Factors contributing to low supervision rate in Ugu District primary healthcare clinics
- Authors: Mkhize, Ntokozo Clarice
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Mentoring in medicine http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh98003695 , Mentoring in nursing http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh92002828 , Public health personnel--Supervision of
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19534 , vital:43136
- Description: Among the threats, barriers and challenges impeding access to health services in developing countries, Primary Healthcare Supervision was reported as a critical link with complex interventions that are implemented in different ways (Bosch-Capblanch & Garner, 2008:369). Among the objectives of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health Policy for PHC Supervision; are increasing the PHC Supervision rate from 60 percent to 85 percent; improvement of community participation and inter-sectoral collaboration to achieve improved health services in all health clinics in the Province of KwaZuluNatal (KZN Department of Health PHC Supervision Policy, 2010:9). However, currently there is no policy guiding the PHC Supervision processes in the province albeit an adapted policy document from the National Health Department and set of supervision tools are used to date. It is therefore critical to examine the strength and weaknesses of the current adapted guidelines for PHC Supervision processes including the reasons for the current low PHC Supervision rate in the province. , Thesis (MPH) -- University of Fort Hare, 2018
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mkhize, Ntokozo Clarice
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Mentoring in medicine http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh98003695 , Mentoring in nursing http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh92002828 , Public health personnel--Supervision of
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19534 , vital:43136
- Description: Among the threats, barriers and challenges impeding access to health services in developing countries, Primary Healthcare Supervision was reported as a critical link with complex interventions that are implemented in different ways (Bosch-Capblanch & Garner, 2008:369). Among the objectives of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health Policy for PHC Supervision; are increasing the PHC Supervision rate from 60 percent to 85 percent; improvement of community participation and inter-sectoral collaboration to achieve improved health services in all health clinics in the Province of KwaZuluNatal (KZN Department of Health PHC Supervision Policy, 2010:9). However, currently there is no policy guiding the PHC Supervision processes in the province albeit an adapted policy document from the National Health Department and set of supervision tools are used to date. It is therefore critical to examine the strength and weaknesses of the current adapted guidelines for PHC Supervision processes including the reasons for the current low PHC Supervision rate in the province. , Thesis (MPH) -- University of Fort Hare, 2018
- Full Text:
Factors contributing to non-adherence in HIV positive patients on antiretroviral treatment in primary health care facilities, East London, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Petse, Siphokazi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Antiretroviral therapy -- Eastern Cape -- South Africa , Patient compliance , HIV-positive persons -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9734 , vital:34905
- Description: Aim: South Africa is faced with the major challenge of ensuring and sustaining the quality of services, including preventing and managing side- effects, and improving drug adherence, which are all critical, for the success of a comprehensive HIV programme. The aim of this study was to examine the underlying contributing factors to antiretroviral treatment adherence among HIV positive patients attending primary health care facilities in East London. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 371 HIV positive patients on antiretroviral treatment in xx primary health care facilities in East London, South Africa. The study utilized a self- designed structured questionnaire with both open- ended and closed ended questions, divided into socio-demographic, socio- economic, level of understanding and knowledge on HIV, quality of care and waiting times. Results: About 64 percent of the participants had a good knowledge of HIV, 25 percent had an average knowledge with few participants having poor knowledge of HIV (11 percent). Majority (92.2 percent) were counselled before starting ARVs treatment. Majority of participants (70.7 percent) do have money for transport to come to the clinic, while 53.1 percent experienced side effects. The majority (70 percent) of the participants were non-adherents. Concerning viral load distribution, 52 percent were undetectable, 26 percent unsuppressed and 22 percent suppressed. Marital status (married) (p=0.005), having no formal education (p=0.035), being Christian (p=0.007), alcohol consumption (p= 0.021) and viral load suppression had significant association with non-adherence to ARV treatment among participants. After adjusting for confounders, only non-Christians and unsuppressed viral loads were the independent predictors of non-adherence. Conclusion: The main contributing factors to ART non-adherence among participants on ARVs were marital status, level of education, religion, and Christians were more adherent to the treatment than non-Christians. Alcohol consumption also contributed to non-adherence and viral load. Adherence counseling should be done on each and every visit to remind the participants on the importance of taking their treatment. These factors need to be addressed to improve adherence to the treatment, decrease the virus in the blood (viral load) and improve their health in general.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Petse, Siphokazi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Antiretroviral therapy -- Eastern Cape -- South Africa , Patient compliance , HIV-positive persons -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9734 , vital:34905
- Description: Aim: South Africa is faced with the major challenge of ensuring and sustaining the quality of services, including preventing and managing side- effects, and improving drug adherence, which are all critical, for the success of a comprehensive HIV programme. The aim of this study was to examine the underlying contributing factors to antiretroviral treatment adherence among HIV positive patients attending primary health care facilities in East London. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 371 HIV positive patients on antiretroviral treatment in xx primary health care facilities in East London, South Africa. The study utilized a self- designed structured questionnaire with both open- ended and closed ended questions, divided into socio-demographic, socio- economic, level of understanding and knowledge on HIV, quality of care and waiting times. Results: About 64 percent of the participants had a good knowledge of HIV, 25 percent had an average knowledge with few participants having poor knowledge of HIV (11 percent). Majority (92.2 percent) were counselled before starting ARVs treatment. Majority of participants (70.7 percent) do have money for transport to come to the clinic, while 53.1 percent experienced side effects. The majority (70 percent) of the participants were non-adherents. Concerning viral load distribution, 52 percent were undetectable, 26 percent unsuppressed and 22 percent suppressed. Marital status (married) (p=0.005), having no formal education (p=0.035), being Christian (p=0.007), alcohol consumption (p= 0.021) and viral load suppression had significant association with non-adherence to ARV treatment among participants. After adjusting for confounders, only non-Christians and unsuppressed viral loads were the independent predictors of non-adherence. Conclusion: The main contributing factors to ART non-adherence among participants on ARVs were marital status, level of education, religion, and Christians were more adherent to the treatment than non-Christians. Alcohol consumption also contributed to non-adherence and viral load. Adherence counseling should be done on each and every visit to remind the participants on the importance of taking their treatment. These factors need to be addressed to improve adherence to the treatment, decrease the virus in the blood (viral load) and improve their health in general.
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Factors contributing to tuberculosis mortality among new tuberculosis patients in Zululand Health District
- Dlamini, Khulekani Zakheleni
- Authors: Dlamini, Khulekani Zakheleni
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Mortality Tuberculosis -- Mortality Tuberculosis -- Patients
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Public Health
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10667 , vital:35657
- Description: During the period ranging from 2011 to 2013, Zululand Health District reported tuberculosis (TB) related mortality cases above the WHO’s norm of 10 percent. This raised concerns because TB is curable even if the person is HIV positive. The overall performance of TB programme in South Africa concealed the actual problem of TB related mortality in the country and most particularly in Zululand Health District. The aim of the study was to examine factors contributing to TB mortality, and the extent of TB related mortality in Zululand Health District. A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted to review records of data on the electronic TB register at the district level in order to ascertain the relationship between TB mortality and the contributory factors associated with TB mortality. The TB data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to test the null hypothesis at the significance level of p< 0.05. The study was limited to only new patients enrolled between the periods from the 1st January 2012 to the 31 December 2013. The study found that TB/HIV comorbidity was a main factor contributing to mortality among new TB patients. Eighty percent (80%) of all patients who died were HIV positive. Poor CD4 monitoring, delays or failure to initiate TB/HIV comorbid patients was one of the factors associated with mortality (p < 0.0001, OR 0.51) among this cohort of patients. Poor DOT support system significantly (p< 0.0008, OR 0.81) contributed to mortality in this district. The study also found significant association between mortality and failure to initiate comorbid patient on co-trimoxazole prophylaxis (Chi-square =9.1; df=1; p=0.0025). Tuberculosis and HIV comorbidity, and delays or failure to providing antiretroviral therapy to HIV positive patients were the main factors responsible for TB mortality in Zululand Health District. The whole phenomenon was attributable to health worker related factors. Good TB/HIV clinical management guidelines and protocols developed by the Department of Health, and distributed to all health facilities did not alleviate the problem. Support and supervision could translate policies and protocols to action.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Dlamini, Khulekani Zakheleni
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Mortality Tuberculosis -- Mortality Tuberculosis -- Patients
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Public Health
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10667 , vital:35657
- Description: During the period ranging from 2011 to 2013, Zululand Health District reported tuberculosis (TB) related mortality cases above the WHO’s norm of 10 percent. This raised concerns because TB is curable even if the person is HIV positive. The overall performance of TB programme in South Africa concealed the actual problem of TB related mortality in the country and most particularly in Zululand Health District. The aim of the study was to examine factors contributing to TB mortality, and the extent of TB related mortality in Zululand Health District. A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted to review records of data on the electronic TB register at the district level in order to ascertain the relationship between TB mortality and the contributory factors associated with TB mortality. The TB data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to test the null hypothesis at the significance level of p< 0.05. The study was limited to only new patients enrolled between the periods from the 1st January 2012 to the 31 December 2013. The study found that TB/HIV comorbidity was a main factor contributing to mortality among new TB patients. Eighty percent (80%) of all patients who died were HIV positive. Poor CD4 monitoring, delays or failure to initiate TB/HIV comorbid patients was one of the factors associated with mortality (p < 0.0001, OR 0.51) among this cohort of patients. Poor DOT support system significantly (p< 0.0008, OR 0.81) contributed to mortality in this district. The study also found significant association between mortality and failure to initiate comorbid patient on co-trimoxazole prophylaxis (Chi-square =9.1; df=1; p=0.0025). Tuberculosis and HIV comorbidity, and delays or failure to providing antiretroviral therapy to HIV positive patients were the main factors responsible for TB mortality in Zululand Health District. The whole phenomenon was attributable to health worker related factors. Good TB/HIV clinical management guidelines and protocols developed by the Department of Health, and distributed to all health facilities did not alleviate the problem. Support and supervision could translate policies and protocols to action.
