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The role of Sepedi poetry in teaching and learning grade 10 grammar aspects at Kgakotlou Circuit, Capricorn South District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Full text linkThesis (M. Ed. (Language Education)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024The study aimed to explore the role of Sepedi poetry in teaching and learning Grade 10 grammar aspects. Poetry is deemed an efficacious resource tool for language teaching in the classroom as it teaches language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Reader response theory served as the lens to underpin the study, and the phenomena are viewed through the interpretivism paradigm. The study adopted a qualitative approach and a case study design. Data were collected through document analysis, observation, and semi-structured interviews, with purposively sampled teacher and learner participants. Data were analysed through the didactic method of the thematic data analysis approach. The findings revealed that teaching grammar aspects through poetry is advantageous as learners interact and relate well with poetry as part of their daily cultural practices, therefore having it in their formal education makes teaching and learning of language grammar effective. The study will benefit learners, teachers, and curriculum developers on the importance of poetry texts in teaching grammar aspects
Punctuation errors committed in creative writing by Xitsonga grade 10 learners : the case at Mafemani Circuit, Bohlabela District, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
Full text linkThesis (M. (Language Education) -- University of Limpopo, 2024The study focused on punctuation errors committed by Xitsonga Grade 10 learners when writing narrative essays in Xitsonga Home language. The study was a case study at Mafemani Circuit, Bohlabela District, Mpumalanga Province, in South Africa. The study aimed to examine the types of punctuation errors that learners commit when writing narrative essays, the goal of which was to find an effective approach be used to suppress the problem. The nature of the study and the type of data needed, motivated the researcher to use a qualitative approach. Therefore, the researcher used the qualitative method to collect and analyse the data for this study. This method gave the researcher a variety of opportunities to collect valuable data which helped her gain an in-depth understanding of the study, and the problem researched. In data collection, the researcher used document analysis to analyse learners’ Xitsonga essays. In addition, the researcher conducted unstructured interviews by asking open-ended questions to Xitsonga Home Language educators to ascertain their experiences and knowledge of the types of punctuation errors learners make when writing narrative essays. The findings revealed that learners commit punctuation errors such as the misuse of capital letters, commas, hyphens, semicolons, question marks, full stops, and exclamation marks. The researcher relied on the findings of both the interviews and document analysis, in conjunction with recent empirical studies, to conclude that learners continue to experience many challenges with regard to punctuation marks when they write in Xitsonga. Therefore, the researcher urged educators to put extra effort in teaching punctuation marks to learners
A legal analysis of the law regulating sexual harassment in the workplace in South Africa
Full text linkThesis (LLM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2024This mini-dissertation investigates the historical roots of sexual harassment in the South African workplace, deeply entrenched in a legacy of gender inequality exacerbated by the apartheid era. The oppressive system fostered an environment where women, particularly black women, were vulnerable to unwanted sexual advances in exchange for job security or advancement. Post-apartheid, legislative measures such as the Employment Equity Act of 1998 and the Code of Good Practice on the Prevention and Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work sought to address sexual harassment and create safer workplaces. However, challenges persist. The study is centred on quid pro quo sexual harassment, analysing the legal framework, specifically the Code of Good Practice, to identify gaps and challenges in addressing this issue, particularly concerning gender-based violence. Objectives encompass defining violence and harassment, fostering respectful workplace cultures, promoting HR procedures for addressing harassment, encouraging stakeholder cooperation, and ensuring victim support
The impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the teaching and learning of Economic and Management Science (EMS) in Grade 7 under Moletlane Circuit, Capricorn South Africa
