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Contributions of community development workers towards service delivery in Polokwane Local Municipality, Limpopo Province
Get PDFThesis (M.Dev. (Planning and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2017The difficulty associated with full participation of communities in development has led
to the universal adoption of proxies such as, community development workers as
public entrepreneur agents. Community development is known to strengthen civil
society by prioritizing the actions of communities and their perspectives in the
development of social, economic and environmental policy. There are delegations
within the concept that assist in achieving the desired goals of the community and
they are identified to be Community Development Workers (CDWs). CDWs are
community-based resource persons who collaborate with other civic activists to help
communities obtain information and resources from service providers with the aim of
learning how to progressively meet their needs, achieve goals, realize their
aspirations and maintain their well-being. Service delivery is therefore the
satisfaction of public needs, the attainment of which is influenced by public
perceptions, political climate, policies of the government. However, how services are
administered calls for intervention and strategies that will foster and require
executive authorities and public administrators to perform tasks that embrace the
responsibility, authority and accountability to drive such processes. The study aims
to investigate the contributions made by CDWs towards service delivery by
discoursing their purpose and responsibility in communities, also highlighting on the
challenges they face; moreover, examining how services are governed. The study
has incorporated both qualitative and quantitative approaches as it is described as
being normative. The chosen research design is appropriate for the study because
the subject of investigation is a real life, on-going social reality which cannot be
controlled. That is, the study will evaluate the ongoing events, activities and
processes relating to functions of the CDWs, governance of service delivery and
contributions derived therefrom. Open-ended questions draws data from the targeted
population through the use of semi structures questionnaires, with the hope of
arriving at a conclusion that indeed CDWs play a significant role towards service
delivery. The study required textual, opinionative and observable data. In order to
prove the accuracy of data found through various information collection procedures
such as literature review the use of fieldwork, questionnaires, interviews and
observation where a confirmation to the literature found. From a qualitative research
perspective, the study used thick descriptions and classification in order to analyze
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functions of CDWs, governance of service delivery and the contributions inherent
therein. It was then when the study manipulated both qualitative and quantitative
data into frequencies then graphs, charts and tables to represent the information
gathered from sources. Therefore, it is in this regard that the study argues that
CDWs play a significant role towards service delivery as they have become stewards
in communities; however, they are undeniably faced with multiple challenges that
hinder their full contribution towards service delivery and that stands in their way of
fully performing the duties in which they are employed to perform. Recommendations
of possible measures that could be employed in order to improve the contributions of
community CDWs towards service delivery in Polokwane Local Municipality,
Limpopo Province are then discussed, to assess the chances of improving and
responding to the needs of the community
The role of corporate governance in achieving clean audit in Johannesburg Market entity
Get PDFThesis (MBA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2023The focus of this study pertains to the Johannesburg Market entity, which has
consistently obtained an unqualified audit opinion for duration of four consecutive
years. Using a quantitative approach, the research was driven by the conviction
that good governance is indispensable for the promotion of transparent and ethical
administration. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of corporate
governance in achieving clean audits in the Johannesburg Market entity. The
presence of minimal audit findings is regarded as a reliable indicator of effective
and reliable governmental administration. The study used a quantitative study
approach, a simple random sampling technique and an online questionnaire to
collect data. Sixty-one respondents comprised of 40 males and 21 females
participated in this study.
The study demonstrated a significant association between effective corporate
governance and an unblemished audit. The aforementioned observation highlights
the detrimental impact of either mismanagement or embezzlement of public funds
on the delivery of vital services, thereby underscoring the significance of good
governance in ensuring transparent administration. The research emphasised the
consistent implementation of effective governance practices to safeguard the
overall welfare of the organisation. The role of governance in maximising the
efficiency of resource allocation through auditing, especially internal auditing,
serves an essential purpose in fostering accountability, transparency, openness
and participation. The research is in accordance with the notion that a well governed society is characterised by effectively managed public resources and
efficient provision of services. Moreover, the research underscored the discourse
prevalent in the public entity of South Africa regarding the attainment of clean audit
outcomes and the enhancement of governance mechanisms.
In this study, a descriptive data analysis approach was applied. Quantitative in
nature and approach, data collected through the use of an online questionnaire
were used as the source of data analysis. A questionnaire was emailed to
respondents (ANNEXURE C: QUESTIONNAIRE OF THE STUDY on page 144.). The
response was categorised in accordance with the descriptive tables.The data were
subjected to analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)
Version 25.0.