- Full Text:
Factors influencing adherence to treatment among clients living with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Insika Yethu sub-district, Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Somkala, Nwabisa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Diabetics Public health Diabetes -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13161 , vital:39470
- Description: BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the problematic non-communicable diseases and is a major global public health challenge which affects more than 300 million individuals globally. It is predicted that by the year 2025, approximately 12.3 million South Africans will be receiving treatment for chronic conditions; included in that number will be those living with HIV and diabetes. An individual’s health behaviour is mainly determined by one’s demographic factors such as social, economic and cultural background. These influence people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus and have an impact on their treatment adherence. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to examine the economic, psycho-social and cultural factors influencing adherence to treatment amongst patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in order to inform public health policy concerning the treatment and management of diabetic patients. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive quantitative study involving 300 purposively selected clients attending health facilities in Intsika Yethu sub district of Chris Hani, Eastern Cape Province. A self-designed questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire focuses on demographic information (age, gender, marital status, level of education, employment status, number of dependents, duration of taking anti-diabetic medication and existence of other chronic conditions) and the knowledge and attitude of diabetic clients regarding anti-diabetic treatment adherence. Other sections of the questionnaire solicit information on economic, psychosocial and cultural factors affecting adherence to diabetic treatment. The questionnaire was tested in a pilot study in order to identify unclear questions, so that they can be rectified before the main study was conducted. FINDINGS: Based on the findings from the study, a total of 177 (59.0percnt) of the diabetic clients had hypertension and that showed the relationship between diabetes and hypertension. On the attitude session, respondents have shown a positive attitude towards treatment. Furthermore, other objectives such as those focusing on economic, cultural and psychosocial factors were found not to be associated with poor adherence to anti-diabetic treatment. According to respondents’ responses, economic factors showed no influence on treatment adherence. Socio-cultural factors indicated that respondents never missed social gatherings and never used traditional medication to treat their diabetes. On the knowledge section which had fourteen questions, most clients seemed to be aware of the complications of diabetes and the benefits of adhering to anti-diabetic treatment because the lowest score was 50percnt. DATA ANALYSIS: The data was captured in Microsoft Excel (MSEXCEL) for onward processing. Data was analysed using data analysis and statistical software version 14. (STATA). Frequencies and percentages were used for describing the categorical variables while mean and standard deviation were used for describing age, number of dependents, duration of illness and knowledge. An independent t-test was used to determine the differences between males and females across the variables. A p-value of 0.05 was of statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Economic, psychosocial and socio-cultural factors were not found to have impacted on adherence to treatment. These findings should not be generalised as the study was done on a small sample; further research and more studies need to be conducted.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Somkala, Nwabisa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Diabetics Public health Diabetes -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13161 , vital:39470
- Description: BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the problematic non-communicable diseases and is a major global public health challenge which affects more than 300 million individuals globally. It is predicted that by the year 2025, approximately 12.3 million South Africans will be receiving treatment for chronic conditions; included in that number will be those living with HIV and diabetes. An individual’s health behaviour is mainly determined by one’s demographic factors such as social, economic and cultural background. These influence people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus and have an impact on their treatment adherence. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to examine the economic, psycho-social and cultural factors influencing adherence to treatment amongst patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in order to inform public health policy concerning the treatment and management of diabetic patients. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive quantitative study involving 300 purposively selected clients attending health facilities in Intsika Yethu sub district of Chris Hani, Eastern Cape Province. A self-designed questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire focuses on demographic information (age, gender, marital status, level of education, employment status, number of dependents, duration of taking anti-diabetic medication and existence of other chronic conditions) and the knowledge and attitude of diabetic clients regarding anti-diabetic treatment adherence. Other sections of the questionnaire solicit information on economic, psychosocial and cultural factors affecting adherence to diabetic treatment. The questionnaire was tested in a pilot study in order to identify unclear questions, so that they can be rectified before the main study was conducted. FINDINGS: Based on the findings from the study, a total of 177 (59.0percnt) of the diabetic clients had hypertension and that showed the relationship between diabetes and hypertension. On the attitude session, respondents have shown a positive attitude towards treatment. Furthermore, other objectives such as those focusing on economic, cultural and psychosocial factors were found not to be associated with poor adherence to anti-diabetic treatment. According to respondents’ responses, economic factors showed no influence on treatment adherence. Socio-cultural factors indicated that respondents never missed social gatherings and never used traditional medication to treat their diabetes. On the knowledge section which had fourteen questions, most clients seemed to be aware of the complications of diabetes and the benefits of adhering to anti-diabetic treatment because the lowest score was 50percnt. DATA ANALYSIS: The data was captured in Microsoft Excel (MSEXCEL) for onward processing. Data was analysed using data analysis and statistical software version 14. (STATA). Frequencies and percentages were used for describing the categorical variables while mean and standard deviation were used for describing age, number of dependents, duration of illness and knowledge. An independent t-test was used to determine the differences between males and females across the variables. A p-value of 0.05 was of statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Economic, psychosocial and socio-cultural factors were not found to have impacted on adherence to treatment. These findings should not be generalised as the study was done on a small sample; further research and more studies need to be conducted.
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Factors influencing employee participation in employee health and wellness programmes : the case of Mdantsane Police Station
- Kwayiba, Nthabiseng Justinah
- Authors: Kwayiba, Nthabiseng Justinah
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Employee assistance programs Health behavior Motivation (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Social Work
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17127 , vital:40858
- Description: The purpose of the study was to determine the factors influencing participation in Employee Health and Wellness programmes rendered by South African Police Service. Qualitative method was used and case study design was chosen. Data was collected from twenty-two participants. Semi structured interviews was used as an instrument to collect data. Interpretivism paradigm was followed for data analysis. The findings of this study revealed that participation in EHW Programmes is indeed low at Mdantsane Accountable Police Station. Most of the participants did not show any interest in the services rendered by SAPS. Their belief systems and perceptions about EHW Programs are a contributing factor to the non-utilisation of the services. One major factor that was identified by this research was the impact police training has on the decisions police members make to participate or not to participate in EHW Programmes. SAPS is a male dominated organisation, with employees that are rooted in cultural beliefs. Some participants, especially men mentioned that it is against their culture to talk about their personal problems to strangers, referring to EHW Professionals, others believed that seeking professional help from a female professional is a sign of losing your manhood an indication that you are weak. With this kind of personal belief, the researcher is of the view that SAPS has to consider adopting a new EHW Model, a model that will be relevant to the objectives of SAPS. Engaging police officers in physical activities will be more effective in promoting participation because Police work requires that police members need more than just task competencies or technical knowledge to do their work (Turner, 2014), they need to be physically fit in order to protect themselves and the community they are serving. Engaging them in counselling and educational programmes will not increase participation since they regard such services to be meant for the weak police officers.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kwayiba, Nthabiseng Justinah
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Employee assistance programs Health behavior Motivation (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Social Work
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17127 , vital:40858
- Description: The purpose of the study was to determine the factors influencing participation in Employee Health and Wellness programmes rendered by South African Police Service. Qualitative method was used and case study design was chosen. Data was collected from twenty-two participants. Semi structured interviews was used as an instrument to collect data. Interpretivism paradigm was followed for data analysis. The findings of this study revealed that participation in EHW Programmes is indeed low at Mdantsane Accountable Police Station. Most of the participants did not show any interest in the services rendered by SAPS. Their belief systems and perceptions about EHW Programs are a contributing factor to the non-utilisation of the services. One major factor that was identified by this research was the impact police training has on the decisions police members make to participate or not to participate in EHW Programmes. SAPS is a male dominated organisation, with employees that are rooted in cultural beliefs. Some participants, especially men mentioned that it is against their culture to talk about their personal problems to strangers, referring to EHW Professionals, others believed that seeking professional help from a female professional is a sign of losing your manhood an indication that you are weak. With this kind of personal belief, the researcher is of the view that SAPS has to consider adopting a new EHW Model, a model that will be relevant to the objectives of SAPS. Engaging police officers in physical activities will be more effective in promoting participation because Police work requires that police members need more than just task competencies or technical knowledge to do their work (Turner, 2014), they need to be physically fit in order to protect themselves and the community they are serving. Engaging them in counselling and educational programmes will not increase participation since they regard such services to be meant for the weak police officers.
- Full Text:
Factors influencing the hygienic quality of milk yield from smallholder dairy herds in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Dube, Hlengani Paul
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Milk hygiene
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Animal Science
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10790 , vital:35761
- Description: The objective of the study was to identify factors influencing the hygienic quality of milk of smallholder dairy herds in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Three smallholder herds participating in the National Animal recording scheme and located in Alexandria and East London District Municipalities were used. 90 dairy animals from 3 farms were used, each farm consisting of 30 animals. Three breeds of ten animals were randomly chosen from each farm, the three breeds include, (Holstein, Jersey and Crosses), and four seasons, (autumn, winter, spring and summer) were used to determine the effects of breed and season on the hygienic quality of milk. Milk components included fat percentage, protein percentage, lactose percentage, milk urea nitrogen, milk yield and somatic cell counts (SCC). A total of 1080 milk samples were collected in the afternoon after milking. Procedure of general linear model of SAS was used to determine the effects of breed, season and farm of the milk quality parameters. Means were separated by PDIFF test (α = 0.05). Fixed effects of season, breed and farm, along with 2 way interactions of season and farm and breed and farm were determined. An evaluation template was used to identify the factors affecting hygienic quality of milk. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were used. In order to investigate associations between variables of interest, a Pearson Chi-square test was done. The Chi-square test was also used to determine significantly independent findings at a P < 0.10 level of confidence. Cross tabulations were done to establish a basis for comparison and to find out if there is a relationship between two or more variables. The breeds kept within the smallholder dairy herds include Holstein, Jersey, Ayrshire, Guernsey and their Crosses. All farmers’practised pasture based dairy farming system, which includes exclusive dairy production and dairy with other animals like poultry and pigs. 33.33 percent of the smallholder herds use the machine milking method, while 66.67 percent use both the machine and hand milking methods. Milking time is uniform throughout the farms, with milking being done twice a day, in the morning and afternoon. The hygiene practices of the farms were largely similar from farm to farm. Before milking, the udders and teats of animals are washed with clean running water. After milking, the teats of the animals are dipped in teat dip to prevent mastitis. All the farmers’ dairy milking facilities have a permanent water source with continuous supply throughout the year. The water sources vary according to farms, with 33.33% use boreholes, while 66.67 percent utilise rivers and springs. Farmers face numerous challenges such as ageing and dilapidated equipment and infrastructure, limited capital that reduces the number of employees on farm and the purchase of feed inputs to support the milking procedure. Effect of season on milk quality, were significantly (P <0.001) different in milk yield, lactose, and somatic cell counts, and significant different at (P < 0.05) for milk urea nitrogen. High milk yields are observed in spring, and winter, while low milk yields are observed in autumn. High values for fat and protein content were observed in winter. High somatic cell counts were observed in autumn than in spring summer and winter. Effects of farm, on milk quality were significantly (P < 0.001) different on milk yield, fat, protein, lactose, and milk urea nitrogen, and significantly different (P < 0.01) for somatic cell counts. Milk yields varied from 14.03kg/day, 15.51kg/day, and 20.12kg/day, fat percentage varied from 4.52 percent, 4.36 percent, and 4.18 percent, protein percentages of 3.55 percent, 3.44 percent, and 3.47 percent, lactose percentage of 4.47 percent, 4.65 percent, and 4.69 percent, somatic cell counts of 588.42cells/ml, 308.90cells/ml, and 437.43cells/ml, and milk urea nitrogen of 9.84mg/100ml, 10.03mg/100ml, and 10.91mg/100ml for High heaven, Soqhayisa and Matshibele farms respectively. Effect of breed on milk quality, were significantly (P < 0.001) different for milk yield, fat and protein percentage. Milk yields amongst breeds varied at 15.57kg/day, 17.92kg/day, and 16.18kg/day, fat percentages of 4.51 percent, 4.18 percent, and 4.37 percent, protein percentages of 3.55 percent, 3.39 percent, and 3.52 percent, for Jersey, Holstein Cross bred breeds respectively. There were no differences in lactose percentage, somatic cell counts, and milk urea nitrogen amongst breeds. The interaction between farm and season had an effect on milk yield (P < 0.0004), lactose (P < 0.0001), somatic cell counts (P < 0.0001), milk urea nitrogen (P < 0.0019). Milk fat and protein had no effect of farm and season. The interaction between farm and breed had an effect on milk yield (P < 0.0018), fat (P < 0.0001), protein (P < 0.0001), lactose (P < 0.0227), milk urea nitrogen (P < 0.0373). Farm and breed had no effect onsomatic cell counts. The effect of the farm had a greater detrimental effect on the variations in milk composition within the season and the breed. Milk quality is mainly affected by the farm management practices which at times are affected by the farmer’s resources to achieve the basic routine activities for clean milk. Improving the hygienic practises such as udder cleaning, removal of feed from the troughs, and environmental sanitation will increase milk quality in smallholder herds. Smallholder dairy herds were able to meet the milk quality standards of low somatic cell counts that are acceptable as grade A milk.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Dube, Hlengani Paul
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Milk hygiene
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Animal Science
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10790 , vital:35761
- Description: The objective of the study was to identify factors influencing the hygienic quality of milk of smallholder dairy herds in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Three smallholder herds participating in the National Animal recording scheme and located in Alexandria and East London District Municipalities were used. 90 dairy animals from 3 farms were used, each farm consisting of 30 animals. Three breeds of ten animals were randomly chosen from each farm, the three breeds include, (Holstein, Jersey and Crosses), and four seasons, (autumn, winter, spring and summer) were used to determine the effects of breed and season on the hygienic quality of milk. Milk components included fat percentage, protein percentage, lactose percentage, milk urea nitrogen, milk yield and somatic cell counts (SCC). A total of 1080 milk samples were collected in the afternoon after milking. Procedure of general linear model of SAS was used to determine the effects of breed, season and farm of the milk quality parameters. Means were separated by PDIFF test (α = 0.05). Fixed effects of season, breed and farm, along with 2 way interactions of season and farm and breed and farm were determined. An evaluation template was used to identify the factors affecting hygienic quality of milk. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were used. In order to investigate associations between variables of interest, a Pearson Chi-square test was done. The Chi-square test was also used to determine significantly independent findings at a P < 0.10 level of confidence. Cross tabulations were done to establish a basis for comparison and to find out if there is a relationship between two or more variables. The breeds kept within the smallholder dairy herds include Holstein, Jersey, Ayrshire, Guernsey and their Crosses. All farmers’practised pasture based dairy farming system, which includes exclusive dairy production and dairy with other animals like poultry and pigs. 33.33 percent of the smallholder herds use the machine milking method, while 66.67 percent use both the machine and hand milking methods. Milking time is uniform throughout the farms, with milking being done twice a day, in the morning and afternoon. The hygiene practices of the farms were largely similar from farm to farm. Before milking, the udders and teats of animals are washed with clean running water. After milking, the teats of the animals are dipped in teat dip to prevent mastitis. All the farmers’ dairy milking facilities have a permanent water source with continuous supply throughout the year. The water sources vary according to farms, with 33.33% use boreholes, while 66.67 percent utilise rivers and springs. Farmers face numerous challenges such as ageing and dilapidated equipment and infrastructure, limited capital that reduces the number of employees on farm and the purchase of feed inputs to support the milking procedure. Effect of season on milk quality, were significantly (P <0.001) different in milk yield, lactose, and somatic cell counts, and significant different at (P < 0.05) for milk urea nitrogen. High milk yields are observed in spring, and winter, while low milk yields are observed in autumn. High values for fat and protein content were observed in winter. High somatic cell counts were observed in autumn than in spring summer and winter. Effects of farm, on milk quality were significantly (P < 0.001) different on milk yield, fat, protein, lactose, and milk urea nitrogen, and significantly different (P < 0.01) for somatic cell counts. Milk yields varied from 14.03kg/day, 15.51kg/day, and 20.12kg/day, fat percentage varied from 4.52 percent, 4.36 percent, and 4.18 percent, protein percentages of 3.55 percent, 3.44 percent, and 3.47 percent, lactose percentage of 4.47 percent, 4.65 percent, and 4.69 percent, somatic cell counts of 588.42cells/ml, 308.90cells/ml, and 437.43cells/ml, and milk urea nitrogen of 9.84mg/100ml, 10.03mg/100ml, and 10.91mg/100ml for High heaven, Soqhayisa and Matshibele farms respectively. Effect of breed on milk quality, were significantly (P < 0.001) different for milk yield, fat and protein percentage. Milk yields amongst breeds varied at 15.57kg/day, 17.92kg/day, and 16.18kg/day, fat percentages of 4.51 percent, 4.18 percent, and 4.37 percent, protein percentages of 3.55 percent, 3.39 percent, and 3.52 percent, for Jersey, Holstein Cross bred breeds respectively. There were no differences in lactose percentage, somatic cell counts, and milk urea nitrogen amongst breeds. The interaction between farm and season had an effect on milk yield (P < 0.0004), lactose (P < 0.0001), somatic cell counts (P < 0.0001), milk urea nitrogen (P < 0.0019). Milk fat and protein had no effect of farm and season. The interaction between farm and breed had an effect on milk yield (P < 0.0018), fat (P < 0.0001), protein (P < 0.0001), lactose (P < 0.0227), milk urea nitrogen (P < 0.0373). Farm and breed had no effect onsomatic cell counts. The effect of the farm had a greater detrimental effect on the variations in milk composition within the season and the breed. Milk quality is mainly affected by the farm management practices which at times are affected by the farmer’s resources to achieve the basic routine activities for clean milk. Improving the hygienic practises such as udder cleaning, removal of feed from the troughs, and environmental sanitation will increase milk quality in smallholder herds. Smallholder dairy herds were able to meet the milk quality standards of low somatic cell counts that are acceptable as grade A milk.
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Farmers' perceptions of insect pests in the Eastern Cape maize-based cropping systems and the effects of crop residue management on insect pest populations
- Authors: Kadango, Tendayi Lovemore
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Cropping systems Crop residue management Corn -- Diseases and pests
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6202 , vital:29507
- Description: Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important crops in South Africa that is cultivated for food, feed and as a cash crop. Maize in the Eastern Cape is typically grown for consumption and the Province is one of the least producers owing to small landholdings, poor production conditions and pests. This study investigated: (i) the different maize cropping systems smallholder farmers practice in the Eastern Cape (EC), (ii) the major maize insect pests within the identified cropping systems, (iii) the perceptions of Eastern Cape smallholder maize farmers on the effects of insect pests, and (iv) the effects of crop residues on insect pests’ population dynamics. Four major cropping systems namely: maize sole cropping without rotations by government sponsored farmers (GCP) (94 percent), maize intercropping without rotations by independent farmers (IF) (79 percent), maize sole cropping without rotations by IF (67 percent) and maize intercropping without rotations by GCP (61 percent) were identified. The choice of a cropping system by the smallholder farmers was significantly influenced by source of sponsorship, the difference in their district localities, tenure system, availability of inputs and farming equipment, percentage of farmland farmers allocate to maize, maize varieties, farming experience, fallow operations and access to irrigation facilities. The major constraints faced by the farmers in maize production are the attack by insect pests, weeds competition, drought, the lack of fencing around the fields and destruction by mammals. The major insect pests identified were stalk borers (Busseola fusca, Chilo partellus), cutworms (Agrotis spp.), aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis), bollworms (Helicoverpa armigera) and weevils (Sitophylus spp.). The most popular control measures employed were the use of GM maize and pesticides. Results from the field trial showed that field crickets were the major ground dwelling insect pests observed followed by bollworms and cutworms. However, there were no significant influence of residue retention on the insects’ diversity indices, richness, and evenness. Above ground insects sampling revealed the domination by four major insects namely, cutworms, maize stalk borer, bollworms, and spotted stalk borer. Residue management significantly influenced the infestation by spotted stalk borer only on maize plots. However, the general trend was that there was less infestation by the insects in plots where residues were retained than the ones with residue removed. Results from the study indicate that government sponsorship is significantly influencing the maize cropping systems of the smallholder farmers of the Eastern Cape.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kadango, Tendayi Lovemore
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Cropping systems Crop residue management Corn -- Diseases and pests
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6202 , vital:29507
- Description: Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important crops in South Africa that is cultivated for food, feed and as a cash crop. Maize in the Eastern Cape is typically grown for consumption and the Province is one of the least producers owing to small landholdings, poor production conditions and pests. This study investigated: (i) the different maize cropping systems smallholder farmers practice in the Eastern Cape (EC), (ii) the major maize insect pests within the identified cropping systems, (iii) the perceptions of Eastern Cape smallholder maize farmers on the effects of insect pests, and (iv) the effects of crop residues on insect pests’ population dynamics. Four major cropping systems namely: maize sole cropping without rotations by government sponsored farmers (GCP) (94 percent), maize intercropping without rotations by independent farmers (IF) (79 percent), maize sole cropping without rotations by IF (67 percent) and maize intercropping without rotations by GCP (61 percent) were identified. The choice of a cropping system by the smallholder farmers was significantly influenced by source of sponsorship, the difference in their district localities, tenure system, availability of inputs and farming equipment, percentage of farmland farmers allocate to maize, maize varieties, farming experience, fallow operations and access to irrigation facilities. The major constraints faced by the farmers in maize production are the attack by insect pests, weeds competition, drought, the lack of fencing around the fields and destruction by mammals. The major insect pests identified were stalk borers (Busseola fusca, Chilo partellus), cutworms (Agrotis spp.), aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis), bollworms (Helicoverpa armigera) and weevils (Sitophylus spp.). The most popular control measures employed were the use of GM maize and pesticides. Results from the field trial showed that field crickets were the major ground dwelling insect pests observed followed by bollworms and cutworms. However, there were no significant influence of residue retention on the insects’ diversity indices, richness, and evenness. Above ground insects sampling revealed the domination by four major insects namely, cutworms, maize stalk borer, bollworms, and spotted stalk borer. Residue management significantly influenced the infestation by spotted stalk borer only on maize plots. However, the general trend was that there was less infestation by the insects in plots where residues were retained than the ones with residue removed. Results from the study indicate that government sponsorship is significantly influencing the maize cropping systems of the smallholder farmers of the Eastern Cape.
