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Measuring technical, scale and irrigation efficiencies of sugarcane small-scale growers in the Nkomazi Municipality of Mpumalanga Province
Get PDFThesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023The largest crop in the world in terms of production is sugarcane. It is produced in three provinces in South Africa. With approximately 50% of the gross farming income from field crops in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape coming from sugarcane, it is a critical crop for these regions. Small-scale sugarcane growers in South Africa are faced with numerous challenges such as technology acquisition, high input prices, reduced yield; lack of water for irrigation, persistent pests and land disputes. The study aimed to analyse the technical, scale and irrigation efficiencies and socio-economic factors that affect the efficiencies of small-scale sugarcane growers in the Nkomazi Municipality. For the study, 90 small-scale sugarcane growers were selected using a simple random sampling method. The research area’s small-scale sugarcane growers, according to the descriptive statistics of socioeconomic characteristics, are on average, 68 years old. The growers had an average of 8.81 years of farming experience. Their average off-farm income was R6 800, and their education levels ranged from 0 to 16 years. In one production year, growers received an average of 76.27 hours of extension assistance.
The Technical Efficiency (TE) scores of sugarcane growers had a mean of 90.8% with a minimum of 83% and a maximum of 100%, according to the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) data. This indicates that over 83% of the maximum practicable yield was produced by growers who were 90.8% technically efficient. The minimum of 83% indicates that to get the necessary score and be considered technically efficient, the least efficient grower would need to reduce input usage by 17%. Sugarcane growers’ SE ratings ranged from a minimum of 26% to a maximum of 100%, with a mean of 69.04%. This indicates that 69% of the growers were effective at scaling up. The minimum scale efficiency level of 17.78 suggests that producers are not maximising output by leveraging land efficiency. According to the DEA water slack data, sugarcane growers had an average irrigation efficiency of 90.8%, with a range of 87% to 100%. The minimal efficiency score of 87% indicates that the grower with the lowest efficiency at 87% needs to reduce on water use by 13% to meet the standard and be deemed efficient in their irrigation. Both the slack-based analysis’ and the non-radial Slack-based Measure analysis’ average irrigation efficiency ratings can be rounded to 91%: 90.8% and 90.55%, respectively. These average scores for irrigation efficiency show that 91% of the sugarcane growers in the survey use water effectively. The truncated regression results indicated that all the socioeconomic variables expected to affect technical efficiency were significant. The coefficients of the included variables were -0.086, 0.098, 0.0463, -0.112, 0.144, 0.008, 0.063 and-0.111 corresponding to the age, gender, farming experience, level of education, off-farm income, extension access, extension hours and irrigation system, respectively. The study suggests that while some small-scale growers are interested in off-farm activities, they should have better access to extension services through various platforms, such as local radio stations. Therefore, extension officers should get a slot with the local radio station to access the small-scale sugarcane growers.National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF
Design, synthesis and investigating the interaction of novel s-triazine collector with pyrite surface : a DFT-D3+U and experimental studies
Get PDFJournal article published in the journal of Surfaces and Interfaces 38 (2023) 102820In this study the green (environmentally friendly) novel di-sodium 2,6-dithio-4-butyl-amino-1,3,5-Triazine
(SDTBAT) collector also known as s-triazine molecule was designed and synthesised for use in sulphide minerals
separation. The SDTBAT adsorption was investigated on pyrite mineral surface using computational density
functional theory with dispersion correction and U-parameter (DFT-D3+U) as well as experimental methods. The
chemical adsorption behaviour of SDTBAT collector was compared with the sodium normal butyl xanthate
(SNBX) and sodium normal butyl dithiocarbamate (SNBDTC). Computationally, it was observed that the SDTBAT
adsorbed through the S and N atoms, while SNBX and SBDTC adsorbed through S atoms onto pyrite Fe atoms.
