11613 research outputs found
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Reconceptualising urban public open spaces: a case of Freedom Square in Mangaung, South Africa
No full textUrban public open spaces play a critical part in sustainable neighbourhoods. In recent years, urban public open spaces are gradually disappearing, and this affect the spatial patterns of urban land use. Enabling extensive interaction of all urban stakeholders has been described as a panacea for curbing the incidence of encroachment. However, the existence of different perceptions by these stakeholders concerning the value and usefulness of these spaces poses a challenge to effective management. This has resulted in planning, economic, environmental, recreational, and housing value conflicts. Also, available evidence indicates that the value of urban public open spaces has been neglected by urban stakeholders as the focus is on planning for other land uses. To bridge this gap, the study sought to reconceptualise urban public open spaces in order to maximise its value, as well as to develop a framework for managing value conflicts, thereby enabling effective urban open space management in Mangaung, Free State province in South Africa. This study adopted a case study research design and deployed a variety of techniques such as focus group discussions, face-to face semi-structured interviews and personal observation for data elicitation at different intervals. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with purposively recruited town planning, human settlements and environmental management professionals from local government. The focus group discussants included community members who have encroached upon urban public open spaces and those owning properties around open spaces. Also, observations were conducted around the study area. The data was then analysed thematically, and the findings were used to test the propositions through intracase and cross-case study analysis. The study identified barriers in planning and management of urban public open spaces in Mangaung. These included lack of understanding of the value and utilisation of urban public open space; lack of planning and implementation, education and empowerment as well as communication to engender community participation; evidence of the varying value conflicts among the urban stakeholders; and absence of the management of the variety of perspectives during the planning and management of urban public open spaces. It was observed that lack of understanding of the value and usefulness of urban public open spaces led to urban public open space encroachment. The findings gave rise to the development of an Urban Public Open Space Management Framework. This framework indicates that effective community participation and effective value conflict management can lead to effective urban public open space management that will help to curb the incidence of urban public open space encroachment. It is expected that the framework would guide planning professionals, other professionals and policymakers involved in urban planning to plan and manage urban public open spaces effectively within the province and beyond.University of the Free State Postgraduate Schoo
Full cycle: [promession in the city]
No full textI still remember that afternoon and the phone call that would scar the 7th of December 2005 in my memory forever. By drawing on the tragedy of losing three of my closest friends and the mourning process that accompanied this tragedy, this dissertation aims to introduce an alternative memorial complex within the heart of Bloemfontein.
This alternative burial complex will evolve around the topic of promession, a burial
method that returns the remains to the earth in the form of nutrient rich soil. Interest
in the topic was further extended upon the realization of how death influences society
as well as the environment. Through investigating various cultural and religious rituals surrounding death as well as the way the topic of death is perceived in a contemporary society, the memorial complex aims to reinterpret and embody this non-place within the Bloemfontein CBD. Additionally, the development seeks to explore ways in which the abandoned towers can be reinterpreted and integrated within the proposed design. This dissertation firstly identifies and introduces the topic of promession, and the perimeters associated with the project through a statement of aims. Thereafter it seeks to explore and ground concepts through research, analysis, and theoretical approaches to death of the physical and metaphysical. These concepts and theoretical approaches will then be applied in order to form a design and technical synthesis. In conclusion, the dissertation reflects on and evaluates the complete investigative process with the focus on the way in which the conceptual exploration, theoretical approach and research aided in the development
The impact of maternal HIV status on maternal and child mortality in Lesotho
