Journeying home, exile and transnationalism in Noni Jabavu and Sisonke Msimang’s memoirs
- Authors: Masola, Athambile
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Home in literature , Exile (Punishment) in literature , Women authors, Black -- South Africa -- History and criticism , Jabavu, Noni -- Criticism and interpretation , Msimang, Sisonke -- Criticism and interpretation
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166529 , vital:41376
- Description: This thesis examines the memoirs of two South Africa female writers: Noni Jabavu and Sisonke Msimang. In analysing their memoirs, this thesis sets out to contribute to the scholarship which centres the voices of Black women writers. It explores how both writers interrogate the concepts of home, exile and transnationalism. My focus is on the ways in which the writers theorise questions of belonging, and the extent to which their writing provides the opportunity to give voice to the complex nature of belonging. I read the narratives from these two writers alongside each other, as Noni Jabavu is Sisonke Msimang’s literary ancestor. By looking at their works alongside each other, this thesis becomes an intergenerational conversation between the past and the present. Using Black feminist thought and migratory subjectivity, this thesis examines the ways in which these writers connect the personal and the political. Noni and Sisonke navigate the private spaces of home in conversation with the political experience of exile and the nation. In the second chapter, I explore home as ekhaya, isizwe and an imaginary homeland. Ekhaya is the isiXhosa word denoting the family home, where there is a network of family rather than a nuclear family. Home is also isizwe: the isiXhosa word which evokes the nation state, which takes on layered meanings in the context of colonialism and apartheid. Home can also be an imaginary homeland, which is an imagined version of home after a long absence such as exile. In the third chapter, I examine three forms of exile: internal exile, estrangement and political exile. Finally, in chapter four, I analyse transnationalism: a border-crossing which raises questions of power, mobility and kinship. Looking at home, exile and transnationalism together allows for an exploration which challenges taken-for-granted ideas about place and identity. These memoirs illuminate the ways in which Black women constitute and reconstitute their identities according to the places which they access through travel.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Masola, Athambile
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Home in literature , Exile (Punishment) in literature , Women authors, Black -- South Africa -- History and criticism , Jabavu, Noni -- Criticism and interpretation , Msimang, Sisonke -- Criticism and interpretation
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166529 , vital:41376
- Description: This thesis examines the memoirs of two South Africa female writers: Noni Jabavu and Sisonke Msimang. In analysing their memoirs, this thesis sets out to contribute to the scholarship which centres the voices of Black women writers. It explores how both writers interrogate the concepts of home, exile and transnationalism. My focus is on the ways in which the writers theorise questions of belonging, and the extent to which their writing provides the opportunity to give voice to the complex nature of belonging. I read the narratives from these two writers alongside each other, as Noni Jabavu is Sisonke Msimang’s literary ancestor. By looking at their works alongside each other, this thesis becomes an intergenerational conversation between the past and the present. Using Black feminist thought and migratory subjectivity, this thesis examines the ways in which these writers connect the personal and the political. Noni and Sisonke navigate the private spaces of home in conversation with the political experience of exile and the nation. In the second chapter, I explore home as ekhaya, isizwe and an imaginary homeland. Ekhaya is the isiXhosa word denoting the family home, where there is a network of family rather than a nuclear family. Home is also isizwe: the isiXhosa word which evokes the nation state, which takes on layered meanings in the context of colonialism and apartheid. Home can also be an imaginary homeland, which is an imagined version of home after a long absence such as exile. In the third chapter, I examine three forms of exile: internal exile, estrangement and political exile. Finally, in chapter four, I analyse transnationalism: a border-crossing which raises questions of power, mobility and kinship. Looking at home, exile and transnationalism together allows for an exploration which challenges taken-for-granted ideas about place and identity. These memoirs illuminate the ways in which Black women constitute and reconstitute their identities according to the places which they access through travel.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Development of a protocol for extracting and quantifying the concentration of thiafentanil in blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) matrices 72-74 hours post administration
- Authors: Webber, Judith Tracy
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164738 , vital:41159
- Description: Thesis (MSc)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Webber, Judith Tracy
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164738 , vital:41159
- Description: Thesis (MSc)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
“A position of great trust and responsibility”: a social history of the Grahamstown Asylum, 1875 – c. 1905
- Authors: Van Zyl, Kylie
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Mental health services -- South Africa -- Cape of Good Hope , Psychiatric hospitals -- South Africa -- History , South Africa -- Race relations -- Social aspects , Mentally ill -- Commitment and detention -- South Africa , Mentally ill -- Abuse of -- South Africa , Mental health policy -- South Africa , Asylums -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Discrimination in mental health services -- South Africa , Health and race -- South Africa -- History
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/151031 , vital:39025
- Description: Much has been written about the inequalities inherent in the psychiatric care provided to mentally ill individuals in the Cape Colony, but to date few works have been produced that describe in detail the processes and care regimes at particular institutions. This thesis examines the history of care and custody provided by the Grahamstown Asylum in the Cape between the years of 1875 and 1905. The intention is to determine the means and methods by which the Asylum’s authorities developed, almost unchallenged, a system of unequal treatment and favouritism within that facility, and what this meant for the men and women committed to the Asylum’s custody. To this end, contemporaneous official reports from Asylum staff and Colonial authorities were consulted, in conjunction with the Asylum’s internal records such as registers and individual patient files. This thesis concludes that the evolution of the Colony’s psychiatric community’s beliefs around mental illness, philosophies of protective custody and moral treatment within the psychiatric community at the time, the region’s laws governing psychiatric institutionalisation, and the larger context of the Cape’s socio-political environment at the time converged to create an institution that practiced discrimination on both a macro- and micro-level. This discriminatory framework affected who was admitted, the diagnosis that each person received, the asylum facilities to which they had access, and further, to the odds against their recovery. The implications of this study are relevant in the present day, as the modern South African system of psychiatric institutionalisation, though embedded within a socio-political context of equality and non-discrimination nevertheless appears to suffer from a similarly undemocratic framework of operation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Van Zyl, Kylie
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Mental health services -- South Africa -- Cape of Good Hope , Psychiatric hospitals -- South Africa -- History , South Africa -- Race relations -- Social aspects , Mentally ill -- Commitment and detention -- South Africa , Mentally ill -- Abuse of -- South Africa , Mental health policy -- South Africa , Asylums -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Discrimination in mental health services -- South Africa , Health and race -- South Africa -- History
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/151031 , vital:39025
- Description: Much has been written about the inequalities inherent in the psychiatric care provided to mentally ill individuals in the Cape Colony, but to date few works have been produced that describe in detail the processes and care regimes at particular institutions. This thesis examines the history of care and custody provided by the Grahamstown Asylum in the Cape between the years of 1875 and 1905. The intention is to determine the means and methods by which the Asylum’s authorities developed, almost unchallenged, a system of unequal treatment and favouritism within that facility, and what this meant for the men and women committed to the Asylum’s custody. To this end, contemporaneous official reports from Asylum staff and Colonial authorities were consulted, in conjunction with the Asylum’s internal records such as registers and individual patient files. This thesis concludes that the evolution of the Colony’s psychiatric community’s beliefs around mental illness, philosophies of protective custody and moral treatment within the psychiatric community at the time, the region’s laws governing psychiatric institutionalisation, and the larger context of the Cape’s socio-political environment at the time converged to create an institution that practiced discrimination on both a macro- and micro-level. This discriminatory framework affected who was admitted, the diagnosis that each person received, the asylum facilities to which they had access, and further, to the odds against their recovery. The implications of this study are relevant in the present day, as the modern South African system of psychiatric institutionalisation, though embedded within a socio-political context of equality and non-discrimination nevertheless appears to suffer from a similarly undemocratic framework of operation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the biological control of invasive aquatic weeds in South Africa
- Authors: Baso, Nompumelelo Catherine
