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Fischer-Clifford Theory Applied to Certain Maximal Subgroups Associated with the Simple Groups Fi22, Co1, F4(2), and the Monster M
Full text linkLet G = P.G be a finite extension of a p-group P by a group G. Then the quotient group Q = G/K is constructed, where K ⊴ G is a characteristic subgroup of P. It is a well-known fact that the ordinary irreducible characters Irr(Q) of Q can be lifted to G. Therefore, it follows that a so-called Fischer-Clifford matrixM(g) of the quotient group Q is embedded in the corresponding Fischer-Clifford matrix M(g) of G. In this thesis, the Fischer-Clifford matrices method is used to construct the ordinary character table of extension groups G of nonabelian p-groups P. The powerful Fischer-Clifford matrices method was developed by Bernd Fischer to compute the ordinary character table of the p-local maximal subgroups of the Sporadic simple groups. This method was applied to many extensions of elementary abelian p groups. The method is more complicated when P is nonabelian and in this thesis we want to contribute to the Fischer-Clifford theory by presenting a method to deal with these types of extensions. The strategy followed in this thesis is to compute the Fischer-Clifford matrices M(g) of G from the corresponding Fischer-Clifford matricesM(g) of G modulo the Frattini subgroup Φ(P) of P , for each conjugacy class [g] of G. The method employed to construct the desired matrix M(g) of G from the matrixM(g) of the underlying quotient group Q is called the lifting of Fischer-Clifford matrices method. In this thesis, the lifting of Fischer-Clifford matrices method was applied to extensions of generalized extraspecial p-groups Cm p × 21+2n + which are maximal subgroups associated with the simple groups Fi22 and F4(2). As well as the ordinary character tables of the maximal subgroups 24+12·(S3×3.S6) and 72+1+2:GL2(7) of the sporadic simple groups Co1 and the Monster M, respectively, were constructed by the lifting of Fischer-Clifford matrices method.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 202
Phenotypic plasticity of chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) in Southern African biomes: a camera trap data approach
Full text linkSouthern Africa's diverse biomes, ranging from deserts to forests, pose unique challenges to its wildlife. To survive, wild animals must adjust to different pressures through phenotypic variations and / or genetic changes, with behavioural variability as an immediate form of adaptation. The chacma baboon (Papio ursinus), a highly adaptable, social, non-human primate species, occupying almost all the biomes of southern Africa, yet little is known about its diel activity patterns and reproductive phenology in different environments, makes an ideal model to explore behavioural response to environmental diversity. Using an 8-year camera trap dataset from 29 sites across South Africa and Zimbabwe, we examined diel activity variations of chacma baboons across six biomes: savanna, nama-karoo, fynbos, forest, thicket, and grassland. Activity metrics, including wake-up, sleeping, and peak activity times, were quantified using kernel density functions. Our results revealed a 2.84% decrease in overall chacma baboon activity levels from south to north, although wake-up and sleep times remained consistent across latitudes. Within a day, chacma baboons were more active in the morning and the afternoon. Activity levels declined with higher temperatures and precipitation but increased at night in response to predator activity. These findings underscore the species' behavioural flexibility, revealing trading-offs between energy demands and thermoregulatory needs whilst avoiding predation to cope with the dynamic environmental pressures of southern Africa. We also investigated variations in the reproductive phenology of chama baboons by analysing camera trap data from 2017 to 2019 across six sites in three South African biomes (fynbos, savanna, and nama-karoo). Results indicated asynchronous reproduction across sites, with significant differences in birth timing between fynbos and savanna populations. For instance, chacma baboons in the fynbos site De Hoop Nature Reserve exhibited reproductive phenology distinct from those in Madikwe Game Reserve in savanna habitats (KS test: D=0.67, p=0.008), likely reflecting on different environmental conditions in these biomes. Rainfall emerged as the primary driver of reproductive timing, likely due to its influence on food and water availability, although the extend of its influence varied among sites.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 202
Experiences and perceptions of educators working in low-quintile primary schools of the challenges faced by children with learning barriers
Full text linkChildren experiencing learning barriers often do not make appropriate progress in school, particularly in primary skill areas. Their issues may be limited to a single school subject or may be evident across the entire academic curriculum. Learning barriers are a phenomenon that affects many children in South Africa, and children with learning barriers often experience several challenges, including victimisation, social rejection, and inadequate resources to address their needs. Despite developments in legislation and public awareness around learning barriers, minimal research in South Africa emphasises that these children and individuals still experience various challenges. This research sought to gain understanding of the challenges of children with learning barriers in Kariega, Eastern Cape. To ensure a robust and comprehensive understanding, this study utilised Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory as a conceptual framework. This theory focuses on various complex but interactive systems contributing to a child's development, providing a holistic view of the issue. A qualitative research approach was used in the study to explore and understand the meanings participants attached