No full textIn Lesotho and many other developing countries, statistics on maternal and child mortality, because of the HIV status of the mother, are increasing day by day, regardless of the efforts made by the authorities to reduce and control them. Because of the critical contribution mortality makes to the growth rates of a nation, it is important to understand its impacts on the population. This study seeks to contribute to such an understanding by providing an assessment of child and maternal mortality because of the HIV status of the mother in Lesotho. It utilised data from the 2014 Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey and the 2011 Lesotho Demographic Survey. The study shows a slight increase in the number of child deaths, as well as the deaths of their mothers, because of HIV. This is due to the upsurge in the number of mother-to-child HIV transmissions, which have resulted from women refusing to test for HIV during pregnancy. The study also shows that women with higher education levels are infected more with HIV than those with no education; with women of a younger age dominating in this regard. Moreover, it indicates that maternal and child mortality, as a result of HIV, are mostly influenced by the age of the mother, her place of residence and her education attainment, although these are not the only contributing factors. The study depicts that depending on the place of residence (urban or rural residence) of a woman in Lesotho, the chances of death, due to a positive HIV status in women living in the rural areas, are high. The results show no significant evidence to indicate that marital status affects child and maternal mortality, but they reflect that married and people living with partner are more at risk of HIV. When it comes to education attainment, the research shows that 28.7% of women with secondary education are at risk of dying because of HIV status of the mother, and for those with no education, 18.6% are at risk of dying. Moreover, it shows that women in the age groups 25-29 are more at risk of being affected by the mortality (child or maternal), as a result of their HIV status
Exploring the digital narratives of resilience of South African adolescents exposed to violent crime
No full textThis qualitative study aimed to explore the digital narratives of resilience of South African adolescents exposed to violent crime. Violence affects adolescents from different walks of life: growing up in poor, middle class and upper-middle class urban South African settings. For some adolescents, exposure to violence is a once-off incident, but for others their exposure is pervasive. Falling victim to a violent crime in the transitional life-stage of adolescence can have a lasting impact on physical and mental health outcomes in adulthood. However, most adolescents adapt well in the aftermath of trauma. Therefore, stories of resilience are the focus of this study. Eight adolescent participants were purposefully selected from the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Each participant engaged in a digital storytelling workshop followed by a semistructured interview. Eight rich cases were analysed according to thematic analysis following which a narrative analysis lens was applied to the data. In-depth interpretation of the findings yielded seven themes of significance across the cases, which were portrayed in a model. These are: (1) connection with nature, (2) culture, (3) the role of faith in God / spirituality, (4) a positive future orientation, (5) love and kindness, (6) friendship and (7) the digital storytelling and making experience. The results indicate that the participants' positive adaptation was enabled by various combinations of the above protective mechanisms which played a role in their resilience processes. Connection to nature emerged as a significant and unexpected resilience-enabler, while culture played an important role in the resilience processes of African participants. The participants' belief in God helped them cope with challenging situations, while a positive future orientation along with emotional support and positive friendships facilitated their resilience. Exploring the participants' narratives of resilience through the method of digital storytelling appealed to the adolescent participants. It not only provided them with a new outlook on their experiences but also amplified their resilience. The results of this research contribute to adolescent resilience literature in the context of violence. The study captures rich, nuanced understandings of adolescent resilience in the wake of violent crime. The findings could be used to inform intervention programmes aimed at enhancing well-being in adolescents. These efforts must not focus on the adolescent exclusively, but give equal attention to transforming low-resource environments into more resilience enabling contexts. There is much scope for further studies utilising digital storytelling as resilience intervention with adolescents. Moreover, the further exploration of the role that the natural environment plays in the positive adaptation of South African adolescents holds much promise for further studies
Reproductive ecology of Pyracantha angustifolia in afromontane grasslands of the eastern Free State
