Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and rural poverty reduction in the Eastern Cape Province South Africa: a case of Amathole Rural District
- Authors: Mamutse, Zivai Tapfumanei
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Economic policy , Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Social conditions , Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11440 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007231 , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Economic policy , Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Social conditions , Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Description: The government of South Africa has seen many financial reforms in the finance industry since the attainment of freedom in 1994. Many microfinance institutions (MFIs) have emerged in the name of poverty reduction, however the impact of MFIs on poverty reduction in rural areas has not been significantly high. Poverty has been reduced but still the inequality gap has even widened (HSRC, 2004). The study is concerned with analysing the impact of MFIs in poverty reduction among the rural poor. Empirical evidence from many developing nations around the world has shown that microfinance is a tool that is relevant in reducing poverty within rural areas. This study investigates the impact of microfinance institutions on household income levels, education and business skills. The study followed a qualitative approach in terms of the research methodology and a survey research design. Data was collected using questionnaires, scheduled interviews, focus group discussions and key informants. Two sample techniques were used for the selection of the MFIs and the household respondents, that is purposive sampling and cluster sampling. In total, 150 households, 15 MFIs and five key informants were interviewed. Descriptive analysis methods were employed and the study showed that only 10 percent of the total households have been able to access microfinance. The number of people who gained business skills was also low (10 percent). The MFIs who provide financial services excluding the other services like business training programmes were 80 percent of the total number of MFIs interviewed. This data showed that only a few (20 percent) MFIs are willing to go an extra mile rendering business skills to their clients. Overally the major finding of the study was that although, MFIs are reaching out to the rural communities, their levels of outreach is still very low within the rural areas. However this does not mean that the impact of MFIs funding is not felt among the rural poor. The levels of income and educational benefits have been increased and felt by the 10 percent of the rural poor clients. This study advocates for an entrepreneurship development pathway to poverty reduction. Microfinance should be used as a source of finance to initiate entrepreneurial activities among the poor in order to generate income. In this study, the use of microfinance finance for consumption by the poor is discouraged because it depletes the funds that can be channeled for selfhelp projects within the rural communities. The study findings motivated the recommendations that encourage an inclusive financial system that is capable of reaching out to the rural poor.
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Modelling and mapping the suitability of land for crop production using a combination of GIS and remote sensing in the Eastern Cape: a case study of Mbashe and Mquma local municipalities-South Africa
- Authors: Vuso, Solly
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geographic Information System)
- Identifier: vital:11534 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019872
- Description: In order to achieve sustainable agriculture, decision makers require appropriate and fully detailed spatial information on land resources. Crop-land suitability analysis is a prerequisite to achieve optimum utilization of the available land resources for sustainable agriculture rural production (T.R. Nisar Ahamed et al., 2000). It is indeed of paramount importance to identify suitable land for cropping while causing minimum impact to the environment. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 1976), recommended an approach of land suitability evaluation for crops in terms of suitable land based on climatic and terrain data and soil properties. In this study, an attempt was made to identify suitable areas for massive crop production using remote sensing and GIS methodologies and the knowledge from extension officers. The primary method aims at generating land cover data using SPOT 5 satellite imagery and modeling with the existing land capability. The research purpose was to map the map the number hectares suitable areas for crop production number hectares suitable areas for crop production number hectares suitable areas for crop production number hectares suitable areas for crop production. Spatial modeling techniques were utilized to model land suitability model in an effective and efficiently way. The spatial modeling extension from ESRI product was used to model the crop suitability areas. The model run on ArcGIS platform and due to the fact that modeling only uses raster formats, all the data sets were projected and converted to raster format. The weighted overlay model was used to create land suitability map. The model results revealed that 4046251.79 hectares were suitable for cropping in the study area. The final outputs of suitable areas were calculated and each ward was given a value of suitable area as well as unsuitable area. The validation of the final maps compliments the 500 000 hectares that were mapped by Dept of Agriculture EC using 8% slope as the best potential areas. The method provides a cheap, effective and efficient way to map suitable areas over a large area and it also uses remote sensing data. It is hoped that decision makers will make use of the information produced in this paper as the whole world is in crisis of food security.
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Nature of spelling errors of grade three isiXhosa background learners in English first additional language
- Authors: Mpiti, Thandiswa
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Language and languages -- Orthography and spelling , Spelling errors -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
- Identifier: vital:16175 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/472 , Language and languages -- Orthography and spelling , Spelling errors -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: A central concern of education internationally and in South Africa is to develop children's literacy skill. However a literacy crisis exists in spite of efforts to counter this. Some researchers have explored the issue of literacy focusing on second language learners‟ spelling in English as Additional Language. There is, however, insufficient literature that looks into spelling experiences of isiXhosa background learners in English First Additional Language. Hence this study investigated the nature of spelling errors of Grade three isiXhosa background learners in English First Additional Language. In understanding the nature of spelling errors of Grade three isiXhosa background learners, the features of words that learners find difficult to spell and the features of words that learners find easy to spell were investigated. Moreover, learners' barriers in acquiring spelling skills in English First Additional Language and teacher practices for teaching spelling were examined. In exploring these issues the study adopted a qualitative approach in order to ensure reliability and validity of the study. The data gathering process was in the form of semi-structured interviews, classroom observations and document analysis. One isiXhosa medium primary school in a Black Township in Buffalo City Municipality in the East London District was purposively selected to form the context of the study. In this school English is taught as a subject in grade three. Participants were eight grade three learners and one Grade three class teacher who teaches these learners. The findings of the study revealed that learners with an isiXhosa background seemed to be struggling with understanding basic English words and terms. This is exacerbated by the fact that the learners seemed to struggle to understand the rules of the English language. The words that learners find difficulties in to spell in English Second Language were diagraphs. Barriers to spelling were influenced, among other issues, by learners' pronunciation and their heavy reliance on their mother tongue.
