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Play-based approaches in teaching and learning in selected early childhood development centres in Buffalo City

  • Authors: November-Mbebe, Faith Bulelwa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6192-785X
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Early childhood education -- Activity programs , Play
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26042 , vital:64785
  • Description: This study endeavoured to investigate the perspectives of principals and practitioners working in selected early childhood development (ECD) centres in the Buffalo Municipal District in the Eastern Cape, on the use of play-based techniques in educational and pedagogical practices of 3 to 4 years age group. Although most practitioners are aware of the significance of play-based learning, many report experiencing challenges when attempting to incorporate play-based strategies into their teaching of, and lessons aimed at, young children ages 3 to 4 years. For the purpose of ECD, it is recommended that the teaching of, and learning by, young children take the form of play (NCF, DBE, 2015). In this particular research undertaking, a qualitative design approach was adopted. A descriptive case study approach with semi-structured interviews as the key method of data generation was used to study play-based approaches between practitioners and children ages birth to four years at three ECD centres located within the Buffalo City Municipality District. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the three principals of the ECD centres and six practitioners, during the data-collection phase. Recording of the interviews was done then they were transcribed and thematic coding employed before the data were analysed for themes. The study participants’ responses revealed that the insufficient professional training of practitioners, on play-based approaches, presented a challenge. Play as a way of teaching and developing young children is further hampered by a variety of issues such as poor infrastructure, unqualified practitioners, funding of the ECD centres and lack of relevant resources prevalent in the ECD sector. As the findings indicate, government intervention will facilitate the training of practitioners for in-depth knowledge and understanding of play methodology in ECD, while the sector will benefit from additional funding and infrastructure provision as this has impact on indoor and outdoor play-based activities, as well as the appointment of qualified human resources instead of job seekers. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, 2023
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The analysis of social networking sites usage by the public relations management students from Walter Sisulu University: Buffalo city campus (Chiselhurst site)

  • Authors: Kwinana, Zingisa. N
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Grahamstown (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27589 , vital:69318
  • Description: This study analysed the use of social networking sites by undergraduate Public Relations Management students from Walter Sisulu University, Chiselhurst site. The reason for this study was to seek student’s opinions on what drove them to open SNs accounts, use social networking sites and examine these motivations in relationship to the building blocks of the uses and gratification theory, which are information search or education, selfactualization, socializing and entertainment. A qualitative online questionnaire was employed in this study. 218 questionnaires were sent through to the participants WhatsApp class groups, 168 questionnaires were answered and returned back to the researcher. The discovery of the study was that the participants are diverse in many different ways and made use of social networking sites for many various reasons. Furthermore, this study indicated that the participants were motivated to use social networking sites because they wanted to interact and stay connected with their family, peers and loved ones, and to meet people or create connections. The study argued that the participants’ reasons for use of social networking sites was not only for socialising but also for entertainment, self-actualization get academic and general information. This study concluded that SNs have a meaningful role in the life of a student’s life doing public relations management from Walter Sisulu University, Chiselhurst site. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2023
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Unleashing the nexus between climate change and food security in rural South Africa: role of three community radio stations in the Eastern Cape Province

  • Authors: Bamigboye, Foluke Bosede
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Climatic changes , Food security , South Africa -- Rural conditions
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27325 , vital:66939
  • Description: This study investigates the role of Forte FM, Mdantsane FM and Rhodes Music Community Radios in disseminating the different kinds of messages on the nexus between the impacts of climate change and food security in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Therefore, the study aims to investigate how these community radio stations play their informative, educative and entertainment roles regarding climate change and food security awareness programmes to their listeners. The study employed the qualitative research approach and convenience, and non-probability samplings techniques were subsequently used to select samples for this study. In-depth interviews were conducted individually for Forte FM, Mdantsane FM and Rhodes Music community radio programme managers respectively, who serve as the key informants. One focus group discussion each was held with residents of Golf Course, Mdantsane and Grahamstown areas where these radio stations broadcast from, with eight participants in each focus group. The total number of participants for the focus group discussions was 24 participants. The collected data were coded into themes using NVivo 12 software to generate the theme nodes and case nodes as key findings, analysis and then interpreted. The findings of this study confirmed that these three community radio stations do contribute to climate change communication through their programmes that focus on climate change and food security related issues. Another vital finding from the study showed that listeners do benefit immensely from these climate change and food security related programmes of the under-study community radio stations. Hence, listeners physical, social, and cognitive well-being of their climatic environment have been greatly impacted. In the same vein, the findings of this study further revealed that the rural communities who are mostly affected by the impacts of climate change on food security have been well informed and enlightened on the suitable ways to enhance a sustainable food security and climate adaptation system through Forte FM, Mdantsane FM, and Rhodes Music community radio stations. Significantly, this study has been able to come up with two suggested models and the conceptual frameworks, which are the Local Action Adaptive Communication (LAAC) Model and the Indigenous Behavioral Change Conceptual (IBCC) Model. These models are focused on increasing listeners interests, adaptation, and behavioral change on climate change issues. The models are also aimed at ensuring better climate change and food security communication Author. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2023
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Viability of government funded broiler production : lessons from Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