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Aquatic weeds -- Biological control -- South Africa , Plants -- Effect of atmospheric carbon dioxide on , Atmospheric carbon dioxide -- Environmental aspects
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140772 , vital:37917
- Description: There has been a rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, from pre-industrial values of 280 ppm to more than 400 ppm currently, and this is expected to more than double by the end of the 21st century. Studies have shown that plants grown above 600 ppm tend to have an increased growth rate and invest more in carbon-based defences. This has important implications for the management of invasive alien plants, especially for the field of biological control which is mostly dependent on herbivorous insects. This is because insects reared on such plants have been shown to have reduced overall fitness. Nevertheless, most of the studies on potential changes in plant-insect interactions under elevated CO2 are based on agricultural systems, with only a limited number of these types of studies conducted on alien invasive weeds. However, climate change and invasive species are two of the most prevalent features of global environmental change. Therefore, this also warrants active research and experimental studies to better understand how these systems will be affected by future climates. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the biological control of four invasive aquatic weeds (Azolla filiculoides, Salvinia molesta, Pistia stratiotes, and Myriophyllum aquaticum). These species are a threat to natural resources in South Africa but are currently under successful control by their biological control agents (Stenopelmus rufinasus, Cyrtobagous salviniae, Neohydronomus affinis, and Lysathia n. sp.). To achieve this, the selected plant species were grown in a three-factor experimental design in winter (CO2 X nutrients X herbivory), and another two-factorial design in summer (CO2 X herbivory). Atmospheric CO2 concentrations were set at ambient (400 ppm) or elevated (800 ppm), as per the predictions of the IPCC. As per my hypothesis, the results suggest that these species will become more challenging in future due to increased biomass production, asexual reproduction and a higher C: N ratio which is evident under high CO2 concentrations. Although the biological control agents were in some instances able to reduce this CO2 fertilisation effect, their efficacy was significantly reduced compared with the levels of control observed at ambient CO2. These results suggest that additional biological control agents and other management methods may be needed for continued control of these invasive macrophytes, both in South Africa and further afield where they are problematic.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Baso, Nompumelelo Catherine
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Aquatic weeds -- Biological control -- South Africa , Plants -- Effect of atmospheric carbon dioxide on , Atmospheric carbon dioxide -- Environmental aspects
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140772 , vital:37917
- Description: There has been a rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, from pre-industrial values of 280 ppm to more than 400 ppm currently, and this is expected to more than double by the end of the 21st century. Studies have shown that plants grown above 600 ppm tend to have an increased growth rate and invest more in carbon-based defences. This has important implications for the management of invasive alien plants, especially for the field of biological control which is mostly dependent on herbivorous insects. This is because insects reared on such plants have been shown to have reduced overall fitness. Nevertheless, most of the studies on potential changes in plant-insect interactions under elevated CO2 are based on agricultural systems, with only a limited number of these types of studies conducted on alien invasive weeds. However, climate change and invasive species are two of the most prevalent features of global environmental change. Therefore, this also warrants active research and experimental studies to better understand how these systems will be affected by future climates. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the biological control of four invasive aquatic weeds (Azolla filiculoides, Salvinia molesta, Pistia stratiotes, and Myriophyllum aquaticum). These species are a threat to natural resources in South Africa but are currently under successful control by their biological control agents (Stenopelmus rufinasus, Cyrtobagous salviniae, Neohydronomus affinis, and Lysathia n. sp.). To achieve this, the selected plant species were grown in a three-factor experimental design in winter (CO2 X nutrients X herbivory), and another two-factorial design in summer (CO2 X herbivory). Atmospheric CO2 concentrations were set at ambient (400 ppm) or elevated (800 ppm), as per the predictions of the IPCC. As per my hypothesis, the results suggest that these species will become more challenging in future due to increased biomass production, asexual reproduction and a higher C: N ratio which is evident under high CO2 concentrations. Although the biological control agents were in some instances able to reduce this CO2 fertilisation effect, their efficacy was significantly reduced compared with the levels of control observed at ambient CO2. These results suggest that additional biological control agents and other management methods may be needed for continued control of these invasive macrophytes, both in South Africa and further afield where they are problematic.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Multiplexed Mass Spectrometry: Single, On-Bead, Detection Analysis Using MALDI-TOF MS
- Authors: Twala, Busisiwe Victoria
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164693 , vital:41155 , doi:10.21504/10962/164693
- Description: Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Twala, Busisiwe Victoria
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164693 , vital:41155 , doi:10.21504/10962/164693
- Description: Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Come listen quickly
- Authors: Gouws, Leigh-Anne
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141559 , vital:37985
- Description: Creative work portfolio.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Gouws, Leigh-Anne
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141559 , vital:37985
- Description: Creative work portfolio.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An investigation into the readiness of open source software to build a Telco Cloud for virtualising network functions
- Authors: Chindeka, Tapiwa C
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124320 , vital:35593
- Description: Cloud computing offers new mechanisms that change the way networks can be created and managed. The increased demand for multimedia and Internet of Things (IoT) services using the Internet Protocol is also fueling the need to look more into a networking approach that is less reliant on physical hardware components and allows new networks and network components to be created on-demand. Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) is a networking paradigm that decouples network functions from the hardware on which they run on. This offers new approaches to telecommunication providers who are looking to new ways of improving Quality of Service (QoS) in cost effective ways. Cloud technologies have given way to more specialised cloud environments such as the telco cloud. The telco cloud is a cloud environment where telecommunication services are hosted utilising NFV techniques. As the use of telecommunication standards moves towards 5G, network services will be provided in a virtualised manner in order to keep up with the demand. Open source software is a driver for innovation as it is has a collaborative culture to support it. This research investigates the readiness of open source tools to build a telco cloud that supports functions such as autoscaling and fault tolerance. Currently available open source software was explored for the different aspects involved in building a cloud from the ground up. The ETSI NFV MANO framework is also discussed as it is a widely used guiding standard for implementing NFV. Guided by the ETSI NFV MANO framework, open source software was used in an experiment to build a resilient cloud environment in which a virtualised IP Multimedia Subsystem (vIMS) network was deployed. Through this experimentation, it is evident that open source tools are mature enough to build the cloud environment and its ETSI NFV MANO compliant orchestration. However, features such as autoscaling and fault tolerance are still fairly immature and experimental.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Chindeka, Tapiwa C
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124320 , vital:35593
- Description: Cloud computing offers new mechanisms that change the way networks can be created and managed. The increased demand for multimedia and Internet of Things (IoT) services using the Internet Protocol is also fueling the need to look more into a networking approach that is less reliant on physical hardware components and allows new networks and network components to be created on-demand. Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) is a networking paradigm that decouples network functions from the hardware on which they run on. This offers new approaches to telecommunication providers who are looking to new ways of improving Quality of Service (QoS) in cost effective ways. Cloud technologies have given way to more specialised cloud environments such as the telco cloud. The telco cloud is a cloud environment where telecommunication services are hosted utilising NFV techniques. As the use of telecommunication standards moves towards 5G, network services will be provided in a virtualised manner in order to keep up with the demand. Open source software is a driver for innovation as it is has a collaborative culture to support it. This research investigates the readiness of open source tools to build a telco cloud that supports functions such as autoscaling and fault tolerance. Currently available open source software was explored for the different aspects involved in building a cloud from the ground up. The ETSI NFV MANO framework is also discussed as it is a widely used guiding standard for implementing NFV. Guided by the ETSI NFV MANO framework, open source software was used in an experiment to build a resilient cloud environment in which a virtualised IP Multimedia Subsystem (vIMS) network was deployed. Through this experimentation, it is evident that open source tools are mature enough to build the cloud environment and its ETSI NFV MANO compliant orchestration. However, features such as autoscaling and fault tolerance are still fairly immature and experimental.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Finite precision arithmetic in Polyphase Filterbank implementations
