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The impact of social media on grade 10 learners' creative essays in Tshivenda home language at Vhumbedzi Circuit, Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Full text linkThesis (M. Ed. (Language Education)) -- University of Limpopo, 2025This study explored the impact of Social Media on Grade 10 Learners’ Creative Essays in Tshivenḓa Home Language at Vhumbedzi Circuit, Vhembe East District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. This follows the researcher’s observations that most Grade 10 Tshivenḓa Home Language learners’ essay writing tasks in Vhumbedzi Circuit are riddled with informal Tshivenḓa register and a range of other language errors associated with the use of Social Media language. These include the use of incorrect capitalization, numerous spelling errors, fragmented sentences, and gross grammatical errors. To get a better understanding of the problem studied, a qualitative case study research design was employed. Data were successfully gathered from a sample of 9 learners and 1 teacher. The participants were purposely selected from the Vhembe District’s rural based secondary school. Three instruments were used to collect data: non-participant observation, text analysis, and the semi-structured interviews. Data were triangulated and analyzed using two data analysis techniques, namely: content analysis for data collected through text analysis and the thematic data analysis for the semi structured interview and observation data sets. This study revealed that the learners’ level of exposure to the social media language that they use for informal communication unconsciously makes them commit language errors that result in the deformation, omission, and substitution of the key words or phrases that help construct meaning in their Tshivenḓa Home Language academic creative essays. Secondly, the study established that learners perceive the use of social media language in academic writing as an effective tool, as it helps them to save time. Learners do not understand the formal academic writing setting. Thirdly, teachers need better and effective language error-correction strategies since their use of dictation is evidently ineffective to redress the social media language challenges that their learners’ experience
Comparative analysis of different mulching materials on selected soil properties, growth, yield, and quality of moringa oleifera L. leaves
Full text linkThesis (Ph. D. ( Plant Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2025Food insecurity in Africa is attributed from an underdeveloped agricultural sector heavily dependent on primary agriculture. Agricultural productivity faces diminishing soil fertility, resource constraints, environmental degradation, and insufficient investment in adding value to products and diversifying crops. To improve food insecurity, the production of high valued crops is a necessity. The cultivation of moringa trees in rural communities of South Africa emerges as one of many promising solutions to combat food insecurity and malnutrition, given its nutritional richness and versatility for both dietary enhancement and economic gain. Therefore, development of agronomic techniques that enhance food production is vital. Mulching has been identified as a strategy to reduce weeds and improve crop performance amongst rural smallholder farmers. Plastic mulching has been extensively used to boost the productivity of horticultural crops. Research has primarily concentrated on fruits and vegetables, overlooking other highly nutritious and economically valuable horticultural crops. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of different mulch materials on soil chemical properties, growth, yield, nutritional quality and metabolite composition of moringa leaves at the University of Fort Hare Research Farm, Alice, and was carried out as a randomized complete block design (RCDB) with six treatments replicated four times with a view to establishing a link between the different treatment and the seasonal variation. The treatment factors included (1) control (NM), (2) plant residues (OG), (3) red plastic mulch (PR), (4) black plastic mulch (PB), (5) green plastic mulch (PG), and (6) white plastic mulch (PW). The