No full textInvasion by alien plants is one of biodiversity’s major threats. Several plant traits are associated with invasiveness, such as fast growth rate, having long flowering and fruiting periods, higher fecundity and higher specific leaf area and efficient seed dispersal. Most of these traits are reproductive traits such as effective seed production, dispersal and pollination. It is important to study such traits in order to understand the process of invasion. These invaders are capable of modifying ecosystem functioning and disrupt ecosystem services, changing the plant community diversity. There are also economic losses such as loss in crop production. In South Africa, invasive fleshy-fruited shrubs in the Maloti-Drakensberg Mountains use native frugivores to disperse their seed. They also transform the habitat and threaten the agricultural productivity of the region. One of these invasive shrubs is the notorious Pyracantha angustifolia. This species was introduced to South Africa for ornamental purposes and used as hedgerows along highways. It has escaped cultivation and invaded grasslands. Scientifically sound information is needed in order to advise on invasive alien plant management strategies. The aim of this study was to determine the reproductive ecology and associated mechanisms of spread of Pyracantha angustifolia (Rosaceae) in the eastern Free State. Objectives of the study included determining: (1) the seed biology of the plant, (2) the effect of ingestion by frugivorous birds on germination rate and success, and (3) the role of floral visitors in pollination and reproductive success. Seed biology was determined through seed production, dispersal and soil seed bank studies. Fruit estimates indicated that the shrub produces enormous amounts of fruit (>5 million per square metre) available to frugivores for dispersal. Observations and seed traps confirmed frugivorous birds, livestock and wildlife to be seed dispersers. Soil cores revealed the soil seed bank to be more dense under (46400 seed per m2 ± 8934 SE) and near (10000 seed per m2 ± 3611 SE) source plants. Seed away from the parent plants were largely not viable. Seed traps indicated that seeds do also reach far distances under perching structures. Aviary trials involving feeding fruits to frugivorous birds and germination trials with defecated seeds were performed to investigate the effect of ingestion on germination. Ingestion by the four frugivorous birds, Dark-capped Bulbuls (Pycnonotus tricolor), Purple-crested Turacos (Gallirex porphyreolophus), Speckled Mousebirds (Colius striatus), and Red-winged Starlings (Onychognathus morio), under study did not affect germination rate and success; instead, the birds facilitate the spread and germination of seeds by removing the fruit pulp. Cape White-eyes (Zosterops virens) refused to feed on fruits. Overall, native South African birds were shown to play a pivotal role in the spread and germination success of this invasive alien plant. Larger birds are important in dispersing Pyracantha angustifolia seeds further distances and smaller birds deposit seed at a faster rate. Floral visitor observations, pollinator exclusion of flowers and pollen load counts on insect floral visitors addressed the effect of insect floral visitors on pollination and reproductive success. The study showed that hymenopterans, specifically Apis mellifera, were the most important pollinating agents. Pyracantha angustifolia pollen dominated pollen loads of all insect floral visitors in the study site. Results revealed that this invader might be sharing pollinators with important crops. Pyracantha angustifolia produced healthy seeds without the aid of pollen vectors but the fruit yield was increased in the presence of a pollen vector. This plant used generalist pollinators to ensure increased fruit yield and thus it is likely to attract pollen vectors in newly invaded ecosystems. It uses native bird species as the main seed dispersers; they enhance germination by removing the pulp. Despite high fruit and seed production rates, this species’ spread may be hampered by potential seed predation by rodents and low longevity of seeds in the soil seed bank.University of the Free State Postgraduate SchoolUFS - Afromontane Research Unit (ARU)National Research Foundation (NRF
Investigating opportunities to learn imperfect market structures in a Grade 12 class
No full textThe concept of imperfect market structures enables learners to develop mathematical and graphing skills needed to be critical thinkers and to be able to solve problems faced in their daily lives. It also provides opportunities for learners to acquire economic knowledge which enables them to make informed economic decisions on economic events and issues they will experience as they enter the world of business and work. In spite of the importance of imperfect market structures in cultivating these skills and knowledge, learner academic achievement in economics, particularly where mathematical and graphing skills are concerned, has been regrettably poor in most countries around the globe. Hence, this qualitative study investigated the opportunities to learn mathematical