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Challenges experienced by physically challenged learners in practical physical education classes in South Africa: a systematic analysis
No full textThis paper, framed within the interpretivism theory, argued that government, stakeholders, and policymakers could foster and promote policy advocacy to address the challenges militating against the participation of physically challenged learners (PCLs) in practical physical education (PE) classes. Despite the noticeable need for physical activities in the lives of PCLs, there are growing concerns that learners in physical education classes still face many challenges in practical classes. The research was a systematic review of literature that identified studies that focused on the challenges that PCLs experience in practical physical education classes. Data was gathered from a collection of relevant articles as well as 20 publications that were critically reviewed. Only ten publications were found to meet the inclusion criteria. As a result, four main themes emerged from the data as thematic analysis was adopted. The findings revealed that PCLs frequently encounter challenges such as inaccessible equipment, poor social support, the PE curriculum/programme, and a lack of teachers training in practical physical education classes, which can limit their ability to engage and fully participate in PE practical classes. The study contributed to the body of physical education studies by providing a framework for a more integrated Physical Education for Physically Challenged Learners (PCLs), which could be implemented all around the world. It recommends, among others, that the members of the executive councils, school management teams and policymakers should work together by providing schools with accessible equipment and strong social support for PCLs to feel less isolated and more supported. This study concludes that exploring these challenges and developing coping strategies can help to ensure that PCLs can participate and benefit from PE practical classes.Publisher's versio
The contribution of informal settlement upgrading to the economic inclusion of the poor
No full textThesis (Ph.D.(Development Studies))--University of the Free State, 2024This thesis investigated the contribution of informal settlement upgrading to asset-building, economic inclusion of the poor, and poverty alleviation in Freedom Square, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Employing a mixed method approach, the study combined quantitative data from a longitudinal research project spanning three decades and qualitative insights gathered through interviews with 19 households purposively selected. The quantitative data analysis investigated how informal settlement upgrading has facilitated asset-building and economic integration in Freedom Square. Moreover, the thesis investigated the dynamics of intergenerational asset transfers and the role of informal settlement upgrading in fostering economic integration over generations. Understanding the importance of asset-building through housing initiatives and how these contributed to improving the overall well-being of disadvantaged households received special attention. Through in-depth qualitative interviews, the study investigated how impoverished households viewed the upgraded houses and developed assets, shedding light on their strategies, challenges, and successes in asset accumulation.
Some of the selected findings of the thesis are as follows:
• The upgrading of Freedom Square has resulted in significant intergenerational transfer of household assets.
• Upgrading Freedom Square also increased the productive, consumer and financial assets of the households, but not household income and labour market participation.
• Through employing the logistic regression model used in Chapter 6, the study found five significant key predictors contributing to households having a larger or a smaller house in Freedom Square.
• Lastly, the upgraded houses meant shelter, investment, and stability to residents of Freedom Square.
This thesis concluded that policy debates in South Africa need to consider a more nuanced classification of the welfare state theory characteristics. Furthermore, states need not overemphasise asset-based and income-based welfare as they have limitations. This research also showed that upgrading the Freedom Square informal settlement contributed to asset accumulation in ways different from those proposed by Moser. Furthermore, the intergenerational transfer of household assets from first-generation to second-generation settlers is an important creator of assets. Lastly, the study highlighted that asset integration is paramount for households to build assets and move out of poverty successfully
Physiological, biochemical and molecular analyses of the drought stress responses of two contrasting wheat varieties
No full textThesis (Ph.D.(Botany))--University of the Free State, 2024Wheat ( ) is the second most widely grown cereal crop worldwide. It is primarily used for human consumption, animal feed, and industrial biofuels. However, the production of wheat is negatively affected by drought, and current climate models are predicting more frequent and severe drought episodes in the future. As such, agricultural productivity will be negatively affected. Therefore, understanding plant responses among plant varieties with different drought phenotypes could help identify traits related to drought tolerance and aid in developing more drought-tolerant crops. This study compared the physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of the drought-tolerant (BW35695) and drought-susceptible (BW4074) wheat varieties to drought stress. The wheat plants were grown in potting soil for two weeks in a growth chamber before withholding water for 28 days.