results indicated an interaction between treatment and season had no significant effect on the measured soil properties (p > 0.05). The treatments showed significant differences in sodium (p < 0.001) and potassium (p < 0.05), while season was significantly different in exchangeable acidity (p < 0.001), sodium (p < 0.001), potassium (p < 0.05), magnesium (p < 0.05), total carbon (p < 0.001), total nitrogen (p < 0.05) and phosphatase (p < 0.001). Black, white, and green plastic mulch exhibited the most significant increase in sodium and potassium compared to the other treatments. Seasonal effects showed that soil properties were higher in summer than autumn except for the phosphatase enzyme. Plant growth parameters were significantly improved in black plastic mulch compared to other mulch types used in the experiment. For instance, the black plastic mulch resulted in improvements in plant height, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, leaf width, leaf length, petiole width, petiole length, and yield (292 mm, 72 mm, 75.96 mm, 10.7 mm, 24 mm, 35 mm, and 1.84 kg/plot, respectively) compared to un-mulched plots. Mulching with black plastic significantly enhanced the nutrient composition of moringa leaves, attributed to improved growing conditions facilitated by plastic mulching. For example, the black plastic mulch maintained optimal moisture content (8.29), significantly enhanced proximate nutrients such as ash (14.93%), fat (4.92%), acid detergent fibre (29.87%), neutral detergent fibre (42.99 %), and crude protein (27.93
%) compared to un-mulched plots, and macro-nutrients, including phosphorus, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, were also improved. Conversely, sodium content was higher in red plastic mulch, while copper, manganese, iron, aluminum, and zinc were significantly higher in black plastic mulch. Amino acid analysis revealed that aspartic acid content (2.21%) was highest in black plastic mulch and lowest in red plastic mulch, whereas glutamic acid content (3.56%) was highest in the control and lowest in red plastic mulch. The results demonstrate the potential of plastic mulch technology as a beneficial agricultural practice for improving productivity and optimising nutrient profiles in moringa cultivation, thereby contributing to food security initiatives in African rural communities.University of Limpopo, UFH and Department of Science and innovatio
The contributions of Small and Medium Enterprises towards poverty reduction in Mankweng Township (Zone1), Limpopo Province
Full text linkThesis (M.Dev. (Planning and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2025The study aimed to investigate the contributions of Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs) in Mankweng Township (Zone 1), Limpopo Province. Poverty is the greatest
challenge in the 21st century in developed and developing countries. Various countries
including South Africa employed SMEs as tactics to attempt to lower the poverty rate.
SMEs, which significantly reduce poverty levels, create jobs, and accelerate economic
growth, are the focus of South Africa's current efforts. Thus, SMEs are regarded as
drivers of development in local communities. However, SMEs are confronted with
various challenges and obstacles. These challenges continue to undermine the ability
of SMEs to reduce poverty in countries all over the world. The study was grounded in
the Entrepreneurship Theory and Human Capital Theory.
The research utilised a mixed methods approach to gain a thorough insight into how
SMEs contribute to reducing poverty. Purposive sampling was used to gather the
necessary information for the research. Semi-structured questionnaires were utilised
to gather quantitative data from the SME owners in Mankweng Township (Zone 1).
Moreover, the Local Economic Development (LED) manager at Polokwane Local
Municipality was collected through semi-structured interviews. The research involved
61 participants selected from the desired sample group provided relevant information
on the contributions of SMEs towards poverty reduction and strategies on how to
improve the effectiveness of SMEs. The research utilised Microsoft Word for thematic
analysis of qualitative data and correlational analysis for analysing quantitative data.