  • Authors: Mdletshe, Sifiso Themba Clement https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2668-0193
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Broilers (Chickens) -- Economic aspects , Broilers (Poultry) , Broilers (Chickens) -- Breeding
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27843 , vital:69947
  • Description: Generally, rural areas continue to experience high poverty levels and low incomes, which seem to be occasioned by high unemployment rates, limited educational attainments, and devastating floods and droughts. This situation is further exacerbated by increase in crime rates, making livelihoods even more difficult. To mitigate such adverse situations, rural households employ diverse strategies, including maintaining community gardens, one-home-one-garden schemes, as well as livestock and poultry production. The most prevalent livelihood strategy in South Africa or KwaZulu-Natal is broiler production, since it needs less space and a short production cycle compared to other livestock or crop enterprises. At the same time, income is generated over a short period. Besides, the government of KwaZulu Natal has actively intervened in the sector as part of its broader poverty reduction strategy and farmer support programmes. In KwaZulu-Natal Province, the provincial government has been supporting broiler producers for many years. While substantial research work has been done in the province on livelihood strategies, including livestock production on a province-wide basis, there is no information about how successful the broiler production funded by the government has being. Broader concerns about production problems have not been assuaged based on systematic studies and evidence. It is this wise that this study was initiated. The objective is to assess the economic viability of government-funded small-scale broiler projects in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa and determine the implications for poverty reduction and food security. Data were collected from the government-funded small-scale broiler producers that are residing in Northern KwaZulu-Natal districts uThungulu, Zululand and uMkhanyakude. A total of 75 small-scale broiler projects 25 broiler projects in each district were selected by probability sampling procedure for the interviews. Questionnaires that combined both close-ended and open-ended questions were used to collect primary data, which include production and marketing, as well as the factors that influence the profitability of the small-scale broiler projects. After collection, data were captured and encoded on spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) software version 26 and STATA for analyses. Descriptive statistics applied include frequencies and means. In addition, a gross margin (GM) and gross profit margin (GPM) analysis were employed to assess the profitability of government-funded small-scale broiler projects. Both profitability and gross margin analyses were used as proxies for farmers’ motivation and incentives to participate in broiler production. Further analyses were conducted to determine the model that best explains the underlying relationships. Initially, the Multiple Linear Regression Model was applied to determine the factors influencing the profitability of government-funded small-scale broiler projects. The indication was that while positive profits were revealed, the system seemed to fall short of its potential. In light of that, it was decided to fit another model to estimate the technical efficiency of the system and gain an understanding of the causes of any inefficiency that might exist in the production system. In that regard, the one-step Stochastic Frontier Model was employed to show that the technical efficiency of broiler production systems in the project area was positively and significantly influenced by flock size, the quantity of feeds and labour costs, while medication played no role possibly because of weak extension coverage. An inefficiency model fitted as part of the one-step model suggested that age, gender and educational level were significant influencers of technical inefficiency, with the possibility that the older the farmers, the more technically inefficient the system possibly because of the strenuousness of commercial poultry production. In addition, it was found that the more educated the farmer, the less inefficient the farm, which conversely means that the system becomes more efficient as the farmer receives more education. The negative coefficient of the gender variable also implies that for farms managed by female farmers, the system was less inefficient, which is more technically efficient, and this can be explained by women’s propensity to be more gentle, caring and sensitive in managing the chickens than their male counterparts. Heteroskedasticity tests and corrections were conducted in the one-step estimation technique to show that variations in the inefficiency term (μ) and the stochastic error term were explained by age and educational level for the most part. Clearly, improvements in the broiler industry in KwaZulu-Natal will depend to a large extent on the knowledge and experience of the farmers and substantial enlargement of the flock size of adequately fed birds. Attention to these elements is expected to have important practical implications for sustainable broiler poultry development and food security in the project area, as well as locations possessing identical features and characteristics. , Thesis (MSci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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Developing a regulatory framework for electronic commerce in the Southern African Development Community: the prospects and challenges

  • Authors: Chimeri, Vongai https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2490-2497
  • Date: 2023-03
  • Subjects: Electronic commerce -- Law and legislation , Electronic funds transfers -- Law and legislation , Electronic contracts
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28433 , vital:74326
  • Description: The adoption of international instruments namely, the Model Law on Electronic Commerce, the Model Law on Electronic Signatures and the United Nations Convention on the use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts was mainly necessitated by the need to remove unnecessary obstacles to the development of e-commerce. However, many years later, countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are grappling with the effective regulation of e-commerce. Globally, e-commerce has been embraced as an instrument for boosting economic growth to achieve various developmental goals including employment creation and poverty alleviation, among others. Given its significance and transnational nature, a comprehensive harmonised regulatory framework that enhances regulatory certainty remains a sine qua non to the development of e-commerce. This study examines the SADC’s regulatory approach to e-commerce and questions whether it has successfully harmonised e-commerce laws in a way that enhances legal certainty in e-commerce transactions. It observes that, notwithstanding the adoption of the SADC Model Law on Electronic Transactions and Ecommerce, the regulation of e-commerce in most SADC countries remains archaic, fragmented and unpredictable. In order to draw lessons for the development of an e-commerce regulatory framework that enhances legal certainty and predictability in e-commerce transactions, the study explores the regulatory approach to e-commerce of various Regional Economic Communities (REC) namely the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the East African Community (EAC) and the European Union (EU). In the end, the study proposes the development of a community law on e-commerce in SADC. It recommends some pertinent changes in the legal formulation and institutional framework of the SADC Treaty to ensure that the community law on e-commerce is adopted and implemented effectively by Member States. The study further advances that there is a need for SADC Member States to have the necessary political will and commitment to adopt and implement a community law on e-commerce. , Thesis (LLD) -- Faculty of Law, 2023
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Effectiveness and efficiency of monitoring and evaluation system in municipal infrastructure grant projects: a case study O.R Tambo District Municipality

  • Authors: Dlelaphantsi, Vuyokazi
  • Date: 2023-03
  • Subjects: Municipal finance -- South Africa , Municipal services -- Finance -- South Africa , Infrastructure (Economics) -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28534 , vital:74398
  • Description: The Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) was established in order to alleviate poverty and provide the environment for local economic development by providing financial assistance to municipalities for the construction of infrastructure. Many municipalities, including the O.R. Tambo District Municipality, have failed to deliver infrastructure that is adequate and long-lasting, as seen by the numerous protests that have taken place around the metropolis. With this study, the effectiveness and efficiency of Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) projects supported by the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) in the O.R. Tambo District Municipality was evaluated (ORTDM). The data for this study was gathered through the use of a mixed-method research strategy. 15 people of the community completed a structured questionnaire on a Likert scale, and 13 ORTDM experts completed a semi-structured questionnaire. For analysing quantitative data, descriptive and inferential statistics were utilised, and when analysing qualitative data, a theme analysis was used. The findings of this study revealed that: • There is a disparity between theory and practice regarding the achievement of the objectives of the MIG and the implementation of M&E Systems in ORTDM. Whilst the professionals at ORTDM are knowledgeable of the processes or frameworks to ensure that all work plans and budgets are being maintained, community members are adamant that the objectives of the MIG projects are not being achieved, and M&E Systems are poorly applied at ORTDM. • There is a great disparity between the views of the professionals who believed that many strengths or merits are associated with the Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for MIG Projects at the ORTDM and the community members who revealed many inefficiencies and weaknesses in current M&E systems in MIG projects in ORTDM. • It is possible that the ORTDM is falling behind in the provision of services to its communities. • Projects that are well managed and provide economic advantages as well as better quality of life to all dwellers within their poor communities, as is the case at ORTDM, elicit greater interest and satisfaction from community members. The supply of essential utilities including drinking water, sanitary facilities, roadways, and public lighting are all included in these projects. Professionals at ORTDM had divergent views regarding compliance by ORTDM with existing M&E policy and the condition attached to MIG Funding. The professionals at ORTDM believe that ORTDM can address issues of infrastructure backlog, and the project management structure, current projects, key players and their roles, policies and guidelines that guide the overall monitoring and evaluation work are well defined. On the other hand, feedback from the community members revealed a lack of compliance by ORTDM with existing M&E policies and the condition attached to MIG Funding. In general, inadequate governance coexists with an extensive and complex regulatory framework designed to enhance outcomes in MIG projects at ORTDM. As a result, it's possible to conclude that ORTDM's generally weak governance of MIG projects is due to a lack of compliance rather than any serious regulatory deficiencies. That is, rather than a lack of legislation, governance problems are the result of officials failing to implement legal regulations. Considering the myriads of service delivery challenges that have been identified in MIG projects at ORTDM, the proposed recommendations for enhancing transparency and accountability in MIG projects at ORTDM are very significant. Recommendations such as intervention by the national treasury, enhancing community participation, physical verification of projects, strengthening of political oversight committees, etc., are crucial and extremely relevant because they emanated from the actors (ORTDM professionals) who are conversant with the challenges of the MIG projects at ORTDM. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2023
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Evaluation of spatial distribution and health risk of pesticide residues in the environmental matrices of buffalo river estuary and their removal using nanosponges and modified cyclodextrins