- Authors: Myburgh, Talon
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Radio interferometers , Interferometry , Radio telescopes , Gate array circuits , Floating-point arithmetic , Python (Computer program language) , Polyphase Filterbank , Finite precision arithmetic , MeerKAT
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146187 , vital:38503
- Description: The MeerKAT is the most sensitive radio telescope in its class, and it is important that systematic effects do not limit the dynamic range of the instrument, preventing this sensitivity from being harnessed for deep integrations. During commissioning, spurious artefacts were noted in the MeerKAT passband and the root cause was attributed to systematic errors in the digital signal path. Finite precision arithmetic used by the Polyphase Filterbank (PFB) was one of the main factors contributing to the spurious responses, together with bugs in the firmware. This thesis describes a software PFB simulator that was built to mimic the MeerKAT PFB and allow investigation into the origin and mitigation of the effects seen on the telescope. This simulator was used to investigate the effects in signal integrity of various rounding techniques, overflow strategies and dual polarisation processing in the PFB. Using the simulator to investigate a number of different signal levels, bit-width and algorithmic scenarios, it gave insight into how the periodic dips occurring in the MeerKAT passband were the result of the implementation using an inappropriate rounding strategy. It further indicated how to select the best strategy for preventing overflow while maintaining high quantization effciency in the FFT. This practice of simulating the design behaviour in the PFB independently of the tools used to design the DSP firmware, is a step towards an end-to-end simulation of the MeerKAT system (or any radio telescope using nite precision digital signal processing systems). This would be useful for design, diagnostics, signal analysis and prototyping of the overall instrument.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Myburgh, Talon
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Radio interferometers , Interferometry , Radio telescopes , Gate array circuits , Floating-point arithmetic , Python (Computer program language) , Polyphase Filterbank , Finite precision arithmetic , MeerKAT
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146187 , vital:38503
- Description: The MeerKAT is the most sensitive radio telescope in its class, and it is important that systematic effects do not limit the dynamic range of the instrument, preventing this sensitivity from being harnessed for deep integrations. During commissioning, spurious artefacts were noted in the MeerKAT passband and the root cause was attributed to systematic errors in the digital signal path. Finite precision arithmetic used by the Polyphase Filterbank (PFB) was one of the main factors contributing to the spurious responses, together with bugs in the firmware. This thesis describes a software PFB simulator that was built to mimic the MeerKAT PFB and allow investigation into the origin and mitigation of the effects seen on the telescope. This simulator was used to investigate the effects in signal integrity of various rounding techniques, overflow strategies and dual polarisation processing in the PFB. Using the simulator to investigate a number of different signal levels, bit-width and algorithmic scenarios, it gave insight into how the periodic dips occurring in the MeerKAT passband were the result of the implementation using an inappropriate rounding strategy. It further indicated how to select the best strategy for preventing overflow while maintaining high quantization effciency in the FFT. This practice of simulating the design behaviour in the PFB independently of the tools used to design the DSP firmware, is a step towards an end-to-end simulation of the MeerKAT system (or any radio telescope using nite precision digital signal processing systems). This would be useful for design, diagnostics, signal analysis and prototyping of the overall instrument.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The weight of a tooth
- Authors: Perros, Robyn Helen
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144192 , vital:38319
- Description: My thesis is a fragmented, non-linear novella, comprised predominantly of experimental prose- poetry and fiction short-stories. I have chosen this approach in form to further explore my interest in ancestry and trauma, death and image-making, “reality” and fantasy, and the tension these invisible barriers create between the inner and outer worlds in which we simultaneously navigate, remember and forget. This thesis has been influenced both in form and content by the works of Eduardo Galeano, Osama Alomar, Lidia Yuknavitch, Susan Steinberg, Claudia Rankine, Lance Olsen, and Yasunari Kawabata, among others.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Perros, Robyn Helen
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144192 , vital:38319
- Description: My thesis is a fragmented, non-linear novella, comprised predominantly of experimental prose- poetry and fiction short-stories. I have chosen this approach in form to further explore my interest in ancestry and trauma, death and image-making, “reality” and fantasy, and the tension these invisible barriers create between the inner and outer worlds in which we simultaneously navigate, remember and forget. This thesis has been influenced both in form and content by the works of Eduardo Galeano, Osama Alomar, Lidia Yuknavitch, Susan Steinberg, Claudia Rankine, Lance Olsen, and Yasunari Kawabata, among others.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Investigations into biological control options for Lycium ferocissimum Miers, African Boxthorn (Solanaceae) for Australia
- Authors: Mauda, Evans Vusani
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Lycium ferocissimum , Solanaceae -- Biological control -- Australia , Weeds -- Control -- Australia , Invasive plants -- Biological control -- Australia , Insects as biological pest control agents -- Australia , Insect-plant relationships
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167142 , vital:41441
- Description: Lycium ferocissimum Miers (Solanaceae) (African boxthorn or boxthorn) is a shrub native to South Africa,and has become naturalised and invasive in Australia and New Zealand. The plant is listed on the Noxious Weed List for Australian States and territories. Although other control methods are available, biological control presents a potentially sustainable intervention for reducing populations of this weed in Australia. In South Africa, the plant has been recorded from two allopatric populations, one in the Eastern Cape Province, the other in the Western Cape Provinces, however, there taxonomic and morphological uncertainties are reported in the literature. Therefore, before native range surveys for potential biological control agents could be considered, the taxonomic uncertainty needed to be resolved. The two geographically distinct areas, as well as the Australia population were sampled to assess morphological and genetic variation. All samples collected in Australia were confirmed as L.ferocissimum, with no evidence of hybridisation with any other Lycium species. Nuclear and chloroplast genetic diversity within L.ferocissimum across South Africa was high, and Australia was low, with no evidence of genetic seperation. One ehaplotypes found across Australia was found at only two sites in South Africa, both in the Western Cape, suggesting that the Australian lineage may have originated from this region. Ten samples from South Africa, putatively identified in the field as L.ferocissimum, were genetically characterised as different (unidentified) Lycium species. The majority of plants sampled were confirmed as L.ferocissimum, sharing a common haplotype (haplotype 5) with sampled specimens from Australia. Morphological analyses across different Lycium species in South Africa did not identify any leaf or floral characteristics unique to L.ferocissimum, and thus morphological identification in the native range remains problematic. Surveys for phytophagous in sects on L.ferocissimum were carried out regularly over a two-year period in the two regions. The number of insect species found in the Eastern Cape Province (55) was higher than in the Western Cape Province (41), but insect diversity based on Shannon indices was highest in the Western Cape Province. Indicator species analysis revealed eight insect herbivore species driving the differences in the herbivore communities between the two provinces. Based on insect distribution, abundance, feeding preference and available literature, three species were prioritised as potential biological control agents. These include the leaf-chewing beetles, Cassida distinguenda Spaeth (Chrysomelidae) and Cleta eckloni Mulsant (Coccinellidae), and the leaf-mining weevil, Neoplatygaster serietuberculata Gyllenhal (Curculionidae). Native range studies such as this are perhaps the most technically difficult and logistically time-consuming part of the biological control programme. Yet, the entire outcome of a programme depends on the suite of potential agents feeding on the weed. The information gained during this stage significantly contributed to the prioritization of agents for further host-range testing and possible release. Here we showed how molecular and genetic characterisations of the target weed can be us ed to accurately define the identity and phylogeny of the target species. In addition, the study also highlighted the importance of considering plant morphology and how phenotypic plasticity may influence infield plant identifications while conducting native range surveys. By gaining further information during long-term and wide spread native range surveys we were not just able to provide a list of herbivorous insect fauna and fungi associated with the plant, but were able to prioritise the phytophagous species that held the most potential as biological control agents.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mauda, Evans Vusani
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Lycium ferocissimum , Solanaceae -- Biological control -- Australia , Weeds -- Control -- Australia , Invasive plants -- Biological control -- Australia , Insects as biological pest control agents -- Australia , Insect-plant relationships
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167142 , vital:41441