to the problems they were experiencing. This flexible approach allowed participants to provide detailed explanations, leading to the collection of comprehensive data due to its inductive nature. An explorative-descriptive design was used to explore a new topic or a subject with limited or no existing information. The descriptive aspect was important as it helps to describe the phenomenon, which is commonly applied in social science studies. aimed to understand the experiences and perceptions of educators working in low-quintile primary schools regarding the challenges faced by children with learning barriers. The population of this research study consisted of educators in primary schools focusing on quintiles one, two, and three in Kariega, Eastern Cape, specifically concentrating on the intermediate phase, grades 4 to 6. The non-probability sampling technique used was purposive sampling, which was the most appropriate for the study. Individual, indepth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen educators and one learner support agent from low-quintile primary schools until data saturation was reached. The data collected was analysed using thematic data analysis. The research process was underpinned by a commitment to ethical considerations, including voluntary participation, informed consent, no violation of privacy, anonymity, confidentiality, Appreciation, and avoidance of harm, to ensure the integrity and trustworthiness of the study. The study explored the multifaceted challenges faced by children with learning barriers in low-quintile primary schools and it highlighted how interconnected systems influenced educational outcomes: family dynamics and peer relationships directly impacted learning, while the interaction between home and school underscored the need for stronger collaboration. Systemic issues such as inadequate resources and support services and societal attitudes and cultural norms further shaped responses to learning barriers. A holistic and collaborative approach involving social development professionals, educators, caregivers, healthcare providers, and community organizations was deemed a necessity to address these challenges effectively and help learners reach their full potential.Thesis (MSW) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 202
A multimethod exploration of collaborative healthcare for osteoarthritis and its alignment to interprofessional educational strategies in South Africa
Full text linkCollaborative healthcare is fundamental to osteoarthritis management, yet healthcare systems in South Africa require significant improvements to support collaborative practice. This study explored patients’ and healthcare professionals’ experiences of collaborative osteoarthritis management and its alignment with interprofessional educational strategies in South Africa. Using a multimethod design, focus group discussions explored osteoarthritis patients’ experiences of collaborative healthcare; interviews captured healthcare professionals’ perspectives on interprofessional collaboration; and cross-sectional surveys assessed interprofessional education representatives’ viewpoints on strategies within health sciences faculties and final-year students’ attitudes towards interprofessional education. Findings underscored the importance of holistic, person-centered care in osteoarthritis management, where different healthcare professionals collaborate to meet patients’ healthcare goals. Patients and professionals emphasised that successful collaboration relies on effective communication, mutual respect, and receptiveness, which improves trust, shared decision-making, and healthcare quality. Barriers, such as role ambiguity, professional individualism, and poor communication, disrupted care continuity which left patients feeling disconnected. From an educational perspective, the implementation of interprofessional education across higher education institutions varied considerably. While interprofessional education is increasingly recognised as critical for preparing future healthcare professionals for collaboration, some faculties lacked dedicated interprofessional education units, placed insufficient emphasis on non-technical collaborative skills, and reported reduced exposure to interprofessional education during clinical training, particularly in disciplines like psychology and biokinetics. These findings revealed misalignment between collaborative needs and current interprofessional educational strategies. Aligning interprofessional educational strategies more closely with the demands of collaborative person-centred care will prepare future healthcare professionals to deliver high-quality, coordinated care for osteoarthritis patients in South Africa.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 202
A framework to assess ICT adoption among small-scale farmers in Amathole District Municipality Of South Africa
Full text linkInformation is a critical component of the farming system. Farmers need the information to make essential decisions such as farm inputs and markets to sell farm produce. This positions farmers as active information seekers and users. The dawn of the digital era, catapulted by ever-evolving technologies, has postulated ICT application as the essential and reliable means of disseminating information. Providers of agricultural information, developmental agencies, information and communication scholars, and policymakers have affirmed this in the farming sector. With climate challenges like drought facing farmers, small-scale farmers in developing nations' rural areas constantly require information, for instance, on new seed varieties and best farming practices to deal with the challenge. Thus, models or framework development that will give acumens of small-scale farmers in developing nations rural areas information exchange processes and ICT linked to the process is vital. Such models could provide knowledge in predicting information exchange processes of target small-scale farmers in developing nations' rural communities. Guiding information providers, stakeholders, and policy developers ultimately design communication and information dissemination strategies that improve the usage of ICT-based tools to meet the information needs of small-scale farmers in developing nations’ rural areas. In this study, a framework combining the Communicative Ecology and Technology Acceptance Model is designed to evaluate ICT adoption among small-scale farmers found in the rural areas of the Amahlathi Local Municipality and Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality in Amathole District Municipality of South Africa.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, School of Information Technology, 202