  • Authors: Mdeni, Nonkululeko Landy
  • Date: 2023-03
  • Subjects: Chemicals , Hazardous substances , Dangerous chemicals
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27629 , vital:69321
  • Description: The contamination of lotic ecosystems caused by agricultural, industrial, and anthropogenic activities has attracted the attention of researchers, authorities, and scientists because these waterbodies are of social and economic importance to human livelihoods. Pesticides and insecticides are a group of compounds that are toxic to pests and insects, respectively. Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) can be released into different environmental matrices through several sources including agricultural and urban runoff. They are one of the three main classes of synthetic organic pesticides that are used in agricultural sector and very often end up in other destinations than their target sites. In this study, four OPs, namely, ronnel, malathion, parathion and Durban were investigated. The Buffalo River Estuary, located in East London, is one of most popular areas and the river is a major source of raw water abstraction for three municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Sediment samples were collected from six points in the estuary and soil samples were taken from a nearby dumpsite in winter and spring seasons of 2021. The physicochemical parameters of the samples including particle size, moisture content, oil and grease and organic carbon were determined. The samples were then extracted by ultra-sonication, the final extracts were analyzed using GC-μECD and the risk quotient (RQ) method was used to evaluate the risk of OP exposure to aquatic organisms. Polymer modified cyclodextrin (β-CD) for the removal of parathion in sediment and soil was synthesized and the morphology of the modified β-CD and vibrations of the synthesized material were determined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) of the OPs investigated were in the range of 0.09 to 2.99 and 0.274 to 9.06 μg/L, respectively. OPs gave a good recovery except for malathion, which had a recovery percentage lower than 70%. Calibration curves were plotted for the four OPs and were linear with relative standard deviations (RSD) ranging from 1.02 to 3.50, and correlation coefficients (R2) ranging from 0.9935 to 0.9972. The mean concentrations for sediments and soil in both seasons varied from 0.00231 to 63.8 μg/g in winter and from 0.0017 to 36.6 μg/g in spring, with malathion being the predominant congener and dursban being the least dominant in both seasons. In winter, the particle size percentages of the sediment and soil samples ranged from 34.4 to 79.4 percentage, 15.4 to 23.9 percentage and from 7.77 to 38.3 percentage for coarse, medium, and fine fractions, respectively. While in spring, the particle size for the course, medium and fine mesh fractions ranged from 37.4 to 74.6 percentage, 14.1 to 25.1 percentage and 12.4 to 35.0 percentage respectively; the percentage moisture content varied from 43.0 to 73.1 in winter, and from 57.1 to 63.4 in spring. In the soil samples, the physicochemical properties were lower in winter except for the n- hexane extractable material (HEM), which significantly decreased in spring from 2.6 to 1.63 mg/kg; while for sediments, the oil and grease ranged from 1.77 to 10.3 mg/kg in winter and from 1.63 to 4.28 mg/kg in spring. The risk quotient method was used to determine the risk of OP exposure to sediment-dwelling organisms and the results obtained indicated that the levels of OPs in this study, especially dursban, can pose a high risk to the organisms in sediments, with RQs higher than ten (˃10) in both winter and summer. The Pearson product-moment correlation showed that parathion had a weak correlation with every other variable except for malathion in winter, whereas in spring, parathion correlated very weakly with malathion; suggesting that products containing parathion are mostly used to control pests found in crops, such as corn and mosquitos, which are most active in the spring season. There was a very strong correlation between dursban and ronnel in spring and winter, implying that an increase in dursban concentration resulted in an increase in the concentration of ronnel. To determine the efficiency of the synthesized adsorbent CD-chitosan-alginate for the removal of Parathion from soil and sediment, different parameters such as concentration, time, pH and dose were varied. The adsorption capacity was found to be highest at pH 2 (99.19 percentage), when 3 mL of the adsorbent was used for 30 minutes. , Thesis (Msci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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Evaluation of water and sanitation challenges in informal settlements: a case study of Duncan Village, East London, South Africa