- Description: Lycium ferocissimum Miers (Solanaceae) (African boxthorn or boxthorn) is a shrub native to South Africa,and has become naturalised and invasive in Australia and New Zealand. The plant is listed on the Noxious Weed List for Australian States and territories. Although other control methods are available, biological control presents a potentially sustainable intervention for reducing populations of this weed in Australia. In South Africa, the plant has been recorded from two allopatric populations, one in the Eastern Cape Province, the other in the Western Cape Provinces, however, there taxonomic and morphological uncertainties are reported in the literature. Therefore, before native range surveys for potential biological control agents could be considered, the taxonomic uncertainty needed to be resolved. The two geographically distinct areas, as well as the Australia population were sampled to assess morphological and genetic variation. All samples collected in Australia were confirmed as L.ferocissimum, with no evidence of hybridisation with any other Lycium species. Nuclear and chloroplast genetic diversity within L.ferocissimum across South Africa was high, and Australia was low, with no evidence of genetic seperation. One ehaplotypes found across Australia was found at only two sites in South Africa, both in the Western Cape, suggesting that the Australian lineage may have originated from this region. Ten samples from South Africa, putatively identified in the field as L.ferocissimum, were genetically characterised as different (unidentified) Lycium species. The majority of plants sampled were confirmed as L.ferocissimum, sharing a common haplotype (haplotype 5) with sampled specimens from Australia. Morphological analyses across different Lycium species in South Africa did not identify any leaf or floral characteristics unique to L.ferocissimum, and thus morphological identification in the native range remains problematic. Surveys for phytophagous in sects on L.ferocissimum were carried out regularly over a two-year period in the two regions. The number of insect species found in the Eastern Cape Province (55) was higher than in the Western Cape Province (41), but insect diversity based on Shannon indices was highest in the Western Cape Province. Indicator species analysis revealed eight insect herbivore species driving the differences in the herbivore communities between the two provinces. Based on insect distribution, abundance, feeding preference and available literature, three species were prioritised as potential biological control agents. These include the leaf-chewing beetles, Cassida distinguenda Spaeth (Chrysomelidae) and Cleta eckloni Mulsant (Coccinellidae), and the leaf-mining weevil, Neoplatygaster serietuberculata Gyllenhal (Curculionidae). Native range studies such as this are perhaps the most technically difficult and logistically time-consuming part of the biological control programme. Yet, the entire outcome of a programme depends on the suite of potential agents feeding on the weed. The information gained during this stage significantly contributed to the prioritization of agents for further host-range testing and possible release. Here we showed how molecular and genetic characterisations of the target weed can be us ed to accurately define the identity and phylogeny of the target species. In addition, the study also highlighted the importance of considering plant morphology and how phenotypic plasticity may influence infield plant identifications while conducting native range surveys. By gaining further information during long-term and wide spread native range surveys we were not just able to provide a list of herbivorous insect fauna and fungi associated with the plant, but were able to prioritise the phytophagous species that held the most potential as biological control agents.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Evaluation of Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS) for monitoring fish communities in Lake Malawi/Niassa
- Authors: Van Wyk, Angus
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Underwater videography -- Malawi , Chambo -- Malawi -- Monitoring , Fishes -- Malawi -- Monitoring , Oreochromis lidole -- Malawi -- Monitoring
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145546 , vital:38448
- Description: Baited Remote Underwater Video systems (BRUVS) have become a well-established in-situ monitoring technique in clearwater aquatic ecosystems. The relatively low cost, nondestructive and non-extractive nature of this technique permits BRUVS to be employed in a wide range of habitats. To date, the vast majority of studies using BRUVS technology have been conducted in marine habitats. Subsequently, BRUVS applications in freshwater habitats are scant, and techniques are not well developed. The primary objective of this thesis was to address this knowledge gap and develop standard operating procedures for BRUVS employment in Lake Malawi/Niassa and explore the potential of BRUVS as a monitoring tool for fish communities in the African Great Lakes. Eight easily identifiable species groups, representative of Lake Malawi/Niassa inshore fish communities, were used to develop the technique. The optimal BRUVS deployment time to obtain 95 % species accumulation was achieved in a 15-minute recording period. Power analysis, using a pre-determined 80 % power, a confidence interval of 95 % and a significance level of < 0.05 was used to determine annual sampling effort requirements for each species group. The power analysis was performed to detect a 10 % change in abundance over a hypothetical 10-year monitoring scenario. In areas where fish abundance was lower, the sampling effort required to monitor key fisheries species was significantly higher. For example, Chambo, the local Oreochromis (Nyasalapia) species flock, required an annual sampling effort of 120 deployments in Malawi compared to 56 in Mozambique ( < 0.05). Chambo had a higher detection probability in areas of lesser fishing pressure and were found in higher abundances in deeper, less accessible habitats. Deep-water (> 20 m) and rocky habitats were most important in explaining Chambo abundance and detection probability. The size-structure of Chambo in Lake Malawi/Niassa reflects size-specific depth and habitat migrations. Larger Chambo were observed aggregating in waters deeper than 20 m and a broader size range of individuals were observed utilising structured habitat. The effects of fishing are apparent in the size-structure of Chambo in the areas sampled. In study areas exposed to greater levels of fishing pressure – such as Malawi, the BRUVS detected significantly fewer individuals within sexually mature size classes, and the average size was smaller than in areas with less exploitation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Van Wyk, Angus
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Underwater videography -- Malawi , Chambo -- Malawi -- Monitoring , Fishes -- Malawi -- Monitoring , Oreochromis lidole -- Malawi -- Monitoring
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145546 , vital:38448
- Description: Baited Remote Underwater Video systems (BRUVS) have become a well-established in-situ monitoring technique in clearwater aquatic ecosystems. The relatively low cost, nondestructive and non-extractive nature of this technique permits BRUVS to be employed in a wide range of habitats. To date, the vast majority of studies using BRUVS technology have been conducted in marine habitats. Subsequently, BRUVS applications in freshwater habitats are scant, and techniques are not well developed. The primary objective of this thesis was to address this knowledge gap and develop standard operating procedures for BRUVS employment in Lake Malawi/Niassa and explore the potential of BRUVS as a monitoring tool for fish communities in the African Great Lakes. Eight easily identifiable species groups, representative of Lake Malawi/Niassa inshore fish communities, were used to develop the technique. The optimal BRUVS deployment time to obtain 95 % species accumulation was achieved in a 15-minute recording period. Power analysis, using a pre-determined 80 % power, a confidence interval of 95 % and a significance level of < 0.05 was used to determine annual sampling effort requirements for each species group. The power analysis was performed to detect a 10 % change in abundance over a hypothetical 10-year monitoring scenario. In areas where fish abundance was lower, the sampling effort required to monitor key fisheries species was significantly higher. For example, Chambo, the local Oreochromis (Nyasalapia) species flock, required an annual sampling effort of 120 deployments in Malawi compared to 56 in Mozambique ( < 0.05). Chambo had a higher detection probability in areas of lesser fishing pressure and were found in higher abundances in deeper, less accessible habitats. Deep-water (> 20 m) and rocky habitats were most important in explaining Chambo abundance and detection probability. The size-structure of Chambo in Lake Malawi/Niassa reflects size-specific depth and habitat migrations. Larger Chambo were observed aggregating in waters deeper than 20 m and a broader size range of individuals were observed utilising structured habitat. The effects of fishing are apparent in the size-structure of Chambo in the areas sampled. In study areas exposed to greater levels of fishing pressure – such as Malawi, the BRUVS detected significantly fewer individuals within sexually mature size classes, and the average size was smaller than in areas with less exploitation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Exploring working with Grade 6 Elementary Agricultural Science teachers on how to integrate local knowledge in food preservation
- Authors: Sabina, Hashondili
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia , Food -- Preservation -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia , Education, Elementary -- Namibia , Ethnoscience -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148093 , vital:38709