Drought stress significantly decreased soil moisture content in the water-deprived pots of both varieties relative to the well-watered controls. However, there was no significant difference in soil moisture content between the varieties, suggesting comparable levels of water deficit stress. Physiological and biochemical parameters such as leaf chlorophyll, carotenoid and relative water content (RWC), lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), osmolyte content, and enzymatic antioxidant activities revealed striking differences between the varieties. The drought-tolerant wheat variety, BW35695, demonstrated remarkable resilience to the imposed drought stress by exhibiting higher leaf RWC, chlorophyll, carotenoid, and osmolyte content compared to the drought-susceptible variety, BW4074. Additionally, BW35695 mitigated drought-induced oxidative stress by enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) in both leaves and roots and reduced ROS accumulation and membrane lipid damage.
The leaf proteome of the wheat varieties was analysed to identify drought-responsive leaf proteins using the isobaric tags for absolute and relative quantitation (iTRAQ) method coupled with mass spectrometry. A total of 1062 and 882 leaf proteins were positively identified in BW4074 and BW35695 wheat varieties, respectively, of which 69 and 110 were drought responsive. Most of the drought-responsive leaf proteins in BW35695 were involved in energy (28%) and protein synthesis/folding/degradation (25%). For BW4074, primary metabolism (23%), energy (23%) and protein synthesis/folding/degradation (20%) were the most represented protein functional groups. The rest of the drought-responsive leaf proteins had putative functions in defence/ROS detoxification (20% and 10%), transcription (4% and 7%), secondary metabolism (6% and 3%), and cell structure (2% and 1%) in BW4074 and BW35695, respectively. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the two most significantly enriched pathways in BW4074 were alanine aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and arginine biosynthesis, while photosynthesis-antennae and photosynthesis were most enriched in BW35695.
The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis supported the putative functional groupings data, which suggests that drought stress affects various biological processes in wheat leaves, particularly primary metabolism in BW4074 and photosynthesis in BW35695. Protein-protein interactions of the drought-responsive proteins were analysed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) database. The results showed that primary metabolism and protein synthesis were the main interacting functional groups for BW4074, while photosynthesis and protein synthesis were prominently interacting in BW35695. Photosynthesis-related proteins were significantly suppressed in BW35695, possibly as a strategy to reduce ROS-induced cell damage, while protein synthesis-related proteins were increased, possibly to enhance the biosynthesis of other stress-responsive proteins. Six drought-responsive proteins were selected from the iTRAQ data for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. The gene expression results revealed that a -1--5- (58) gene involved in proline biosynthesis significantly increased in BW4074, which correlated with the iTRAQ data. For BW35695, all six target genes were not differentially expressed, possibly suggesting that the abundances of the proteins and transcripts differentially accumulate at different time points. These qRT-PCR results, call for multi-time point experimental designs for validating iTRAQ data. Overall, the study provides insight into the drought-responsive mechanisms of BW4074 and BW35695 wheat varieties. This information can serve as a reference in studies exploring the differences between plant varieties under drought stress conditions and assist in plant breeding programmes for improved drought resilience
Soil fertility status under mixed pastures in irrigated Tsitsikamma dairy farms: case studies
No full textAnimal manures are increasingly receiving renewed interest as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers. While they may improve ecosystem functions, there is limited information on short-term effects of organic amendments on soil reaction and nutrient dynamics in irrigated mixed dairy pastures, especially in the context of the Tsitsikamma region, South Africa. This study examined the soil fertility status of minimum tilled 6-year-old pasture-mixed dairy farms (F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5) in the Upper (UT) and Lower (LT) Tsitsikamma regions treated with different rates of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) fertilizer alone or in combination with poultry manure (PM) and/or dairy effluent (DE). Soil samples were collected at 0–15, 15–30, 30–45 and 45–60 cm depth intervals and analysed for soil pH, P, K, Ca and Mg. Results of this study revealed variable trends on soil pH and nutrient changes between farms, suggesting an influence of some inherent soil properties in addition to the 6-year applied management practices. When averaged over sampled farms, surface placement of soil amendments and limited soil disturbance resulted in surface stratification of soil pH, P, K, Ca and Mg. On the other hand, integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers induced significant changes in nutrient contents and stocks to a depth of 60 cm, especially in the LT region. A combination of NPK fertilizer, PM and/or DE applied in pasture mixtures generally showed potential to improve soil fertility in both regions. As such, adoption of this combination by farmers could cut down reliance on expensive synthetic fertilizers and costs of dairy production. However, studies are still necessary in this region to validate the observed results.Publisher's versio
Exploring the opportunities and challenges of teaching controversial topics in Social Sciences at the Intermediate Phase
No full textDissertation (M.Ed.(Curriculum Studies))--University of the Free State, 2024The study investigated the challenges and opportunities that teachers face when teaching controversial topics in the Social Sciences at the Intermediate Phase. Controversial topics, which involve conflicting interests and perspectives, can be emotionally charged and challenging because they arouse emotions among learners. However, teaching such topics can empower learners, foster diversity, enhance subject knowledge, and promote a deeper understanding of justice and inclusivity. This study utilised critical social theory to explore the influence of power dynamics, ideology, and societal structures on knowledge creation. Its goal was to challenge existing norms and promote equity by encouraging critical thinking and open dialogue among learners.