  • Authors: Munyai, Khodani Keith
  • Date: 2023-03
  • Subjects: Squatter settlements , Water quality management , Sanitation, Rural
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27721 , vital:69396
  • Description: Water and sanitation are basic human needs. It is also a constitutional right for all citizens in South Africa to have access to both water and sanitation. Supply of water and sanitation services in South Africa is characterised by both achievements and challenges. As informed by literature, in South Africa it is evident that water and sanitation still hold many challenges in poor communities, particularly in informal settlements. This study was conducted with the purpose of evaluating water and sanitation challenges in the informal settlements of Duncan Village and make recommendations, where applicable, to the local municipality for possible remedies. Despite the provision of water and sanitation by the Buffalo City Metro Municipality, the study reveals that there are serious water and sanitation challenges in Duncan Village. High water losses, illegal water connections, illegal sanitation connections causing sewer spillages, vandalism of both water and sanitation service infrastructure, and lack of operations and maintenance are identified as the key water and sanitation challenges. According to the findings, the causes of these challenges include the municipality's lack of proper planning for informal settlements; lack of visibility of municipal water and sanitation officials in informal settlements; lack of awareness; lack of public participation; overpopulation; lack of monitoring; and lack of operations and maintenance budget to help keep the provided facilities intact and usable. The study's key recommendations include intense involvement of the municipality and the ward councillors, ownership by the residents, monitoring of water and sanitation facilities, operations and maintenance, and formalising Duncan Village informal settlements. This was accomplished using questionnaires to gather, analyse, and interpret the collected data. The study targeted residents, ward councillors, and a municipal officer from the municipality's Water and Sanitation section as respondents , Thesis (MSci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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Participation dynamics in the management of protected areas: the case of Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve and its adjacent communities, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Nyamahono, James Donald https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1391-9126
  • Date: 2023-03
  • Subjects: Protected areas , Natural resources conservation areas -- South Africa , National protected areas systems
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27358 , vital:66947
  • Description: In many parts of the developing world, participation in the management of ‘protected areas’ is among the most tangible indices of how the rural population encounters formal conservation policies, strategies and ideologies. However, some scholars have argued that the sharing of the burdens and benefits of participation is devoid of equity. While some analysts have emphasised the imperative of multi-stakeholder participation in nature conservation, citing this as a crucial socio-ecological investment, others have highlighted the inherent contradictions in the process, describing it as an avenue for manipulation, tokenism and exploitation. This study is located in this debate and focuses on narratives around the participation of different stakeholders in the management of Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve and its adjacent communities in the rural Wild-Coast, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The researcher notes that research on the degrees and participation dynamics among various role players involved in the management of protected areas in South Africa, Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve in particular is limited. Against this background, this study contributes to ongoing discussions on protected area management in South Africa but seeks to expand this discussion by interrogating the nature and degrees of participation within the Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve - to deepen intellectual understanding on the significant role played by protected areas in engendering participatory democracy, equity, justice as well as meeting the needs of marginalised communities. Primary data for the thesis were collected using in-depth and key-informant interviews with officials from government institutions and parastatals, politicians and traditional authority figures. Focus group discussions were held with ‘youth’ participants as well as ‘elders’ in the Reserve’s adjacent communities. An analysis of policy and other government documents sought to outline the institutional attributes of protected areas management in South Africa and the underpinning ideas. A thematic analysis of the corpus of empirical information helped to show how these institutional attributes inhere in Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve as well as the epistemic challenge these attributes pose vis-à-vis indigenous ecological ideas and practices in the adjacent ‘indigenous’ communities. The study revealed that participation is perceived differently by various stakeholders due to multiple, mutually contradictory impulses. While institutional stakeholders attached great importance to the structural role of institutional frameworks, hence the vigorous reliance on formal conservation strategies, narratives from community members drew attention to ‘equity deficits’. The study also found that while the selected Reserve may have fostered cooperation between government and the adjacent communities, conflict and distrust ran deep between these stakeholders. From these and other findings, the study concluded that ecological participation in the study area was characterised by clusters of stakeholders who regard one another as ‘epistemic outsiders’ and related to one another as such, with practical consequences – especially for the long-term sustainability of the Reserve. In the main, the thesis rests on the argument that in the face of epistemic differences, dominance and marginalisation could become a defining feature of protected area management that cannot be readily resolved through the mere process of participation. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2023
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The nexus between capital inflows, financial sector development and domestic investment in selected southern African development community countries

  • Authors: Zulani, Sihle https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7067-5793
  • Date: 2023-03
  • Subjects: Capital movements -- Africa, Southern , Saving and investment -- Africa, Southern , Financial services industry -- Africa, Southern
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28872 , vital:75154
  • Description: The study seeks to examine the nexus between foreign capital inflows as proxied by foreign direct investment and overseas development assistance, financial sector development as measured by domestic credit to private sector and broad money supply (M3) and domestic investment [gross fixed capital formation] in selected Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. Panel data model, specifically the panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag technique given the order of integration of the variables utilised in the study was employed from 1980 to 2019. The results revealed that there is cointegration among the variables utilised. After confirming cointegration, the long-run and short run models were estimated to establish the relationship between the variables. The long-run results revealed that about 67% of domestic investment in the SADC region is generated through foreign direct investment. These results suggest that domestic investment is boosted by foreign direct investment in the SADC region. However, financial sector development was found to have a negative effect on domestic investment in the SADC region. The findings from this study suggest that countries should pursue policies aimed at attracting FDI into the SADC region given the positive effect it has on investment. On the part of financial sector development, this could be attributed to the sector not supporting most of the domestic investment given that most of them are small and do not access bank finance. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2023
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Towards an effective model for improving Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) by local authorities in Zimbabwe: a case of Runde Rural District Council (RRDC)

  • Authors: Matunhu, Patience S
  • Date: 2023-03
  • Subjects: Sanitation, Rural -- Health and hygiene -- Zimbabwe , Water-supply, Rural -- Zimbabwe , Public health administration
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28617 , vital:74475
  • Description: This study is concerned with public service provision with reference to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programming in Runde Rural District in Zimbabwe. This thesis is informed by the Stakeholder theory by Freeman and the Stewardship theory by Donaldson and Davis. The Stakeholder theory emphasises the importance of harnessing the comparative advantages of various stakeholders in rural WASH. Stewardship theorists believe that public administrators and stakeholders have no conflict of interest and that Government creates systems and processes that promote cooperation between them. An anti-positivist or interpretivist case study was conducted. In -depth interviews, observation and documentary analysis were the chief information collection instruments. Twenty (20) participants were purposively selected to participate. The thesis unearthed factors constraining improved WASH services. Local level opportunities for improving WASH programming were identified and used to build a model for effective service delivery in the community. The study recommended establishment of WASH champions at village level, to ensure provision of WASH at household level. The WASH committees at village, community and district level should be inclusive, constituted on the basis of merit and dedication. The thesis ends with the suggestion that further studies that focus on other rural districts in Zimbabwe be carried out. This thesis contributes greatly to this field of study in that it will ensure that the Runde Rural District Council will adopt a stakeholder inclusivity model to address the lack of Water Sanitation and hygiene in their area. The bottom-up approach ensures that all stakeholders have a say in Water Sanitation and Hygiene policy making processes so that the decisions made can be relevant to their challenges in accessing Water Sanitation and Hygiene. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2023
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Design and development of mobile-based e-Marketing application for communal farmers in Eastern Cape. South Africa.