- Description: Many scholars have reported that science teachers are grappling with linking science to learners’ everyday life experiences and Namibian science teachers are no exception. As a result, learners are finding that scientific concepts often remain decontextualised and abstract. In light of this, the Namibian National Curriculum indicates that teaching and learning should start with the knowledge and experiences of learners from home. It also encourages teachers to integrate local knowledge into their science lessons but does not give proper guidelines on how science teachers should go about enacting this. This tension between curriculum formulation and implementation triggered my interest to carry out an interventionist research study aimed at exploring working with Grade 6 Elementary Agricultural Science teachers on how to integrate local knowledge on food preservation in particular. This study is underpinned by an interpretive paradigm, within which a qualitative case study was employed. It was conducted with three Grade 6 Elementary Agricultural Science teachers from three different schools in the Oshana region of Namibia. I used semi-structured interviews, document analysis, workshop discussions, participatory observation and reflections to gather data. Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory together with Shulman’s pedagogical content knowledge theories was used as lenses to analyse my data. The findings of the study revealed that the sample teachers understood what indigenous knowledge is and its benefits but struggled to integrate it in their lessons. The findings of the study further revealed that the presentations by the expert community members enabled these teachers to identify possible science topics that they could teach, using some of the traditional practices such as food preservation. The study thus recommends that teachers need to be supported on how to integrate local knowledge or indigenous knowledge in their classrooms. Teachers should therefore be involved in professional learning communities that will help them share their difficulties they encounter during their teaching practices and to collaboratively come up with strategies to overcome such difficulties. Community members who are custodians of the cultural heritage should be invited to share their indigenous knowledge with science teachers so that they can link it from community members to classroom science.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Sabina, Hashondili
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia , Food -- Preservation -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia , Education, Elementary -- Namibia , Ethnoscience -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148093 , vital:38709
- Description: Many scholars have reported that science teachers are grappling with linking science to learners’ everyday life experiences and Namibian science teachers are no exception. As a result, learners are finding that scientific concepts often remain decontextualised and abstract. In light of this, the Namibian National Curriculum indicates that teaching and learning should start with the knowledge and experiences of learners from home. It also encourages teachers to integrate local knowledge into their science lessons but does not give proper guidelines on how science teachers should go about enacting this. This tension between curriculum formulation and implementation triggered my interest to carry out an interventionist research study aimed at exploring working with Grade 6 Elementary Agricultural Science teachers on how to integrate local knowledge on food preservation in particular. This study is underpinned by an interpretive paradigm, within which a qualitative case study was employed. It was conducted with three Grade 6 Elementary Agricultural Science teachers from three different schools in the Oshana region of Namibia. I used semi-structured interviews, document analysis, workshop discussions, participatory observation and reflections to gather data. Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory together with Shulman’s pedagogical content knowledge theories was used as lenses to analyse my data. The findings of the study revealed that the sample teachers understood what indigenous knowledge is and its benefits but struggled to integrate it in their lessons. The findings of the study further revealed that the presentations by the expert community members enabled these teachers to identify possible science topics that they could teach, using some of the traditional practices such as food preservation. The study thus recommends that teachers need to be supported on how to integrate local knowledge or indigenous knowledge in their classrooms. Teachers should therefore be involved in professional learning communities that will help them share their difficulties they encounter during their teaching practices and to collaboratively come up with strategies to overcome such difficulties. Community members who are custodians of the cultural heritage should be invited to share their indigenous knowledge with science teachers so that they can link it from community members to classroom science.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
A skin that took them through
- Authors: Kgame, Mbali
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , African fiction (English) -- History and criticism , Short stories, South African (English) -- 21st century , Diaries -- Authorship
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147638 , vital:38656
- Description: This project comprises of interlinked fictional short stories capturing experiences of the “invisibilised’’ young people- the street kids, drug addicts, cashiers, childminders, the sick, first graduates etc. These stories are a way to interrogate the fallacy of a “free and fair” South Africa by noting events taking place within homes, communities and countrywide. Told in a playful, innocent, curious, childlike voice and reasoning, my work draws inspiration from Werewere Likings ‘The Amputated Memory,’ for its ability to narrate the current without divorcing the past. I draw inspiration from Liking’s way of writing family connectivity and employing an emerging voice of the narrator starting from being a child scribbling to later becoming an elder. Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s ‘Black Friday’ for scanning into young black people’s experiences in a society where their bodies move as misfits. My work also draws from Lesley Nneka Arimah’s ‘What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky’ for the interlinked stories. Lastly the stories in this project take from Sindiwe Magona’s Mother to Mother for humanising bodies that have been reduced to frames.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Kgame, Mbali
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , African fiction (English) -- History and criticism , Short stories, South African (English) -- 21st century , Diaries -- Authorship
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147638 , vital:38656
- Description: This project comprises of interlinked fictional short stories capturing experiences of the “invisibilised’’ young people- the street kids, drug addicts, cashiers, childminders, the sick, first graduates etc. These stories are a way to interrogate the fallacy of a “free and fair” South Africa by noting events taking place within homes, communities and countrywide. Told in a playful, innocent, curious, childlike voice and reasoning, my work draws inspiration from Werewere Likings ‘The Amputated Memory,’ for its ability to narrate the current without divorcing the past. I draw inspiration from Liking’s way of writing family connectivity and employing an emerging voice of the narrator starting from being a child scribbling to later becoming an elder. Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s ‘Black Friday’ for scanning into young black people’s experiences in a society where their bodies move as misfits. My work also draws from Lesley Nneka Arimah’s ‘What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky’ for the interlinked stories. Lastly the stories in this project take from Sindiwe Magona’s Mother to Mother for humanising bodies that have been reduced to frames.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An assessment of temporal changes in selective biological characteristics of chokka squid (Loligo reynaudii d’Órbigny, 1845)
- Authors: Mmethi, Mpho Audrey
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Loligo reynaudii , Squids -- Morphology , Squids -- South Africa , Squid fisheries -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143516 , vital:38253
- Description: The biological characteristics of chokka squid, Loligo reynaudii, sampled off the south coast of South Africa, were compared between 1994 and 2017 to ascertain any temporal changes using analysis of length frequency (LF) data over 15 years (1996–2017), and mantle length (ML) and total weight (TW) relationships over 9 years (1994–2016). To investigate feeding, two caecum colours were chosen for analysis (white: no food ingested, and yellow: six to seven hours after food ingestion). Other factors were kept constant throughout: similar sampling period of 60 days in spring-summer, similar depths and areas sampled, and identical maturity stage. Anecdotal evidence from fishers suggested that the length frequency and ML_TW relationship of chokka have changed over years, with possibilities to be linked to fishing activities and environmental conditions. Also, there is evidence in the published literature that both fisheries and environment may influence length distributions in populations of fish and cephalopods over time. The results from this study showed no significant differences between length frequencies over the time series. However, a significant decrease in length frequencies between 2014 and 2016 was noted when paired data was analysed by Anova (2014:2015, 2014:2016 and 2015:2016), which was initially noted in kernel density, Figure 2, hence an additional analysis was done. These changes were not linked to sea temperature (at 9 m, 14 m, 18 m, and 21 m depth strata), with not significant (P>0.05) results when temperature was analysed by t-test between 2002 and 2015. There was also a weak correlation between length frequency and the total squid catch in a given year (F Statistic (df = 1; 13) is 3.686 and 5.394 for males and females respectively, R² is 0.221 for males and 0.293 for females), but too weak to interpret, given the lack of other supporting data and the short time series. The ML_TW relationship showed no significant trends between the years for either sex. There was also no correlation between the ML_TW and total squid catch or temperature. A white caecum occurred significantly more often in males than in females (dof = 1; p < 0.05) from General Linear Model (GLM), indicating that the presence of non-feeding males in the spawning grounds may be linked to the behaviour of spawning squid.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mmethi, Mpho Audrey
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Loligo reynaudii , Squids -- Morphology , Squids -- South Africa , Squid fisheries -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143516 , vital:38253