The findings concluded that the entity's management adopts a strategic approach
to enhance corporate governance and control systems, thereby establishing
efficient governance and control mechanisms within the entity
Evaluation of the microbiological, nutritive and health properties of a millet-based fermented beverage
Get PDFThesis (M.Sc. (Microbiology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024This study explored the potential of millet as a mainstream food source, emphasising its exceptional nutritional composition that promotes good health. The research focused on millet-based mageu, analysing two formulations: one with 90% millet flour and the other with 50%, over an 8-week storage period. The assessment included lactic acid bacteria (LAB), total aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, and moulds/yeasts. LAB were examined for probiotic traits like acid and bile tolerance, antibiotic susceptibility, and antioxidant activity. Chemical profile, nutritional, and sensory characteristics of mageu products were also evaluated. Viable LAB cells in both mageu formulations ranged from 193 × 104 to 24 × 106 CFU/mL, surpassing total aerobic bacteria (2.0 × 102 – 7 × 105 CFU/mL) and fungal counts (1.1 × 102 – 7.05 × 103 CFU/mL); E. coli was not detected. Identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus MD02 and Pediococcus acidilacti MD01, these LAB strains exhibited sensitivity at pH 1.5 for a short exposure time of 3 hours and tolerant to moderate acidity of pH 3 for a longer exposure time of 36 hours. The LAB strains further showed 40% – 90% survival rate in a low (0.3%) and high (0.9%) bile salt concentrations after exposure for short (24 hours) and longer (48 hours) periods. P. pentosaceus MD02 exhibited a higher antioxidant capacity of 38.85%. The strains showed resistance to streptomycin and penicillin. Mageu pH decreased from 4.2 to 3.2, and total titratable acidity increased from 0.16% to 0.27%. Antioxidant activity was lower than L-ascorbic acid. Proximate analysis revealed increased protein (42 – 58 μg/mL), crude fat (0.54 – 0.96 g/mL), moisture (85% – 99%), and ash (9.8% – 13%). Minerals (calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus) ranged from 1.2 – 9.6 mg/mL, and sugars (glucose 2 – 47 mg/mL, sucrose 4 – 96 mg/mL) were detected. Sensory evaluation varied, with mageu 5:5 preferred. Millet-based mageu, fermented with LAB, demonstrated probiotic properties, nutritional value, and favourable sensory attributes and the natural bitter taste of millet was neutralised. Millet emerges as a highly nutritional alternative to staple cereals. This study highlights the potential of millet as a mainstream, health-promoting food source, addressing the demand for diverse and nutritious alternatives to traditional cereals like maize, sorghum, and wheat.Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR
Induction of apoptosis in cervical and breast cancer cells using quinoxaline derivatives
Get PDFThesis (M.Sc. (Biochemistry)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Background: Cervical and breast cancers remain a public health concern in South Africa with an increasing rate of incidences and mortalities globally. Current treatment options are not only costly but also present undesirable side effects, induce multidrug resistance, and result in high rates of cancer remissions. To limit cancer recurrences, the focus of anticancer drug development has been on increasing sensitivity of cancer cells to drug-induced apoptosis as a prospective cancer therapy. Apoptosis and its associated cancer hallmarks are the gold standard targets for the development of conventional cancer treatment strategies for management of cancers. In view of current challenges encountered in cancer treatment options, more target-specific, less costly, and highly effective inducers of apoptosis are urgently required. Quinoxaline derivatives are synthetic small molecules that hold a plethora of desirable biological activities with their structures being constantly modified to improve their therapeutic target specificity, response rate, and accessibility. Aim of study: Hence, this study primarily aimed at investigating the ability of selected novel quinoxaline derivatives to induce apoptotic cell death in cervical cancer (CaSki) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. Methods: To achieve this aim, characterisation of the quinoxaline derivatives, LAM21D and LAM29A, was performed to determine the UV-Vis absorption spectrum utilising the UV/Vis spectrophotometer. The antioxidant potential of the quinoxaline derivatives was evaluated using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay while the total phenolic content was determined using the Folin Ciocalteu’s total phenolic content assay. The ability of quinoxaline derivatives to inhibit the viability of CaSki cervical and MCF-7 breast cancer cells was assessed using the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay. The effect of the derivatives on morphological features of the described cancer cells was captured and analysed using the Ti-E inverted microscope and apoptosis induced by the derivatives was quantified using the Muse™ Annexin-V and dead cell assay. The effect of quinoxaline derivatives on ROS production in the cells was established using Muse™ oxidative stress assay. The Muse™ Ki67 proliferation assay was carried out to measure Ki67 expression levels which correlates with the proliferation percentages in CaSki cells. The Muse™ cell cycle assay was performed to evaluate the effect of quinoxaline derivatives on cell cycle progression. The CB-Dock and SwissADME web-based softwares were used to evaluate