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Interrogating major determinants of trade competitiveness for selected Sub-Saharan African Countries
Full text linkThesis (M. Com. ( Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Trade in Sub-Saharan Africa has increased and grown significantly despite current account deficits and challenges to maintain global competitiveness. To improve upon and allow more flow of imports and exports within regions, African countries combined to reach a trade agreement, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The agreement aims to expand trade by loosening trade barriers such as tariffs and ultimately improve trade competitiveness within the Sub-Saharan Countries. To explore major determinants of trade balance, the study analysed investment (GFCF), Real Exchange Rate (RER), tariff (TRWA), and Terms of Trade (TOT) of six selected Sub-Saharan countries for the period 2004 to 2020. The Panel ARDL long run and short run method to investigate the impact on trade balance was used together with Panel Levin, Lin and Chu, IPS, Fisher ADF and PP tests for stationarity, Pedroni, Kao and Johansen-Fisher panel cointegration tests to confirms the availability of long run relationship in the model and Diagnostic tests using data from World bank and Federal Reserve Bank-St Louis. The findings revealed that investment, real exchange rate, and term of trade are significant in the long run and, real exchange rate and term of rate are negatively related to the trade competitiveness while investment is positively related. In the short run, all determinants were found insignificant to trade competitiveness. Accordingly, investment, RER and TOT are essential factors that affect and strengthen trade competitiveness in the long run when implemented effectively. The governments should seek to improve further on infrastructure investment for ease of doing business as this is seen to improve upon the trade balance and drive trade competitiveness. Policies that will lead to an appreciation of real exchange rate will result in term of trade improvement because export will rise, and imports become cheaper than countries become more competitive in the trade industry
Prevalence of depression and its associated factors amongst pregnant young women at Dimamo in Limpopo Province
Full text linkThesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Introduction: Since depression in young pregnant women affects both mothers and their unborn children, it is a serious public health concern. The lack of thorough research on the subject and conflicting priorities have prevented this from receiving priority intervention in many low- and middle-income nations. It is also believed that the condition does not immediately result in fatalities. Thus, the current study set out to look into the incidence of depression and related characteristics among young pregnant women in the rural Limpopo Province of South Africa's Dikgale, Mamabolo, and Mothapo (DIMAMO) districts.
Methods: This was a retrospective quantitative study which consisted of 352 young pregnant women aged 14 to 22 and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was employed in the study to assess depression. Version 27.0 of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data. Less than 0.05 was the threshold for statistical significance.
Results: The mean age of young pregnant women was 18.4 years and most of the participants reported that they had financial support. According to the recent study, the majority of young pregnant women had experienced partner domestic violence at 90.9% and their pregnancies were mostly reported as unplanned at 81.8%. Drinking of alcohol and smoking was found to be prevalent amongst young pregnant women. It was discovered that the general prevalence of depression was 42.8%. Drinking alcohol, partner financial support, HIV-positive status and Unplanned pregnancies have been proven to have a strong correlation with depression.