and graphical skills in imperfect market structures in three selected Grade 12 economics classes. The study intended to investigate what it is that teachers do in the name of teaching and learning of mathematical and graphing skills and the reasoning behind their actions. Opportunities to Learn (OTL) is the conceptual framework which was used to determine what teachers do in the classroom that enables learners to make meaning of imperfect market structures. Using the case study approach, the study was operationalised by three economics teachers in the Galashewe township. The researcher conducted interviews with each of the three teachers before they conducted their classes which the researcher observed. Thereafter, interviews were conducted again to reflect on what transpired during the lessons and document analysis was done to gain an insight into what kinds of activities learners were given in trying to create opportunities to learn mathematical and graphing skills in imperfect market structures.University of the Free State Post Graduate Studie
Tunnelled haemodialysis catheters in central Free State: epidemiology and complications
No full textBackground: End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a disease with profound impact on the patient, health system and economy. Tunnelled haemodialysis catheters (TDC) are amongst the most common dialysis methods. It has been established internationally that certain demographic descriptors and aetiologies carry an increased risk of complications. There is a dearth of epidemiological profiling of ESRD patients with TDC in South Africa. Objective: To establish the epidemiological profile of patients who received TDC and to establish the complication rate, with the goal of demonstrating associations between the epidemiological profiles and complications. Method: This was a retrospective study of all patients who received TDC in an Academic Hospital Interventional Radiological Suite over a period of 60 months between 01 March 2011 and 29 February 2016. Results: A total of 179 patients received 231 catheters. The majority of patients were male (58.7%) and 35.8% of the patients resided in Mangaung. The leading aetiologies of ESRD included hypertensive nephropathy (43.6%), primary glomerular disease (17.3%) and HIV associated nephropathy (6.1%). Procedural complications occurred in 7/224 (3.1%) insertions, whilst 37/185 (20.0%) developed catheter related infection and 54/185 (29.2%) developed dysfunctional catheters. There were no deaths due to catheter related complications. Conclusion: Our patients’ demographic profile, ESRD aetiology, complication rate for procedural complications and catheter related infections are roughly on par with international studies, however, the catheter dysfunction rate is higher than in the aforementioned studies. This possibly reflects the difficulty of accessing specialist care for our patients, the majority of whom reside outside the Mangaung district. Further studies with larger patient numbers are required to demonstrate statistically relevant associations
Enhancing the role of learning facilitators in supporting teachers teaching Sesotho home language
No full textThe key purpose of this study was to explore various ways in which the role of Learning Facilitators can be enhanced to ensure adequate and coordinated support of teachers teaching Sesotho Home Language. The study further has established that effective teaching and learning, requires continuous support and needs to ensure that teachers operate at their optimal skills level. Thus, the role of the Learning Facilitators becomes vital in ensuring quality basic education in the schools. Bricolage, as a theoretical framework, was chosen to drive the study to achieve the objectives. A Participatory Action Research (PAR) was used to generate data through consultation meetings, WhatsApp groups, emails and conference calls. The data was analysed, using critical discourse analysis. The majority of participants of this study was Learning Facilitators, circuit managers, school principals, departmental heads and the Sesotho Home Language teachers from Motheo district in the Free State province. It was argued that for teachers to be effective in their work they need to be supported in curriculum matters and classroom practice. However, the key to achieving the schooling goals, is the Learning Facilitators to play a critical role. It can be argued that enhancing the role of Learning Facilitators positively influences the teachers and has sought to improve learner performance. From this study, a recommendation has been made that Learning Facilitators need to be trained in content knowledge so that they can transfer the acquired knowledge and skills to teachers during support. The research findings have confirmed that appropriate content knowledge will enable the Learning Facilitators to be able to improve curriculum practices through improvisation of teaching and learning materials even in the absence of readymade of resources
Oral narrative mnemonic devices and the framing of the Zambian novel in English: a study of selected Zambian novels