The research findings revealed that SMEs in Mankweng Township (Zone 1)
significantly contribute to various aspects of the local economy, including economic
development, investment, skill-building, and empowerment. However, SMEs in
Mankweng Township (Zone 1) face many challenges, including limited access to
funds, power outages, restricted market access, lack of technology, supplier shortage,
and insufficient training and education. This study finds that SMEs in Mankweng
Township (Zone 1) underperform due to the above-mentioned challenges. Therefore,
the study recommends strategies to address funding gaps, techniques to improve
lacking marketing abilities, offering leadership training for SMEs, fostering
entrepreneurial skills, handling power outage issues, and improving training and education opportunities. By adopting the recommendations provided, SMEs can
actively reduce poverty in South Africa townships. Through job creation, skills
development, community participation, and ethical business practices, SMEs can
become powerful agents of change, supporting LED and improving the quality of life
for people and communities facing poverty. SMEs have the potential to have a
significant impact on poverty reduction in South Africa township
Exploration of the regulation of immunomodulatory genes by commelina benghalensis aqueous extra in breast cancer cells
Full text linkThesis (M.Sc. (Biochemistry)) -- University of Limpopo, 2025Cancer is a noteworthy global health issue, and according to predictions by the World Health Organization, the number of new cases was projected to increase to approximately 29-37 million by 2040, worldwide (WHO, 2020, Sung et al., 2021). Female breast cancer has been shown to be the leading cause of global cancer incidence in 2020, with reported 2.3 million new cases, representing 11.7% of all cancer cases (Reyes-Monasterio et al., 2022). Treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are used to counteract breast cancer; however, these treatment approaches are now ineffective, which has led to the shift of interest towards the use of medicinal plants such as Commelina benghalensis (Cb), which has been traditionally used in folk medicine to treat various ailments, including inflammation-related conditions. Studies reveal that the plant contains bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, tannins and phenolics, which possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor properties (Islam et al., 2018; Islam et al., 2017; Islam et al., 2016). Thus, the aim of the study was to determine the antioxidant and anticancer properties of Cb aqueous extract in breast cancer cells.
Breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB 231 and MCF-7, were cultured and maintained in appropriate growth media. The Cb was extracted using only water, and this was done to mimic what the traditional healers do, when they prepare medicinal plants concoctions for medicinal purposes. The profiling of the bioactive compounds was done using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), phytochemical screening, and the Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). The total amount of phenols, flavonoids and tannin in the Cb aq-extract was quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu Colorimetric Assay. Additionally, the antioxidant activity was done using 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and free radical antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity effect of Cb aqueous extract was determined against the breast cancer using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The Muse® Cell Count and Viability assay was done to confirm the MTT results. Morphological changes were observed using light microscopy and the images were captured using computer connected to microscope. Moreover, Annexin V assay was conducted to investigate the potential cell death that may be induced by the Cb leaf-aq extract. The TLC plates demonstrated that the Cb root, leaf and stem-aq extract have bioactive molecules. The quantitative phytochemical analysis using Folin-Ciocalteu Colorimetric Assays, showed that the Cb aq extracts had high phenolic, flavonoid and low tannin contents Folin-Ciocalteu Colorimetric Assays. Moreover, the Cb aq-extracts demonstrated antioxidant properties, and this was mostly observed in the leaf and the root parts of the plant. The LC-MS results of Cb leaf-aq extract demonstrated the presence of bioactive compounds that have been previously shown to exhibit anticancer cancer immunomodulatory activities. In this study, three compounds with immunomodulatory effects; namely, Abietic acid, Vorinostat and Lauramide, were identified. These compounds regulate a number of cytokine genes, and these include TGF-b1, IGF1R, IFN, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13. Additionally, the Cb leaf-aq significantly (**P ˂ 0.01, ***P ˂0.001 and ****P ˂0.0001) reduced the viability of MDA-MB 231 cells after 24- and 48-hours treatment with 500 and 1000μg/ml compared to other parts of the plant. Furthermore, the Cb leaf aqueous extract significantly (****P ˂0.0001) induced apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells after their treatment with the IC50 concentration (750μg/mL). These findings collectively support the conclusion that the phytocompounds identified in Cb have anticancer properties and a potential to modulate immunological responses in breast cancer cells