Conclusion: A multifaceted approach that addresses all of the health issues that young pregnant women face is necessary to achieve holistic health, with a focus on mental health, behaviour modification, communication towards a healthy lifestyle, and a supportive social environment where young pregnant women can learn life skills
The impact of the BrainBoosters programme on foundational mathematics learning in early childhood education for English second language learners
Full text linkJournal article published in African Perspectives of Research in Teaching and Learning Journal
Issue 4, Volume 8, 2024The poor mathematics performance of South African learners is alarming. A solution is to lay a solid foundation for mathematics learning in early childhood education, using learners’ home language as language of learning and teaching. However, most early childhood learners are English Second Language
speakers who are instructed in English. This study aimed at establishing the value of the BrainBoosters
mathematics programme, for English Second Language learners in Early Childhood Education. A qualitative case study informed by the interpretivist paradigm gathered data from two preschools which use English as language of learning and teaching in Pretoria, South Africa. Purposeful sampling was used
to select two teachers who implemented the BrainBoosters programme in two classes of 15 English
Second Language learners, aged 3-5 years, over six weeks. Data were gathered by classroom observations, interviews with teachers and interviews with three Early Childhood Education experts. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. The results indicated the value of the BrainBoosters programme
for early mathematics learning in the English Second Language context and its provision of a positive
language learning environment. Direct instruction was effective for learning mathematical concepts; however, activities were insufficiently contextualised. Excessive reinforcement caused learner disengagement. The usefulness of the BrainBoosters programme should be enhanced by a more flexible constructivist approach to the learning of mathematics in Early Childhood Education in English Second Language context
Customary law of procedure and evidence :a juridical and ethnographic study in the Limpopo Province, South Africa
Full text linkThesis (LLD.) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Customary law has undeniably experienced a tumultuous journey within the South African
legal landscape. Its historical trajectory includes a dark chapter marked by legislative injustice,
exemplified by the enactment of the Black Administration Act 38 of 1927. However, there has
also been a glimmer of hope on this path, symbolised by the insignificant acknowledgment
and acceptance of customary law in the Law of Evidence Amendment Act 45 of 1988. Every
endeavour was made to belittle customary law, pervert it and erode it of its true fabric as an
amalgamation of customs, religion and the lived realities of the indigenous people. The
conscious failure by the morally reprehensible colonialists and the segregationalist Apartheid
state to appreciate the correct paradigm of customary law has resulted in an intentioned nonlaw that has been rather prolific in both literature and jurisprudence.
It is the view of this study that it has long been overdue to cleanse customary law off the
stains of bad faith draftsmanship and rid it off the perversion caused to it by its colonial past.
To achieve this, the study is intentional about de-linking customary law from the other system
in order to properly understand, define, establish, advance and promote traditional justice. In
doing this, the study proceeded from the premise that customary law, as a system, is an
inseparable matrix of customs, religion and the lived realities of the people living according to
that system. This lived reality as innate in the system itself necessitated the type of
methodology adopted for study and encouraged extra care in dealing with the pervasion
achieved through official documents on this system.
Ethnography was intentionally opted for as the correct methodology because its definition and
scope is based on magnifying the reality of the subject studied. This view corresponds directly
with the need to ground indigenous reality in traditional dispute resolution. As a methodology
that embraces pluralism, it allows for adaptation to the methods as the study develops. This
study invites researchers to undertake customary law inquiry within the correct location that
enhances Natives’ cultural capital. At the end, this study aims to contribute meaningfully to
transformative action by properly aligning the customary law paradigm to the realities of the
people as envisioned in the definition of customary law. The theoretical and conceptual framework of study accepts that the knowledge paradigm in
general and legal training in particular was not constructed for the benefit of Natives. As a
result of the foreign ideology of knowledge, customary law was penetrated and perverted
through the lenses of a law foreign to it. This meant that a foreign reality was endorsed in the
shared South African worldview and education is the vehicle through which reality of Natives
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was perverted or oppressed. Notwithstanding this, it is contended in this study that the
Constitution in the Republic of South Africa validates this colonial conquest by failing to
expressly locate the cultural capital of Natives in its text. This need for promotion of indigenous
reality through constitutional text is based on colonial and apartheid bad faith in the erosion
of Native worldview. Foreign language(s), as a cultural artefact, in particular English, was
given a privileged position in South Africa through legislation. This privileging, it is argued,
was not nor does it fully embrace the epistemological edges of customary law. To properly
locate these edges, the study invites us to engage in new pursuits of traditional epistemology.