  • Authors: Fatumo, Dare Ebenezer
  • Date: 2023-02
  • Subjects: Food security , Agriculture , Agriculture -- Technology transfer
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27511 , vital:67421
  • Description: The application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in agriculture can augment farmers' production capabilities, this is a perception for all farmers worldwide, but there are some in communal areas who may not be as exposed to ICT tools as their commercial counterparts in urban areas, especially in developed communities. Food security in any society is a vital measure that should always be treated with high priority since humankind's existence is based on food availability. One major challenge with farmers in communal areas has been the marketing of their farm produce effectively to avoid wastage, get more value, and bridge the gap between themselves and urban commercial farmers. This challenge includes food wastage, untimely information, and market accessibility due to distance restraint. ICT can beused to bring a functional platform to assist this challenge. In this context, communal farmers have a challenge. The aim of this research was to design and develop an easy-to-use mobilebased e-marketing application for marketing farm products for communal farmers in Alice community, South Africa. Before design and development, review of challenges of farmers on the reception and communication of sensitive information pertaining to food security. Effective communication of farm produce baseline information on awareness and adaptation of mobile ICT technology of communal farmers was investigated. A mixed method was used through reviews of literature and as well distribution of questionnaires to get an understanding of the present state of communal farmers’ marketing problems. Furthermore, a prototyping methodology was used in the development of the mobile-based application for this research. The result of this research demonstrated the need for communal farmers to market their farm products at their convenience. An easy-to-use mobile-based e-market application was then developed; the application is an android application that will assist communal farmers in marketing their farm products as soon as they are available to avoid food wastage. The application performance and evaluation assessment indicated that the tool would maximize farm productivity and profitability and, facilitate concise and effective access to the market, as well as eliminate the need for an intermediary. , Thesis (MSci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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Analyzing agricultural financing for resettled farmers in Zimbabwe: the case of targeted Command Agricultural program in Mutare District

  • Authors: Mafirakurewa, Tariro https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6587-4524
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Agricultural administration--Finance , Farmers -- Zimbabwe , Agriculture -- Economic aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28255 , vital:73985
  • Description: Agriculture plays a paramount role in the economy of many countries including Zimbabwe where more than 70 percent of the population depends on agricultural activities for their livelihoods. Smallholder farmers’ access to agricultural credit is vital for the development and growth of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, hence agricultural financing is crucial in rural development. Despite the Government’s efforts to provide affordable agricultural credit services to its majority smallholder farmers’ participation is still meager. The aim of this study is to analyze agricultural financing for resettled farmers in Zimbabwe, with special focus on the command agricultural loans in the Mutare district. A multistage sampling technique was employed in this study. Firstly purposive selection of Manicaland province was carried out because it is endowed with the five natural farming regions found in Zimbabwe. The second stage involved a random selection of 4 out of 7 districts with favorable climatic conditions for maize production. Thirdly, the study also carried out a purposive selection of Mutare district among the four districts with favorable climatic conditions, given the time and financial constraints. The last stage involved the use of stratified sampling technique, where the sample was divided into two strata. Stratum 1 with A1 farmers and stratum two consisting of A2 farmers, and a random sample was selected from each stratum. The study involved 301 A1 farmers and 49 A2 farmers, making a total sample of 350 farmers used for this study. Double hurdle was employed to examine the factors influencing A1 and A2 farmers` participation in command agriculture loans in the study area. Multinomial logistic regression model was also applied to investigate the determinants of command agriculture loan repayment, while propensity score matching technique was used to examine the impacts of command agriculture loans on maize productivity and profitability of A1 and A2 farmers. The results revealed that family size, and distance from the market GMB positively influence farmers likelihood to participate in in the command agricultural loan. While family size, farmer type and distance from the market were proven to have a positive significant influence on the extent of participation in command agriculture. Also training on the command agriculture loan and gender were proven to have a negative signification influence on the extent of farmers` participation in command agriculture loan. The maximum likelihood estimates of the multinomial logistic regression revealed that age and output levels significantly influence resettled farmers` likelihood to partly pay their loans. Also, the likelihood estimates of the multinomial logistic regression showed that distance from the market and output levels have a positive influence on resettled farmers` likelihood of fully paying the command agriculture loan. Access to extension services to extension services was proven to negatively influence farmers` likelihood to fully pay the loan. The results also revealed that participating in command agriculture significantly impacted productivity at the 1 percent level, while it was not significant in the participants' profitability. The results show that participating in command agriculture increases productivity by 0.93 tonnes hectare. The study recommends the intensification of extension service supply to ensure that farmers are receiving relevant agricultural training, mainly on climate change adaptation strategies. This will help resettled farmers to adjust and adapt to their new farming environments and, in turn, have a positive impact on their production levels. Also, to improve farmers’ profitability the GMB selling price should be in American dollars USD and not paid in part RTGS and part USD, because the RTGS part is always outstripped by inflation. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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Crop production constraints and coping strategies of small-scale crop and maize farmers in Gcuwa, Mnquma Local Municipality, South Africa

  • Authors: Manyenyeza, Akhona Wesley Siyavuya
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Crop science , Agricultural productivity , Agriculture -- Economic aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29922 , vital:79191
  • Description: Diverse biotic and abiotic constraints limit small-scale farmers' agricultural productivity in developing countries. However, small-scale farmers have developed coping and adaptive strategies to cope with some of these constraints, strengthening their resilience to various stresses. This study aimed to examine the constraints impeding maize production and identify coping strategies employed by small-scale crop farmers in Gcuwa, Mnquma Local Municipality, South Africa, to provide insights and recommendations for enhancing the sustainability and productivity of maize farming in this region. The researcher employed a descriptive survey design within a quantitative research approach to collect participant data. The researcher used a non-probability, purposive sampling method to select 120 household heads, that met the inclusion criteria to participate in the study. Results demonstrated that most small-scale farmers in this study were adults over 35 years old 90.83 percent, female 51.67 percent, single 44.17 percent, and owned 86.67 percent land they lived on. Constraints that inhibit small-scale farmers from producing sufficient crops for subsistence and selling excess were related to droughts, pests and insects, infertile soil and lack of infrastructure and finance. To cope with constraints, small-scale farmers borrow money from friends, family, neighbours, or loan sharks to survive difficult times. Others only cook simple foods, such as maize, and some get rid of their assets or livestock. They believe the government can offer better long-term support to implement adaptative strategies, such as supplying seeds and fertiliser at reasonable costs, and be responsible for offering regular training and information workshops on small-scale farming and climate change. Recommendations that flow form the study is that small-scale farmers should select crop varieties that are adapted to the specific climatic conditions of Gcuwa region and diversify their crops. Moreover, leaders in the community should facilitate the establishment of collaborative networks among local farmers to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, resources, and mutual assistance in times of adversity. It is further recommended that the Land Bank or ARC should assist small-scale farmers to construct comprehensive financial plans and that the local government should allow small-scale farmers to have input in meetings so that their needs can be heard and addressed and could start a project to provide small-scale farmers with water tanks or irrigation pipes. It is recommended that agriculture as a subject, should be made compulsory at schools as youth show no interest in farming and farmers. , Thesis (MPhil) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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Examining the implementation of the Department of Social Development’s fatherhood strategy by FAMSA

