teaching in their science classrooms. It also recommends that curriculum developers, with the help of subject advisors, teachers and community members, should start planning on how indigenous knowledge can best be integrated into science textbooks as it has become a hindrance for the teachers to incorporate it.
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Intellectualisation of isiXhosa literature: the case of Jeff Opland

- Kaschula, Russell H

Authors: Kaschula, Russell H
Date: 2017
Language: English
Type: text , article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67030 , vital:29022 , https://doi.org/10.17159/2309-9070/tvl.v.54i2.413
Description: publisher version , The origins of the intellectualisation of written isiXhosa literature are often attributed to the missionaries John Ross and John Bennie. They set up a printing press in the Tyhume Valley which later became known as Lovedale Press. They introduced written isiXhosa in 1823 and for this they are acknowledged as the first to write and publish in isiXhosa. This article attempts to trace this intellectualisation process of isiXhosa literature, concentrating on a critique and assessment of the life-long work of Professor Jeff Opland, who has contributed enormously to the present understanding of both oral and written isiXhosa literature. It is argued in this article that his corpus of books and academic articles require some contextualisation within the broader debate of the continued intellectualisation of isiXhosa language and literature. Reference is also made to the Opland isiXhosa literature archive and its contribution to the further intellectualisation of isiXhosa literature. It is suggested in this article that Opland is one of the greatest contributors to academic debates concerning isiXhosa literature and history. Izibongo or oral poems written by, and about Jeff Opland are analysed to further enhance the context of his contribution.
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