A qualitative approach was employed, utilising open-ended interviews and focus group discussions, to investigate teachers’ experiences in teaching controversial topics. A narrative research design was used to explore the complexity and perspectives surrounding the teaching of contentious topics in Social Science classrooms. By comparing and contrasting different narratives, a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges encountered by Intermediate Phase teachers when engaging learners on controversial topics was achieved. Thematic analysis was used to generate themes and sub-themes from the transcribed data.
Findings revealed that topics like racism, tribal discrimination, gender roles, and religious diversity spark debate and opposing views within communities and the classroom. During interviews teachers explained that inclusive learning settings and critical social theory are essential for transformative learning. By teaching controversial topics, teachers play a crucial role in fostering social awareness, critical thinking and active citizenship skills which expose conscious and unconscious biases among learners. Controversial topics align with curriculum guidelines, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and South Africa's Social Sciences curriculum, encouraging critical citizenship and understanding of social justice concerns.
Teachers in this study acknowledged the impact of cultural origins on teaching contentious subjects such as gender norms, religious diversity, racial and tribal discrimination, and xenophobia. Teachers emphasised the importance of promoting tolerance and diversity in their teaching methods by using case studies, role-playing and multimedia content. They used these techniques to develop empathy and a sense of diversity among learners. They also employed coping strategies, active learning techniques, debates, and multimodal approaches to address systematic disparities and promote inclusivity among learners.
The study recommended six strategies for teaching controversial topics in the Intermediate Phase. These are facilitating structured debates, examining the causes of intolerance, community involvement, fostering a culture of trust in teachers, and using case studies. These strategies promote self-reflection, critical thinking and effective communication by exposing learners to diverse perspectives
A leadership competence framework for sustainable development in the manufacturing industry in a developing country context: the bicycle metaphor
No full textThe article presents a leadership competence framework for sustainable development (LCFSD) contextualized to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to drive businesses to contribute to the achievement of these goals. A synthesis of metatheories and leadership theories produced a three-pillar draft leadership competence framework (LCF) that informed the field enquiry. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 12 executives (five CEOs; six executives; one former executive) in the beverage manufacturing industry in Zimbabwe using the snowball sampling technique. Data were transcribed and analysed thematically. The results were incorporated in the development of a reconstructed LCF. Four experts validated the LCFSD, confirming its applicability and transferability; thus, their suggestions were incorporated. The outcome is a LCFSD depicted by a bicycle metaphor comprising five pillars, namely strategic competences (presencing, intergenerational systemic behaviour, reflexivity, stakeholder engagement, strategic awareness, sustainability thinking, knowledge of metrics of measurement, inclusivity skills, multiple leadership styles); core competences (social responsiveness, ecosystem thinking, self-leadership, knowledge of SDGs, innovative thinking); core values (ethical; caring for all, respect for all, doing the best for local communities, diplomacy, beliefs in sustainable development); collaborative competences (build diverse teams, partnering skills); and person-leader competencies (leadership competences at exercised at personal level).Publisher's versio
Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of cognitive and motor skills of Grade R learners