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Parent characterization of quality protein maize (Zea mays L.) and combining ability for tolerance to drought stress
- Authors: Pfunde, Cleopatra Nyaradzo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Corn -- Quality , Corn as food , Corn -- Effect of stress on , Corn -- Effect of drought on , Cluster analysis , Crops -- Effect of drought on , Corn -- Drought tolerance , Corn -- Breeding , Crops -- Drought tolerance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Crop Science)
- Identifier: vital:11869 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007536 , Corn -- Quality , Corn as food , Corn -- Effect of stress on , Corn -- Effect of drought on , Cluster analysis , Crops -- Effect of drought on , Corn -- Drought tolerance , Corn -- Breeding , Crops -- Drought tolerance
- Description: Quality protein maize (QPM) has enhanced levels of two essential amino acids, lysine and tryptophan compared to normal maize. This makes QPM an important cereal crop in communities where maize is a staple crop. The main abiotic factor to QPM production is drought stress. Little information is available on the effect of drought stress on QPM. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to: (i) conduct diversity analysis of QPM inbred lines using morpho-agronomic and simple sequence repeat markers, (ii) screen available QPM inbred lines and F1 progeny for tolerance to seedling drought stress, (iii) determine the combining ability and type of gene action of QPM inbred lines for tolerance to seedling drought stress, grain yield and endosperm modification. The study was conducted in South Africa, at the University of Fort Hare. Morphological characterisation of 21 inbred lines was done using quantitative and qualitative traits. A randomised complete block design with three replicates was used for characterizing the inbred lines in the field. Genstat statistical software, version 12 (Genstat ®, 2009) was used for analysis of variance (ANOVA) and descriptive statistics. Analysis of variance was performed on all quantitative data for morphological traits. Data for qualitative traits was tabulated in their nominal classes. Traits that contributed most to the variation were days to anthesis, days to silking, anthesis-silking interval, plant height, number of kernel rows, ear length and grain yield. Cluster analysis grouped the inbred lines into three main clusters. The first cluster was characterised by tall and average yielding lines, while the second cluster showed the least anthesis-silking interval, and had the highest yield. Cluster three consisted of lines that were early maturing, but were the least yielding. Genetic distances between maize inbred lines were quantified by using 27 simple sequence repeat markers. The genetic distances between genotypes was computed using Roger’s (1972) genetic distances. Cluster analysis was then carried out using the neighbour-joining tree method using Power Marker software version 3.25. A dendrogram generated from the genetic study of the inbred lines revealed three groups that concurred with expectations based upon pedigree data. These groups were not identical to the groups generated using morpho-agronomic characterisation. Twenty one QPM inbred lines were crossed using a North Carolina design II mating scheme. These were divided into seven sets, each with three inbred lines. The three inbred lines in one set were used as females and crossed with three inbred lines in another set consisting of males. Each inbred line was used as a female in one set, and as a male in a second set. Sixty three hybrids (7 sets x 9 hybrids) were formed and evaluated in October 2011, using a 6x8 alpha-lattice incomplete block design with three replicates under glasshouse and optimum field conditions. A randomised complete block design with three replicates was used for the 21 parental inbred lines. Traits recorded for the glasshouse study were, canopy temperature, chlorophyll content, leaf roll, stem diameter, plant height, leaf number, leaf area, fresh and dry root and shoot weights. Data for the various traits for each environment, 25 percent (stress treatment) and 75 percent (non-stress) of field capacity, were subjected to analysis of variance using the unbalanced treatment design in Genstat statistical package Edition 12. Where varietal differences were found, means were separated using Tukey’s test. Genetic analyses for grain yield and agronomic traits were performed using a fixed effects model in JMP 10 following Residual Maximum Likelihood procedure (REML). From the results, inbred lines that were not previously classified into heterotic groups and drought tolerance categories were classified based on their total dry weight performance and drought susceptibility index. Inbred lines L18, L9, L8, L6 and L3, in order of their drought tolerance index were the best performers under greenhouse conditions and could be recommended for breeding new varieties that are tolerant to seedling drought stress. Evaluation of maize seedlings tolerant to drought stress under glasshouse conditions revealed that cross combination L18 x L11 was drought tolerant, while cross L20 x L7 was susceptible. Total dry weight was used as the major criteria for classifying F1 maize seedlings as being resistant or susceptible. General combining ability effects accounted for 67.43 percent of the genetic variation for total dry weight, while specific combining ability effects contributed 37.57 percent. This indicated that additive gene effects were more important than non-additive gene action in controlling this trait. In the field study (non-drought), the experimental design was a 6x8 alpha lattice incomplete block design with three replicates. On an adjacent field a randomised complete block design with three replicates was used to evaluate the parental inbred lines. The following variables were recorded: plant height, ear height, ears per plant, endosperm modification, days to silking and days to anthesis, anthesis-silking interval, number of kernels per row, number of rows per ear and grain yield. General analyses for the incomplete lattice block design and randomised complete block design for hybrid and inbred data respectively were performed using JMP 10 statistical software. Means were separated using the Tukey's test. Genetic analyses of data for grain yield and agronomic traits were conducted using a fixed effects model using REML in JMP 10. The importance of both GCA (51 percent) and SCA (49 percent) was observed for grain yield. A preponderance of GCA existed for ear height, days to anthesis, anthesis-silking interval, ears per plant and number of kernels per row, indicating that predominantly, additive gene effects controlled hybrid performance under optimum field conditions. The highest heritability was observed for days to silking (48.27 percent) suggesting that yield could be improved through selection for this trait. Under field conditions, variation in time to maturity was observed. This implies that these inbred lines can be recommended for utilisation in different agro-ecologies. Early maturing lines such as L18 can be used to introduce earliness in local cultivars, while early maturing single crosses such as L18 x L2, L5 x L9, L3 x L4 and L2 x L21 could be recommended for maize growers in drought prone areas such as the former Ciskei. Single crosses L18xL11, L16xL18, L8xL21 and L9xL6 had good tolerance to seedling drought stress. On the other hand, single crosses L18xL11 and L11xL13 had high grain yield and good endosperm modification. All these single crosses could be recommended for commercial production after evaluation across locations in the Eastern Cape Province. Alternatively they can be crossed with other superior inbreds to generate three or four way hybrids, which could then be evaluated for potential use by farmers in the Eastern Cape.