- Full Text:
Farmers' vulnerability to climate change and variability and adaptation strategies : a case study of commercial tobacco farmers in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Nyathi, Confidence G
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Climatic changes Global environmental change
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9111 , vital:34269
- Description: The fast track land reform program (FTRLP) of 2000 in Zimbabwe resulted in a dynamic change of Zimbabwe’s agricultural landscape. It resulted in the conversion of white owned commercial farms into resettlement models A1 and A2. Model A1 was intended to decongest communal areas and was targeted at land-constrained farmers in communal areas. Model A2 on the other hand was a commercial settlement scheme comprising small, medium and large scale commercial settlement, intended to create a cadre of black commercial farmers. This model was in principle, targeted at any Zimbabwean citizen who could prove farming experience and/or resource availability and was based on the concept of full cost recovery from the beneficiary (Musemwa, 2011) This study looked at the demographic that constitutes of commercial tobacco farmers, in Zimbabwe after the FTLRP, how they are affected by climate change and variability and how they adapt to these climate extremes; in particular, their uptake of crop insurance. The study was quantitative and utilised a structured pre-coded questionnaire to interview 158 farmers that are into commercial tobacco farming in Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland East Provinces of Zimbabwe. The focus was on two central themes. The first was an investigation of the commercial tobacco farmers’ vulnerability to climate change and variability in Zimbabwe. The second theme analysed the factors influencing the farmers’ adoption of crop insurance and the challenges faced by both the farmers and insurance companies in its adoption. Three approaches were used to address the above objectives. Firstly to analyze the vulnerability of commercial tobacco farmers to climate change and variability, the integrated vulnerability assessment approach using vulnerability indicators from four tobacco producing provinces in Zimbabwe was used. The vulnerability indicators used included a series of different socio-economic, institutional and biophysical attributes which were further categorized into three classes, based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC 2001) definition of vulnerability, which consists of adaptive capacity, sensitivity and exposure. The LV Index and LVI-IPCC Index (Ms Excel) were then used to determine the farmer’s vulnerability index. Secondly, descriptive statistics were used to determine the manner in which farmers have been adapting to climate change and variability and lastly, the study used the binary logistic regression model to determine factors that influence the adoption of crop insurance by these farmers. The results from the analysis show that the net effect of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity is moderate for the provinces of Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Manicaland. Through the LVI Index and LVI-IPCC index, the study found indices of 0.566 and 0.100 respectively showing that the commercial farmers in these provinces are moderately vulnerable to the effects of climate change and variability. The factors that contributed the most to this vulnerability were aspects of finance, knowledge and skills, support services, and the state of the environment. In terms of adaptation, the majority of farmers indicated that they were aware of climate change and were aware of increased climate variability and had observed an increase in temperature and rainfall variability. The different ways in which the farmers adapted included, off-farm income, enterprise diversification, irrigation, crop rotation, conservation tillage practices, establishing woodlots and using alternative fuel for curing such as coal. The binary logistic regression model showed that the factors that were significant with a positive effect on the uptake of crop insurance are; subscription to contract farming which was the major determinant, access to crop insurance information, farm tenure and area under tobacco. Factors that had a significant but negative effect, and led to a reduction in the uptake of crop insurance were level of education, perception of crop insurance premiums and enterprise diversification. The farmers were found to be highly diversified either with off-farm income, crop diversification and or enterprise diversification. The study recommended that the farmers should promote sustainable development through their production activities and adaptation strategies adopted to increase their resilience to climate change and variability. Strengthening of social networks and institutional capacities was also recommended to; increase bargaining power, for information dissemination and provision of technical support and extension services to enable the farmers to take on appropriate measues to reduce their vulnerability. In terms of crop insurance uptake, the study recommended improvement in the dialogue between the farmers and insurance companies, and periodic training and education of farmers to improve knowledge and encourage uptake.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nyathi, Confidence G
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Climatic changes Global environmental change
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9111 , vital:34269
- Description: The fast track land reform program (FTRLP) of 2000 in Zimbabwe resulted in a dynamic change of Zimbabwe’s agricultural landscape. It resulted in the conversion of white owned commercial farms into resettlement models A1 and A2. Model A1 was intended to decongest communal areas and was targeted at land-constrained farmers in communal areas. Model A2 on the other hand was a commercial settlement scheme comprising small, medium and large scale commercial settlement, intended to create a cadre of black commercial farmers. This model was in principle, targeted at any Zimbabwean citizen who could prove farming experience and/or resource availability and was based on the concept of full cost recovery from the beneficiary (Musemwa, 2011) This study looked at the demographic that constitutes of commercial tobacco farmers, in Zimbabwe after the FTLRP, how they are affected by climate change and variability and how they adapt to these climate extremes; in particular, their uptake of crop insurance. The study was quantitative and utilised a structured pre-coded questionnaire to interview 158 farmers that are into commercial tobacco farming in Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland East Provinces of Zimbabwe. The focus was on two central themes. The first was an investigation of the commercial tobacco farmers’ vulnerability to climate change and variability in Zimbabwe. The second theme analysed the factors influencing the farmers’ adoption of crop insurance and the challenges faced by both the farmers and insurance companies in its adoption. Three approaches were used to address the above objectives. Firstly to analyze the vulnerability of commercial tobacco farmers to climate change and variability, the integrated vulnerability assessment approach using vulnerability indicators from four tobacco producing provinces in Zimbabwe was used. The vulnerability indicators used included a series of different socio-economic, institutional and biophysical attributes which were further categorized into three classes, based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC 2001) definition of vulnerability, which consists of adaptive capacity, sensitivity and exposure. The LV Index and LVI-IPCC Index (Ms Excel) were then used to determine the farmer’s vulnerability index. Secondly, descriptive statistics were used to determine the manner in which farmers have been adapting to climate change and variability and lastly, the study used the binary logistic regression model to determine factors that influence the adoption of crop insurance by these farmers. The results from the analysis show that the net effect of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity is moderate for the provinces of Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Manicaland. Through the LVI Index and LVI-IPCC index, the study found indices of 0.566 and 0.100 respectively showing that the commercial farmers in these provinces are moderately vulnerable to the effects of climate change and variability. The factors that contributed the most to this vulnerability were aspects of finance, knowledge and skills, support services, and the state of the environment. In terms of adaptation, the majority of farmers indicated that they were aware of climate change and were aware of increased climate variability and had observed an increase in temperature and rainfall variability. The different ways in which the farmers adapted included, off-farm income, enterprise diversification, irrigation, crop rotation, conservation tillage practices, establishing woodlots and using alternative fuel for curing such as coal. The binary logistic regression model showed that the factors that were significant with a positive effect on the uptake of crop insurance are; subscription to contract farming which was the major determinant, access to crop insurance information, farm tenure and area under tobacco. Factors that had a significant but negative effect, and led to a reduction in the uptake of crop insurance were level of education, perception of crop insurance premiums and enterprise diversification. The farmers were found to be highly diversified either with off-farm income, crop diversification and or enterprise diversification. The study recommended that the farmers should promote sustainable development through their production activities and adaptation strategies adopted to increase their resilience to climate change and variability. Strengthening of social networks and institutional capacities was also recommended to; increase bargaining power, for information dissemination and provision of technical support and extension services to enable the farmers to take on appropriate measues to reduce their vulnerability. In terms of crop insurance uptake, the study recommended improvement in the dialogue between the farmers and insurance companies, and periodic training and education of farmers to improve knowledge and encourage uptake.
- Full Text:
Financial liberalization and financial instability in the selected SADC member countries
- Authors: Cele, Nolungelo Mercy
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Finance Financial crises Finance -- Developing countries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8978 , vital:34179
- Description: The study examined the impact of financial liberalization on financial instability in selected SADC member countries namely South Africa, Tanzania, Madagascar and Botswana for the period 1970-2012. The Panel data methodology was adopted to establish the relationship between the two variables. Impaired loans were used to capture financial instability and financial reforms to capture the level of financial liberalization. Credit to the private sector, government expenditure, GDP and inflation were utilised as control variables The empirical findings reveal that financial liberalization leads to financial instability. The financial reforms were found to be positively related with the impaired loans ratio in almost all the specifications. It was also found that financial instability intensifies when the global financial crisis is taken into consideration. This suggests that financial liberalization can therefore be another source of financial instability in the SADC countries. The empirical results imply that policy makers should focus on reforms that give due share to the regulations rather than just simply liberalizing the financial sector.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Cele, Nolungelo Mercy
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Finance Financial crises Finance -- Developing countries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8978 , vital:34179
- Description: The study examined the impact of financial liberalization on financial instability in selected SADC member countries namely South Africa, Tanzania, Madagascar and Botswana for the period 1970-2012. The Panel data methodology was adopted to establish the relationship between the two variables. Impaired loans were used to capture financial instability and financial reforms to capture the level of financial liberalization. Credit to the private sector, government expenditure, GDP and inflation were utilised as control variables The empirical findings reveal that financial liberalization leads to financial instability. The financial reforms were found to be positively related with the impaired loans ratio in almost all the specifications. It was also found that financial instability intensifies when the global financial crisis is taken into consideration. This suggests that financial liberalization can therefore be another source of financial instability in the SADC countries. The empirical results imply that policy makers should focus on reforms that give due share to the regulations rather than just simply liberalizing the financial sector.
- Full Text:
Gender equity in land tenure : an assessment of the challenges faced by women in the communal land tenure system in Keiskammahoek, South Africa
- Authors: Sonkosi, Abongile
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Land tenure--South Africa--Eastern Cape Land use--South Africa--Eastern Cape Land tenure
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Rural Development
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17138 , vital:40859
- Description: Despite the importance of land to women, women however are still deprived of security of tenure as a result of the gender biased laws which at their best only protect married women and at their worst fail to protect the rights of single, widowed and divorced women. An analysis of the land reform policies in South Africa as a whole on the issue of the advancement of women through land reform reveals a number of irregularities and false promises. Many of the new policy shifts are problematic as they tend to benefit the elite and continue to leave the majority of the rural poor people particularly women in communal areas with insecure land tenure. This research study examined: 1. the nature of land relations at work in Keiskammahoek and how they impact women’s rights to land. 2. How women in Keiskammahoek view their rights to land. 3. The challenges experienced and progress made by women in claiming their land rights in Keiskamahoek. Despite the importance of land to women, women however are still deprived of security of tenure as a result of the gender biased laws which at their best only protect married women and at their worst fail to protect the rights of single, widowed and divorced women. An analysis of the land reform policies in South Africa as a whole on the issue of the advancement of women through land reform reveals a number of irregularities and false promises. Many of the new policy shifts are problematic as they tend to benefit the elite and continue to leave the majority of the rural poor people particularly women in communal areas with insecure land tenure. This research study examined: 1. the nature of land relations at work in Keiskammahoek and how they impact women’s rights to land. 2. How women in Keiskammahoek view their rights to land. 3. The challenges experienced and progress made by women in claiming their land rights in Keiskamahoek. ownership in their communities. They expressed strong views against the suppression of their voice due to patriarchal structures that govern the way they live. They further observed that a woman’s voice in the rural communities generally does not get heard and that even if women get into positions of power they fail to stand up against women’s marginalization and gender inequalities. However, the most positive finding is that the wind of change is blowing in Keiskammahoek as different categories of women - married, single, divorced, widowed etc. begin to access residential and to some limited degree, agricultural plots. They appeal to the government to support them in accessing agricultural tools including tractors, irrigation systems, seeds etc. Although the progress made so far with regard to women’s access to land is acknowledged, a great deal of work still needs to be done in order to empower women through land reform. The study makes recommendations on the implementation of land tenure policy that addresses women’s challenges in land access and ownership.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Sonkosi, Abongile
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Land tenure--South Africa--Eastern Cape Land use--South Africa--Eastern Cape Land tenure
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Rural Development
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17138 , vital:40859
- Description: Despite the importance of land to women, women however are still deprived of security of tenure as a result of the gender biased laws which at their best only protect married women and at their worst fail to protect the rights of single, widowed and divorced women. An analysis of the land reform policies in South Africa as a whole on the issue of the advancement of women through land reform reveals a number of irregularities and false promises. Many of the new policy shifts are problematic as they tend to benefit the elite and continue to leave the majority of the rural poor people particularly women in communal areas with insecure land tenure. This research study examined: 1. the nature of land relations at work in Keiskammahoek and how they impact women’s rights to land. 2. How women in Keiskammahoek view their rights to land. 3. The challenges experienced and progress made by women in claiming their land rights in Keiskamahoek. Despite the importance of land to women, women however are still deprived of security of tenure as a result of the gender biased laws which at their best only protect married women and at their worst fail to protect the rights of single, widowed and divorced women. An analysis of the land reform policies in South Africa as a whole on the issue of the advancement of women through land reform reveals a number of irregularities and false promises. Many of the new policy shifts are problematic as they tend to benefit the elite and continue to leave the majority of the rural poor people particularly women in communal areas with insecure land tenure. This research study examined: 1. the nature of land relations at work in Keiskammahoek and how they impact women’s rights to land. 2. How women in Keiskammahoek view their rights to land. 3. The challenges experienced and progress made by women in claiming their land rights in Keiskamahoek. ownership in their communities. They expressed strong views against the suppression of their voice due to patriarchal structures that govern the way they live. They further observed that a woman’s voice in the rural communities generally does not get heard and that even if women get into positions of power they fail to stand up against women’s marginalization and gender inequalities. However, the most positive finding is that the wind of change is blowing in Keiskammahoek as different categories of women - married, single, divorced, widowed etc. begin to access residential and to some limited degree, agricultural plots. They appeal to the government to support them in accessing agricultural tools including tractors, irrigation systems, seeds etc. Although the progress made so far with regard to women’s access to land is acknowledged, a great deal of work still needs to be done in order to empower women through land reform. The study makes recommendations on the implementation of land tenure policy that addresses women’s challenges in land access and ownership.