  • Authors: Sishuba, Thozama Alicia
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Grahamstown (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27618 , vital:69320
  • Description: This study aimed to exam the implementation of the Department of Social Development’s Fatherhood Strategy by Families South Africa (FAMSA) Eastern Cape. FAMSA is a non-profit organization providing vital services to people in families while providing them with psychosocial and emotional support. FAMSA has been in existence since 1954. To achieve this aim, the study’s objectives were underpinned by understanding the implementation of the Department of Social Development’s Fatherhood Strategy in Buffalo City Metro, establishing FAMSA’s response to the implementation of the Department of Social Development’s Fatherhood Strategy as well as exploring the challenges faced by FAMSA in implementing the Department of Social Development’s Fatherhood Strategy. A qualitative research methodology was implemented to gather information from FAMSA and DSD. Findings from literature revealed that the fatherhood strategy has been a concern worldwide evidenced by the high levels of father-child non-residency. Data from this study revealed that FAMSA had been implementing the programme effectively regardless of numerous challenges that include funding human resources. Conclusively, a lot must be done to advocate for fatherhood. Recommendations also point to the need for several interventions which need to be done in research, social work practice and also policy formulation and development. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2023
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Impact assessment of genetically modified TELA® Bt. maize variety adoption on yield, household income, technical efficiency and food security: a case of maize farmers in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, South Africa.

  • Authors: Mailula, Lesiba Pertunia
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Food security , Farmers -- Training of , Seed technology -- Economic aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28266 , vital:74040
  • Description: The agricultural sector is widely recognized as a crucial factor for promoting sustainable economic development, reducing poverty, and ensuring food security in developing countries. However, in Africa, the agricultural sector continues to underperform, with growth rates falling behind the population growth, this can be attributed to various challenges, including climate change and pest infestation. This has over the years weakened the defence of crops leading to the disruptions in crop production and food security. As such, calls have been made that adoption of the agricultural technology may promote food security through high yields. This is because agricultural technology crops have improved varieties such as drought tolerance and pest resistance traits. However, adoption of improved agricultural technology in Africa has been very sluggish amongst smallholder farmers, particularly for GM seed, this is due to the on-going controversies and compliance requirements regarding GM technologies. The controversies are raised by the unknown benefits and risks associated with the adoption of GM seeds technology. Furthermore, there are mixed benefits associated with GM technology adoption as well as methodological and data gaps associated with assessment of GM impact on the farmer’s welfare. In 2016, five Bt. maize varieties trademarked TELA were developed through the WEMA project. Trials were approved and launched with smallholder farmers in various countries in Africa, and South Africa is not an exception. Several smallholder maize farmers have accessed the TELA Bt. maize varieties through local seed companies and have been producing it for the past seasons. Yet, no study that has been conducted on the impact of the GM TELA Bt. maize technology adoption on yield, income, food security and technical efficiency, hence, a need for such a study. The primary data was collected from 289 183 TELA Bt. and 106 non-TELA Bt. smallholder farmers in Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces using convenience and snowball sampling techniques. Data were analysed using various analytical tools that included descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, Household Dietary Diversity Score, Stochastic Frontier Model and the Propensity Score Matching, modelled through the Probit regression model. These tools were utilised to address the objectives. The descriptive statistics show that the TELA Bt. maize variety yielded 61.1 percent more maize output as compared to non-TELA Bt. maize farmers, with an average of 691kg ha and 429kg ha, respectively. The gross margin analysis showed higher subsequent income for the TELA Bt. maize farmers R2 834.93 compared to R2 124.96 for the non-TELA Bt. maize farmers. The results of the HDDS showed a marginal effect of TELA Bt. maize seed technology on food diversity. The average HDDS scores were 8.4 and 7.5 for the TELA Bt. and non-TELA Bt. maize farmers, respectively. The Stochastic Frontier Analysis SFA results revealed that both the TELA Bt. maize farmers and non-TELA Bt. maize farmers were technically inefficient. However, the TELA Bt. maize farmers were better-off than their counterparts, with mean technical efficiency scores of 0.416 and 0.328, respectively. The Propensity Score Matching PSM using the Probit model revealed that gender 0.6064, number of years in farming 0.0099 credit 1.1438 and market access 0.4427 had a positive and significant influence on the decision taken by the farmers to adopt TELA Bt. maize seed technology. However, access to extension services was found to have a negative and significant impact on the adoption of TELA Bt. maize seed technology. The Average Treatment Effect of the Treated ATT using the Nearest Neighbour Matching algorithm indicated that adoption of TELA Bt. maize technology improved farmers’ yields by 254.3kg, income by 0.36 cents and technical efficiency by 8.6 percent. There was no significant relationship observed between adoption of the GM technology and food security. Generally, the results from this study imply that adoption of GM TELA Bt. maize seed technology improves farmers’ yields, income, technical efficiency, as well as food security. The study therefore, recommends increased awareness of the GM seed technology benefits to farmers, coupled with training and capacity development to enhance adoption of seed technology towards improved farmers’ welfare. In addition, there is a need for sustained Research and Development investments towards GM seed technologies to enhance maize productivity and technical efficiency of the farmers. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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Investigation into response of wheat genotypes to drought and optimum conditions in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Mzileni L S