Navigating between curriculum and sociocultural contestation: teaching sexual diversity in Namibian life skills classrooms
Full text linkJournal article published in African Perspectives of Research in Teaching and Learning Journal Issue 2, Volume 9, 2025In Namibia, the inclusion of non-heterosexuality and gender diversity in the school curricula remains a challenge. Drawing on critical and poststructuralist theories, this study explores Life Skills educators’ experiences and responses to sexual diversity education in their classrooms. The study employed a mixed-methods research approach with a sample of 133 Life Skills teachers. From this population, 111 participants were randomly selected for quantitative data collection, while the remaining 22 provided qualitative data. Two data collection instruments were utilised: questionnaires for the quantitative component and semi-structured interviews for the qualitative component. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS software to generate descriptive statistics, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. According to the findings, 92% of teachers were aware that gender diversity and non-heterosexuality were covered in the curriculum. Three themes surfaced when this image was examined more closely; cultural barriers and a lack of preparation prevented teachers from discussing these elements freely. The findings offer useful information that policymakers can use to advance diversity and inclusivity
Investigating the use of netting structures as conditions suitable for off-season production of Moringa oleifera in South Africa
Full text linkThesis (M.Sc. (Agricultural Management, Plant production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2025Moringa oleifera, part of the Moringaceae family, is a subtropical plant renowned for its medicinal properties. Its leaves are often used as leafy vegetables or as primary ingredients in green smoothies. However, Moringa oleifera is highly sensitive to cold
temperatures, which can severely hinder its growth and yield. The enhancement and
assessment of growth, yield, and phytochemical composition of Moringa oleifera using
Coolaroo frost cloth and a 40% shade net has not been previously documented. The
aim of this study was to generate scientific information regarding the effects of the application of a white Coolaroo frost cloth and a white 40% shade nets with closed sides, top cover, closed sides and top, to protect Moringa oleifera during the winter season. The objectives of this study were, (1) to investigate the effect of a 40% shade net and Coolaroo Frost Cloth, with closed sides, top cover, closed sides and top, on the growth and yield attributes, and (2) phytochemical profiling of Moringa oleifera during winter. Following a randomized complete block design (RCBD), Moringa oleifera seedlings were transplanted onto plots covered with 40% shade net and established Coolaroo frost cloth with closed sides, top cover, and closed top sides. This process was carried out for 120 days, with three replications and six plants per replicate. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using GenStat 18th version statistical package (VSN International, Hempstead, UK). Mean separation for significant (p≤ 0.05) treatments were achieved using Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD). The growth parameters, including plant height, stem diameter, and root length, were measured weekly until the experiment was completed. Yield parameters including plant biomass and number of leaves were recorded at harvest.
After collection, the leaves, roots, and twigs were analyzed for their phytochemical composition. The growth and yield parameters of Moringa oleifera were significantly
influenced (p≤ 0.05) by the Coolaroo frost cloth and the 40% shade net. At termination
(120 days after transplanting), the Coolaroo frost cloth with closed sides and top had
significantly increased the stem diameter, plant height, biomass production, root length
and number of leaves. Untargeted metabolite profiling of the leaves, twigs, and roots
was conducted using UPLC-MS to evaluate the effects of shading on secondary metabolite production, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and glycosides.
Chemometric analysis of the UPLC-MS data revealed distinct effects of shading on
different plant tissues. While the root metabolites showed no significant variation
across shading treatments, the twigs and leaves exhibited pronounced differences.