The adsorption energies followed the decreasing adsorption strength as: SDTBAT > SNBX > SNBDTC, which
suggested that the SDTBAT had strong exothermic adsorption than xanthate and DTC. The experimental microflotation
tests showed fast floating and higher recoveries of pyrite when using the SDTBAT collector compared to
xanthate and DTC. The XPS and FTIR analysis of pyrite-SDTBAT revealed that the SDTBAT adsorbed through S
and N atoms on Fe atoms. This clearly demonstrated that the SDTBAT was a potential collector to replace the
xanthate collector due to its high flotation power for separation of sulphide minerals
Development of a support programme for nurses who care for patients with chronic illness in three Limpopo Province health institutions
No full textThesis (Ph.D. (Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023Nurses working in mental health institutions experience enormous challenges sometimes without formal support structures and programmes to ease their caring duties. This study sought to develop a support programme for nurses caring for patients with chronic mental illness in three mental health institutions in Limpopo Province. A qualitative descriptive phenomenological design was used. A total of thirty participants (male = 7; females = 23) between 27 and 64 years were selected using a purposive homogeneous sampling method. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Hycner‘s adapted phenomenological explication method was used to analyse the data. Six primary themes and twenty-four sub-themes emerged during data explication. The six major themes include: the nature of chronic mental illness, professional nurses’ phenomenological experiences, challenges experienced by professional nurses (PNs), coping mechanisms used by PNs, support structures and programmes for PNs, and suggested support programmes for PNs. The first theme comprises common diagnoses as a sub-theme. Receiving and giving reports, personal hygiene, morning devotions, health education, giving patients medication, physical assessment, and administrative tasks emerged as sub-themes of the second theme. The third theme includes these sub-themes: shortage of staff, lack of social support, safety and security problems, lack of incentives, shortage of resources, and shortage of treatment. Prayer, belief in God, teamwork, self-counselling, and absenteeism are coping mechanisms used by nurses in the fourth theme. The fifth theme focuses on support structures and programmes. According to these PNs, there are no formal support structures or programmes available for nurses, except union forums, monthly meetings, and nurses’ day. Family support, support by colleagues and supervisors, psychological support, and general social support are sub-themes that emerged in the sixth theme. The study findings suggest that nurses would like a formal structured support programme to empower them with skills to manage their caring duties. From the findings of the study, a support programme was developed. The support programme emphasises the importance of social support systems, financial support, general support, and psychological support from relevant stakeholders. It is recommended thata developed support programme should be evaluated and implemented in mental health institutions. The findings have implications for nursing and psychology to work together to provide optimal and holistic support for nurses working in mental health institutions
The efficacy of integrated development plan implementation towards the enhancement of basic service delivery : case of Mpakeni Village, Mbombela Local Municipality, South Africa
Get PDFThesis (M.Dev. (Planning and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023The study aimed at investigating the efficacy of the Integrated Development Plan
(IDP)‟s implementation to enhance basic service delivery at Mpakeni Village in the
Mpumalanga Province. The South African government constitutionally mandates local
municipalities, which are the spheres closer to societies, to provide basic services to
their constituencies. The South African government has been attempting to address
service delivery challenges and existing backlogs bequeathed by the apartheid regime.
For this reason, instruments such as the IDP have been formulated to enhance basic
service delivery, especially in previously disadvantaged communities. However, in many
South African municipalities, such as Mbombela Local Municipality, the IDP is used only
as a blue-print rather than a tool to enhance basic service delivery.
The study was guided by the Humanistic Paradigm and Systems Theory. It employed
both qualitative and quantitative research approaches to investigate the institutional
factors that lead to effective IDP implementation. Assisted questionnaires and
interviews were used to collect data from the respondents in the Mpakeni Village. The
sample of the study was used to select different household respondents and municipal
officials. The study involved a total of 70 household respondents and 4 key informants
from the municipality. The research findings indicated the lack of capabilities in the
municipality, high corruption rate and maladministration, as factors which hindered the
improvement of basic service delivery. It was found that many of the residents do not
understand what an IDP is all about. This means that many local citizens have little or
no knowledge about how basic services are delivered to their communities. It was also
found that there is lack of public participation during the IDP process and its
implementation. Therefore, the study concluded that IDP implementation does not
enhance basic service delivery because of the inexperience of municipal officers,
among other things. Consequently, the study recommended that only experienced
candidates should be employed to implement the IDP whilst the existing ones should be
trained
Investigating egg weight and expression of growth differentiation factor 9 gene in preovulatory ovarian follicles of Potchefstroom Koekoek chicken genotype