Full text linkThesis (M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024The impact of ICT in schools has become important because it affects the day-to-day operations of schools. It improves and influences the effectiveness of teaching and learning. This study aims to establish the impact of ICT on the teaching and learning of EMS in Grade 7 classes of the Moletlane circuit in Limpopo Province, South Africa. This was accomplished by employing a qualitative research approach aided by an exploratory research design. The data collection methods involved the face-to-face interviews with semi-structured questions and classroom observations. Moreover, approximately eight (08) teachers and forty-two (42) learners in five (05) schools in the primary schools of the Moletlane circuit were purposively selected. Overall, fifty (50) participants formed the sample unit of the study. The collected data were analysed using thematic content analysis (TCA) to identify study themes and subthemes for both teachers and learners. Constructivism Learning Theory (CLT) and Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML) served as the lens of the study. Some of the themes from the findings, as expressed by the teachers, included access to ICT equipment, usefulness of machines, problems encountered when using the equipment and strategies to overcome the problems of using the equipment effectively and ICT training. Furthermore, the learners expressed the following as concerns: “accessibility of equipment at home, availability of equipment at school, usefulness of the equipment at school and problems encountered when using the equipment at school.” The findings of this study also identified a lack of access to ICT equipment and a shortage of computers and laptops as challenges encountered by teachers and learners. As such, this results in a lack of knowledge or inability to use ICT at schools. Furthermore, numerous teachers have shown a lack of understanding of the use of ICT and rely on other teachers with ICT qualifications to teach using ICT equipment in the classroom. As a result, they affect learners’ development, as they depend on few but not all teachers to implement ICT. The study further revealed poor internet connectivity and loadshedding as the leading challenges that derail progress when students must use ICT equipment at school. The study recommends that the School Management Team (SMT) educate parents and teachers about the impact and importance of ICT use. For recommendations, the responsible stakeholders should introduce ICT workshops and training for the development of the school. The Department of Education should provide an adequate number of computers and laptops to avoid shortages and a lack of progress in their daily work activities. The study further recommends that management install WIFIs with good network coverage and updates teachers with the loadshedding schedule to avoid disappointment. This study sheds light on how schools can successfully implement ICT and benefit from the use of ICT integration
Perception and willingness of youth to participate in the farming of HEMP (Cannabis Sativa L.) for biofuel : a case study of Polokwane Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Full text linkThesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024South Africa's agricultural sector is facing energy crisis due to her high energy dependence on coal. This affects agricultural production, employment and economic growth. Hemp, a biofuel crop, is proposed as a potential alternative, and is the most environmentally-friendly crop. Literature explores hemp as biofuel, but lacks research on youth perception and willingness to farm hemp for biofuel, despite their role in agricultural development thus, the study seeks to fill that gap. The study was aimed at analysing the youths to participate in hemp farming for biofuel in Polokwane Municipality, South Africa. Primary cross-sectional data was used for the study. A subset of 303 participants was selected and interviewed using random sampling and a face-to-face questionnaire. The socio-economic characteristics of the youth were described using Descriptive Statistics. Likert Scale was used to analyse youth perception towards the farming of hemp. Factors affecting willingness to participate (WTP) were estimated using a Binary Logistic Regression Model. The results showed that 50.2% of participants were male. The percentage of the participants who were unemployed was 82% and 56% had not attended any entrepreneurship training or workshop. The majority (74%) of youth held a positive perception towards participating in hemp farming. From Binary Logistic Regression results, the study revealed entrepreneurship seminar, religious affiliation being positively significant factors influencing WTP at 0.1% level. Gender and employment were found to be negatively significant at 5% level, while access to information and access to credit were found to be positively significant the same level. The study suggests enhancing access to credit, promoting religious beliefs among youth to enhance their participation, and capacity development in entrepreneurship education.National Research Foundation (NRF
An analysis of the relationship between exports and economic growth in South Africa, 2000-2020
Full text linkThesis (M. Agricultural Management (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Since 1994, the South African government has prioritised rapid economic growth. Despite theorists’ contradicting views, the country considered the global market as one of the gateways to accelerated economic growth. In the early 1990s, South Africa opened to foreign markets by removing trade barriers. However, the results of such actions were not entirely what was expected. This study analysed the relationship between exports and economic growth in South Africa from the year 2000 to 2020. The study aimed to investigate how exports affect the overall growth of the economy in South Africa. Quarterly time series data from StatsSA and the South African Reserve Bank covering the period 2000 to 2021 was used in the study’s empirical analysis and tests. The study utilized numerous econometric approaches and or tests such as; the unit root test, Johansen’s cointegration procedure, the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), as well as Granger causality model to gain a clear perception of the relationship between exports and the rate