For current purporses, this pursuit entails the adoption of community cultural wealth as the
lenses through which traditional justice must be considered. Within this lense, the study
denotes that Natives have legal capital that has always and continue to enable them to resolve
legal issues in their communities. Properly understood, however, it is argued in this study that
traditional courts are a socially embedded fora that is both fluid, flexible and comprehensive
Multi-scale modelling of pristine and transition metal doped spinel LiMn2o4 cathode materials
Full text linkThesis (Ph.D. (Physics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Lithium-manganese-oxide with a spinel structure has attracted enormous attention as a future cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. LiMn2O4 is affordable due to the abundance of manganese in South Africa (80% of the world reserves) and provides high-rate capability. However, its commercialization is currently hindered by structural instabilities linked to its Mn3+ component. During cycling, the increasing amount of Mn3+ (≥ 50%) onsets the Jahn-Teller effect, which destabilizes the spinel structure, leading to a loss of capacity. Hence, in this work, there emanates a need to introduce Ni and Co as dopants to reduce the concentration of Mn3+ and also stabilize the transition metal and oxygen bond in the structure. To incorporate this effectively, the Buckingham potentials for the interactions that arise from doping LiMn2O4 with Co and Ni were derived using a technique inspired by machine learning methods. The Buckingham potential parameters were derived with guidance from potential energy surfaces from electronic structure calculations. The potential reduced the fitted structure properties and elastic constant to an acceptable percentage difference of less than 7.1%. The potentials were utilized to investigate the microstructural changes and Li+ transport properties of LiMn2O4 influenced by the introduction of Co and Ni on the Mn3+ sites in the structure. The developed potentials were able to determine the thermodynamic properties aligned with experimental observations such as melting point and the crucial high-temperature behaviour of LiCo2O4 and LiNi2O4 in the test of their veracity. The melting point of LiNi2O4 was found to be lower than that of LiCo2O4, which could be attributed to the observed lower melting point of Ni when compared to that of Co. Moreover, the potentials were further employed to perform simulated synthesis of LiCo2O4 and LiNi2O4 nanospherical structures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and atomic structure snapshots showed the dominance of the LiM2O4 (M=Co, Ni) co-existing with the M3O4 and Li2MO3 high-temperature impurity phases, which is in line with the findings of Mouhib and co-workers. Moreover, the average bond distances of the Co-O (~1.92 Å) and Ni-O (~1.91 Å) interactions were found to be smaller than that of the Mn-O (~1.923 Å) interaction, in line with the experimental values. Therefore, the M-O (M=Co, Ni) bond will be stronger than the Mn-O bond, which will improve the structural stability of LiMn2O4. Since a shorter bond length will result in higher electron affinity between M-O (M=Co, Ni) as compared to Mn-O. The subsequent step was to employ the derived interatomic potentials to define the interactions within the Co- and Ni-doped LiMn2O4 spinel. Monitoring of the impact of these dopants demonstrated that the introduction of Co and Ni in LiMn2O4 did not compromise the cubic spinel structure. Therefore, in line with our findings in LiCo2O4 and LiNi2O4 spinel systems, the bond length between the dopants (Co and Ni) and oxygen (< 1.923 Å) was also found to be shorter than the bond length of manganese and oxygen (~1.923 Å). This also supports the view that the partial substitution of manganese with Co and/or with Ni could result in improved structural stability, which will improve capacity retention. Furthermore, Co and Ni were only observed in the 16d octahedral sites and were not found in the 8a tetrahedral sites on the microstructure, unlike in the case of pure LiMn2O4 phases, where some Mn atoms migrate into the tetrahedral sites. Therefore, Co and Ni do not disrupt Li transport in the 8a tetrahedral sites, which affects capacity retention and rate capabilities. Furthermore, one extremely crucial aspect is the impact of the dopants on the ionic diffusion of the spinel material. When comparing the effects of the two dopants, Ni was found to improve the diffusion of lithium ions in the spinel structure compared to Co. Since, the Ni-doped LiMn2O4 spinel structure (1.6 x 10-12 m2/s) was found to have a higher value for diffusion coefficient at 300 K as compared to the Co-doped LiMn2O4 spinel structure (0.61 x 10-12 m2/s). Moreover, the ionic conductivity of Li also demonstrated the same behaviour, Ni-doped LiMn2O4 spinel nanomaterial was found to have a value of 0.94 x 10-6 S cm-1, while the Co-doped LiMn2O4 spinel nanomaterial had a value of 0.23 x 10-6 S cm-1. The ultimate exploration in this work was the morphological impact on the ionic diffusion and conductivity of the LiNi2O4 spinel cathode material. This sparked particular interest in further