- Description: The biological characteristics of chokka squid, Loligo reynaudii, sampled off the south coast of South Africa, were compared between 1994 and 2017 to ascertain any temporal changes using analysis of length frequency (LF) data over 15 years (1996–2017), and mantle length (ML) and total weight (TW) relationships over 9 years (1994–2016). To investigate feeding, two caecum colours were chosen for analysis (white: no food ingested, and yellow: six to seven hours after food ingestion). Other factors were kept constant throughout: similar sampling period of 60 days in spring-summer, similar depths and areas sampled, and identical maturity stage. Anecdotal evidence from fishers suggested that the length frequency and ML_TW relationship of chokka have changed over years, with possibilities to be linked to fishing activities and environmental conditions. Also, there is evidence in the published literature that both fisheries and environment may influence length distributions in populations of fish and cephalopods over time. The results from this study showed no significant differences between length frequencies over the time series. However, a significant decrease in length frequencies between 2014 and 2016 was noted when paired data was analysed by Anova (2014:2015, 2014:2016 and 2015:2016), which was initially noted in kernel density, Figure 2, hence an additional analysis was done. These changes were not linked to sea temperature (at 9 m, 14 m, 18 m, and 21 m depth strata), with not significant (P>0.05) results when temperature was analysed by t-test between 2002 and 2015. There was also a weak correlation between length frequency and the total squid catch in a given year (F Statistic (df = 1; 13) is 3.686 and 5.394 for males and females respectively, R² is 0.221 for males and 0.293 for females), but too weak to interpret, given the lack of other supporting data and the short time series. The ML_TW relationship showed no significant trends between the years for either sex. There was also no correlation between the ML_TW and total squid catch or temperature. A white caecum occurred significantly more often in males than in females (dof = 1; p < 0.05) from General Linear Model (GLM), indicating that the presence of non-feeding males in the spawning grounds may be linked to the behaviour of spawning squid.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Exploring career information through developmental contextual focus groups with youth from disadvantaged backgrounds
- Authors: Phala, Phorogohlo Modipadi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Vocational guidance , Educational counseling , Focus groups , Action research , Youth -- South Africa -- Social conditions -- 1994- , Parental influences – South Africa , Vocational guidance -- Parent participation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/130594 , vital:36442
- Description: This study investigates the importance of initiating career exploration discussions with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, using the developmental-contextual framework of career development by Vondracek, Lerner & Schulenburg (1986). This model stresses the dynamic relationship between an individual, the ever-changing environment and how each influences the other. Based upon an earlier study by Spencer (1999), this study aims to explore the developmental-contextual model as the basis of successive group discussions at a pivotal moment in the lives of the youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition, it aims to understand individuals’ perceptions of career education and the influences on career decision-making and aspiration. Data were collected through setting up and running a focus group session once a week over a period of five weeks, in which different career-related topics were discussed. The sample consisted of nine unemployed students who were currently not in a tertiary institution between the ages of 18-25 years. The findings indicated a noteworthy need for more relevant career interventions to be investigated and implemented for the diverse South African population. The study’s findings demonstrated that individuals might be more open to exploring career development through group rather than individual counselling. It was found that parents are the main career influencers in their children’s lives. Mothers were experienced as role models, supporters and encouragers while fathers were experienced as absent and unsupportive, playing little or no role in their children’s lives. The participants found this form of career exploration appealing as it allowed for peer consultation and the freedom to discuss career issues in a non-judgemental setting.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Phala, Phorogohlo Modipadi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Vocational guidance , Educational counseling , Focus groups , Action research , Youth -- South Africa -- Social conditions -- 1994- , Parental influences – South Africa , Vocational guidance -- Parent participation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/130594 , vital:36442
- Description: This study investigates the importance of initiating career exploration discussions with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, using the developmental-contextual framework of career development by Vondracek, Lerner & Schulenburg (1986). This model stresses the dynamic relationship between an individual, the ever-changing environment and how each influences the other. Based upon an earlier study by Spencer (1999), this study aims to explore the developmental-contextual model as the basis of successive group discussions at a pivotal moment in the lives of the youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition, it aims to understand individuals’ perceptions of career education and the influences on career decision-making and aspiration. Data were collected through setting up and running a focus group session once a week over a period of five weeks, in which different career-related topics were discussed. The sample consisted of nine unemployed students who were currently not in a tertiary institution between the ages of 18-25 years. The findings indicated a noteworthy need for more relevant career interventions to be investigated and implemented for the diverse South African population. The study’s findings demonstrated that individuals might be more open to exploring career development through group rather than individual counselling. It was found that parents are the main career influencers in their children’s lives. Mothers were experienced as role models, supporters and encouragers while fathers were experienced as absent and unsupportive, playing little or no role in their children’s lives. The participants found this form of career exploration appealing as it allowed for peer consultation and the freedom to discuss career issues in a non-judgemental setting.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
“Investigating the negative impact of emotional labour on full-time permanent academic staff in the Social Sciences Departments at Rhodes University”
- Authors: Mumba, Lomadinga
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: College teachers -- Social conditions -- South Africa -- Makhanda , College teachers -- Psychology -- South Africa -- Makhanda , College teachers -- Mental health-- South Africa -- Makhanda , College teachers -- Job stress -- South Africa -- Makhanda , College students -- Attitudes , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Makhanda -- Sociological aspects , Discrimination in higher education -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Sex discrimination in higher education -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Age discrimination in higher education -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Rhodes University. Department of Sociology , Corporate culture -- South Africa -- Makhanda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148740 , vital:38769
- Description: In investigating the prevalence of emotional labour among academics within the student/ academic staff relationship, this study expands from Arlie Hochschild’s theoretical orientation of ‘emotional labour’. Through this lens, this study documents the manner in which the adoption of neoliberal ideologies by higher education institutions have transformed it into the service industry and redefined students as consumers and academic staff as service providers. Drawing from previous research in academia, the central argument of the study is that the university system is now an increasingly corporatized and marketized institution that creates an expectation for academic staff to perform emotional labour. However, there is limited literature that looks at emotional labour in academia and more especially within the South African context. Therefore, the focus of this research is how academic work, particularly with students, has shifted to emotion work in an effort to provide quality services. The study was conducted at Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape Province with academic staff who work in the social sciences department. The research methodology employed is qualitative and evidence was derived from semi structured interviews to establish the negative consequences of emotional labour on the wellbeing of academic staff. Data was analysed and thematically presented in line with the research objectives. The research finds evidence of increased emotional labour in academic staff, it argues that this is largely as a result of the effects of corporatization which included intensified workloads, entitled students, increasing pastoral care and discontentment from the transformations. It was revealed that emotional labour was differentially experienced for females, younger academics and those in lower/ initial positions in academia, it explored the gendered expectations and concluded that based on certain organizational and personal characteristics, emotion management differed in academics. Lastly, discussions regarding implications and recommendations for further research were made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mumba, Lomadinga
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: College teachers -- Social conditions -- South Africa -- Makhanda , College teachers -- Psychology -- South Africa -- Makhanda , College teachers -- Mental health-- South Africa -- Makhanda , College teachers -- Job stress -- South Africa -- Makhanda , College students -- Attitudes , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Makhanda -- Sociological aspects , Discrimination in higher education -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Sex discrimination in higher education -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Age discrimination in higher education -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Rhodes University. Department of Sociology , Corporate culture -- South Africa -- Makhanda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148740 , vital:38769