the binding patterns of quinoxaline derivative LAM-21D and its drug-likeness propensity. Results: Preliminary screening showed that LAM-21D exerted high selectivity towards CaSki cells at 250 μM with minimal cytotoxicity on the noncancerous HEK-293 cells while LAM-29A exhibited high selectivity towards MCF-7 cells. However, although LAM-21D induced apoptosis in CaSki cells, LAM-29A did not induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. As a result, assays on downstream pathways were conducted to evaluate the activity of LAM-21D on CaSki cells. A reduction in Ki67 expression which correlated with a reduction in cell proliferation was observed when cells were treated with LAM-21D. There were insignificant changes observed in Ki67 expression when MCF-7 cells were treated with LAM-29A. Both derivatives, LAM-29A and LAM-21D, induced minimal cytotoxicity on the noncancerous cells and LAM-21D significantly reduced Ki67 expression, induced ROS production, S-phase cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in Caski cervical cancer cells. The In-silico studies revealed an interaction of the compound with the anti- apoptotic BCL-2 protein and p65 NF-κB transcription factor. The compound also showed drug-likeness properties as per ADMET studies. Further studies are required to fully delineate the anticancer mechanisms of this compound. Nonetheless, this compound could be a potential candidate to explore in the therapeutic targets for cervical cancer. Structural modifications are recommended on both quinoxaline derivatives to improve their anticancer properties against cervical and breast cancer cell
Evaluation of prickly (opuntia ficus-indica) fruit on growth performance, blood indices and methane emissions by yearling male Pedi goats
Get PDFThesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024The study was conducted to determine the effect of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) in diets on growth performance, blood indices, and methane emissions of yearling male Pedi goats. A total number of 24 Pedi goats were randomly assigned to 4 treatments in a completely randomized design, replicated six times with 1 goat per replicate. All goats were of the same age group and were sourced from University of Limpopo Experimental Farm. Prickly pear inclusion levels were at 0,10, 20 or 30%. The experiment was conducted for 28 days (21-day preliminary and 7-day collection periods). Methane emission by goats was measured daily during the collection period and measurements were done using a hand-held methane detector. Goat blood samples were collected prior the commencement of the experiment and towards the end of the experiment. To assess blood parameters (lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils), blood samples (5 ml) were collected using hypodermic needles to draw blood from every goat through the jugular vein into marked sterile tubes which contained ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which served as an anticoagulant. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using Statistical Analysis System Software. Prickly pear meal inclusion level on diet had an effect (P0.05) on the initial live weight, feed conversion ratios and water intake of goats. However, Prickly pear inclusion level in a diet showed a significant effect (P<0.05) on final live weight, average daily gain (ADG) and feed intake of male Pedi goats. Prickly pear inclusion level in a diet had an effect (p<0.05) on methane emissions by Male Pedi goats. Male Pedi goats on a diet having a 0% Prickly pear meal inclusion level had higher (P<0.05) methane emissions than those on a diet composed of 0, 20 and 30% Prickly pear inclusion levels. Blood parameters of male Pedi goats revealed significant differences between the treatments at the beginning of the experiment. At the end of the trial, Prickly pear inclusion in the diet showed significant effect (p<0.05) on eosinophils of male Pedi goats. A positive relationship was observed between Prickly pear meal inclusion level
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and monocytes (r2=0.340), eosinophils (r2=0.452) and basophils (r2=0.303) of male Pedi goats. Nutrient intake, digestibility, feed conversion ratio and blood profiles of Pedi goats in the present study were optimized at different inclusion levels of Prickly pear meals. Although, Prickly pear meal reduced methane emission, optimal reduction in methane emission was not determined. Further validation is required to determine Prickly pear inclusion levels for optimal methane production and emission by goats. It was concluded that indigenous Pedi goat optimal productivity responses to Prickly pear meal inclusion were variable, depending on the production parameter in question.National Research Foundation (NRF
The intricacies of intolerable employment relationship : a critical appraisal of sections 186 (1) (e) and 193 (2) (b) of the labour relations act 66 of 1995
Get PDFThesis (LLM. (Labour Law)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Intolerability is ubiquitous in the modern law of unfair dismissal in South Africa. It is first encountered in the context of section 186(1)(e) of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (LRA). There is a correlation between intolerability and constructive dismissal. A perusal of cases indicates that, constructive dismissal occurs because the behaviour of the employer has made continued employment unbearable with the result that the employee has no other alternative except, to resign. The jurisdictional complexities surrounding constructive dismissal concern whether the employee was dismissed or resigned voluntarily.