Twigs grown under 40% shade net and Coolaroo frost cloth with closed sides retained
higher concentrations of key flavonoids such as quercetin 3-galactoside, rutin, and astragalin 7-rhamnoside. The leaves formed distinct clusters based on metabolite
composition, with shading structures, especially the 40% shade net with closed top and sides, enhancing the accumulation of important phytochemicals like quecetrin and kaempferol derivatives. Overall, the study concludes that the use of Coolaroo frost
cloth and shade nets provides a practical and cost-effective method for protecting
Moringa oleifera from cold stress. These shading techniques not only improve plant
growth and biomass yield but also enhance the phytochemical content, making the
plant more valuable nutritionally and medicinally. The findings offer a sustainable solution for year-round Moringa cultivation in cold-prone regions, contributing to food
security and agricultural sustainability.DS
Deconstructing identity in pedagogy : an autoethnographic study of a female, millennial and disabled lecturer in South African higher education
Full text linkJournal article published in the African Perspectives of Research in Teaching and Learning Journal Issue 3, Volume 9, 2025 Special IssueThe Higher Education sector in South Africa has undergone a significant socio-political and academic transformation since the inception of democracy in 1994. Such transformations largely focused on instilling values of tolerance and respect to create a sense of unity among the country’s previously divided peoples. Despite the considerable progress that has been achieved, challenges related to gender, generational identity and disability, among others, continue to persist. Considering that the identities of lecturers play a crucial role in informing their pedagogies, this study deconstructs the complexities of my identity as a university lecturer. More specifically, to guide this study, the research question was: How do my intersecting identities as a female, millennial, and epileptic university lecturer influence my pedagogical practices in History Education? The study drew upon the intersectionality theory, which highlighted the need to view myself as a complex being and consider the intermeshing of my identities, particularly in my professional space. The methodological approach was autoethnography, which involved reflective pedagogy by critically examining the intricate relationships between my personal and professional identities. The data was collected through personal narratives from my journal entries and self-observations. The findings showed a distinct relationship between my identities related to gender, generational identity and disability and the aspects of curriculum design, technology-based pedagogical approaches, inclusive student engagement and critical dialoguing. Thus, this study illustrates the necessity of reflective pedagogy, especially with the role of identity in shaping pedagogical considerations and teacher-development, and proposes a model to cope with the institutional constraints and social stigma in Higher Education
Exploring instructional leaders' perceptions on the use of constructivist theory to promote the implementation of entrepreneurship education curriculum
Full text linkJournal article published in African Perspectives of Research in Teaching and Learning Journal Issue 4, Volume 9, 2025This study investigated the impact of constructivism as a tool in promoting the implementation of the entrepreneurship education (EE) curriculum in the senior phase (SP) in Ngaka Modiri Molema District (NMMD), North-West Province, South Africa. Despite implementing the EE curriculum in the NMMD, this paper advocate for more effective execution, recognising the impact constructivism could have in improving learners’ entrepreneurial thinking and creativity. This teaching method effectively increases EE learners’ creativity and thinking processes because it allows learners to construct their knowledge. This study’s theoretical underpinning is grounded in constructivism, emphasising learners’ active knowledge construction based on their experiences. It elucidates the translation of learning into practical application through constructivist theory, highlighting its positive impact on learning processes and outcomes. This study employed a quantitative research approach with a cross-sectional design. The study encompasses all public SP schools (grades 7, 8, and 9) in the NMMD, totalling 437 schools, of which 51 were conveniently selected for participation (n=51). Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, and the subsequent analysis used descriptive statistics. The key findings indicate a limited engagement by instructional leaders in fostering a constructivist learning environment for EE learners, resulting in a predominantly passive learning experience. Additionally, the study unveils the benefits derived from constructivist approaches, offering insights into how this method can effectively promote EE in the SP. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on instructional practices, reflecting a theoretical emphasis in EE towards a more balanced integration of practical applications through constructivist principles
Computational modelling study of layered LiNiO2 Surface, surface doping and interaction with the electrolyte in LI-ION batteries