- Description: In investigating the prevalence of emotional labour among academics within the student/ academic staff relationship, this study expands from Arlie Hochschild’s theoretical orientation of ‘emotional labour’. Through this lens, this study documents the manner in which the adoption of neoliberal ideologies by higher education institutions have transformed it into the service industry and redefined students as consumers and academic staff as service providers. Drawing from previous research in academia, the central argument of the study is that the university system is now an increasingly corporatized and marketized institution that creates an expectation for academic staff to perform emotional labour. However, there is limited literature that looks at emotional labour in academia and more especially within the South African context. Therefore, the focus of this research is how academic work, particularly with students, has shifted to emotion work in an effort to provide quality services. The study was conducted at Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape Province with academic staff who work in the social sciences department. The research methodology employed is qualitative and evidence was derived from semi structured interviews to establish the negative consequences of emotional labour on the wellbeing of academic staff. Data was analysed and thematically presented in line with the research objectives. The research finds evidence of increased emotional labour in academic staff, it argues that this is largely as a result of the effects of corporatization which included intensified workloads, entitled students, increasing pastoral care and discontentment from the transformations. It was revealed that emotional labour was differentially experienced for females, younger academics and those in lower/ initial positions in academia, it explored the gendered expectations and concluded that based on certain organizational and personal characteristics, emotion management differed in academics. Lastly, discussions regarding implications and recommendations for further research were made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The effects of education on economic growth and global competitiveness: a statistical approach
- Mbatha, Erica Isabel Tavares Da Silva
- Authors: Mbatha, Erica Isabel Tavares Da Silva
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Economic development -- Effect of education on -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Educational attainment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147558 , vital:38649
- Description: This thesis investigates whether there is a relationship between education, economic growth and global competitiveness and whether there is a relationship between South Africa’s current throughput rates in institutions of higher education, and its economic growth and global competitiveness. Economic growth is defined as a country’s ability to improve the life of its average citizen based on the strength of its economy. As such, it is increasingly important for a country to assess the factors that contribute to the improvement of their economy, which will ultimately result in its economic growth. Global competitiveness is an indication of how countries are able to provide for their people internally, as well as participate in the international market. To this end, economic growth and global competitiveness are two proxies that can be used to demonstrate the economic wellbeing of a country. Considering that prosperity under economic growth and global competitiveness of a country are driven by its people, one of the aims of this thesis was to investigate whether there is a relationship between education and economic growth and global competitiveness. Considering the recent demand in free education in South Africa, it is also important to understand whether there is a relationship between South Africa’s current throughput rates at higher education institutions and its economic growth and global competitiveness. Bearing in mind the political past which has led to inequality in the country, it is important to understand which types of education contribute to the economy and which types need to be further supported in order to increase the country’s economic productivity. Therefore, an additional aim of the thesis was to determine the relationship between South Africa’s current throughput rates in institutions of higher education, and its economic growth and global competitiveness. To address the aforementioned aims, data were collected from various open access online repositories. All the data were collated and numerous general linear models were constructed and tested to determine the different relationships as per the two aims. The results reveal that secondary school education had the highest impact on economic growth and global competitiveness on a global scale. This could be attributed to the fact that secondary school graduates tend to make up the largest part of the general workforce and as such, would make up a substantial proportion of the economy. Regarding South Africa, the only significant relationships were between green cluster universities (universities that focus on both research and technical training) and global competitiveness. Overall average throughput rates in all academic institutions were low; this could indicate that perhaps there are issues within the higher education system itself that need to be addressed in order to increase the throughput rate. From a managerial perspective, the results of this research stress the importance for the government to further investigate this area of study, as the call for free education becomes more prominent. The low throughput rates seem to suggest that the government is spending substantial amounts of money on students who do not always complete their studies. More research needs to be done to assess the root of the problem in South Africa’s tertiary education system, in order to ensure that this aspect increases its positive contribution towards the country’s economic growth and global competitiveness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mbatha, Erica Isabel Tavares Da Silva
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Economic development -- Effect of education on -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Educational attainment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147558 , vital:38649
- Description: This thesis investigates whether there is a relationship between education, economic growth and global competitiveness and whether there is a relationship between South Africa’s current throughput rates in institutions of higher education, and its economic growth and global competitiveness. Economic growth is defined as a country’s ability to improve the life of its average citizen based on the strength of its economy. As such, it is increasingly important for a country to assess the factors that contribute to the improvement of their economy, which will ultimately result in its economic growth. Global competitiveness is an indication of how countries are able to provide for their people internally, as well as participate in the international market. To this end, economic growth and global competitiveness are two proxies that can be used to demonstrate the economic wellbeing of a country. Considering that prosperity under economic growth and global competitiveness of a country are driven by its people, one of the aims of this thesis was to investigate whether there is a relationship between education and economic growth and global competitiveness. Considering the recent demand in free education in South Africa, it is also important to understand whether there is a relationship between South Africa’s current throughput rates at higher education institutions and its economic growth and global competitiveness. Bearing in mind the political past which has led to inequality in the country, it is important to understand which types of education contribute to the economy and which types need to be further supported in order to increase the country’s economic productivity. Therefore, an additional aim of the thesis was to determine the relationship between South Africa’s current throughput rates in institutions of higher education, and its economic growth and global competitiveness. To address the aforementioned aims, data were collected from various open access online repositories. All the data were collated and numerous general linear models were constructed and tested to determine the different relationships as per the two aims. The results reveal that secondary school education had the highest impact on economic growth and global competitiveness on a global scale. This could be attributed to the fact that secondary school graduates tend to make up the largest part of the general workforce and as such, would make up a substantial proportion of the economy. Regarding South Africa, the only significant relationships were between green cluster universities (universities that focus on both research and technical training) and global competitiveness. Overall average throughput rates in all academic institutions were low; this could indicate that perhaps there are issues within the higher education system itself that need to be addressed in order to increase the throughput rate. From a managerial perspective, the results of this research stress the importance for the government to further investigate this area of study, as the call for free education becomes more prominent. The low throughput rates seem to suggest that the government is spending substantial amounts of money on students who do not always complete their studies. More research needs to be done to assess the root of the problem in South Africa’s tertiary education system, in order to ensure that this aspect increases its positive contribution towards the country’s economic growth and global competitiveness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Effect of the nature of nanoparticles on the photophysicochemical properties and photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy of phthalocyanines
- Authors: Magadla, Aviwe
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Nanoparticles , Phthalocyanines , Anti-infective agents -- Therapeutic use , Photochemotherapy , Photochemistry
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/123107 , vital:35406