The second aspect of the intricacies of intolerability relates to section 193(2)(b) of the LRA. The correlation between the breakdown of the trust relationship as well as intolerability of restoration of employment relationship is pronounced. This invites considerations of “non-reinstatable conditions”. Whether or not the primary relief for unfair dismissal, namely, reinstatement or re-employment is feasible hinge on the following: (a) the practicability of carrying out the order, which is intertwined with the trust relationship and the employee’s misconduct within and outside employment and (b) intolerability of the employment relationship between the parties.National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF
The effect of revenue growth on profitability of companies listed in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange socially responsible investing index
Get PDFThesis (MBA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Profitability of companies is a key indicator that has the potential to draw more investors
and grow the economy. A high profitability increases the value of stockholder’s returns
and market share price. It is therefore crucial for stockholders to uncover underlying
factors that can influence profitability of companies. This study seeks to analyse the effect
of revenue growth on operating profit and to evaluate the effect of revenue growth on net
profit. The study utilised a descriptive quantitative method to extract secondary data from
companies listed in the FTSE/JSE’s Socially Responsible Investing Index. Purposive
sampling method was used to collect data from the audited annual financial statements
of five (5) selected companies listed in the FTSE/JSE’s Socially Responsible Investing
Index with a high market capitalisation from different categories of industries. A simple
linear regression model was used to measure the correlation between independent
variable which is revenue growth and dependent variables being operating and net profit.
Data for each company was collected over a period of ten (10) years starting from 2011
to 2020 financial years. Companies which are not listed in the FTSE/JSE’s Socially
Responsible Investing Index and those that are not contributing to Corporate Socially
Responsibility were not considered in this study. The results of the study indicates that
there is a correlation between independent and dependent variables. However, the results
from other researchers revealed that an increase in revenue growth could give rise to a
decrease in profitability if cost of sales and other operational costs associated with the
generation of revenue increases. Stockholders should therefore consider identifying more
variables that will determine other factors affecting profitability growth because
companies that are unable to grow profitability will find it difficult to expand their operations
and increase stockholders returns. Future researchers can further extend future studies
to identify other variables that can influence profitability
The automatic termination of employment contract and its effect in South Africa
Get PDFThesis (LLM. (Labour Law)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024The study will analyse the legal position of the automatic termination of employment contract and the consequences associated with it on both the employer and the employees. The study outlines events which lead to employment contracts terminating without a need of the either party informing the other. The study covered circumstances which can lead to the automatic termination of employment contract amounting to unfair dismissal. The study will further make a brief comparison with the labour law position relating to automatic termination of employment contract in the United Kingdom (“UK”). At the end, the study provides recommendations on how the automatic termination of
employment contract may be invoked or carried out without the employer unfairly
dismissing or committing unfair labour practices against the employees
A study of ichthyoparasites from imported ornamental fish from Indonesia and Sri Lanka and possible host-parasite interactions and
Get PDFThesis (M.Sc. (Zoology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence, mean intensity and parasite
composition from fishes imported from Sri Lanka to determine the effectiveness of
Sri Lanka’s treatment strategy against parasite infestations, and to determine the
host-parasite interactions between Glossolepis incisus from Indonesia and its
associated parasites. The keeping of ornamental fish has become a popular hobby
among millions of enthusiasts worldwide, including in South Africa. Most ornamental
fish sold on the South African market are alien and imported from countries such as
Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Ornamental fish along with their parasites can be
introduced into local aquatic systems. The repercussions of introducing alien
ichthyoparasites to native species have been documented. However, currently, in
South Africa, the legislation does not require that imported fish destined for the pet
industry be quarantined or treated against parasites. Sri Lanka has gained a
reputation for effectively treating ornamental fish before exporting them to other
countries. In this study, 11 ornamental fish species from nine families were imported
via WCB Import from Sri Lanka (n = 10) and Indonesia (n = 1) and examined for
parasites within 24 hours of their arrival in South Africa. In the laboratory, fish were
sacrificed by percussive stunning and cervical transection, dissected, and the
organs were placed in Petri dishes and scrutinised for parasites through a
compound microscope, whilst skin smears were scrutinised under a stereo
microscope. Observed parasites were collected and preserved using standard
methods and their prevalence and mean intensity were determined.