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Participation and paradoxes: community control of mineral wealth in South Africa's Royal Bafokeng and Bakgatla Ba Kgafela communities
- Authors: Mnwana, Sonwabile Comfords
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Political participation -- South Africa , Natural resources -- Co-management -- South Africa , Rural development -- South Africa , Mining corporations -- South Africa , Platinum mines and mining -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Social Sciences)
- Identifier: vital:11952 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/526 , Political participation -- South Africa , Natural resources -- Co-management -- South Africa , Rural development -- South Africa , Mining corporations -- South Africa , Platinum mines and mining -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa
- Description: Resource control as a form of community participation in the mineral economy has gained much recognition. One prevailing argument is that direct control of natural resources by local communities is an important precondition for equitable utilisation of the natural resource wealth, peaceful co-existence between mining corporations and indigenous communities, and congenial relations between local communities and the state. Studies have also shown that the absence of direct community control of mineral wealth remains a major factor in the communal resistance and socio-political conflict witnessed in the natural resource-endowed regions of countries such as Nigeria, Ecuador, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, little is known about mineral resource control at the community level. Does community control necessarily translate to equity? How does local involvement in the mobilisation of mining royalties benefit different segments of the community? Indeed, how do different segments of the community “control” the wealth? What is the specific model adopted to engender broad-based community participation in the utilisation of mineral wealth – and does it matter? These theoretical and practical questions were the impetus for undertaking this study in the Royal Bafokeng and Bakgatla Ba Kgafela – two platinum-rich ‘traditional’ communities in South Africa’s North West Province that have significant control over platinum resources in their territories. Utilising ethnographic data collected in the two study communities in 2008 and 2009, the thesis examines the character of community participation in platinum wealth utilisation; specifically, the conditions under which community participation promotes or hinders sustainable community development. The analysis uses a “three-dimensional participation ladder” conceptual scheme, based in part on Sherry Arnstein’s (1969) “ladder of citizen participation” and subsequent typologies of participation. Among the key findings of the thesis are that despite observed benefits, the interface of resource wealth and community development is fraught with tokenistic participation, elite-targeted grassroots anger, and local tensions – all linked to the contradictory nature of participation. The thesis further reveals that in some instances the challenge of platinum wealth-engendered community development tends to undermine existing customary and democratic spaces for participation, and that this is exacerbated by community-level issues such as poverty and inequality. The findings of the study compel a shift of analytical focus from conflict as an epiphenomenon of collective community exclusion and deprivation (as in the case of many natural-rich countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere), to conflict as also resulting from collective community inclusion (in natural resource utilisation). At the policy level, the study generates insights that will, hopefully, assist mineral resource-endowed countries, such as South Africa, in dealing with the challenge of developing appropriate policy frameworks for regulating business and social partnerships between local communities and mining corporations, and within resource-rich communities themselves.
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Perceived organisational support (POS), Job engagement (JE) and their effect on organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) among nurses at the Victoria Hospital, Alice, Nkonkobe Municipality
- Authors: Dumisani, Mathumbu
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Perceived Organization Support , Job Engagement , Organizational Citizenship Behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: vital:11552 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007032 , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Perceived Organization Support , Job Engagement , Organizational Citizenship Behavior
- Description: Wendel (1994, p. 91) defined perceived organizational support (POS) as “organization support in terms of all things that relate to assistance and relationships amongst working peers and colleagues, which involve the feeling of need between superiors and subordinates . Rothbard (2001, p. 656) in defining job engagement (JE) listed two components which he thought were critical for its effectiveness on organizational functioning: (i) attention and (ii) absorption, with the former referring to “cognitive ability and the amount of time one spends thinking about the role”, while the latter “means being engrossed in a role and means the intensity of one’s focus on a role”. Organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) was first introduced by Organ in the 1980s and he defined the concept of organizational citizenship behavior “as discretionary behaviors by individuals (employees) that do not form part of formal requirements of a job, but are necessary and promote effective functioning of the organization (Organ, 1988)”. The objective of study was to explore the relationship between perceived organizational support and job engagement and their effect organizational citizenship behavior. Other relationships that were tested were first, the direct relationship between POS JE. Secondly, the combined effect of POS and JE on OCB. The study was conducted amongst nurses at Victoria hospital, in Alice within the Nkonkobe district municipality. The results showed a significant relationship between JE and OCB, whilst the relationship between POS and OCB was not accepted. The results for the other two hypotheses that were tested; (i) relationship between POS and JE, (ii) combined effect of POS and JE on OCB also showed that they were not accepted. The consistency scores for these variables were of international level (n=106). The Pearson correlation coefficients were used for hypothesis testing.
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Perceptions of rural consumers and the quality of mutton at purchase points in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Rani, Zikhona Theodora
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Meat -- Quality , Mutton -- Quality , Consumers' preferences , Quality of products , Consumers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11823 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007562 , Meat -- Quality , Mutton -- Quality , Consumers' preferences , Quality of products , Consumers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The objective of the study was to determine perceptions of rural consumers on mutton quality, and the quality of mutton at purchase points in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The study was conducted in five different municipalities (Buffalo City, Nkonkobe, Ngqushwa, Lukhanje and Amahlathi). A survey was conducted where a sample of 215 consumers were randomly selected and interviewed, either at point of purchase or as they left the shops. The survey was not limited to the shoppers only but also extended to households from the villages. Questions on some of the most important meat quality cues were compiled. The physico-chemical quality of mutton purchased from different shops was also determined. Forty different shops and butcheries selling mutton from all the selected municipalities were visited. Different parts of mutton samples were bought. Physico-chemical qualities of mutton such as colour (L* - lightness, b* - redness and a* - yellowness) and meat pH measurements were taken at points of purchase. Cooking loss and tenderness evaluations were later done at the Meat Science laboratory at the University of Fort Hare. The results indicated that price was one of the major factors affecting the purchasing decisions of consumers. Thirty four percent of the consumers preferred mutton as compared to other protein sources, even though they were not buying this type of meat because it was not affordable to them. Both male and female consumers suggested that more sheep farmers need to be established in order to reduce the levels of imported mutton into South Africa. They also highlighted that selection programmes that will result in efficient sheep production and reduced mutton prices need to be implemented. Meat at points of purchase was affected by season resulting in lower lightness (L*24.7±0.49) values in winter and higher (L* 32.2±0.49) in Spring. The class of shop did not have an effect on meat quality attributes. Trotter had high values of lightness (L*30.4±2.78a), redness (a*30.4±2.78a), yellowness (13.1±1.08a), pH (6.3±0.12a), tenderness (24.9±3.69b) and cooking loss (39.5±4.38ab). The number of days from when the meat was put on the shelves to the time when it was purchased for consumption (days to purchase) had a significant (P<0.05) negative correlation with the Warner Braztler Shear Force (WBSF)values and lightness of the meat. Significant negative (P < 0.05) correlations between pH and colour of the meat (L*, a* and b*) were also observed. It was concluded that rural consumers perceive the quality of mutton as the best and that the physico-chemical quality of meat purchased from different shops was different, largely based on the part of meat, meat storage conditions and not necessarily on the class of the shop.