- Full Text:
Household's perceptions and determinants of participation in harvesting rangeland products :|bthe case of Dyamala community, Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Mdiya, Lwandiso
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Communal rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9187 , vital:34303
- Description: The study reviews the household’s perceptions and determinants of sustainable products harvesting. Communal rangelands are vast natural landscapes in the form of grasslands, shrubs, woodlands, wetlands and deserts with multiple functions to the rural households. Most rural communities share boundaries and interact with rangelands for multiple socioeconomic and environmental reasons. Since most of these interactions are external to the price mechanism, the actual contribution of rangelands to communities has largely been missed. In an effort to appraise and explore the communal rangeland contribution to households, a study from Dyamala community in the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality under Amathole District in Eastern Cape was conducted using cross-sectional data. Descriptive results revealed that the majority of the respondents (71 percent) from the study area positively perceived communal rangelands as safety nets. however, there also emerged a fair share of challenges namely, (bad spirit, host predators, compete with arable land) leading to negative perceptions towards communal rangelands. It was also evident that, the majority of respondents from the study area use communal rangelands for fuel wood, construction poles, traditional medicine, with minor harvests of wild food (flora and fauna) and thatch grass. The results of the study also revealed that, rural people depend more on social grants for their income followed by incomes from remittances, agricultural activities and communal rangelands. However, it was established from the results that though communal rangelands provided commercial products capable of generating household income, rangeland users trading such products were receiving meagre incomes. This might be caused by the lack of institutional support to rural households thus, the low incomes received from communal rangelands. To that effect, main communal rangeland products such as, fuel wood, poles and medicine were cited as being more valuable for local domestic use than for the external market. Regression estimates further indicated that participation in communal rangeland products harvesting is more conditioned by perception-related factors as compared to socioeconomic attributes of rural households worth understanding for strategic targeting to promote their conservation. The extant literature and the study results, evidently show that communal rangelands provide a livelihood among rural households although it has a low direct household income potential. Therefore, the respondents were of the view that the use of campaigns targeting several perceptions (such as communal rangelands act as a source of medicinal plants, arable land and income etc) as suggested by the regression estimates may be very useful. The support from the extension department and further research may be necessary for purposes of quantifying harvestable rangeland products capable of enhancing rural livelihoods. Moreover, the observed low income potential of communal rangeland products suggests several technical and institutional challenges worth addressing to promote value addition of rangeland products.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mdiya, Lwandiso
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Communal rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9187 , vital:34303
- Description: The study reviews the household’s perceptions and determinants of sustainable products harvesting. Communal rangelands are vast natural landscapes in the form of grasslands, shrubs, woodlands, wetlands and deserts with multiple functions to the rural households. Most rural communities share boundaries and interact with rangelands for multiple socioeconomic and environmental reasons. Since most of these interactions are external to the price mechanism, the actual contribution of rangelands to communities has largely been missed. In an effort to appraise and explore the communal rangeland contribution to households, a study from Dyamala community in the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality under Amathole District in Eastern Cape was conducted using cross-sectional data. Descriptive results revealed that the majority of the respondents (71 percent) from the study area positively perceived communal rangelands as safety nets. however, there also emerged a fair share of challenges namely, (bad spirit, host predators, compete with arable land) leading to negative perceptions towards communal rangelands. It was also evident that, the majority of respondents from the study area use communal rangelands for fuel wood, construction poles, traditional medicine, with minor harvests of wild food (flora and fauna) and thatch grass. The results of the study also revealed that, rural people depend more on social grants for their income followed by incomes from remittances, agricultural activities and communal rangelands. However, it was established from the results that though communal rangelands provided commercial products capable of generating household income, rangeland users trading such products were receiving meagre incomes. This might be caused by the lack of institutional support to rural households thus, the low incomes received from communal rangelands. To that effect, main communal rangeland products such as, fuel wood, poles and medicine were cited as being more valuable for local domestic use than for the external market. Regression estimates further indicated that participation in communal rangeland products harvesting is more conditioned by perception-related factors as compared to socioeconomic attributes of rural households worth understanding for strategic targeting to promote their conservation. The extant literature and the study results, evidently show that communal rangelands provide a livelihood among rural households although it has a low direct household income potential. Therefore, the respondents were of the view that the use of campaigns targeting several perceptions (such as communal rangelands act as a source of medicinal plants, arable land and income etc) as suggested by the regression estimates may be very useful. The support from the extension department and further research may be necessary for purposes of quantifying harvestable rangeland products capable of enhancing rural livelihoods. Moreover, the observed low income potential of communal rangeland products suggests several technical and institutional challenges worth addressing to promote value addition of rangeland products.
- Full Text:
Image processing and data analysis tools of a remote sensing-based euthrophication monitoring system
- Authors: Chamunorwa, Brighton
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Eutrophication Image processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10210 , vital:35376
- Description: Numerous surface water bodies in South Africa face serious challenges of eutrophication despite several initiatives from government to solve the problem. Government efforts have not been successful particularly because of three issues: 1) insufficient and inconsistent water quality data and 2) the costly nature of collecting this data. Third, the limited uptake of remote sensing based technologies in water quality management due to lack of skills, as well as the lengthy and complex procedures involved in retrieving water quality parameters. This thesis aims to explore the possibilities of using satellite data and simple software for mapping and collecting water quality data. The broad goal was to determine the function of software dedicated to meet the requirements of a remote sensing-based eutrophication-monitoring system. Two specific goal were set in this study: 1. To extract software requirements from available eutrophication management documentation. This was necessary to determine the functions of the dedicated software that matches the legislative requirements and 2. To determine a design capable of handling spatial and temporal requirement of a remote sensing based eutrophication-monitoring system. The study applied Goal Based Requirement Analysis Model [GBRAM] model to extract goals from the National Eutrophication Monitoring Programme [NEMP] implementation plan document and recent publication on remote sensing of water quality monitoring conducted in South Africa. Afterwards, the study used object-oriented concepts to model suitable data objects and processes to implement spatial-temporal requirements of a remote sensing-based eutrophication-monitoring system. Based on the study findings the following are essential functions of a remote sensing based eutrophication-monitoring system. A graphical user interface that allows the user to set up a monitoring programming. Automated image processing procedures. Data assessment methods used to generate eutrophication status information. Numerous display options for viewing data in several perfectives.
- Full Text:
Image processing and data analysis tools of a remote sensing-based euthrophication monitoring system
- Authors: Chamunorwa, Brighton
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Eutrophication Image processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10210 , vital:35376
- Description: Numerous surface water bodies in South Africa face serious challenges of eutrophication despite several initiatives from government to solve the problem. Government efforts have not been successful particularly because of three issues: 1) insufficient and inconsistent water quality data and 2) the costly nature of collecting this data. Third, the limited uptake of remote sensing based technologies in water quality management due to lack of skills, as well as the lengthy and complex procedures involved in retrieving water quality parameters. This thesis aims to explore the possibilities of using satellite data and simple software for mapping and collecting water quality data. The broad goal was to determine the function of software dedicated to meet the requirements of a remote sensing-based eutrophication-monitoring system. Two specific goal were set in this study: 1. To extract software requirements from available eutrophication management documentation. This was necessary to determine the functions of the dedicated software that matches the legislative requirements and 2. To determine a design capable of handling spatial and temporal requirement of a remote sensing based eutrophication-monitoring system. The study applied Goal Based Requirement Analysis Model [GBRAM] model to extract goals from the National Eutrophication Monitoring Programme [NEMP] implementation plan document and recent publication on remote sensing of water quality monitoring conducted in South Africa. Afterwards, the study used object-oriented concepts to model suitable data objects and processes to implement spatial-temporal requirements of a remote sensing-based eutrophication-monitoring system. Based on the study findings the following are essential functions of a remote sensing based eutrophication-monitoring system. A graphical user interface that allows the user to set up a monitoring programming. Automated image processing procedures. Data assessment methods used to generate eutrophication status information. Numerous display options for viewing data in several perfectives.
- Full Text:
Implementation of programmes for maintaining care and safety of learners in secondary schools in the Graaff Reinet education district
- Authors: Bilatyi, Nkosana Carlon
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Schools -- Security measures -- Eastern Cape School environment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9379 , vital:34339
- Description: Care and safety of learners refers to the behavioral practices which protect children from danger, risks and injuries. It also includes environment that is free from violence since where there is no fear perceived, there is reverence for the school and its disciplinary measures (Hernandez & Seem, 2004; Marotz, Cross, Rush, 2005; Mathe, 2008; Chukwu, 2008). Schools should have positive environment which allows members of staff, learners and guests to freely interact without threats or fear. Learners and staff should feel psychologically, physically and emotionally safe and secure (Dwyer & Osher, 2000; Tabancali &Bektas, 2009; Butcher& Manning 2005). Consequently, care and safety of learners can also be viewed in a more practical and management oriented way. According to Hull (2010) care and safety of learners in a management oriented way includes, maintenance of school buildings and grounds, care of facilities, furniture and equipment with spacious corridors that allow free flow and emergency movement to prevent illness and death. Classes should accommodate the required educator-learner ratio. The playgrounds are reduced to limited space to ensure that learners are visible and are controllable. Moreover provision of care and safety of learners includes school culture and the appropriate training of educators as well as school staff who should respond to threats and hazards. It also includes addressing the range of crisis the school can face such as death and natural disasters (Phaneuf, 2009). Reeves, Nickerson, Conolly-Wilson, Suson, Lazzaro, Jimerson, and Pesce (2012) contend that the educators on duty should provide learners with safety precautions to guard against the possibility of single learner slipping away and suffering injuries (Dilion, 2007). According to Mogopodi, Banyaladzi & Petros (2015) facilities like laboratories should be suitable for all learners because they help to transform theoretical education into practice making learning effective. Astor, Guerra, Van Acker (2010) suggest that provision of care and safety for learners is among the most essential components for achieving effective teaching and learning. This will only be achieved by putting in place proper care and safety programmes and ensuring that they are effectively implemented (Netshitahame, & Vollenhoven, 2002, Astor et.al.2010).