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Bonanza farms , Wheat , Drought - tolerant plants
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27732 , vital:69397
  • Description: Wheat is generally one of the dominant crops globally, being mainly used for human food and livestock feed. Due to climate change, drought makes it challenging to produce enough wheat mostly under dryland production regions in South Africa. Drought stress has severely reduced wheat yield by up to 70 percent, and adversely compromised wheat grain quality. The adoption of drought-tolerant cultivars offers a sustainable and low-cost solution for increasing wheat yields and minimise importing the crop to meet national requirements. The main objective of this study was to investigate the response of different wheat genotypes to drought and optimum conditions in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Forty diverse wheat genotypes were evaluated in this study. The specific objectives were: (i) to evaluate the response of wheat genotypes under optimum and drought-stressed field conditions; (ii) to determine the effect of terminal drought stress on wheat grain quality composition; and (iii) to identify appropriate drought tolerance indices that can be used as selection tools under field conditions. This study was conducted in the field using a 5x8 alpha lattice design, replicated twice under two water regimes (drought and optimum) over two consecutive winter seasons of 2020 and 2021 at two different sites namely University of Fort Hare Research Farm in Alice, and Zanyokwe irrigation scheme in Keiskamahoek. Drought stress was imposed from 50% flowering up to physiological maturity. Data on agro-physiological traits such as duration to heading (DTH); flowering (DTF); maturity (DTM); plant height (HT); spike length (SL); number of spikelets per spike (SPS); kernels per spike (KPS); and grain yield (GY (kg/ha)) was subjected to the analysis of variance using Genstat 18th edition. As the study took place over two sites, a combined ANOVA table revealed significant differences (p0.001) among genotypes, and all interactions such as genotype by water regime (GWR); genotype by seasons (GS) for all studied traits. Notably, the extent and severity of drought differed between geographical regions and between seasons. This necessitated the adoption of the additive main effect and multiplicative interaction analysis (AMMI) for the identification of stable genotypes under two different water regimes over two sites. Regarding grain yield, superior and/or stable genotypes included G5 (4334 kg/ha under optimum, and 2871kg/ha under drought), and G22 (4418 kg/ha under optimum, and 2624kg/ha under drought) at the UFH site. G21 (3194 kg/ha under optimum, and 2938 kg/ha under drought), G33 (2552kg/ha under optimum, and 3810 kg/ha under drought), and G35 (2688 kg/ha under optimum, and 3309 kg/ha under drought) at the ZAN site. Stable genotypes across sites included G21 and G33. There were generally weak correlations between agro-physiological traits and grain yield. From the experiment, grain quality traits such as fixed protein (PF); wet gluten (WG); hectolitre mass (HLM); and thousand kernel weight (TKW) were also examined. A combined ANOVA revealed significant differences (p0.001) among the interaction of genotypes by environments (GE) for all traits except PF. This implies that the performance of wheat genotypes across sites was also different, and therefore, necessitated separate analysis of variance for each site. Significant differences (p0.001) among genotypes (G), water regimes (WR), and the interaction of genotypes by water regime (GWR) were observed for all studied quality traits except PF in both sites. GWR showed no significant differences for TKW in the ZAN site. The stability in the performance of genotypes across water regimes was further determined. G38 was stable for wet gluten; G31 and G26 were stable for PF; G36 was stable for HLM; and G11, G15, and G29 were stable for TKW at the UFH site. G6 was stable for both WG and PF; G13 and G15 were stable for HLM; and G35, G21, and G40 were stable for TKW at the ZAN site. These results suggest that the quality of wheat grains was affected under drought stress conditions except PF. Average grain yield data under both stressed (Ys) and optimum (Yp) conditions was used to compute a number of different drought tolerance indices. These include mean productivity (MP); geometric mean productivity (GMP); harmonic mean (HM); Tolerance index (TOL), stress susceptible index (SSI), sensitive drought index (SDI), and stress tolerance index (STI). The aim was to identify appropriate drought tolerance indices that can be used as selection tools under drought stress. MP, GMP, and HM were the more appropriate indices as they had a strong and positive correlation with grain yield under both drought and optimum conditions. However, genotypes G5, G22, G8, and G21 were more tolerant and stable as they showed high mean values. Based on the results, G19, G16, G2, and G20 were more sensitive to drought as they showed low values of MP, GMP, and HM. Overall, genotype: G5, G21, G22, and G33 are recommended for production under drought and optimum conditions, as they showed stable performance across water regimes. Principal component analysis also revealed that MP, GMP, and HM were the only indices that had positive loadings into the first principal component. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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Molecular characterization of integrons and their associated gene cassettes in multidrug-resistant enterobacteriaceae isolates from environmental sources and the exploration of antibiotic combination against some resistant strains