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Photocatalytic activity and antibacterial properties of Ag/N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles on PVAE-CS nanofibre support
- Authors: Ocwelwang, Atsile Rosy
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Nanocomposites (Materials) , Nanofibers , Electrospinning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11337 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006794 , Nanocomposites (Materials) , Nanofibers , Electrospinning
- Description: Lack of potable water is one of the major challenges that the world faces currently and the effects of this are mainly experienced by people in developing countries. This has therefore propelled research in advanced oxidation technologies AOTs to improve the current water treatment methods using cost effective, non toxic and efficient treatment methods. Hence, in this study the sol-gel synthesis method was used to prepare TiO2 nanoparticles that were photocatalytically active under UV and visible solar light as well as possessing antibacterial properties. Silver and nitrogen doping was carried out to extend the optical absorption of TiO2. For easy removal and reuse of the photocatalyst the nanoparticles were immobilized on chitosan and poly (vinyl-alcohol-co-ethylene) using the electrospining technique. The synthesized nanomaterials were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM/EDS, TEM, DRS, and TGA. FTIR and EDS analysis confirmed the formation and composition of TiO2 nanopowders for the doped and undoped nanoparticles. XRD analysis showed that the anatase phase was the dominant crystalline phase of the synthesized nanopowders. SEM and TEM respectively illustrated the distribution and size of the electrospun nanofibers and the nanoparticles of TiO2. DRS results showed that there was a significant shift in the absorption band edge and wavelength of Ag-TiO2 to 397 nm, followed by N-TiO2 at 396 nm compared to the commercial titania which was at 359 nm. The photocatalytic activities and antibacterial properties of these materials were tested on methylene blue dye and E.coli microorganism respectively. Ag-TiO2 immobilized on nanofibers of chitosan and PVAE had the highest photocatalytic activity compared to N-TiO2. Similar results were observed when the biocide properties of these materials were tested on E. coli.
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Phytochemical analysis and bioactivity of Garcinia Kola (Heckel) seeds on selected bacterial pathogens
- Authors: Seanego, Christinah Tshephisho
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Drug resistance in microorganisms , Garcinia , Antibiotics , Medicinal plants , Microbial sensitivity tests , Streptococcal infections , Streptococcus , Staphylococcus aureus infections , Salmonella typhimurium , Traditional medicine
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11259 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/420 , Drug resistance in microorganisms , Garcinia , Antibiotics , Medicinal plants , Microbial sensitivity tests , Streptococcal infections , Streptococcus , Staphylococcus aureus infections , Salmonella typhimurium , Traditional medicine
- Description: Garcinia kola is one of the plants used in folklore remedies for the treatment of microbial infections. Bacterial resistance to commonly used antibiotics has necessitated the search for newer and alternative compounds for the treatment of drug resistant microbial infections. This study focuses on the bioactivity of G. kola seeds on Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC 49399), Staphylococcus aureus (NCTC 6571), Plesiomonas Shigelloides (ATCC 51903) and Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 13311), organisms which can cause illnesses from mild to severe with potentially fatal outcomes. The crude ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol, acetone and aqueous extracts were screened by agar-well diffusion method and the activities of the extract were further determined by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) assays. The inhibition zones ranged from 0 - 24 mm, while MIC and MBC of the extract ranged between 0.04 - 1.25 mg/mL and 0.081 - 2.5 mg/mL respectively. Chloroform/ Ethyl Acetate/ Formic acid (CEF) solvent system separated more active compounds followed by Ethyl Acetate/ Methanol/ Water (EMW) and Benzene/ Ethanol/ Ammonium Hydroxide (BEA). The extracts were fractionated by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). Bioautography was used to assess the activity of the possible classes of compounds present in the more active extracts. Column chromatography was used to purify the active compounds from the mixture while Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the phyto components of the fractions. The MIC of the fractions ranged between 0.0006 - 2.5 mg/mL. CEF 3 (F3), CEF 11 (F11) and CEF 12 (F12) revealed the presence of high levels fatty acids Linoleic acid, 1, 2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid and 2, 3-Dihydro-3, 5-dihydroxy-6-methyl, respectively. The results obtained from this study justify the use of this plant in traditional medicine and provide leads which could be further exploited for the development of new and potent antimicrobials.
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Prevalence, seasonal trends and incidences of cattle tuberculosis and brucellosis in the Cacadu municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Nombebe, Thobeka
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Tuberculosis in cattle -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Brucellosis in animals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mycobacterium tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Biostatistics and Epidemiology)
- Identifier: vital:11783 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016200 , Tuberculosis in cattle -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Brucellosis in animals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mycobacterium tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2011 to August 2012 to investigate the status and identify risk factors for Bovine Tuberculosis (BTB) and cattle Brucellosis. A total of 1277 cattle from 6 selected dairy farms were tested. The farms were purposively selected on suspected risk. Samples were analysed using Rose Bengal Test (RBPT) and Complement Fixation Test (CFT) for Brucellosis and Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin Test (CITT) for BTB. The results revealed the overall prevalence of 1.6% for Brucellosis and no BTB was found. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age of cattle, herd size and number of calves a cow has had significant association with Brucellosis with p-values 0.0071, 0.0490 and 0.000 respectively. The role of location (p>0.05), gender (p>0.05) and breed (p>0.05) in the occurrence of the disease was not statistically significant at α=0.05, although higher rates were obtained in females and Jersey breed. Questionnaires were also administered to 47 individuals a total of 12 females and 35 males. Most respondents were not aware about cattle brucellosis and cattle tuberculosis. Consumption of raw or unpasteurized milk still occurs with 74.75% of respondents revealed.