- Full Text:
- Authors: Bilatyi, Nkosana Carlon
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Schools -- Security measures -- Eastern Cape School environment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9379 , vital:34339
- Description: Care and safety of learners refers to the behavioral practices which protect children from danger, risks and injuries. It also includes environment that is free from violence since where there is no fear perceived, there is reverence for the school and its disciplinary measures (Hernandez & Seem, 2004; Marotz, Cross, Rush, 2005; Mathe, 2008; Chukwu, 2008). Schools should have positive environment which allows members of staff, learners and guests to freely interact without threats or fear. Learners and staff should feel psychologically, physically and emotionally safe and secure (Dwyer & Osher, 2000; Tabancali &Bektas, 2009; Butcher& Manning 2005). Consequently, care and safety of learners can also be viewed in a more practical and management oriented way. According to Hull (2010) care and safety of learners in a management oriented way includes, maintenance of school buildings and grounds, care of facilities, furniture and equipment with spacious corridors that allow free flow and emergency movement to prevent illness and death. Classes should accommodate the required educator-learner ratio. The playgrounds are reduced to limited space to ensure that learners are visible and are controllable. Moreover provision of care and safety of learners includes school culture and the appropriate training of educators as well as school staff who should respond to threats and hazards. It also includes addressing the range of crisis the school can face such as death and natural disasters (Phaneuf, 2009). Reeves, Nickerson, Conolly-Wilson, Suson, Lazzaro, Jimerson, and Pesce (2012) contend that the educators on duty should provide learners with safety precautions to guard against the possibility of single learner slipping away and suffering injuries (Dilion, 2007). According to Mogopodi, Banyaladzi & Petros (2015) facilities like laboratories should be suitable for all learners because they help to transform theoretical education into practice making learning effective. Astor, Guerra, Van Acker (2010) suggest that provision of care and safety for learners is among the most essential components for achieving effective teaching and learning. This will only be achieved by putting in place proper care and safety programmes and ensuring that they are effectively implemented (Netshitahame, & Vollenhoven, 2002, Astor et.al.2010).
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Implementation of strategies used to manage conflict between students and staff in secondary schools in Malawi : towards a comprehensive framework
- Authors: Zimpita, Valentino Tipitana
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Conflict management Conflict management -- Study and teaching Violence -- Prevention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9412 , vital:34348
- Description: The study aimed at examining how strategies used to manage conflict between students and staff in secondary schools in Malawi were implemented. This was after it had been noted that conflicts in secondary schools in Malawi usually ended in violence. The study employed a pragmatic research paradigm. In this paradigm, a researcher employs mixed methods approach which collects both quantitative and qualitative data. Using a concurrent triangulation mixed method design, the two types of data were collected concurrently and analysed simultaneously. Study participants were head teachers, teachers, students, education officials and parents. Most of the teachers were randomly sampled while a few other teachers, the head teachers, the education officials and the parents were purposefully sampled. The study found that there were various causes of conflict in secondary schools in Malawi which included misunderstanding of human rights, poor communication between students and staff, poor school management by head teachers and lack of students‘ involvement in decisions that concerned them. The study further found that conflict was in a way beneficial to schools as it was a learning point for both students and staff. However, such benefits were overshadowed by the many evils that violence brought such as disturbing teaching and learning. The study also found that there were two approaches in the way schools managed conflict; engagement of students and calling for police intervention. It transpired that on the overall, stakeholders were aware of different conflict management skills but they did not know how best to use them. In addition, it transpired that stakeholders were not comfortable with win-win approaches to conflict management. This was against a background that the stakeholders were involved in conflict management in different ways. It also came out clear that support to secondary schools in the management of conflict was at two levels; school level and system level. On the part of monitoring, it transpired that the mechanism which were there were ad hoc and they included inspection visits and the requirement that head teachers should always submit reports which could carry issues related to conflict. The study concluded that poorly managed conflicts which turned into violence were a menace to secondary schools in Malawi. In this regard, there was need to ensure effective conflict management in order to avoid violence. To achieve this, the study has made a number of recommendations. Among them, it has been recommended that schools should from time to time take stork of the likely causes of conflict and address them accordingly. It has also been recommended that schools should put in place mechanisms for ensuring two way communication so that students feel free to air out their concerns. At Ministry level, it has been recommended that the MoEST should take guidance and counselling seriously by among other things training teacher councillors and making the post an established one. It has also been recommended that the MoEST should make sure that head teachers, deputy head teachers, teachers, parents and even education officials are inducted in conflict management.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Zimpita, Valentino Tipitana
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Conflict management Conflict management -- Study and teaching Violence -- Prevention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9412 , vital:34348
- Description: The study aimed at examining how strategies used to manage conflict between students and staff in secondary schools in Malawi were implemented. This was after it had been noted that conflicts in secondary schools in Malawi usually ended in violence. The study employed a pragmatic research paradigm. In this paradigm, a researcher employs mixed methods approach which collects both quantitative and qualitative data. Using a concurrent triangulation mixed method design, the two types of data were collected concurrently and analysed simultaneously. Study participants were head teachers, teachers, students, education officials and parents. Most of the teachers were randomly sampled while a few other teachers, the head teachers, the education officials and the parents were purposefully sampled. The study found that there were various causes of conflict in secondary schools in Malawi which included misunderstanding of human rights, poor communication between students and staff, poor school management by head teachers and lack of students‘ involvement in decisions that concerned them. The study further found that conflict was in a way beneficial to schools as it was a learning point for both students and staff. However, such benefits were overshadowed by the many evils that violence brought such as disturbing teaching and learning. The study also found that there were two approaches in the way schools managed conflict; engagement of students and calling for police intervention. It transpired that on the overall, stakeholders were aware of different conflict management skills but they did not know how best to use them. In addition, it transpired that stakeholders were not comfortable with win-win approaches to conflict management. This was against a background that the stakeholders were involved in conflict management in different ways. It also came out clear that support to secondary schools in the management of conflict was at two levels; school level and system level. On the part of monitoring, it transpired that the mechanism which were there were ad hoc and they included inspection visits and the requirement that head teachers should always submit reports which could carry issues related to conflict. The study concluded that poorly managed conflicts which turned into violence were a menace to secondary schools in Malawi. In this regard, there was need to ensure effective conflict management in order to avoid violence. To achieve this, the study has made a number of recommendations. Among them, it has been recommended that schools should from time to time take stork of the likely causes of conflict and address them accordingly. It has also been recommended that schools should put in place mechanisms for ensuring two way communication so that students feel free to air out their concerns. At Ministry level, it has been recommended that the MoEST should take guidance and counselling seriously by among other things training teacher councillors and making the post an established one. It has also been recommended that the MoEST should make sure that head teachers, deputy head teachers, teachers, parents and even education officials are inducted in conflict management.
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Implementation of the school nutrition programme in selected high schools in KwaZulu-Natal Province : implications on learners' nutrition education
- Authors: Mafugu, Tafirenyika
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: School children -- Nutrition -- KwaZulu-Natal School children -- Food -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal Child welfare -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9637 , vital:34812
- Description: The study sought to: examine training, monitoring and support provided to NSNP stakeholders; establish what informs the procurement and preparation of the food; determine its nutritional value; identify challenges encountered in the implementation of the school nutritrition programme; and evaluate the implications of the NSNP on learners’ nutritional education in Pinetown district in South Africa. Underpinned by the pragmatic research paradigm, the study followed a mixed methods research approach which utilised a convergent parallel research design. A random sample of 108 learners and purposive samples of 32 different stakeholders participated in the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, while qualitative data were categorised into themes which were presented in tables and text. The two forms of data were merged at the interpretation phase through triangulation of results. The study found that some of the key stakeholders of NSNP were not adequately supported and trained, and that monitoring was only done regularly by the teacher coordinators. District field officers lacked adequate expertise to train stakeholders. Food was prepared following a menu which was not updated in some schools, and food handlers in two schools could not understand quantities on the menu. The suppliers used the menu for procurement of food. The observed mean intakes per child per day for energy, protein, total fat, cholesterol, dietary fibre, vitamin K and sodium were significantly lower than the expected mean nutrient intakes, while the intakes of all other nutrients were not significantly different statistically, from the expected nutrient intakes. The intakes of all nutrients were below the minimum of 30 percent of RDA which was recommended by the Department of Basic Education. Fruits were rarely supplied. Nutritional education was not adequately taught across the curriculum and most respondents were not aware of basic nutritional principles. Training stakeholders and early payment of the suppliers could significantly improve learners’ benefit from the programme. The study’s proposed framework of implementation of the school nutrition programme recommends ways to improve the implementation process, including the incorporation of nutrition education into the Life Orientation curriculum to enhance good food choices that curb prevalent nutrient disorders among South Africans.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mafugu, Tafirenyika
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: School children -- Nutrition -- KwaZulu-Natal School children -- Food -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal Child welfare -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9637 , vital:34812
- Description: The study sought to: examine training, monitoring and support provided to NSNP stakeholders; establish what informs the procurement and preparation of the food; determine its nutritional value; identify challenges encountered in the implementation of the school nutritrition programme; and evaluate the implications of the NSNP on learners’ nutritional education in Pinetown district in South Africa. Underpinned by the pragmatic research paradigm, the study followed a mixed methods research approach which utilised a convergent parallel research design. A random sample of 108 learners and purposive samples of 32 different stakeholders participated in the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, while qualitative data were categorised into themes which were presented in tables and text. The two forms of data were merged at the interpretation phase through triangulation of results. The study found that some of the key stakeholders of NSNP were not adequately supported and trained, and that monitoring was only done regularly by the teacher coordinators. District field officers lacked adequate expertise to train stakeholders. Food was prepared following a menu which was not updated in some schools, and food handlers in two schools could not understand quantities on the menu. The suppliers used the menu for procurement of food. The observed mean intakes per child per day for energy, protein, total fat, cholesterol, dietary fibre, vitamin K and sodium were significantly lower than the expected mean nutrient intakes, while the intakes of all other nutrients were not significantly different statistically, from the expected nutrient intakes. The intakes of all nutrients were below the minimum of 30 percent of RDA which was recommended by the Department of Basic Education. Fruits were rarely supplied. Nutritional education was not adequately taught across the curriculum and most respondents were not aware of basic nutritional principles. Training stakeholders and early payment of the suppliers could significantly improve learners’ benefit from the programme. The study’s proposed framework of implementation of the school nutrition programme recommends ways to improve the implementation process, including the incorporation of nutrition education into the Life Orientation curriculum to enhance good food choices that curb prevalent nutrient disorders among South Africans.