No full textDissertation (M.Ed.(Early Childhood Development and Learning))--University of the Free State, 2024The main aim of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of cognitive and motor skills of Grade R learners in the Motheo district of the Free State province, South Africa. To implement this research, four specific objectives, four research questions, and four null hypotheses, were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted an Ex-post-facto research design. The study used a quantitative research approach with a sample size of 160 respondents which comprised of 150 Grade R learners and 10 Grade R teachers. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire developed by the researcher on cognitive and motor skill development. The instrument was validated by experts in measurement and evaluation, and early childhood education. The reliability of the instrument was ascertained using Cronbach’s Alpha with coefficients of 0.82, 0.87, 0.79 and 0.88 for clusters A, B, C and D respectively. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions that guided the study, while an independent sample t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study showed that the cognitive and motor skills development of Grade R learners were above average. It was also found that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the cognitive and motor skills development of Grade R learners. It was concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the cognitive and motor skills development of Grade R learners in the Motheo district. Based on the results of the study, it is recommended, among others, that efforts should be made by the school management, teachers, and parents, to promote activities that will enhance the cognitive and motor skills development of Grade R learners. This can be achieved by engaging the Grade R learners in activities that will promote and develop their cognitive and motor skills
Identity and environmental harmony as practised by Table Mountain Doctors: a struggle over land and African healing systems.
No full textThesis(Ph.D.(Anthropology))--University of the Free State, 2024Mountain Doctors who refer to themselves as Rastas, Khoi and San, Sakmanne and other names wear mostly brown hessian sacks. They walk barefoot and grow their hair long as an indication of their African pride. Resident in the entirety of South Africa, they are most visible in the Western Cape where my study was located. Their brown hessian sack earned them “the Sackcloth people” label, a term that comes from Rastafarianism. They are African healers who harvest different herbs from natural spaces all over the country and beyond and sell them in city centres like Cape Town, George, Stellenbosch and many other areas the study interacted with. The study tracked the Sackcloth people’s philosophy and way of life, including healing methods and their relationship with the environment – through participant observation and in-depth interviews with members of the community. The sample consisted of mostly young men between the age of 18 and 30 and a smaller pool of women and men who were over 40 years old.
This study of Mountain Doctors had to explore the previous work of anthropologists and other social scientists on identity and culture, juxtaposing it with the Mountain Doctors’ projection of , a social discourse that has also been theorised by social scientists. and --, a pluralistic understanding of the self, are discussed comparatively as grounded philosophies that Mountain Doctors pull from to construct their particular African identity. The Mountain Doctors’ notion of self as a version of the African ontology of , includes resistance to modernism. Thus, from Benedict Anderson’s ‘imagined communities’ (1983), to caution on ‘culture as invented’ as argued by South African anthropologists (for example, Robert Thornton 1988) on the one hand; and on another hand the articulations of by Mogobe Ramose (2005) and others, to how Mountain Doctors invent their cultural identity through - my study provides a rich tapestry of etic and emic views on African identity. As my fieldwork shows, there is a tendency to restore ‘the right to have identities’ as a snowballing of creolisation that is in constant flux in search for essentialisation, even if temporary and era-specific. This means that Mountain Doctors pull from different indigenous groups to construct their identity.
This study demonstrates how the ideological aspects of making sense of identity influence the existential and cosmological view of life with specific reference to the Mountain Doctors. In an attempt to make sense of lived experiences the Mountain Doctors and I shared a crisis of ‘appropriate’ theorising. This crisis occurred in part because notions of resilience were intricately enmeshed with existential issues for both the researcher and researched, and I found myself wedged between potential representation of a power imbalance between researcher and participants. This is a situation of a researcher doing a study where the community has a strong opinion about my background in the context of resilience which is part of the identity ideology of the community. This ‘acute mutual judgement’ was further exacerbated by doing fieldwork during the Covid-19 pandemic where there was a blur between ‘participation’ and ‘observation’ in a general environment of fear over health, government regulations relating to travel, as well as general despair for regaining control over socio-economic life.