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Productions of high quality wastewater final effluents remain a challenge in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Gusha, Siyabulela Stability
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Water-supply, Rural -- Health aspects -- South Africa , Pathogenic microorganisms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water-supply, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Effluent quality -- Testing , Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Escherichia coli
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11265 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/489 , Water-supply, Rural -- Health aspects -- South Africa , Pathogenic microorganisms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water-supply, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Effluent quality -- Testing , Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Escherichia coli
- Description: Water is an indispensible and yet a difficult resource to be renewed, thus water scarcity has become one of the major challenges faced worldwide, with the Southern regions of Africa being the most impacted and affected, especially the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa where rural communities depend on receiving waterbodies that are often negatively impacted by wastewater final effluents. This present study was conducted between August and December 2010 to assess the physicochemical and microbial qualities of the final effluents of peri-urban and rural communities based wastewater treatment plants in the Eastern Cape Province. The physicochemical parameters were determined on site and in the laboratory, while bacteriological qualities were determined using culture based techniques. The virological qualities were determined by molecular methods using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for the target RNA virus and the conventional polymerase chain reaction for the target DNA virus. For both wastewater treatment plants, the physicochemical parameters ranged as follows: chemical oxygen demand (5.95-45 mg/L); total dissolved solids (114.5-187.0 mg/L); salinity (0.12-0.20 psu); temperature (14.2-25.7oC); pH (6.0-7.6); nitrate and nitrites (1.55-6.7 mg/L and 0.023-1.15 mg/L respectively); biological oxygen demand (3.5-7.8 mg/L); turbidity (1.49-6.98 NTU); and chlorine residual (0-2.97 mg/L). Feacal indicator bacteria counts ranged as follows: feacal coliforms (0-1.25×104 cfu/100 ml); total coliforms (0-3.95×104 cfu/100 ml); and enterococci (0-5.0×103 cfu/100 ml). xviii Seventy five percent of the rural community based plant and 80 percent of the peri-urban community based plant were positive for coxsackie A virus, while hepatitis A virus was detected in all the rural community based plant 80 percent of the peri-urban community based plant. This study suggests the need for intervention by appropriate regulatory agencies to ensure regular monitoring of the qualities of final effluents of wastewater treatment facilities in the Eastern Cape Province and ensure compliance to established guidelines.
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Re-tracing representations and identities in twentieth century South African and African photography: Joseph Denfield, regimes of seeing and alternative visual histories
- Authors: Mnyaka, Phindezwa Elizabeth
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Historical museums -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Natural history , Photography -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (History)
- Identifier: vital:11536 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/540 , Historical museums -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Natural history , Photography -- South Africa
- Description: The thesis examines the photographic collection of Joseph Denfield, an archivist and historian who experimented with photography over a twenty-year period. The study is located within the field of critical visual studies that focuses on historical photography in its depiction of identities and groups in the context of social change. The thesis pays attention to the manner and extent to which Denfield participated in regional visual economies at various moments during his photographic career in order to establish his contribution towards a visual history in Africa and more broadly Southern Africa. It follows Denfield’s career trajectory chronologically. It begins with a study of his photographic work in Nigeria which was oriented around so-called ‘pagan tribes’ and which was framed within the discourse of ethnography. It then pays attention to his growth as an artist in photography that resulted from years of exhibiting in salons. I read these photographs and texts in relation to his earlier work in Nigeria given the extent to which he drew on anthropological discourses. It is through his involvement with photographic art circles that Denfield developed as a historian as a result of his research into the history of photography and regional visual histories. This took the form of both unearthing historical photographs as well as photographing historical sites to construct the past in particular ways through the visual. At each stage he translated these histories into public forms of representation and power thus he figures among a small group of ‘colonial’ photographers that shaped the visual economy of Southern Africa. Through a detailed study of his work, the thesis thus aims to re-think through new dimensions of visual culture.
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Research supervision experiences of masters in education students at a South African University
- Authors: Ganqa, Ncumisa Hazel
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Evaluation , Graduate students -- Research -- South Africa , Education -- South Africa -- Quality control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
- Identifier: vital:16176 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/473 , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Evaluation , Graduate students -- Research -- South Africa , Education -- South Africa -- Quality control
- Description: In recent years, transformation in South African Universities saw an increase in the number of postgraduate students enrolling for Masters’ research programmes as access and educational opportunities have been widened. The purpose of this research was to investigate research supervision experiences of Masters postgraduate students. A qualitative, contextual, descriptive and phenomenological research design was used to explore the experiences of the 2010 MEd cohort at a purposively chosen university. This was a small scale study of six participants in different stages of their research projects sampled purposively. The preferred phenomenological interview method of gathering information from the subjects was in-depth unstructured interviews. This research study revealed that the postgraduate students at the University under investigation still continue to experience the traditional model of a single supervisor supervising a strictly research based work. The most crucial component of research supervision experiences that emerged was the quality of supervision between supervisors and supervisees which revealed power struggles in supervisory relationships. Such relationships emerged as push and pull, fight or flight amongst different individual participants and their supervisors.