of South Africa’s economic growth. The Johansen cointegration test was conducted to examine the contribution of exports to economic growth in South Africa. The test confirmed the presence of a long-term equilibrium relationship between the dataset. The results of the unit root test indicated that both variables became stationary at the first difference, as evidenced by passing both the ADF and PP tests. The correlation between exports and the growth of the economy is positive in the short term and long term. The outcomes of the Granger causality tests indicated that GDP Granger causes exports, signifying that economic growth in South Africa has an effect on exports. Additionally, the VECM outcomes demonstrated that there exists both a short-term and long-term relationship between economic growth and exports in South Africa. The research suggests, among other things, that the government should develop policies to promote increased exports from South Africa, as this will lead to the creation of more jobs in the long run
The implementation of national gender policy in addressing gender parity in selected Johannesburg Securities Exchange listed retail companies in Polokwane
Full text linkThesis (MBA. (Business Administration)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023Refer to the documen
The legal analysis of the impact of inadequate schools infrastructure on the right to basic education in South Africa
Full text linkThesis (LLM. (Development and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024This mini dissertation undertakes a comprehensive legal analysis to examine the ramifications of inadequate schools’ infrastructure on the right to basic education in South Africa. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, explicitly guarantees every individual the right to basic education, emphasizing the state's obligation to ensure accessible, quality education for all. Persistent challenges in schools' infrastructure across the country pose a significant threat to the realization of this constitutional right. The analysis begins by delineating the legal framework underpinning the right to education in South Africa. The judicial pronouncements underscore the state's duty to progressively realize the right to education and provide a normative foundation for evaluating the impact of inadequate infrastructure.
This research delves into the multifaceted repercussions of inadequate infrastructure on learners, educators, and the broader educational ecosystem. Insufficient classrooms, lack of sanitation facilities, inadequate libraries, and unsafe learning environments undermine the quality of education, exacerbate inequalities, and impede students' ability to access education effectively. The disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, including rural areas and historically disadvantaged schools, amplifies existing socio-economic disparities, contravening the constitutional imperative of equality in education. The analysis scrutinizes the policy frameworks and government interventions aimed at addressing infrastructural deficiencies in South African schools. Despite various initiatives and budget allocations, persistent challenges persist due to issues of mismanagement, corruption, and inadequate implementation. This raises pertinent legal questions regarding the accountability of state actors and the justiciability of socio-economic rights, specifically the right to education, within the South African legal framework.
The research evaluates international legal instruments and comparative jurisprudence to contextualize South Africa's obligations in ensuring adequate infrastructure for the realization of the right to education. Insights from international treaties such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and case law from jurisdictions grappling with similar issues provide valuable perspectives for advancing
the discourse on this critical matter. The comparison of South Africa and Germany is laid out very nicely.
This legal analysis underscores the imperative for urgent, comprehensive measures to address the systemic challenges of inadequate schools’ infrastructure in South Africa. It advocates for a holistic approach that integrates legal, policy, and socio-economic considerations to fulfill the constitutional promise of quality, accessible education for all, thereby ensuring the effective realization of the right to basic education in the country
Tracking the development of lean and fat areas of the arm from childhood to adulthood in a cohort of the Ellisras longitudinal study
Full text linkThesis (M.Sc.(Physiology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Undernutrition is a major public health problem in Africa. The risk of underweight is associated with a negative impact on children’s health, growth and development in later life. Upper arm composition is used to determine the prevalence of undernutrition. The use of upper arm composition reflects body protein and calorie reserves. However, there is a paucity of data on the upper arm composition of children from African countries. This study aimed to investigate the development of fat and lean areas of the arms and seasonal variation of upper arm fat and lean areas from childhood into young adulthood. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps and biceps skinfold measurements were measured according to the recommended anthropometric standard procedures. The measurements were collected during the autumn (April – May) and spring (October – November) seasons from 1997 to 2003. The total upper-arm area (TUA), arm fat area (AFA) and arm muscle area (AMA) were calculated. A total of 911 boys and 852 girls, aged 4 to 17 years participated in the survey in 1997 were included in this study. This was a retrospective data analysis study. Data was analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test to examine sex and age differences in anthropometric characteristics in autumn and spring. Ellisras boys and girls had a low mean value in AMA development when compared with the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III) reference population. Moreover, the Ellisras girls had higher AMA when compared to boys of the same age. Furthermore, there was no clear pattern in the development of MUAC among Ellisras children when compared to the reference population. Contrary to other findings Ellisras children had a higher AFA when compared to the NHANES III reference population. The generalised estimate equation (GEE) was used to test the relationship between autumn and spring according to AFA, AMA and MUAC. The prevalence of undernutrition was low by AFA at 3.9% in boys when compared to girls at 13.2%, high when using AMA at 95.1% and 82.1% in boys and girls respectively. In addition, the prevalence of undernutrition by MUAC was 58.0% and 49.5% for boys and girls respectively. Boys aged between 8 – 11 years had a significant (p-value = 0.020) positive association in AFA with β = 0.47, (95% CL: 0.07; 0.82) and girls of the same age also had a positive significant association (p-value = 0.001), in AFA with β = 1.30, (95% CL: 0.58; 2.03) in spring as compared to autumn. Furthermore, there was a significant median difference between arm fat area (AFA) and arm muscle area (AMA), in autumn and spring. There was seasonal variation observed between the seasons over time, from mid-childhood to the adolescent stage. There was a positive significant (p < 0.001) association between the first AFA, AMA and MUAC and the subsequent measurements for both boys and girls, throughout the period. AFA of β = 0.01, (95% CL: 0.00; 0.01) and β = 0.03, (95% CL: 0.03; 0.04) for boys and girls respectively. Moreover, girls had an elevated beta range when compared to boys. A similar trend was observed with AMA β = -0.01, (95% CL: -0.01; 0.01) and β = 0.04, (95% CL: 0.03; 0.04) for boys and girls respectively. However, MUAC for boys was elevated β = 0.03, (95% CL: 0.02; 0.04) when compared to girls β = 0.01, (95% CL: 0.00; 0.01). The tracking coefficient between the initial measurements and the subsequent measurements was higher for AMA and AFA when compared to MUAC. This could be supported by slightly higher tracking coefficients in Ellisras girls compared to boys over time. The six-year duration of the study with measurements carried out twice yearly not only provides accurate tracking measurements of the arm anthropometry. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that there high prevalence of undernutrition found in this study. Furthermore, there was a substantial seasonal variation in the growth and development of fat and lean arm areas among the Ellisras children. Arm anthropometry may be a valuable way to evaluate the nutritional status of children. On the other hand, there are a limited number of studies available, and there are limited longitudinal studies that have investigated the development of MUAC, arm muscle and fat area over more or less the same length where the current study was carried out
Knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of smallholder livestock farmers around heartwater diseases : a case of Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
Full text linkThesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Heartwater, stemming from Ehrlichia ruminantium and transmitted by Amblyomma ticks, is a significant infectious threat to ruminants, imposing constraints on animal production. The susceptibility of smallholder livestock farmers to disease outbreaks, particularly heartwater, is heightened by challenges in implementing effective animal health practices. There is relatively little insight and understanding of the Tick-borne disease (TBD), despite it being regarded as one of the deadliest diseases for livestock in places where it is endemic. The research aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of smallholder livestock farmers towards heartwater disease in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Specifically, this study profiled the smallholder livestock farmers, analysed their KAP towards heartwater disease and finally, analysed factors influencing their KAP in the study area. This study sampled 180 smallholder livestock farmers through the multistage sampling technique. Primary cross-sectional data, which was collected using structured questionnaires were used in this study. Descriptive statistics, KAP survey framework, which used Likert scale and the Multinomial Logistic Regression (MLR) model were used to address the study objectives.
The key findings revealed a majority of male farmers with an average age of 59, often possessing only primary education. A general lack of knowledge about heartwater disease influenced farmers' attitudes and practices. The MLR model identified eight influential variables, including gender, income sources, access to animal handling facilities, and annual expenditure, impacting the KAP of smallholder livestock farmers. The study recommended prioritizing government efforts to disseminate information on heartwater, addressing farmers' knowledge gaps. Moreover, subsidies for expensive animal health medication and vaccines were proposed to alleviate financial challenges faced by the majority of smallholder farmers.Agricultural Research Council (ARC