No full textThis study, which focuses on the role that oral narrative mnemonic devices play in framing the Zambian novel in English, argues that images in the novel do not form an unbroken continuum from oral narratives. This argument is based on the assumption in both African and Zambian literary theory and practice that the presence of oral narrative images in the novel creates collective cultural identity by evoking an indigenous precolonial culture lost during colonialism. A number of studies on Zambian novels in English point to the relationship between oral narrative mnemonics and the novel by identifying the link between oral narrative images, languages and cultural identity. My study departs from these studies, observing that while oral narrative devices play a role in framing the novel in English, the images themselves are subject to a multicultural, dynamic, temporal and fluid context of the novel. I mainly draw on Derrida’s deconstruction of logocentric and binary thought to argue that images in the novel cannot be a linear continuation from oral narratives. The idea of oral narrative linearity creates the notion that oral narratives are a natural logocentre of meaning because orality is prior to writing (and images in the novel) and therefore closer to logocentric natural language than writing. Furthermore, this creates binary thought where oral narratives and images in the novel are considered as a binary pair and writing is viewed as the signified to which images in the novel absolutely refer and come from. The study modifies Derridian deconstruction with theoretical concepts such as Bakhtin’s heteroglossia, carnivalesque, chronotope; Bhabha’s ‘third space’ and Said’s idea on ‘othering’. I apply a critical textual approach on selected Zambian novels in English to deconstruct both logocentric thinking and binary pairs in which oral narratives are considered the logocentric signfied of images in the novel. Furthermore, I deconstruct the idea of a hierarchised binary pair in which oral narratives are preferred as more representational of images in the novel than any other aspect. I argue that images in the novel cannot be a linear continuation from oral narratives because firstly, images in novels such as Day of the Baboons (Saidi, 1991) and Patchwork (2011) are characterised by multi-cultural, heteroglossic and carnivalesque images. Secondly, I challenge the idea that images in the novel represent a logocentre such as oral narratives which is always located outside the sign. This is observed in how images in Changing Shadows (Musenge, 2014) and The Chosen Bud (Luangala, 1991) compensate for the inherent absence of the signified within the sign by instituting differànce. Thirdly, I argue that images in the novel cannot be mere replications of oral narratives because of inherent unstable time and space (chronotopic) related to the internal structure of artistic signs. This results in flexible and changeable images in novels such as Tongue of the Dumb (Mulaisho, 2007) and Quills of Desire (Sinyangwe, 2010) that affect frozen transmission of images from oral narratives to the novel and from one epoch to another. Fourthly, I argue that the absolute articulation of an absolute signified, such as oral narratives, is prevented by the fact that images in novels such as Echoes of Betrayal (Namutowe, 2019) are articulated in an unstable in-between space, which is perpetually haunted by the return of the uncanny and traces of the past and an anticipated future which always arrives too late to be grounded. Furthermore, my study of Ticklish Sensation (Phiri, 1994) demonstrates that the unstable in-between space is also a space that differentiates theory such as the discourse on linearity from reality because reality often articulates something different from the desired theoretical signification. What is produced is a sign that diverges from the theoretical signified and its attempt to be articulated as such produces something that can only be located in-between but beyond desired signification. Lastly, I argue that images in the novel cannot be linear descendents of oral narrative because subscription to such a pre-inscribed entity is similar to subscription to a term such as identity. Thus, fixed terms and discourses, such as oral narrative linearity, fail when they cannot account for all the images they purport to identify or represent as demonstrated in the Mourning Bird (2019) where pre-incscriptions of identity by the centre create margins when those that do not fit into authoriesd categories are othered and silenced. Hence, I adopt Brubaker and Cooper’s idea to drop such fixed categories of analysis such as identity. In additon, I engage in a discussion on other ‘others’ or idioms (other than the dominat discourse) that emerge in The Old Drift (2019) (and the silences and gaps in literary analysis) while our focus is on the dominant discourse such as oral narrative linearity. This is in order to suggest that there is no fixed parentage relationship between oral narrative images and the novel because images in the novel are dynamic and everchanging.University of the Free StateUFS Faculty of Humanitie