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Risk preferences and consumption decisions in organic production: the case of Kwazulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa
- Authors: Kisaka-Lwayo, Maggie
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa , Organic farming -- South Africa , Natural foods industry -- South Africa , Risk management -- South Africa , Consumers -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11188 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/492 , Food security -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa , Organic farming -- South Africa , Natural foods industry -- South Africa , Risk management -- South Africa , Consumers -- South Africa
- Description: Despite phenomenal success of the commercial agricultural sector in South Africa and significant progress in integrating smallholders since democratic reforms, food security concerns remain. Recent global increases in food prices have further exacerbated vulnerabilities and made it imperative to examine alternative food production questions in the country. Organic agriculture is identified as one of the sustainable approaches to farming and offers insights towards a paradigm shift in food and nutritional security. Notwithstanding, consumer awareness, knowledge and consumption of organic foods are significantly lower in developing than developed countries. Risks associated with adoption of organic practices need to be explored to address the supply and demand constraints. Similarly, while consumer awareness of organic foods is the first step in developing demand for organic products, it does not necessarily translate to consumption. Therefore it is important to investigate these issues. The objectives of this study were to: (i) describe the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of organic farmers and consumers; (ii) establish the determinants of farmers‘ decision to participate in organic farming distinguishing between the fully-certified organic, partially-certified organic and non-organic farmers; (iii) elicit farmers risk preferences and empirically analyse farmers sources of risk and risk management strategies; (iv) explore consumer awareness, perceptions and attitudes regarding organic products; and (v) identify the factors that influence consumer‘s preference and consumption of organic products. A total of 400 respondents were surveyed, consisting of 200 smallholder farmers in KwaZulu-Natal and 200 consumers in the Eastern Cape. The KwaZulu-Natal study was conducted earlier and identified the following as major sources of risk, lack of consumer awareness of organic products and lack of information among producers about consumer preferences for organic products. This informed the need to undertake a consumer awareness and preference study, in order to inform producers. The Eastern Cape is a bordering province to KwaZulu-Natal with similar socio economic conditions and a major consumer of produce from KwaZulu-Natal. It was also expected that in the intervening period there could have been awareness about the product. An vii indication of its appeal would not be in the consumption of the product by the people who grow it, but by consumers who reside in bordering regions. Producer and household questionnaires were used to record household activities, socio-economic and institutional data as well as household demographics through personal interviews. The Arrow Pratt Absolute Risk Aversion (APARA) coefficient was used to measure the farmer‘s degree of risk aversion and the experimental gambling approach to establish the risk classification. Consumers were also asked about their awareness and knowledge about organics, attitudes and perceptions towards organics, preference and consumption patterns. The ordered probit results indicate that older farmers, who are less risk averse and reside in the sub-ward Ogagwini, Ezigani, and Hwayi were more likely to be certified organic farmers. Similarly, the propensity to adopt organic farming is positively correlated to household size, livestock ownership, asset base and tenure security. The risk analysis indicates that at higher pay-offs most farmers are intermediate to moderately risk-averse, with little variation according to personal characteristics, and that non-organic farmers tend to be more risk averse than fully-certified and partially-certified farmers. In general, price, production and financial risks were perceived as the most important sources of risk. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), seven principal components (PCs) explaining 66.13% of the variation were extracted. Socio economic factors having a significant effect on the various sources of risk are age, gender, education, location, information access and risk taking ability. The most important traditional risk management strategies used by the surveyed farmers are crop diversification, precautionary savings and participating in social networks. There was general awareness of what constituted organic foods with many consumers associating organic foods with health and nutrition, chemical free and produced using indigenous methods of production. However, there was low awareness of organic products among consumers with little or no knowledge of organic certification and standards. According to the logit model the major factors influencing consumer awareness of organic products are: gender, education, employment status, and location of the respondents, person/household member responsible for shopping and the price perception of the decision maker. The discriminant analysis showed that the consumption of organic products is significantly affected by age of the consumer, viii location, person/household member responsible for shopping, consumer awareness of organics, price perception and label trust. The findings from this study provides useful practical insights for policy makers, farm advisers and researchers in the design of effective and efficient policies, programmes and projects which can affect the adoption of organic practices, increase smallholder farmers capacity to manage risk and drive growth in the organic food market.
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Rural women and the land question in Zimbabwe: the case of Mutasa District
- Authors: Toro, Bigboy
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Land tenure -- Zimbabwe , Land reform -- Zimbabwe , Women in development -- Zimbabwe , Women farmers -- Zimbabwe , Inheritance and succession -- Zimbabwe , Rural development -- Zimbabwe , Rural women -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Sex discrimination -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11431 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006945 , Land tenure -- Zimbabwe , Land reform -- Zimbabwe , Women in development -- Zimbabwe , Women farmers -- Zimbabwe , Inheritance and succession -- Zimbabwe , Rural development -- Zimbabwe , Rural women -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Sex discrimination -- Zimbabwe
- Description: Zimbabwean rural women make significant contribution to agriculture and are the mainstay of the farm labour. Although women do the majority of agricultural work, men, for the most part continue to own the land, control women‟s labour and make agricultural decisions supported by patriarchal social systems. Thus, rural women faced difficulties than men in gaining access to land under Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP). Women‟s relationship with land is therefore through husbands, fathers, brothers or sons. Therefore, this study has undertaken with the objective of assessing the impact of land distribution programme with respect to its contribution to women‟s empowerment in the study area. The Gender and Development approach was employed to assess women access to land under the FTLRP. Such an approach to rural development can help in reducing the gender gap between women and men in order to achieve gender-balanced development. The study used qualitative research methodology where semi-structured interviews gather data from women in Mutasa District. Findings indicate that there are a number of challenges and constraints that are experienced by rural women under the Fast Track Land Reform Programme which include male land registration, no access to credit, inadequate government input support, lack of government laws and policies awareness on women land rights, shortage of farm implements and irrigation water supply and lack of agriculture training. On the other hand, culture and traditional practices still affect women in other cases, disadvantaging them in favour of men, as in inheritance of land and property in the household. It was generally assumed that the programme did not improve women access to land. To improve women access to land, in future, the study recommends that a serious intervention by the state should occur coupled with the revitalization of the programme and a paradigm shift towards an effective food security programme which emphasizes women and their important role in agriculture.