exploration since the Ni-dopant demonstrated enhanced diffusivity. As such, the role of pore size in LiNi2O4 nanoporous structures on transport properties (i.e., ionic diffusion) and microstructural changes was probed. Increasing the pore size was found to also increase the surface area and the diffusion of lithium ions in the structure. The surface areas of the 0.30, 0.21, and 0.15 nm nanoporous materials were found to be 22.16, 15.50, and 12.05 Å2, respectively. The same was also noted in the calculated ionic conductivities of Li+, which were found to be ~2.34 x 10-8, ~7.86 x 10-8, and ~1.50 x 10-7 S/cm for the nanoporous structures with pore diameters of 0.15, 0.21, and 0.30 nm, respectively. Therefore, a nanoporous spinel structure could enhance rate capabilities, and fast charge and discharge rates could be achieved. The overall stability of Li-Mn-O can be enhanced by the partial substitution of Mn with Co and Ni. Additionally, the transport of Li+ ions is not disrupted by Co and Ni at dopant concentrations of ≤ 0.02. Moreover, Ni was found to have superior influence over the migration of Li+ ions in the structure. Therefore, the charge and discharge processes can be enhanced by single-doping LiMn2O4 spinel with Ni. The rate of charge and discharge can also be further enhanced by the design of nanoporous materials with larger pore diameters (≥ 0.21 nm), which are crucial for large-scale high-energy and high-power density applications.National Research Foundation (NRF
An investigation into the constitutionality of vaccine mandates in South Africa
Full text linkThesis (LLM. (Development and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024This research investigates the constitutionality of vaccine mandates in South Africa against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the WHO declared COVID-19 the global pandemic in 2020, efforts have been taken to implement vaccination programmes to combat the spread of the pandemic. One of the strategies implemented to improve vaccination rates has been to make vaccinations mandatory – either directly or indirectly. This has prompted debates about the constitutionality of vaccine mandates. The vexed question is whether vaccine mandates are constitutional in South Africa. The research emphasises the need for a tenuous balance between individual human rights and public health imperatives.
The Bill of Rights contains human rights such as the right to bodily integrity, human dignity, and privacy, which must be weighed against the state's duty to protect public health. The absence of legislation (law of general application) regulating vaccine mandates, as demanded by section 36 of the Constitution, raises concerns about their compliance. Limitations on the right to bodily integrity and religious freedom are conceivable under certain circumstances, allowing for the implementation of vaccine mandates. However, such limitations must align with constitutional principles, ensuring a fair, democratic, and justifiable approach. Key findings underscore that vaccine mandates, in the absence of a law of general application, may not align with the Constitution. Violations of bodily integrity and religious rights are identified, necessitating a nuanced approach to balancing individual freedoms and public health. The study concludes that any potential limitations must adhere to constitutional requirements and be implemented transparently and fairly.
Methodically, the study is qualitative. It uses the content analysis of primary and secondary literature such as the Constitution, case law, books, journal articles and international instruments
Factors contributing to neonatal birth asphyxia in public health facilities of Mopani District, Limpopo Province
Full text linkThesis (M. (Nursing)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Introduction and background: Birth asphyxia is a severe medical problem worldwide, especially in developing countries, and the main contributor to neonatal mortality and morbidity. Birth asphyxia is an oxygen deficit at delivery, which can lead to severe hypoxic organ damage (heart, lungs, liver, gut, and kidneys), but brain damage is of most concern and perhaps the least likely to heal quickly or entirely.
Purpose: This research aimed to determine contributory factors leading to neonatal birth asphyxia among professional midwives working in public health facilities of Mopani district, Limpopo Province.
Research method: The researcher used a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional research design. The population of this research study was all professional nurses with midwifery qualifications working in public health facilities of Mopani district, Limpopo Province. Participants (n=139) were sampled using simple random sampling techniques. Self-developed questionnaires were used as an instrument for data collection. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Validity and reliability were ensured, and ethical considerations were adhered to in this research study.
Results: The most contributing factor of neonatal birth asphyxia was Prolonged labour n=138(100%) followed by meconium-stained liquor n=114(82.6%) and Delayed emergency caesarean n=108(78.3%).