Get PDFThesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023Poultry eggs are an essential source of animal protein, and their consumption has expanded drastically in recent decades. The study aimed to determine the relationship between egg weight and egg quality traits, ovarian follicles morphology, and mRNA expression levels of the growth differentiation factor 9 gene in pre-ovulatory ovarian follicles of the Potchefstroom Koekoek chicken genotype. A total of 300 eggs were collected to measure the egg weight (EW) and egg quality traits viz. egg length (EL), egg width (EWD), egg shape index (SI), shell weight (SW), egg yolk weight (YW), albumen weight (AW), shell surface area (SSA), unit surface shell weight (USSW), shell ratio (SR), albumen ratio (AR), yolk ratio (YR), yolk/albumen (Y/A) and egg volume (EV). Six chickens aged 30 weeks were slaughtered to harvest ovarian follicles for morphological examination, and three chickens were slaughtered to harvest follicles for evaluating the gene expression levels. Pearson’s correlation, Student’s T-test and Analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for data analysis. The correlation results showed that EW had a highly positive significant association (P 0.05) with SW and SI. The Student’s T-test results revealed that the numbers of large yellow follicles were significantly different (P < 0.05) from those of small yellow follicles. The ANOVA findings showed that there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the average weight of the large yellow follicles. The Quantitative real-time PCR findings indicated that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the mRNA expression levels of GDF9 gene in preovulatory ovarian follicles of Potchefstroom Koekoek chicken genotype. The mRNA expression was most abundant in F1 and F4. The results also showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in the GDF9 mRNA expression between F2 and F3, with significant amounts in F2 than F3. In conclusion, the results indicate that the improvement of EWD, YW, SSA, AW, AR, EV and EL might enhance egg weight in Potchefstroom Koekoek chicken breed. The average weight of the large yellow follicles ranges from 1.15g to 10.28g in Potchefstroom Koekoek at 30 weeks of age. The GDF9 gene expression findings suggest that GDF9 gene play an important role in the growth and development of ovarian follicles of the Potchefstroom Koekoek chicken genotype. The findings
might potentially aid with GDF9 gene expression levels for selection during breeding to improve Potchefstroom Koekoek chicken eggs. However, more research on the expression of the GDF9 gene in additional South African indigenous chicken breeds is needed
The effectiveness of special economic zone incentives as a tool for investment promotion and attraction of foreign direct investment inflows : a case of OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) SEZ
Get PDFThesis (MBA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2023This study draws attention to various challenges that hindered the OR Tambo International Airport Special Economic Zone’s (SEZ) Investment Marketing and Promotion (IMP) Unit from meeting its set foreign direct investment (FDI) targets. It was noted that since 2017, the SEZ’s FDI inflows were persistently on a negative trajectory, despite several attempts by the IMP unit to improve the situation. The unit was further concerned that despite spending millions of rands ramping up its investment marketing effort, the unfortunate reality was that these campaigns did not deliver the desired impacts. Worse still, it was noted that a number of investment pledges signed-off a decade ago were yet to be effectively activated or operationalised. As a result, management resorted to either temporarily suspending earmarked pipeline projects or effectively abandoning them altogether. Within this context, this study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing IMP strategies employed by the SEZ. In doing so, the study made use of the qualitative research method to give people with intimate knowledge of the issues at stake an opportunity to participate in the study in order to better understand the current situation. By using a purposive sampling method, ten participants drawn from the SEZ’s management structure took part in the study. The study also relied on data obtained from relevant SEZ reports. The study found that the current IMP strategy is due for a review as it was evidently unfit-for-purpose. Furthermore, it was also found that the SEZ’s IMP unit lacks the right mix of required experience, skills, technical capacity and pedigree to drive a results-based IMP operation. The study also found the country’s fragile investment climate exacerbated the SEZ’s FDI activation plight. Various recommendations to remedy the problem are suggested. These include, among other things; the need to rethink and reset the current IMP strategy; the need to retool the IMP unit; the need to forge synergies between the SEZ and South African embassies abroad; and the need to diversify existing FDI markets
Assessment of employee wellness programme utilisation in the Department of Transport and Community Safety, Limpopo Province
Get PDFThesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2023Background: Employee Wellness Programmes (EWPs) is a comprehensive health
initiative which is a strategy to maintain and improve the well-being of employees. EWPs
are profoundly helpful in ensuring that the wellbeing of employees is taken care of. The
programme can be assessed by the programme developers to ensure that the
programme remains responsive to rapidly changing educational and healthcare settings.
The evaluation of EWPs has greater potential to influence its utilisation by employees.
This study sought to understand and document employee wellness programme utilisation
in the Department of Transport and Community Safety.
Objectives: To explore and describe employee wellness programme utilisation in the
Department of Transport and Community Safety in Limpopo Province.