Of the 10 species received from Sri Lanka and examined, five were found to
be infected by parasites. Two groups of parasites were collected from the fishes,
these being Branchiura and Monogenea, with monogeneans being the most
dominant. Branchiura was represented by a single species, whilst Monogenea was
represented by five genera and eight species. A single specimen of branchiuran
was collected from C. auratus and identified as Argulus japonicus. Monogeneans
collected from C. auratas were Dactylogyrus baueri, Dactylogyrus intermedius,
Gyrodactylus gurleyi and Gyrodactylus kobayashii. In turn, Hypostomus
plecostomus was infected by the monogenean Heteropriapulus heterotylus with
Metynnis hypsauchen, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus and Barbonymus
schwanenfeldii each infected by Urocleidoides sinus, Thaparocleidus caecus and
Dactylogyrus lampam respectively. Branchiura recorded the lowest prevalence and
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intensity at 6.7% and 1% respectively. The prevalence for monogenean parasites
varied between 60% for H. heterotylus from H. plecostomus and 100% for T. caecus
from P. hypophthalmus. The mean intensity for monogenean parasites varied
between 5.1 for H. heterotylus from H. plecostomus and 224.2 for T. caecus from
P. hypophthalmus.
In a separate trial, host-parasite interactions using Glossolepis incisus were
investigated over nine weeks. Upon arrival at the University of Limpopo,
Parasitology Laboratory, 15 specimens were sacrificed and examined for parasites.
The next week another 15 specimens were examined. Thereafter, on a biweekly
basis, 15 specimens that were housed in aquaria were randomly selected and
examined for parasites. The nematode Camallanus cotti and a new monogenean
species (Ancryocephalidae n. gen.) were collected from the fish examined.
Throughout the trial, no trend in parasite numbers was observed for monogeneans.
However, a high ammonia concentration and eutrophication were associated with
an increase in monogenean numbers. A decrease in nematode numbers was
observed due to these parasites having a lower survival rate under aquarium
conditions thought to be due to the absence of the intermediate host. Water changes
and reduced fish congestion were also linked to a decrease in both monogenean
and nematode numbers. Monogeneans generally share very similar morphological
features, and thus their identifications have to be genetically confirmed. Amongst
the collected monogenean species in the current study, the 18S, ITS1 and 28S
rDNA segments were successfully sequenced for only T. caecus and
Ancyrocephalidae n. gen. Two haplotypes of T. caecus were revealed. Therefore,
the current study recognises the need to re-evaluate the morphometry of the typematerial
of T. caecus, to establish which genotype represents T. caecus and which
would be a new species of high morphological similarity to T. caecus.
Ancyrocephalidae n. gen. was genetically confirmed to be a new monogenean
species. The current study therefore presents the first DNA sequencing of 18S, ITS1
and 28S rDNA segments of monogenean parasites collected from the host species
G. incisus.
Since some of the fishes examined in this study were observed to be infected
with parasites, the risk of their introduction and possibly invasion into local systems
still exists. The current study therefore recommends that the South African
authorities at customs put in place quarantine and treatment protocols for live fish
imported into the country.National Research Foundation (NRF
Health seeking behaviours among caregivers of patients with mental illness at hospital in Waterberg District, Limpopo Province
Get PDFThesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Inadequate knowledge about mental illness seems to affect the health seeking behaviour of caregivers of people with mental illness. The aim of the study is to explore and describe the health seeking behaviours among caregivers of patients with mental illness. A qualitative approach with narrative research design was employed to interview caregivers at Polly clinic. The caregivers were purposefully sampled from the clinic register and key informants were identified based on the services they provide. Narrative research design was used for this study guiding the data collection from participants. The semi structured interview guide was used to collect data. Data was analysed using thematic analytic method. The study found that there is inadequate knowledge of mental illness among caregivers. They commonly utilize district hospitals instead of clinics as first point of contact. The health seeking behaviour of participants include modern, traditional, and spiritual care. It is recommended that the Department of Health should find strategies to increase knowledge regarding mental illness among community members. The caregivers must be psychoeducated about mental illness