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Sedimentary environments and provenance of the Balfour Formation (Beaufort Group) in the area between Bedford and Adelaide, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Oghenekome, Monica Enifome
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Geology -- South Africa -- Balfour , Sedimentary basins -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sediments (Geology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sedimentation analysis , Beaufort Group (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geology)
- Identifier: vital:11524 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1004354 , Geology -- South Africa -- Balfour , Sedimentary basins -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sediments (Geology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sedimentation analysis , Beaufort Group (South Africa)
- Description: The research examines the sedimentary environments and provenance of the Balfour Formation of the Beaufort Group (Karoo Supergroup) in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This Formation occurs in the southeastern part of the Karoo Basin. It consists of sedimentary rocks, which are an alternating siltstone, shale and mudstone succession with subordinate interbedded sandstone and subsequently intruded by Karoo dolerite in the form of sills and dykes. ithostratigraphically, the Balfour Formation is subdivided into five units namely, from the base to the top, the Oudeberg, Daggaboersnek, Barberskrans, Elandsberg and Palingkloof Members. The Balfour Formation is overlain by the Katberg Formation. This study involved field investigations in the vicinity of the towns of Bedford and Adelaide with integrated stratigraphical, sedimentological and petrological studies. A geological map was constructed after field investigations. Lithofacies of the Balfour Formation that were studied are characterised by sandstone facies (Sh, Sm, St, Sr, Sp) and fine-grained sediments (Fl or Fsm) which reflect point-bar, cut-bank, channel and floodplain deposits. Lithologically, the Oudeberg Member consists of sandstone of which some units are internally massive alternating with thin laminated siltstone and mudstone. The Daggaboersnek Member is characterised by regular, generally non-lenticular, overall stratification, in the Barberkrans Member consists of sandstone lithosomes, while the Elandsberg Member is an argillaceous unit, similar to the Daggaboersnek Member. The Palingkloof Member is composed predominantly of red mudstone that can be used to distinguish the Balfour Formation from the overlying Katberg Formation, which consists predominantly of sandstone. The stratigraphic sequence displays two fining upward megacycles of sedimentary deposits with change in the sediment supply pattern from low-sinuosity to high-sinuosity river systems which reflect both braid and meandering deposits, respectively. Sedimentary structures in the sandstone units and the provenance of the Balfour Formation indicate that these deposits were produced by rivers flowing from the southeast with minor drift towards the northwest. According to the composition of the sediments and their sequence of deposition the Formation represents a fluvial environment. Mineralogical and grain size data from the sandstones of the various members of the Balfour Formation indicate the same source area of granitic, metamorphic and older sedimentary rocks and show no significant petrographic differences. The petrographic and geochemical investigations confirmed the sandstone to be feldspathic litharenite and ultralithofeldspathic sandstone. The palaeocurrent investigation indicates the main provenance to have been situated to the southeast of the Karoo basin. Heavy-mineral concentrations within the sandstones also give an indication that the source had a transitional arc plate tectonic setting.
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Silenced women of John Steinbeck's dustbowl trilogy
- Authors: Burri, Stella Teresia
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968 -- Criticism and interpretation , Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968 -- Grapes of wrath , Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968 -- Political and social views , Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968 -- Appreciation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA (English)
- Identifier: vital:11838 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1005643 , Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968 -- Criticism and interpretation , Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968 -- Grapes of wrath , Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968 -- Political and social views , Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968 -- Appreciation
- Description: The primary aim of this project is to examine selected works by John Steinbeck, a significant American writer. Through a close contextual and textual analysis of Steinbeck’s Dustbowl Trilogy, which consists of the novels In Dubious Battle, Of Mice and Men, and The Grapes of Wrath, this project will interrogate Steinbeck’s contribution to the silencing of women and their inferior placement in their society and determine the extent to which Steinbeck promotes patriarchal ideology through his literature. A close examination of the modernist era in which these novels were written will provide the method of interrogating Steinbeck’s portrayal of women’s situation during the Depression and determine whether it is a reflection of the reality of women’s situation at that time given the political and environmental factors of the 1930s. The theories of various feminist critics, including Simone de Beauvoir, Judith Butler, Gayle Rubin, Luce Irigaray, Sherry Ortner, and Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar will be explored in order to elucidate the author’s treatment of the female characters and determine the extent to which patriarchal ideology is embedded in his writing. A brief examination of some of his contemporaries, namely F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway, will reveal the general treatment of women in male authored modernist literature and determine the extent to which Steinbeck’s female subjugation is representative.
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Soil fertility enhancement through appropriate fertilizer management on winter cover crops in a conservation agriculture system
- Authors: Dube, Ernest
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Fertilizers , Soil fertility , Crops -- Nutrition , Soil productivity , Range management , Grazing -- Management , Forage plants , Humus
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Crop Science)
- Identifier: vital:11239 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001044 , Fertilizers , Soil fertility , Crops -- Nutrition , Soil productivity , Range management , Grazing -- Management , Forage plants , Humus
- Description: A study was carried out to determine the effects of oat (Avena sativa) and grazing vetch (Vicia darsycapa) winter cover crops and fertilizer application on SOM, phosphorus (P) pools, nutrient availability, nutrient uptake, maize yield and seedbanks of problematic weeds in an irrigated maize-based conservation agriculture (CA) system. A separate experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of the winter cover crops on nitrogen (N) management, N use efficiency and profitability. After four years of continuous rotation, the winter cover crops significantly (p<0.05) increased particulate SOM and hot water soluble carbon in the 0 – 5 and 5 – 20 cm soil depths. When fertilized, oat was better able to support SOM sequestration in water stable aggregates at 0 – 20 cm whilst grazing vetch was more effective at 20 – 50 cm. Where no fertilizer was invested, there were significant (p<0.01) reductions in biomass input and SOM on oat-maize and weedy fallow-maize rotations whereas vetch-maize rotations did not respond, both at 0 – 5 and 5 – 20 cm. Targeting fertilizer to the winter cover crop required less fertilizer, and yet gave a similar SOM response as targeting the fertilizer to the maize crop. In addition to increasing SOM in the surface soil (0 – 5 cm), the winter cover crops significantly (p<0.05) increased labile pools of P, including microbial P. The cover crops also significantly (p<0.05) increased maize P concentration during early growth, extractable soil P, Cu, Mn, and Zn but had no effect on Ca and K. Grazing vetch increased soil mineral N but reduced extractable soil Mg. Without fertilizer, there were sharp declines in maize grain yield on oat and weedy fallow rotations over the four year period, but less so, on the grazing vetch. Grazing vetch increased maize growth, grain yield response to N fertilizer, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and profitability for fertilizer rates below 180 kg N ha-1. Oat effects however on maize yield and NUE were generally similar to weedy fallow. Based on the partial factor productivity of N, the highest efficiencies in utilization of fertilizer N for maize yield improvement under grazing vetch and oat are obtained at 60 kg N ha-1 and would decline thereafter with any increases in fertilizer application rate. Grazing vetch gave N fertilizer replacement values of up to 120 kg N ha-1 as well as the highest marginal rates of return to increasing N fertilizer rate. The cover crops were more effective than the weedy fallow in reducing seedbank density of Digitaria sanguinalis, Eleusine indica, Amaranthus retroflexus and Datura stramonium at 0 – 5 cm soil depth, causing weed seed reductions of 30 - 70%. The winter cover crops however, selectively allowed emergence of the narrow leafed weeds; Cyperus esculentus and Digitaria sanguinalis in the maize crop. The findings of this study suggested that grazing vetch is suited for SOM improvement in low fertilizer input systems and that fertilizer is better invested on winter cover crops as opposed to maize crops. Oat, on the other hand, when fertilized, would be ideal for C sequestration in water stable aggregates of the surface soil. Grazing vetch is ideal for resource poor farmers who cannot afford mineral fertilizers as it gives grain yield improvement and high fertilizer replacement value. Grazing vetch can produce enough maize yield response to pay its way in the maize-based systems and oat may not require additional N than that applied to the weedy fallow. Phosphorus and Zn are some of the major limiting essential plant nutrients on South African soils and the winter cover crops could make a contribution. The cover crops also hasten depletion of some problematic weeds from seedbanks, leading to reduced weed pressure during maize growth.