Exploring factors influencing the business success of black commercial farmers in South Africa: a quantitative study
Full text linkThis study investigated the factors influencing the business success of black smallholder farmers in South Africa, which concentrated on key economic opportunities such as access to finance, favourable markets, affordable inputs, mechanisation, training and land. Through quantitative research, the study investigated the relationship between these economic factors and business success, using statistical techniques through means of the JASP analytical software like Chi-square and Pearson’s correlation analysis to test the data collected from six provinces in South Africa. The study also highlighted the constant issue of poor infrastructure, which hinders productivity and the growing demand for land and improved farming inputs. Although the research provides valuable insights, it is limited by financial, time restrictions and the geographic setting, which restricted the findings. Also, the pure quantitative approach limited the depth of understanding regarding the difficulties of smallholder farming. Future studies should benefit from a mixed-methods approach and a broader geographical setting to better address the multifaceted challenges faced by black smallholder farmers. This research was an attempt to contribute to the understanding of the barriers to agricultural success and offers recommendations for improving access to resources, infrastructure and support systems to enhance the viability and sustainability of smallholder farming enterprises in South Africa. The results of the study revealed that access to land, mechanisation and finance are critical factors influencing the business success of black smallholder farmers in South Africa. A significant majority of farmers agreed that access to land influenced their business success, while many also identified the lack of affordable mechanisation services as a major challenge. The study found that majority of the farmers reported the lack of local mechanisation service providers and most acknowledged that the absence of mechanisation services is a key constraint. Additionally, most farmers expressed the need for more technologically advanced mechanisation in the near future. Despite these challenges, the majority of farmers foresee the need for more land in the next five years to support their growing farming operations. The study highlighted the importance of improving infrastructure, with majority of respondents agreeing that the infrastructure available to smallholder farmers is often dilapidated,which negatively impacts farm productivity. These findings highlight the critical role of land access, mechanisation and infrastructure in the success and sustainability of smallholder farming in South Africa. It was recommended that updating agricultural training curricula, promoting knowledge sharing, and improving access to markets and affordable inputs through cooperatives. Financial institutions should create farmer-friendly products, and farmers can work together to purchase mechanisation equipment and share resources.Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 202
Factors impacting the digital adoption of digital transformation of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMME’s) in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) in the Eastern Cape (EC)
Full text linkThis research study investigates the factors that impact the adoption of Digital Transformation of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) in the Eastern Cape. The study’s main objective is to explore the challenges and opportunities faced by SMMEs in their Digital Transformation journeys. The study used a quantitative research methodology and positivism as a research approach. Furthermore, the study used a deductive research approach as it allowed the researcher to delve deeply into the impact of Digital Transformation of SMMEs in the Eastern Cape, gaining a rich and detailed understanding of Digital Transformation. The theoretical framework is based on the Transaction Cost Theory and Resource-Based Theory; these two theories are used as a lens through which the digital transformation processes are analysed. The findings of this research showed positive variances in digital technology adoption, digital culture, and digital finance in digital initiatives among SMMEs, which were used as constructs of this research. The research study concludes with recommendations for SMME owners and engineers working in SMMEs on fostering an enabling environment for Digital Transformation to enhance competitiveness and sustainability in the manufacturing industry.Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 202
Arts-based participatory research for inclusive marine protected areas management: UThukela MPA