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Implementing values education as a vehicle to enhance moral regeneration among youths in secondary schools in Gokwe South District, Zimbabwe: towards a holistic framework
- Authors: Ndondo, Shepherd
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Values -- Study and teaching -- Zimbabwe Moral education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9423 , vital:34350
- Description: This study focused on the implementation of values education strategies in secondary schools in Gokwe South District in Zimbabwe. The study employed the interpretive paradigm and it used the qualitative approach and case study research design. Purposive sampling was used to select 34 participants who were rich informants and these included 1 District Schools Inspector, 3 School heads, 3 School counsellors, 3 Religious Studies teachers, 3 History teachers, 3 Arts and Culture teachers and 18 learners (6 from each school). Data were obtained through face to face interviews, focus groups and document analysis. The study revealed that most learners in these schools embodied ubuntu that shaped their behaviour. ln order to deal with elements of indiscipline, the schools adopted values education strategies which included Positive discipline, Guidance and Counselling, teaching of Religious Studies, Citizenship Education, teaching of Arts and Culture, and Parental Involvement which were implemented in the selected schools in different ways. Imparting values based knowledge to students is a commendable step, however, there were gaps that were noted in the implementation process. Some subjects like Citizenship Education existed on paper but not in practice in some schools, as students claimed ignorance of their existence. Although these subjects were supervised and supported by the District Schools Inspector (DSI) and the School heads, lack of funds and limited resources negatively affected their implementation. With regard to discipline procedures, it was noted that some teachers utilized corporal punishment, despite it being outlawed in the country, as stated in the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture Circular P.35 of 1999. It emerged that there was lack of qualified School counsellors, Arts and Culture teachers and inadequate Parental Involvement in values disciplines. It was also established that lack of financial resources constrained the implementation of values education strategies in that teachers could not go for staff development workshops. Notwithstanding the hindrances encountered, the study found that there were pockets of good practices in implementing values education. The study concluded that selected secondary schools used several strategies in values education which involved counselling misbehaving learners and involving parents when their children have behaviour problems. It was also revealed that members of the school community were playing different roles in the implementation process. The study recommended that there should be active participation of all members in positive disciplinary procedures so that values education strategies become effective.The study also recommended that teachers be trained in teaching values disciplines for effective implementation. Lastly, based on the findings of the study and literature, the researcher proposed an alternative model for implementing values education strategies that will hopefully contribute to the eradication of moral decadence among the youths.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ndondo, Shepherd
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Values -- Study and teaching -- Zimbabwe Moral education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9423 , vital:34350
- Description: This study focused on the implementation of values education strategies in secondary schools in Gokwe South District in Zimbabwe. The study employed the interpretive paradigm and it used the qualitative approach and case study research design. Purposive sampling was used to select 34 participants who were rich informants and these included 1 District Schools Inspector, 3 School heads, 3 School counsellors, 3 Religious Studies teachers, 3 History teachers, 3 Arts and Culture teachers and 18 learners (6 from each school). Data were obtained through face to face interviews, focus groups and document analysis. The study revealed that most learners in these schools embodied ubuntu that shaped their behaviour. ln order to deal with elements of indiscipline, the schools adopted values education strategies which included Positive discipline, Guidance and Counselling, teaching of Religious Studies, Citizenship Education, teaching of Arts and Culture, and Parental Involvement which were implemented in the selected schools in different ways. Imparting values based knowledge to students is a commendable step, however, there were gaps that were noted in the implementation process. Some subjects like Citizenship Education existed on paper but not in practice in some schools, as students claimed ignorance of their existence. Although these subjects were supervised and supported by the District Schools Inspector (DSI) and the School heads, lack of funds and limited resources negatively affected their implementation. With regard to discipline procedures, it was noted that some teachers utilized corporal punishment, despite it being outlawed in the country, as stated in the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture Circular P.35 of 1999. It emerged that there was lack of qualified School counsellors, Arts and Culture teachers and inadequate Parental Involvement in values disciplines. It was also established that lack of financial resources constrained the implementation of values education strategies in that teachers could not go for staff development workshops. Notwithstanding the hindrances encountered, the study found that there were pockets of good practices in implementing values education. The study concluded that selected secondary schools used several strategies in values education which involved counselling misbehaving learners and involving parents when their children have behaviour problems. It was also revealed that members of the school community were playing different roles in the implementation process. The study recommended that there should be active participation of all members in positive disciplinary procedures so that values education strategies become effective.The study also recommended that teachers be trained in teaching values disciplines for effective implementation. Lastly, based on the findings of the study and literature, the researcher proposed an alternative model for implementing values education strategies that will hopefully contribute to the eradication of moral decadence among the youths.
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Import licensing regulation within the WTO: a case study of the dispute between Zimbabwe and South Africa over the Control of Goods (Open General Import Licence) Notice of 2016 (Statutory Instrument 64)
- Kamunjoma, Charles https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1930-4341
- Authors: Kamunjoma, Charles https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1930-4341
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Import quotas , Customs unions , Africa, Southern -- Economic integration
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27854 , vital:70097
- Description: Over the years, Zimbabwe has arbitrarily enforced trade restrictive measures including mandatory inspections on certain products, duty increases, surtaxes and import permits on basic products such as cooking oil. The measures have been allegedly targeting goods from South Africa. Amongst the most recent restrictive measures imposed by Zimbabwe is SI 64 of 2016 that now operates as SI 122 of 2017. In response to SI 64, for the first time, South Africa threatened retaliation. As a result, there is visible trade tension between Zimbabwe and South Africa. With the absence of an effective dispute settlement mechanism within SADC, or most African Regional Economic Communities RECs for that matter, a WTO approach to the issue will provide valuable insights on how else South Africa (and other African countries) can deal with cross-border trade problems such as the ones posed by SI 64. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, 2018
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kamunjoma, Charles https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1930-4341
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Import quotas , Customs unions , Africa, Southern -- Economic integration
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27854 , vital:70097
- Description: Over the years, Zimbabwe has arbitrarily enforced trade restrictive measures including mandatory inspections on certain products, duty increases, surtaxes and import permits on basic products such as cooking oil. The measures have been allegedly targeting goods from South Africa. Amongst the most recent restrictive measures imposed by Zimbabwe is SI 64 of 2016 that now operates as SI 122 of 2017. In response to SI 64, for the first time, South Africa threatened retaliation. As a result, there is visible trade tension between Zimbabwe and South Africa. With the absence of an effective dispute settlement mechanism within SADC, or most African Regional Economic Communities RECs for that matter, a WTO approach to the issue will provide valuable insights on how else South Africa (and other African countries) can deal with cross-border trade problems such as the ones posed by SI 64. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, 2018
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In silico analysis, isolation and kinetic characterisation of red algae (Rhodophyta) catalases
- Authors: Nodangala, Sinovuyo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Red algae Marine algae
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14626 , vital:40024
- Description: Catalase (EC: 1.11.1.6) is produced by almost all aerobic organism ranging from bacteria to human and is an essential antioxidant enzyme that catalyses the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water and molecular oxygen, therefore neutralising hydrogen peroxide toxicity. The present study aimed to purify and characterise catalase from Pachymenia orbitosa, a marine red algae found in the Algoa Bay region of South Africa. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to confirm the presence of a catalase gene in the red algae genome. In silico analysis of the Chondrus crispus genome was performed to predict the functional and structural characterisation of the protein encoded by the gene. The Pachymenia orbitosa catalase enzyme was purified to homogeneity using 60% ammonium sulphate precipitation and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography. InterProScan confirmed that the Chondrus crispus genome encodes a catalase protein, which is from the mono-functional and heme-dependent catalase-like superfamily. The purified Pachymenia orbitosa catalase enzyme displayed a specific activity of 23 000 units per mg of protein with a 14.94% recovery and 222.91 fold purification. Sodium dodecyl sulphatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated a single band, with a molecular weight of around 50kDa. The catalase enzyme exhibited a maximum activity at pH 7 and a temperature of 30℃. It was stable up to 40℃ and rapidly denatured at temperatures above this. The Km and Vmax values for the purified catalase, using hydrogen peroxide as a substrate, were determined from the Lineweaver-Burk plot to be 22.22mM and 1.11x10-4mM.min-1 , respectively, while from the Hanes-Woolf plot, to be 23.4mM and 1.17x10-4mM.min-1 , respectively. The Heme catalase inhibitor (ferricyanide) inhibited the enzyme activity markedly, while sodium chloride and citric acid had only a slight inhibitory effect. Copper sulphate showed a slight stimulatory effect. The physiochemical properties suggest a good application potential in both the pharmaceutical and food industries
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nodangala, Sinovuyo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Red algae Marine algae
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14626 , vital:40024
- Description: Catalase (EC: 1.11.1.6) is produced by almost all aerobic organism ranging from bacteria to human and is an essential antioxidant enzyme that catalyses the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water and molecular oxygen, therefore neutralising hydrogen peroxide toxicity. The present study aimed to purify and characterise catalase from Pachymenia orbitosa, a marine red algae found in the Algoa Bay region of South Africa. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to confirm the presence of a catalase gene in the red algae genome. In silico analysis of the Chondrus crispus genome was performed to predict the functional and structural characterisation of the protein encoded by the gene. The Pachymenia orbitosa catalase enzyme was purified to homogeneity using 60% ammonium sulphate precipitation and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography. InterProScan confirmed that the Chondrus crispus genome encodes a catalase protein, which is from the mono-functional and heme-dependent catalase-like superfamily. The purified Pachymenia orbitosa catalase enzyme displayed a specific activity of 23 000 units per mg of protein with a 14.94% recovery and 222.91 fold purification. Sodium dodecyl sulphatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated a single band, with a molecular weight of around 50kDa. The catalase enzyme exhibited a maximum activity at pH 7 and a temperature of 30℃. It was stable up to 40℃ and rapidly denatured at temperatures above this. The Km and Vmax values for the purified catalase, using hydrogen peroxide as a substrate, were determined from the Lineweaver-Burk plot to be 22.22mM and 1.11x10-4mM.min-1 , respectively, while from the Hanes-Woolf plot, to be 23.4mM and 1.17x10-4mM.min-1 , respectively. The Heme catalase inhibitor (ferricyanide) inhibited the enzyme activity markedly, while sodium chloride and citric acid had only a slight inhibitory effect. Copper sulphate showed a slight stimulatory effect. The physiochemical properties suggest a good application potential in both the pharmaceutical and food industries
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Incidence and antibiogram fingerprints of members of the Enterobacteriaceae family recovered from river water, hospital effluents and vegetables in Chris Hani and Amathole District Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Mpaka, Lindelwa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Enterobacteriaceae
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14549 , vital:40003
- Description: The worldwide problem of antimicrobial resistance has limited the spectrum of the current affordable and effective antimicrobials. Infections associated with resistant microorganisms impose a major threat to public health and economic stability. Globally, about 700 000 deaths every year can be accredited to antimicrobial resistance. The leading mechanism of resistance amid bacterial pathogens is the extended spectrum beta-lactamases production, which inhibits spectrum activity of several antimicrobial agents. The rise in antimicrobial resistance has compelled an urgent need of developing means of combatting resistance issue amid diseasecausing microbes. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence and antibiogram fingerprints of Enterobacteriaceae recovered from hospital effluents, river water and vegetables in the Eastern Cape Province. A total of eighteen antibiotics from ten different antimicrobial classes were used to determine antibiogram profiles of the MALDI-TOF confirmed isolates. From the MALDI-TOF confirmed isolates, 60% of Enterobacter spp. and E. coli isolates displayed resistance against colistin, while Citrobacter spp. and Klebsiella spp. displayed 90% and 60% resistance against this antimicrobial respectively. These findings outline the need for the development of new antimicrobials. About 75.5% (25/33) of the presumptive Enterobacter spp. were confirmed by MALDI-TOF with 79.2% (19/24), 66.7% (2/3), 66.7% (4/6) been confirmed vegetables, hospital effluents and river water samples respectively. Likewise, about 77.8% (21/27) were confirmed as Citrobacter spp. of which 92.3% (12/13), 66.7% (2/3) and 63.6% (7/11) were from vegetables, hospital effluents and river water samples respectively. These results show that the selected vegetables were highly contaminated with resistant bacteria and thus unsafe to consume uncooked vegetable. Also river water was higly contaminated with resistant microbes, which also shows that these rivers are not fit to be used 17 as drinking water sources and recreational activities. Colistin is an antimicrobial used as a last resort of antibiotics because it exhibits broad-spectrum activity. However from the findings of the work at present, this is no longer the case. The spectrum of this antimicrobial is now reduced by Enterobacteriaceae members. To the best of my knowledge; relatively few resources have been provided to understanding, preventing, and controlling increasing antimicrobial resistance on global, national and local levels.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mpaka, Lindelwa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Enterobacteriaceae
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14549 , vital:40003
- Description: The worldwide problem of antimicrobial resistance has limited the spectrum of the current affordable and effective antimicrobials. Infections associated with resistant microorganisms impose a major threat to public health and economic stability. Globally, about 700 000 deaths every year can be accredited to antimicrobial resistance. The leading mechanism of resistance amid bacterial pathogens is the extended spectrum beta-lactamases production, which inhibits spectrum activity of several antimicrobial agents. The rise in antimicrobial resistance has compelled an urgent need of developing means of combatting resistance issue amid diseasecausing microbes. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence and antibiogram fingerprints of Enterobacteriaceae recovered from hospital effluents, river water and vegetables in the Eastern Cape Province. A total of eighteen antibiotics from ten different antimicrobial classes were used to determine antibiogram profiles of the MALDI-TOF confirmed isolates. From the MALDI-TOF confirmed isolates, 60% of Enterobacter spp. and E. coli isolates displayed resistance against colistin, while Citrobacter spp. and Klebsiella spp. displayed 90% and 60% resistance against this antimicrobial respectively. These findings outline the need for the development of new antimicrobials. About 75.5% (25/33) of the presumptive Enterobacter spp. were confirmed by MALDI-TOF with 79.2% (19/24), 66.7% (2/3), 66.7% (4/6) been confirmed vegetables, hospital effluents and river water samples respectively. Likewise, about 77.8% (21/27) were confirmed as Citrobacter spp. of which 92.3% (12/13), 66.7% (2/3) and 63.6% (7/11) were from vegetables, hospital effluents and river water samples respectively. These results show that the selected vegetables were highly contaminated with resistant bacteria and thus unsafe to consume uncooked vegetable. Also river water was higly contaminated with resistant microbes, which also shows that these rivers are not fit to be used 17 as drinking water sources and recreational activities. Colistin is an antimicrobial used as a last resort of antibiotics because it exhibits broad-spectrum activity. However from the findings of the work at present, this is no longer the case. The spectrum of this antimicrobial is now reduced by Enterobacteriaceae members. To the best of my knowledge; relatively few resources have been provided to understanding, preventing, and controlling increasing antimicrobial resistance on global, national and local levels.