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Spatio-temporal ecology of the yellow mongoose Cynictis penicillata in the Great Fish River Reserve (Eastern Cape, South Africa)
- Authors: Mbatyoti, Owen A
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Carnivorous animals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Spatial behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Great Fish River Reserve (South Africa) , Mongooses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Zoology)
- Identifier: vital:11792 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006856 , Carnivorous animals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Spatial behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Great Fish River Reserve (South Africa) , Mongooses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Very little is known about the spatio-temporal ecology of the yellow mongoose Cynictis penicillata, despite this small carnivore being widely distributed in the southern African subregion. Until the present study, activity patterns and daily movement distances had only been investigated over a single season, and information on home range sizes was only available from a few populations. Here, I aimed at determining the activity patterns and the space use of yellow mongooses over the different seasons of the year in the Great Fish River Reserve (Eastern Cape, South Africa). In addition, I tested some predictions related to environmental factors (variations in photoperiod, climatic conditions and food availability over the year), as well as life cycle (reproduction) and morphological and physiological characteristics (sexual dimorphism and thermoregulatory aspects associated to the possession of an elongated body). From September 2005 to August 2011, spatio-temporal data were collected through 102 continuous tracking sessions (84 during the day and 18 during the night) of 12 adult individuals (seven males and five females) fitted with motion-sensor radio-collars. Additional data were obtained through semi-continuous tracking sessions and random locations. Yellow mongooses were essentially diurnal and crepuscular. Activity levels averaged 57 percent during the day (n = 11,807 fixes) and only 11 percent at night (n = 3,623 fixes). Yellow mongooses emerged from their burrows on average (± SD) 85 ± 62 min after sunrise (range: –11 to +369 min) and returned 21 ± 84 min before sunset (range: –518 to +225 min). The duration of the daily activity period varied between 12 min and 15 h 36 min, with a mean of 9 h 28 min. Both sexes exhibited some overground activity after sunset, but this was most pronounced in males than in females. Nocturnal activity outside the activity period was generally restricted to short underground bouts of activity occurring at anytime of the night. Diurnal resting, with up to 11 bouts per activity period, occurred in 98.8 percent of activity periods. Overall, yellow mongooses were active during 68 ± 17 percent of the time spent outside the burrow. Photoperiod acted as a zeitgeber and activity was negatively affected by adverse climatic conditions (very hot or conversely low temperatures, rain, wet soil) and probably low terrestrial arthropod activity/availability. No intersexual difference in activity levels was found, although the higher body mass of males (on average 16 oercent) implies higher metabolic demands. The total home range size (MCP 100 percent ) averaged 0.55 ± 0.65 km2 (range: 0.10–2.36 km2) and the related total perimeter measured on average 2.80 ± 1.71 km (range: 1.17–7.36 km). Male home ranges were on average more than twice large than those of females, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. However, males had larger daily home ranges (0.13 ± 0.15 km2) than females (0.05 ± 0.05 km2). In addition, daily movement distances of males were longer (1.99 ± 1.07 km) than those of females (1.29 ± 0.66 km). Males also travelled at a faster speed (0.29 ± 0.13 km/h) than females (0.18 ± 0.07 km/h). Overall, sex clearly appeared to play a role in the spatial ecology of yellow mongooses, but the underlying explanation does not seem to be linked to sexual dimorphism (body mass) or reproductive activity. Whilst the role of food availability on the space use of yellow mongooses is unclear, it is likely that low temperatures negatively affect yellow mongoose movements, as they do for their activity levels.
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Stakeholder participation in strategic planning processes at three colleges of education in Zimbabwe: towards the development of a participatory process in strategic planning
- Authors: Bhebhe, Gladwin
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Universities and colleges -- Zimbabwe -- Administration , Universities and colleges -- Zimbabwe , Universities and colleges -- Zimbabwe -- Planning , Education, Higher -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: vital:16186 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006246 , Universities and colleges -- Zimbabwe -- Administration , Universities and colleges -- Zimbabwe , Universities and colleges -- Zimbabwe -- Planning , Education, Higher -- Zimbabwe
- Description: This study investigated stakeholder participation in strategic planning processes in three teacher training colleges in Zimbabwe. The study was conducted within the qualitative research methodology. Three colleges of education were purposively sampled. All principals in the sampled sites took part in the study. Two Heads of Departments (HODs), two Lecturers in Charge (LICs) two Students Representative Council (SRC) members as well as College Advisory Council Board Members (CACBM) participated in this study. A total of 18 informants participated through interviews. Documents such as strategic planning minutes were scrutinized. Strategic planning meetings were also observed at two sites. The findings were that the practice of strategic planning still appears to be rigid and bureaucratic for organizations that operate in rapidly changing environments such as those in Zimbabwe. Secondly, participation in strategic planning is not all inclusive; only a select few individuals do take part in the planning exercise. Colleges of education and the Ministry focus on the product activities, that is, crafting the strategic plan. They seem to ignore the process activities such as reviewing plans periodically and taking note of key performance indicators which promote continuous improvement. The study also found that participants received no formal training in strategic planning and that the planning process was skewed towards control and compliance; and exhibited managerial accountability tendencies which lie within central bureaucratic approaches. The main recommendations were that the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education and the Department of Teacher Education, at the University of Zimbabwe, in consultation with relevant stakeholders should, develop norms and standards for teacher education to align Zimbabwe‟s stakeholder participation in strategic planning to the global trends. Colleges should supplement their understanding of operational contexts by exploring possible future trends and circumstances. The criteria for reviewing strategic plans should be developed by peers, and practitioners in the field, in consultation with national norms and standards for teacher education.
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