  • Authors: Fadare, Folake Temitope https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5779-9798
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Enterobacteriaceae , Molecular microbiology , Enterobacteria
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27809 , vital:69942
  • Description: Globally, the increasing rate of antimicrobial resistance against our currently available drugs has been a serious public concern. Due to the selective nature of antibiotics, bacteria are expected to develop resistance against them over time, but the current scourge of antimicrobial resistance is aggravated by factors other than the expected evolutionary trend. The use and overuse of antibiotics in clinical and agricultural contexts have led to the fast rise of multidrug-resistant MDR microorganisms. A scenario that necessitates an upsurge in the clinical failures observed with our current drug arsenals is expected to rise if left unchecked. One of the significant drivers implicated in the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes is the integrons. These are mobile genetic elements found on pathogenicity islands, transposons, and plasmids, easing their distribution among various bacteria. They are considered efficient gene expression systems that naturally capture, integrate gene cassettes GCs and immediately express the captured antimicrobial resistance genes on the GCs due to the inherent promoters on their structures. Integrons have been known to confer resistance against most classes of antibiotics. These include all known β-lactams, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim, erythromycin, aminoglycosides, quinolones, streptothricin, lincomycin, rifampicin, fosfomycin, and antiseptics of the quaternary ammonium compound family. They have been detected in bacterial populations under direct or indirect antibiotic pressure in clinical, agricultural, and environmental contexts. The emergence of MDR in Enterobacteriaceae is a critical public health issue that has attracted the World Health Organization WHO, which classified them as one of the critical priority pathogens urgently requiring new antibiotics. The resistance phenomenon has proven most of the current antibiotics ineffective, further compounded by the slow pace of the discovery of new antibiotics, necessitating the hunt for new, practical remedies. One of such is the exploration of synergy among existing antibiotics. Two medications combined have a higher impact, thereby allowing current antibiotics to be salvaged for use in treating MDR bacteria, even if the bacteria are resistant against one or both antibiotics separately. Hence, this research focused on the occurrence and prevalence of multidrug resistance and the characterization of integrons and their associated gene cassettes in members of Enterobacteriaceae, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, and Citrobacter spp. recovered from animal droppings, rivers, and effluents of hospital and wastewater treatment plants in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The inhibitory effect of combining two drugs belonging to different antibiotic classes to obtain a possible potentiating effect against some multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates harbouring integrons were examined and studied. The isolates were identified using the conventional molecular Polymerase Chain Reaction with specific primers. The antimicrobial resistance profile and the production of Extended-spectrum and metallo β-lactamase were detected using disk diffusion technique DDT, double-disk synergy test DDST, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid EDTA tests, respectively. The PCR-based screening method, DNA sequencing analyses, and restriction fragment length polymorphism RFLP were used to characterize the integrons and their associated GCs. Furthermore, Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus ERIC PCR determined the genotypic relationships between some specific species. The various antibiotics' minimum inhibitory concentration MIC was determined using the broth microdilution, while the checkerboard method was used to determine the fractional inhibitory concentration indices FICIs. The time-kill assays TKAs were further used to confirm the synergism observed from the checkerboard assays. Most of the isolates were resistant against most antibiotics tested and were considered MDR. The least resistance was observed against imipenem, a carbapenem, one of the drugs of last resort. Also present were the ESBL and MBL producers, with a few isolates co-producing the enzymes. A high prevalence of integrons was observed in the isolates, with class 1 integrons being the most frequently detected. Some isolates co-harboured the intI1 and intI2 genes and were classified as class1 plus 2 integrons. Although Citrobacter spp. had the least number of isolates among the Enterobacteriaceae studied, it harboured the most diverse gene cassette arrays. The various gene cassette arrays were identified as follows: For Klebsiella spp. Aac 6 Ib, aadA1 dfrA1, and dfrA1 sat2; for Citrobacter spp., dfrA5 aac3 Ib, aac6 ib, aadA1dfrA1 aadA1, aadA1-dfrA1, aadA5 dfrA17, and dfrA21-aac3-Ib; for E. coli dfrA21- aac-3-Ib, dfrA5-aac-3-Ib, aadA1 dfrA1, and aadA5 dfrA17 and for E. cloacae aadA1 dfrA1, dfrA7 dfrA21 dfrA5 aac 3 Ib, and dfrA1 sat2. The GC array dfrA1 sat2 was the only array detected in class 2 integrons which are analogous to that found in Tn7, dfrA1-sat2-aadA1, with the deletion of the last GC aadA1. These detected GCs confer resistance against aminoglycosides, including streptomycin and spectinomycin, and trimethoprim, further increasing the resistance spectrum of the bacterial species harbouring them. The detection of integrons and their associated GC and the presence of these β-lactamases is also associated with coresistance against other classes of antibiotics by bacterial species harbouring them, further limiting treatment options. The checkerboard assays combining antibiotics against these drug-resistant integron harbouring Enterobacteriaceae revealed that 26.3 percent 10 over 38 of the interactions were categorized as synergistic, while 73.7 percent 28 over 38 were indifferent. None of the combinations was antagonistic. The TKAs revealed all the synergistic interactions as bactericidal. Therefore, the combinations of gentamicin with tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime against Multidrug-resistant MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae; tetracycline-ceftazidime combination against MDR Escherichia coli, colistin combinations with ceftazidime and gentamicin, and tetracycline-gentamicin combinations against MDR Citrobacter freundii may be future therapeutic alternatives. , Thesis (MSci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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Prevalence and seasonal changes of gastro-intestinal parasites of ovine on three different veld types in communal farming areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Jansen, Mlungisi Selby https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6735-1054
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Gastrointestinal system , Parasites , Traditional farming
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28233 , vital:73956
  • Description: The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence and seasonal changes of gastro-intestinal parasites GIP of ovine grazed don three different veld types in the communal farming areas of the Eastern Cape Province. A total of 1242 sheep faecal samples were collected monthly between January 2012 and December 2015 to investigate the prevalence and season occurrence of internal parasites. From September to November 2018, a semi-structured questionnaire survey was conducted in three agro-ecological zones, humid Wartburg, semi-humid Allen waters, and arid region Cradock commonages to investigate farmers’ knowledge of the prevalence and occurrence of GIP in sheep. The prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites was significantly higher in the humid zone roundworms 81 percent and coccidia 37 percent, followed by the semi-humid zone roundworms 75 percent and coccidia 22 percent and the arid zone was the lowest roundworms 71 percent and coccidia 14 percent. Roundworms had significantly higher counts P 0.05 mostly in hot-wet seasons of the year spring and summer and low during dry cold months of the year autumn and winter across all veld types. The humid zone had significantly higher counts P 0.05 in the seasonal occurrence of roundworms and coccidia, followed by humid zone, and very low counts were encountered in the arid zone during the study period. Seasonal occurrence of roundworm species was significant across all veld types, 64 percent of farmers were males and 36 percent were females. The study reveals that helminths and coccidia are major causative agents causing parasitic infections in livestock production, and therefore, good animal health practices management practices including proper hygiene should be followed to prevent parasitic infection in small ruminants. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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Quantitative microbial risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples collected from selected wastewater treatment plants in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Ntlati, Piwe Athi
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: SARS coronavirus 2 disease , SARS-CoV-2 disease , COVID-19 (Disease)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29900 , vital:79185
  • Description: The emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 SARS-CoV-2 infection which is the causative agent of Coronavirus disease 2019 COVID-19 took the world off-guard. The unprecedented pandemic which thought to have originated in Wuhan, China and spread to over 230 countries to date caused more than 690 million positive cases and more than 6.9 million deaths worldwide. Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 vary from mild to severe symptoms which includes coughing, pneumonia, respiratory difficulties, and can lead to death. The inhalation of aerosols or respiratory droplets from a COVID-19 infected person are the major transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater influent samples and estimated the potential health risks of wastewater treatment plants WWTPs workers exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in Buffalo City Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. WWTPs influent samples were collected by grab sampling from six WWTPs for a period of 12 months. Viral RNA was extracted using QIAGEN RNeasy PowerSoil Total RNA extraction Kit, following the manufacturer’s guidelines and NanodropTM spectrophotometer was used to measure the respective concentrations and ascertain the purity of the total viral RNA. The extracted viral RNA was profiled for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genome by Quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction qRT-PCR technique. Our results showed the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 genomes in influent samples collected from both the urban and peri-urban communities located WWTPs with viral loads ranging from 2.34 × 101 genome copies/ml to 1.08 × 105 genome copies/ml in 220 89.4 percent of the 246 wastewater-influent samples. In addition, quantitative microbial risk assessment QMRA model was applied to assess the probability of infection to WWTP operators. Three different exposure scenarios were employed for the model and results indicated that the probability of infection was significantly different P<0.05 with respect to the different volumetric scenarios 2mL, 10mL, and 20mL and with respect to the four seasons across the plants. In conclusion, this study highlights the public health concern that WWTPs pose as channels for the dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 into the environment and suggests the need for regular wastewater surveillance and frequent microbial water quality monitoring through relevant wastewater-based epidemiology models for the prompt detection of potential SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens and assist in predicting future outbreaks in the communities. , Thesis (MSci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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