Full text linkThis study explores the role of arts-based participatory research (ABPR) in fostering inclusive management strategies for the uThukela Marine Protected Area (MPA) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Acknowledging historical marginalisation of local communities in marine conservation in South Africa and globally, this research used an adaption of the photovoice methodology to assess how Traditional and Local Knowledge Systems (TLKS) of local communities can be incorporated into MPA management. The study was guided by objectives to test participatory research methods, provide a platform for knowledge sharing, and identify potential pathways for meaningful, inclusive MPA governance. The value of incorporating co-researchers rather than participants is evident in the depth and breadth of knowledge shared and incorporated into this research. Findings highlight the socio-cultural significance of the environment to the Nqutshini community for fishing, agriculture, and traditional and cultural heritage and practices. TLKS were found to be vital insights that MPA governance can consider to address conservation while still being respectful of the local communities and their livelihoods. The photovoice method proved to be an effective tool for empowering participants and producing insight recommendations for potential action. Challenges to inclusivity, such as limited consultation and socio-economic barriers, were juxtaposed with opportunities for building equitable partnerships through co-management practices. By using ABPR as a tool for integration and learning, and putting the voices of the community above any others, this research contributes to broader discourse in inclusive conservation in South Africa. The importance of balancing ecological, socio-cultural, and economic factors in MPAs can advance strategies for inclusive and sustainable MPA management.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 202
Diet composition of black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas) across contrasted land use through DNA metabarcoding
Full text linkMesocarnivores like black-backed jackals (Lupelella mesomelas) play significant ecological roles, yet their diets and interactions are often not well understood. In southern Africa, jackals exhibit dietary flexibility that is influenced by environmental factors and land use. This thesis explores the diets of black-backed jackals across different habitats and seasons using DNA metabarcoding to identify prey species found in their scats. The first study compared two methods for identifying prey species from jackal faecal samples at the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve in Limpopo, South Africa: microscopic cuticular hair analysis and DNA metabarcoding. Both methods detected 17 common species, primarily large and medium-sized ungulates. However, more than 60% of discrepancies in prey detection occurred with very small prey species (100 kg), followed by rodents, with medium-sized ungulates (26–100 kg) being less common and small ungulates (100 kg) also formed a stable part of the diet in different land-use types. Seasonal shifts indicated that rodents were crucial during the dry season, while medium-sized ungulates were more important during the wet season. These findings highlight jackals' adaptability to varying prey availability and land management practices, offering insights into their ecological role and potential for human-wildlife conflict, especially in livestock farming areas. The combination of molecular and traditional microscopic methods demonstrates the utility of DNA metabarcoding in enhancing our understanding of mesocarnivore diets. The research provides valuable insights into species interactions, trophic dynamics, and broader implications for biodiversity conservation and human-wildlife coexistence.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 202
Ingress of early-stage fishes into the Swartkops estuary, South Africa: comparing present with past assemblages
Full text linkFishing pressure and reduced adult populations result in changes in spawning periodicity and recruitment of coastal fishes. Estuaries are a well-known nursery habitat for many species of coastal fishes in warm-temperate South Africa, many of which hold significant economic, recreational and cultural importance. Therefore, the ingress of early-stage fishes into the Swartkops Estuary – an estuary renowned for its high density and diversity of early-stage teleost fishes – was investigated by repeating and expanding upon historical research to assess changes in the assemblage of early-stage fishes following the collapse of many coastal fish stocks. This allowed for a more detailed assessment of seasonality trends over an extended sampling period than previously undertaken for tidal exchange research, as well as enabling comparisons of data spanning over 40 years using larval fishes as indicators of changes in spawning activity, density, species diversity and phenology. To date, no such comparison exists in South Africa. Samples were collected fortnightly on the spring flooding tide from February 2022 to January 2023 using boat-based towing of two WP2 plankton nets in the mouth region of the Swartkops Estuary. Data were analysed using species richness and diversity indices, frequency distributions and a generalised additive model approach in Chapter 2, together with descriptive statistics and presence-absence analysis in Chapter 3. Similar to findings by Beckley (1985), the present-day assemblage of early-stage fishes in the Swartkops Estuary is comprised of a broad range of species. However, due to an extended 12-month sampling period, a much broader array of species was collected in this study. In total 42 families, representing 75 species, were collected in this study. Physico-chemical variables significantly affected the seasonal differences in density and diversity, with peak densities recorded in summer and obligate estuarine users dominating the catches. The assemblage of early-stage fishes utilising the estuary has significantly changed over the last four decades. Although the density of important fisheries species has decreased and proportional increases in species with little to no economic value have occurred, the Swartkops Estuary can still be considered an important nursery and source habitat for the early developmental stages of exploited coastal fishes.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 202