- Description: In this work, the syntheses and characterisation of Zn monocaffeic acid tri–tert–butyl phthalocyanine (1), Zn monocarboxyphenoxy tri– tert–butylphenoxyl phthalocyanine (2), tetrakis phenoxy N,N-dimethyl-4-(methylimino) phthalocyanine indium (III) chloride (3) and tetrakis N,N-dimethyl-4-(methylimino) phthalocyanine indium (III) chloride (5) are presented. Complexes 3 and 5 were further quartenised with 1,3- propanesultone to form corresponding complexes (4) and (6), respectively. Complexes 1 and 2 were covalently linked to amino functionalised nanoparticles (NPs). Complexes 3, 4, 5 and 6 where linked to oleic acid/oleylamine capped (OLA/OLM) silver-iron dimers (Ag-Fe3O4 OLA/OLM) and silver-iron core shell (Ag@Fe3O4 OLA/OLM) NPs via interaction between the nanoparticles and the imino group on the phthalocyanines. The phthalocyanine-NP conjugates afforded an increase in triplet quantum yields with a corresponding decrease in fluorescence quantum yield as compared to the phthalocyanine complexes alone. Complexes 3, 4 and their conjugates were then used for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy on E. coli. The zwitterionic photosensitiser 4 and its conjugates showed better efficiency for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy compared to their neutral counterparts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Magadla, Aviwe
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Nanoparticles , Phthalocyanines , Anti-infective agents -- Therapeutic use , Photochemotherapy , Photochemistry
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/123107 , vital:35406
- Description: In this work, the syntheses and characterisation of Zn monocaffeic acid tri–tert–butyl phthalocyanine (1), Zn monocarboxyphenoxy tri– tert–butylphenoxyl phthalocyanine (2), tetrakis phenoxy N,N-dimethyl-4-(methylimino) phthalocyanine indium (III) chloride (3) and tetrakis N,N-dimethyl-4-(methylimino) phthalocyanine indium (III) chloride (5) are presented. Complexes 3 and 5 were further quartenised with 1,3- propanesultone to form corresponding complexes (4) and (6), respectively. Complexes 1 and 2 were covalently linked to amino functionalised nanoparticles (NPs). Complexes 3, 4, 5 and 6 where linked to oleic acid/oleylamine capped (OLA/OLM) silver-iron dimers (Ag-Fe3O4 OLA/OLM) and silver-iron core shell (Ag@Fe3O4 OLA/OLM) NPs via interaction between the nanoparticles and the imino group on the phthalocyanines. The phthalocyanine-NP conjugates afforded an increase in triplet quantum yields with a corresponding decrease in fluorescence quantum yield as compared to the phthalocyanine complexes alone. Complexes 3, 4 and their conjugates were then used for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy on E. coli. The zwitterionic photosensitiser 4 and its conjugates showed better efficiency for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy compared to their neutral counterparts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Nutrient impacts on grasses and legumes growing in communal pasture soil in relation to mycorrhizal activity
- Authors: Mkile, Zolani
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164512 , vital:41125 , doi:10.21504/10962/164512
- Description: Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mkile, Zolani
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164512 , vital:41125 , doi:10.21504/10962/164512
- Description: Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Mobilising the indigenous practice of making Oshikundu using an inquiry-based approach to support Grade 8 Life Science teachers in mediating learning of enzymes
- Shinana, Ester Ndakondja Lineekela
- Authors: Shinana, Ester Ndakondja Lineekela
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Education, Secondary -- Namibia , Ethnoscience -- Namibia , Fermented beverages -- Namibia , Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Enzymes -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Ethnoscience -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163615 , vital:41061
- Description: The Namibian curriculum encourages Life Science teachers to integrate indigenous knowledge into their science lessons. Additionally, it also encourages teachers to promote scientific inquiry in their science classrooms. However, it is not clear how Life Science teachers should go about doing this. As a result, science is taught in decontextualised ways and inquiry-based methods are neglected. It is against this background that this study sought to mobilise the indigenous practice of making oshikundu to mediate learning of enzymes and to promote inquiry-based methods. Essentially, an attempt was made to mediate the learning of enzymes through inquiry-based methods using, in particular, the Predict-Explain-Explore-Observe-Explain (PEEOE)approach.The approach entails learners making predictions and providing explanations for their predictions before they do their observations. The study employed a qualitative case study approach underpinned by an interpretive paradigm. It was conducted at two schools in the Omusati Region in Namibia and three Life Science teachers (two from one school and one from a different school) participated in this study.A variety of data gathering techniques such as document analysis, workshop discussions, participatory observation, and journal reflections were used to gather data and for triangulation purposes. A thematic approach to data analysis was adopted and data analysis and interpretation we redone inductively using Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory and Shulman’s Pedagogical Content Kno Knowledge (TSPCK) model was used as the analytical framework to identify and improve the quality of Life Science teachers’ PCK in the topic of enzyme s in particular. Findings from this study revealed that some teachers had a narrow understanding of the concept of scientific inquiry, whereas some demonstrated a better understanding of the concept and how it is used in Life Science classrooms. The findings also revealed that the understanding of the teachers of an inquiry approach and how they understood science should be taught, further influenced their practice ; this was in addition to resource constraints. Furthermore, it was also established that some teachers did not include the concept of enzymes in their teaching. The workshop intervention equipped teachers with the knowledge on an inquiry approach and how to promote scientific inquiry skills in their classrooms. Likewise, the practical demonstration of making oshikundu also equipped the teachers with the knowledge of enzymes and together with the PEEOE approach, how to teach enzyme s using an inquiry approach. Teachers experienced challenges, as they had to use their creative, critical thinking and reasoning skills in order to identify the scientific concepts from the practical demonstration of oshikundu. The study suggests that there is a need for professional development programmes focusing specifically on supporting in-service science teachers’ understanding of inquiry and how to use the inquiry-based approach in their classrooms. Equally, the pre-service science teachers need such preparations during their training. Furthermore, the study also presents that there is a need to engage both pre-service and in-service teachers deeply with the new content of the Life Science syllabus.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Shinana, Ester Ndakondja Lineekela
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Education, Secondary -- Namibia , Ethnoscience -- Namibia , Fermented beverages -- Namibia , Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Enzymes -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Ethnoscience -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163615 , vital:41061
- Description: The Namibian curriculum encourages Life Science teachers to integrate indigenous knowledge into their science lessons. Additionally, it also encourages teachers to promote scientific inquiry in their science classrooms. However, it is not clear how Life Science teachers should go about doing this. As a result, science is taught in decontextualised ways and inquiry-based methods are neglected. It is against this background that this study sought to mobilise the indigenous practice of making oshikundu to mediate learning of enzymes and to promote inquiry-based methods. Essentially, an attempt was made to mediate the learning of enzymes through inquiry-based methods using, in particular, the Predict-Explain-Explore-Observe-Explain (PEEOE)approach.The approach entails learners making predictions and providing explanations for their predictions before they do their observations. The study employed a qualitative case study approach underpinned by an interpretive paradigm. It was conducted at two schools in the Omusati Region in Namibia and three Life Science teachers (two from one school and one from a different school) participated in this study.A variety of data gathering techniques such as document analysis, workshop discussions, participatory observation, and journal reflections were used to gather data and for triangulation purposes. A thematic approach to data analysis was adopted and data analysis and interpretation we redone inductively using Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory and Shulman’s Pedagogical Content Kno Knowledge (TSPCK) model was used as the analytical framework to identify and improve the quality of Life Science teachers’ PCK in the topic of enzyme s in particular. Findings from this study revealed that some teachers had a narrow understanding of the concept of scientific inquiry, whereas some demonstrated a better understanding of the concept and how it is used in Life Science classrooms. The findings also revealed that the understanding of the teachers of an inquiry approach and how they understood science should be taught, further influenced their practice ; this was in addition to resource constraints. Furthermore, it was also established that some teachers did not include the concept of enzymes in their teaching. The workshop intervention equipped teachers with the knowledge on an inquiry approach and how to promote scientific inquiry skills in their classrooms. Likewise, the practical demonstration of making oshikundu also equipped the teachers with the knowledge of enzymes and together with the PEEOE approach, how to teach enzyme s using an inquiry approach. Teachers experienced challenges, as they had to use their creative, critical thinking and reasoning skills in order to identify the scientific concepts from the practical demonstration of oshikundu. The study suggests that there is a need for professional development programmes focusing specifically on supporting in-service science teachers’ understanding of inquiry and how to use the inquiry-based approach in their classrooms. Equally, the pre-service science teachers need such preparations during their training. Furthermore, the study also presents that there is a need to engage both pre-service and in-service teachers deeply with the new content of the Life Science syllabus.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020