Conclusion: Prolonged labour/ delayed maternal 2nd stage of labour was identified as one of the leading health-related factors contributing to neonatal birth asphyxia. Meconiumstained liquor was the most contributing factor to neonatal birth asphyxia caused by maternal-related factors. Education and training programmes are recommended for professional midwives which will increase their knowledge and skills on proper management of women in labour including the antenatal period to reduce birth complications that might lead to birth asphyxia
A legal analysis of the social protection for workers engaged in atypical forms of employment in South Africa
Full text linkThesis (Ph.D. (Laws)) --University of Limpopo, 2024The rapid growth in atypical employment across the globe brought both negative and positive impact to the labour market. For South Africa, in terms of curbing the evergrowing unemployment rate, it created problems for persons engaged in non-standard forms of employment as the labour legislation did not evolve when the labour market evolved. This failure to evolve included insufficient labour protection afforded to the atypical workers while stronger protection mechanisms were put in place for workers in standard employment. This study analyses the challenges that atypical employees are subjected to, and these can be seen through their lack of access to social protection which includes inter alia, access to benefits such as social security and employment incentives that are enjoyed by employees in permanent employment. A critique is made of the various mechanisms which the state has attempted to make in redressing the challenge followed by a comparative study between South Africa, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom from which a few lessons can be drawn for South Africa to improve the working conditions of atypical workers. The study further draws on the existing international and regional labour standards coupled with the South African Constitution of 1996, as well as the national experience to make policy recommendations that will ensure the legal protection of these categories of workers. It is submitted that social justice and the democratisation of the workplace will remain a pipe dream if workers in non-standard employment continue to be excluded from the coverage of labour protection
Factors hindering grade 7 learners on the reading skills at Dilokong Circuit, Sekhukhune East District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Full text linkThesis (M.Ed. (Language Education)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024The purpose of the study was to investigate factors that hinder reading skills of Grade 7 learners at Dilokong Circuit. The study interacted with the participants directly in their natural setting, being at their school. A qualitative research approach was applied in the study, whereby thematic method was used for data analysis. Participants were purposively sampled from the school. The study sample comprised of 6 Grade 7 learners, also the 2 educators who teach Sepedi in the sampled grade. Data collection instruments used in this study include document analysis (learners’ written essays), semi-structured interviews and non-participant observations. The study revealed that both learners and educators experience challenges regarding reading skills. Most of the learners struggle with reading comprehension. Thus, the study recommends that schools should encourage learners to read more books in order to have good understanding of written texts
Effect of indigenous slaughter methods on post-mortem gycolytic potential and shelf-life of goat meat
Full text linkThesis (M.Sc. (Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of Transverse neck incision (TNI), Suprasternal notch piercing (SNP), and the under shoulder blade piercing at the chest floor point of the elbow (CFP) to the direction of the heart methods of slaughter treatments on post-mortem glycolytic metabolites and shelf-life properties of muscle tissue. A total of 18 non-descript male castrate goats which are a common type of goat found in villages across South Africa (averaging 16.8 ± 1.84 kg) with live weights ranging between 18 and 21 kg, and sixteen months of age, were stratified based on live weight and randomly assigned into the TNI, SNP, and CFP slaughter treatments (6 goats/treatment). Goats were slaughtered with TNI, SNP, and CFP based on their treatment group and the Musculus longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) was sampled at post-mortem for muscle tissue glycolytic potential, glycogen, lactate levels, ultimate pH, and colour measurements. Overall, the TNI, and CFP slaughter treatment had lower muscle tissue ultimate pH in addition to higher glycolytic potential, glycogen, lactate levels, redness (a*), yellowness (b*), and chroma (C*) values. The TNI and CFP slaughter treatments had higher glycolytic potential, glycogen, and lactate levels, consequently, improving the physicochemical properties of muscle tissue.
Overall, the slaughter technique did not influence (P ≥ 0.05) muscle tissue pH. Muscle tissue redness (a*) decreased over time, being highest (P ≤ 0.05) at day 0, followed by day 7 (P ≤ 0.05), and 14, respectively. Muscle tissue yellowness (b*) decreased (P ≤ 0.05) over time being highest for the CFP (P ≤ 0.05) on day 3, followed by the TNI and SNP (P ≤ 0.05) at day 7, and CFP (P ≤ 0.05) on day 11, respectively. Muscle tissue lightness (L*) decreased over time, being highest at day 0, followed by day 11, and day 3 being the lowest, respectively. The shelf-life of muscle tissue from goats slaughtered with TNI was longer compared to the SNP and CFP slaughter treatment