- Full Text:
Incidence of porcine circovirus type 2 and porcine parvoviruses in swine herds of some communities in Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Afolabi, Kayode Olayinka
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Swine -- Diseases Swine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9691 , vital:34820
- Description: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is one of the swine pathogens of global economic importance. Since its first detection in early 1990s as the main etiologic agent of porcine multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and many other porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVAD), the virus has been extensively studied and has been found to be present in virtually all the pig producing countries of the world. As a viral pathogen that brings about clinical diseases aided by co-infecting pathogens, the involvement of many other viral agents including porcine parvoviruses (PPVs) have caught the attention of stakeholders worldwide. However, no surveillance study of the viral pathogens has been carried out in South Africa as there are little or no information on their prevalence in the swine herds of the country. This present study therefore aimed at detection and molecular characterization of PCV2 and PPVs in swine herds of some selected communities in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A total of 375 field samples were collected from seven commercial and communal farms from three District Municipalities of Eastern Cape, South Africa between 2015 and 2016. Structured questionnaires were also administered to each farm at the time of sample collection to obtain some important information relating to health status and farm management practices in the sampled farms. With the aid of conventional PCR method, 339 samples were initially screened for the presence of PCV2; positive amplicons were sequenced and obtained partial genomes of the virus were preliminarily analyzed. In order to obtain the complete genomes of the virus, four overlapping primer pairs were used to amplify the full-genome of PCV2 from the initial positive samples; amplified genomes were sequenced using the Sanger methods, sequenced PCV2 genomes were assembled and characterized. Furthermore, the prevalences of some designated PPVs in the sampled farms were obtained using 110 samples randomly selected from the previously archived samples and screened with 6 different primer pairs specific for the detection of 7 PPVs. All the amplified parvoviruses’ genomes were sequenced; their sequenced partial genomes were subsequently base-culled and analysed. The data obtained revealed that 54/339 (15.93 percent) samples from the swine herds were positive for PCV2; whereas the degree of occurrence of the viral pathogen as observed at farm level ranges from approximately 5.6 to 60 percent. The majority 15/17 (88 percent) of the analyzed partial sequences were found clustering with other PCV2b strains in the phylogenetic analysis. More interestingly, two other sequences obtained were also found clustering within PCV2d genotype in the initial screening and analysis. Furthermore, 15 complete PCV2 genomes were successfully amplified, sequenced and assembled. NJ and ML phylogenetic analysis of the complete ORF2 gene and full genomes unanimously showed 11 of the assembled genomes belonging to genotype PCV2b. Another 3 of the characterized sequences formed clade with other reference mutant PCV2b and PCV2b subtype 1C (PCV2d) strains from different parts of the world. The last sequence however, clustered with other reference strains belonging to PCV2 intermediate clade 2 (PCV2-IM2) recently identified in a global PCV2 strains phylogenetic analysis. Other genetic analyses including multiple sequence alignment and p-distance analysis also confirmed the outcomes of the phylogenetic analyses of the complete capsid gene and fullgenomes of the virus. On the other hand, the findings of the molecular profiling for PPVs showed that all the screened parvoviruses were present in the study area, having prevalence of 29.1 percent (PPV1), 21.8 percent (PPV2), 5.5 percent (PPV3), 43.6 percent (PPV4), 21.8 percent (PBo-likeV) and 44.6 percent for PBoV1 and PBoV2. Double infection of the screened PPVs was observed to be very rampant among the pigs as high as 20/110 (18.2 percent) for PPV2/PPV4 and PPV4/PBoV; followed by 19/110 (17.3 percent) of the samples for PPV1/PPV4 and PPV1/PBoV. Three of the viruses were found simultaneously in 19 of the screened samples representing 17.3 percent, whereas 8 (7.3 percent) samples were positive for four of the viruses. Phylogenetic analyses of PPV1, PPV2 and PBoVs 1 and 2 were conducted with two major clades homologous for each of them. This is the first report of PCV2 in swine herds of the Province and the first detection of PCV2b, PCV2d and PCV2-IM2 strains in South African swine herds. It follows the first reported case of PCV2a in an outbreak of porcine multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in Gauteng Province, South Africa over two decades ago. Also, this is the first major epidemiologic study on PPVs in the country following the initial case study of 1975. These findings confirmed the presence of the allimportant viral pathogens among pigs and also give preliminary insights into the possibility of co-infections of the pathogens in the studied area. This could however result in a serious large scale outbreak of devastating disease(s) associated with the viral pathogens, thereby ultimately resulting in huge economic losses if no appropriate measures are taken to effectively curb their spread across the country.
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- Authors: Afolabi, Kayode Olayinka
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Swine -- Diseases Swine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9691 , vital:34820
- Description: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is one of the swine pathogens of global economic importance. Since its first detection in early 1990s as the main etiologic agent of porcine multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and many other porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVAD), the virus has been extensively studied and has been found to be present in virtually all the pig producing countries of the world. As a viral pathogen that brings about clinical diseases aided by co-infecting pathogens, the involvement of many other viral agents including porcine parvoviruses (PPVs) have caught the attention of stakeholders worldwide. However, no surveillance study of the viral pathogens has been carried out in South Africa as there are little or no information on their prevalence in the swine herds of the country. This present study therefore aimed at detection and molecular characterization of PCV2 and PPVs in swine herds of some selected communities in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A total of 375 field samples were collected from seven commercial and communal farms from three District Municipalities of Eastern Cape, South Africa between 2015 and 2016. Structured questionnaires were also administered to each farm at the time of sample collection to obtain some important information relating to health status and farm management practices in the sampled farms. With the aid of conventional PCR method, 339 samples were initially screened for the presence of PCV2; positive amplicons were sequenced and obtained partial genomes of the virus were preliminarily analyzed. In order to obtain the complete genomes of the virus, four overlapping primer pairs were used to amplify the full-genome of PCV2 from the initial positive samples; amplified genomes were sequenced using the Sanger methods, sequenced PCV2 genomes were assembled and characterized. Furthermore, the prevalences of some designated PPVs in the sampled farms were obtained using 110 samples randomly selected from the previously archived samples and screened with 6 different primer pairs specific for the detection of 7 PPVs. All the amplified parvoviruses’ genomes were sequenced; their sequenced partial genomes were subsequently base-culled and analysed. The data obtained revealed that 54/339 (15.93 percent) samples from the swine herds were positive for PCV2; whereas the degree of occurrence of the viral pathogen as observed at farm level ranges from approximately 5.6 to 60 percent. The majority 15/17 (88 percent) of the analyzed partial sequences were found clustering with other PCV2b strains in the phylogenetic analysis. More interestingly, two other sequences obtained were also found clustering within PCV2d genotype in the initial screening and analysis. Furthermore, 15 complete PCV2 genomes were successfully amplified, sequenced and assembled. NJ and ML phylogenetic analysis of the complete ORF2 gene and full genomes unanimously showed 11 of the assembled genomes belonging to genotype PCV2b. Another 3 of the characterized sequences formed clade with other reference mutant PCV2b and PCV2b subtype 1C (PCV2d) strains from different parts of the world. The last sequence however, clustered with other reference strains belonging to PCV2 intermediate clade 2 (PCV2-IM2) recently identified in a global PCV2 strains phylogenetic analysis. Other genetic analyses including multiple sequence alignment and p-distance analysis also confirmed the outcomes of the phylogenetic analyses of the complete capsid gene and fullgenomes of the virus. On the other hand, the findings of the molecular profiling for PPVs showed that all the screened parvoviruses were present in the study area, having prevalence of 29.1 percent (PPV1), 21.8 percent (PPV2), 5.5 percent (PPV3), 43.6 percent (PPV4), 21.8 percent (PBo-likeV) and 44.6 percent for PBoV1 and PBoV2. Double infection of the screened PPVs was observed to be very rampant among the pigs as high as 20/110 (18.2 percent) for PPV2/PPV4 and PPV4/PBoV; followed by 19/110 (17.3 percent) of the samples for PPV1/PPV4 and PPV1/PBoV. Three of the viruses were found simultaneously in 19 of the screened samples representing 17.3 percent, whereas 8 (7.3 percent) samples were positive for four of the viruses. Phylogenetic analyses of PPV1, PPV2 and PBoVs 1 and 2 were conducted with two major clades homologous for each of them. This is the first report of PCV2 in swine herds of the Province and the first detection of PCV2b, PCV2d and PCV2-IM2 strains in South African swine herds. It follows the first reported case of PCV2a in an outbreak of porcine multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in Gauteng Province, South Africa over two decades ago. Also, this is the first major epidemiologic study on PPVs in the country following the initial case study of 1975. These findings confirmed the presence of the allimportant viral pathogens among pigs and also give preliminary insights into the possibility of co-infections of the pathogens in the studied area. This could however result in a serious large scale outbreak of devastating disease(s) associated with the viral pathogens, thereby ultimately resulting in huge economic losses if no appropriate measures are taken to effectively curb their spread across the country.
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