Methods: The study used the qualitative research approach. Participants of the study
were full-time employees at the Department of Transport and Community Safety. Data
was collected through semi-structured interviews and the sample size was 15 participants
which was determined by saturation of data. Data was analysed through Thematic
Content Analysis. Results: Lack of wellness programme utilisation among employees and identified cases
of chronic illness, insufficient physical activity and those case that are stress related
amongst employees which were received at EWP component are associated with lack of
understanding for the programme. The study provides a useful qualitative enquiry of
employees at Department of Transport and Community Safety about the programme
utilisation. Conclusion: Many employees have concluded that Employee Wellness Programmes
intent to enhance and maintain the well-being of employees. However, in Department of
Transport and Community Safety (DTCS), there is a serious need for strengthening the
implementation of EWPs to improve utilisation
An afrocentric critique of China’s Foreign Policy towards Africa : case studies of Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2010-2020
Get PDFThesis (Ph.D. (International Politics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023The foreign policy of China which is also globally known as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has in the recent past become a substantial subject of both policy and academic debates. This is mostly due to the attention that China has given to the African continent. The attention expanded through the formation of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in the early 2000s. It is incontestable that FOCAC has been driving China-Africa political and economic relations, ultimately becaming the second biggest economy globally after the United States of America (USA). Contextually, this study has employed a comparative case study design to critique China’s foreign policy towards the African continent. This case study design has utilised both Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as test cases to critique the post-2010 foreign policy of China towards the African continent. This was done through critical analysis of China’s Africa policy, and therefore, unearthing China’s global engagement (herewith referred to as foreign policy) with reference to both Angola and the DRC. To this end, the current study provides historical sensibility by locating China’s global engagement with Africa, specifically the context of Angola and the DRC as far back as the colonial period. The exceptional acknowledgement of historicity in the current study extensively drew from the idea that the past customarily informs a vibrant premise for the understanding of the present and the future. In the current study, the researcher has championed the adoption and use of the Afrocentric theory as a replacement of the mainstream theories in interpreting the general foreign policy of China towards the African continent. The adoption and the use of this theoretical lens in the study has been informed by its capacity to accentuate and underline China’s international relations with both Angola and the DRC. A scholarly understanding of China’s foreign policy on Angola and the DRC can be achieved when such analysis and interpretations are accurately located within the African continental context. Equally significant are the study’s objectives which are attained through the use of interviews and document review. This is a type of qualitative research approach that appreciates the use of interviews and document review to generate relevant primary and secondary information in the quest to answer the study’s main question. In consideration of the study’s comparative case study design, the foundational highlights from the study are that: China premises its international relations with African countries (Angola and the DRC) on several factors that include access to oil, copper, diamonds, cobalt, and other important mineral resources-for-infrastructural-loans. In addition, both Angola and the DRC’s slight stable economic and political environments have continued to play an important role in their continued engagement with China. This is the case, although there are various Chinese Multinational Corporations (MNCs) and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) with operations in both Angola and DRC that are still incompetent in the practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Overall, the CSR concept should precede all the operations of Chinese companies in Angola and the DRC economic stakeholders
The impact of economic complexity and exchange rate on current account balance : a comparative analysis of SADC and ECOWAS as countries
Get PDFThesis ((M.Com. ( Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023The study compares the impact of economic complexity and exchange rates on current account balances in the SADC and ECOWAS regions from 1997 to 2018. Due to data availability constraints, only five SADC countries and four ECOWAS member states represent the relevant regions. The study used the panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique, Granger causality, variance decomposition, and impulse response tests. Two variables, foreign direct investment and exports of goods and services were included as control variables in the models of the study. The empirical evidence revealed similar long-run results for both economic regions in terms of the impact of economic complexity, exchange rate, and foreign direct investment. The findings also revealed that both economic complexity and foreign direct investment have a negative impact on the current account, whereas the exchange rate has a positive relationship with the current account balance. Most notably, the exposition of the positive impact of the exchange rate, in the long run, is consistent with the long run proposition of the J-curve theory but was found to be contrary in the short run. Exports of goods and services, on the other hand, have been shown to have a negative impact on the SADC region's current account balance while having a positive impact on the ECOWAS region.
The short run estimates show contradictory results across regions. Granger causality test results revealed three one-sided causalities for the SADC grouping and two bidirectional causalities between exports and exchange rates and exports and foreign direct investment. Correspondingly, Granger causality tests for ECOWAS revealed bi-directional causality between exports and foreign direct investment. The generalised impulse response function results for each region are consistent with long run estimates, while variance decomposition revealed that the shocks from current account own innovations account for considerable fluctuations in both SADC and ECOWAS. The study recommends that the complexity of the local economy's structures and the productive capacity of the regions be improved to reap benefits from the products they export
Factors affecting the implementation of four selected areas of the Zimbabwe infant competence-based curriculum in Shamva : educators’ experiences
Get PDFJournal article published on African Perspectives of Research in Teaching & Learning (APORTAL) Vol 7 (1) (2023)This study explored the experiences of infant teachers (ECD A-Grade 2) in the teaching of the four selected areas of the New Curriculum namely: Mass Displays, Visual and Performing Arts, Physical Education and Information Communication and Technology. The New Curriculum, which is competence-based, was introduced in January 2017. The study was guided by the selfefficacy theory. A qualitative approach was used in this case study. Twenty participants were purposively selected from 3 primary schools and one teachers’ college in Shamva District of Mashonaland Central Province in Zimbabwe. Data generation was done through face-to-face interviews, semi-structured questionnaires which yielded open answers, focus group discussions and classroom observations. The data gathered were analysed using the constant comparative method for thematic coding in line with the research questions. The major findings were that teachers felt that they were not competent enough to teach the selected areas of the curriculum and that there was high teacher-pupil ratio, lack of support from parents, inadequate resources and failure to use the mother language. This study recommends that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) should address the needs of teachers through professional development so as to ensure effective implementation of the selected areas of the curriculum at infant level