Full text linkThesis (M.Sc. (Physics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2025Lithium-ion batteries have garnered significant attention due to the growing demand
for renewable energy sources, with monoclinic LiNiO₂ emerging as a promising
cathode material. This is attributed to its high specific capacity (275 mAh/g) and
energy density (629 Wh/kg). However, its practical application is limited by
challenges such as low cycling stability and voltage fading. In this study, the bulk
structural properties of LiNiO₂ were investigated using first-principles density
functional theory, while its low Miller index surfaces were modeled with the
METADISE code. The calculated lattice parameters align well with reported data,
showing a deviation of less than 2.4%, and the system exhibits a heat of formation of
-624.37 kJ/mol, confirming thermodynamic stability. Elastic constant calculations
indicate mechanical stability, consistent with monoclinic stability criteria. However,
phonon dispersion curves reveal imaginary vibrations in the gamma region,
suggesting structural instability. Electronic structure analysis shows that LiNiO₂ has
an indirect band gap of 0.708 eV near the Fermi level, indicating magnetic metal
characteristics. Additionally, various Miller index surfaces ((110), (100), (010), (001),
(111), and (101)) were examined, with the (101) facet identified as the most stable
surface. The Nb/Mn doping is found to improve the crystal lattice of LiNiO2 and
decrease the volume change. We found that after Nb/Mn surface doping, we
observed that the surface free energies are lower compared to the surface energy of
pure surfaces, indicating that the surface stabilizes upon doping. That the surface
free energies of Nb-doped are lower when they are in the second layer compared to
when they are in the first layer it implies that the second layer stabilizes the surface
more effectively. Whereas the surface free energies of Mn-doped are higher when
they are in the second layer compared to when they are in the first layer. The Bader charge of Nb and Mn are lower in the first layer and the work function in the first
layer is higher, which implies that the second layer doped surface is more reactive in
the first layer. These findings demonstrate that Nb and Mn doping significantly
enhances the surface stability and reactivity of LiNiO2, offering valuable insights for
improving its performance as a cathode material in lithium-ion batteriesUniversity of Limpopo and
National research foundation (NRF
Computational study on interaction of heterocyclic, triazine and thionocarbamate collectors with pentlandite (Fe,Ni)9S8 mineral surfaces
Full text linkThesis (M. Sc. (Physics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2025Due to the demands of nickel, substantial effort has been put into the recovery of pentlandite. Enhancing the separation of pentlandite minerals from the gangue in the extracted ores remains a problem. Pentlandite is the major source of nickel as well as a major carrier of platinum group elements (PGEs). Nickel is utilised in a wide range of industrial applications such as stainless steel, coinage, and rechargeable batteries. There is a need for selective collectors that can supplement the available xanthates, dithiophosphate and dithiocarbamate collectors for recovery of pentlandite and nickel ores. This study adopted density functional theory (DFT) with dispersion correction by Grimme to investigate the interaction with selective thiol collectors: S-allyl-N-diethyl-dithiocarbamate (ADEDTC), O-isopropyl-N-diethyl-thionocarbamate (IPDETC), Sodium mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) and Sodium-2,6-Dithio-4-Butylamino-1,3,5-Triazine (SDTBAT) collectors. The bulk Fe5Ni4S8 pentlandite was previously determined as the most stable compound from cluster expansion which was tetragonal with space group of P42/nmc. The optimised structure had lattice dimensions of a = b = 7.020 Å and c = 9.930 Å. The XRD was used to predict the most dominant surface which were found as (111), (211), (224), and (311) surface, with the (311) surface displaying the highest intensity. These were cleaved from the relaxed bulk structure and their surface energies were computed as 1.622 J/m2 (111 surface) 1.843 J/m2 (211 surface) 1.844 J/m2 (224 surface) and 1.484 J/m2 (311 surface). The most stable surface was found to be the (311) surface which was in agreement with the experimental X-ray diffraction pattern. The adsorptions were performed on Ni and Fe atoms of Fe5Ni4S8 (311) surface as preferred adsorptions sites. It was found that ADEDTC gave the most exothermic adsorption energy of –460.581 kJ/mol compared to MBTNa (–249.59 kJ/mol), IPDETC (–161.012 kJ/mol) and SDTBAT (–352.481 kJ/mol). Most significantly these collectors preferred to bind on Ni atoms than Fe atoms, which indicated their selectivity towards the pentlandite mineral. These suggested that ADEDTC was the best co-collector compared to IPDETC, SDTBAT and MBTNa collectors for utilisation in the flotation of pentlandite mineral. The adsorption strength decreasing in order: ADEDTC > MBTNa > SDTBAT > IPDETC. This suggests that the ADEDTC collector has the potential to replace and/or be a co-collector with the widely used collectors in the recovery of pentlandite minerals.National Research Foundation (NRF