Assuming a mixed methodology approach, a combination of ethnography, grounded theory, engaged heritage institutions and archives, and ‘thick descriptive’ approaches were used. While these methods were useful, there are challenges that come with using only western approaches to explore sometimes contradictory African contexts. Decolonial methods, rooted in African thought are important for remedying this challenge. The study makes an original contribution to methodology by exploring methodology, an approach found in African households and which the Mountain Doctors used to teach me their way of life in similar ways to how they teach each other. also helped ease some research challenges. This approach strips the researcher of their ‘elevated status’ and centers power in the hands of the participants. draws from and requires that the researcher be in-service to the participants. experiences sent me on an unanticipated journey to disrupt and dismantle the representation of groups like the Mountain Doctors, western ontology and epistemology itself.
In addition to wrestling with constructions of the Mountains Doctors’ identity/ies and resilience in the thesis, I further explore their aesthetics, focusing on the significance of long, hair and hessian sack. The symbolism of their aesthetic varies from biblical, colonial and neoliberal resistance and influence and a desire to revitalise and reconnect with lost African practices. The discussion also extended to exploring the revitalisation of Khoi and San languages as dying indigenous African languages. Their symbolism and worldview incorporate their view of land as more than just a resource. For the Mountain Doctors land is a sacred reference point that anchors humanity materially and spiritually. The neoliberal valuation of land as a resource is perceived/interpreted as harmful to ecology and African spirituality. Their focus on African spiritual understandings of land challenges the proposed first African Amazon development in Cape Town. The development rubs up against a colonial wound, as the development is set to be erected around the Two Rivers Urban Park, the first site of colonialism in 1652. Mountain Doctors’ integration of symbolism, spirituality and resilience extends to the manner in which they guard flora and fauna for purposes of healing humans and repairing the environment as a source of healing.
Much of the Mountain Doctors’ knowledge is scrutinised or overlooked by people, institutions and by a colonial history that sees the contributions and experiences of indigenous people as inferior. This study tables afresh the questions of who has a right to theorise, create and share knowledge. It does this by showing important knowledge embedded in African rituals and beliefs, some even offer Mountain Doctors solutions to modern day struggles like poverty, unemployment and general deprivations of resources and opportunities.
In essence, this thesis wrestles with the complexities of identities, like how Mountain Doctors project their identity and meaning around being an 'African', 'Khoi' and 'San'. It also looks at how they construct resistance identities around critiquing of western hegemony, colonialism, capitalism and modernity. Through grounded theorisation the thesis acknowledges the social actor consciousness and critique of the world around them while critically examining the basis of the identities that they project as deserving recognition with conviction.
The target audience for this research is scholars, students and communities interested in indigenous knowledge and decoloniality
Experiences of TVET college leaders in managing workplace job-related gossip in one municipality, Gauteng Province
No full textDissertation (M.Ed.(Education Management and Leadership))--University of the Free State, 2024The study aimed to investigate the experiences of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college leaders managing workplace job-related gossip in in one municipality, Gauteng province. The study was informed by the leader-member-exchange theory developed by Dansereau in 1975 and the Evolution of Gossip Theory by the anthropologist Robin Dunbar in 1996. In developing a critical and interpretive understanding of the experiences of TVET college leaders handling workplace job-related gossip, data were created through semi-structured interviews with campus managers, focus group discussions with the head of the department, and document analysis using a qualitative technique. The study found that gossip, a private discourse, can be harmful and duplicitous, reflecting the speaker's true sentiments. It can be positive and negative, affecting and targeting the individual's private life.
The study further revealed that managers condemn gossip, while others provide counselling or encourage employees to be mature to foster a culture of love and care, acting reasonably in handling discussions. This approach helps mitigate gossip's negative impact and promotes a healthier work environment. The findings also revealed that managers face substantial obstacles in handling workplace gossip, such as becoming subjects of gossip themselves, often cited incorrectly, employees may perceive themselves as being targeted and misinterpret the managers' motives. Such challenges add complexity to handling gossip-related issues, impeding the effective resolution of these problems. The study, therefore, concludes that the nature of gossip is complex, involving secrecy and potential harm. The study recommends continuous professional development programs that include training enhancing work-related gossip management skills, for managers to better manage interpersonal relationships, encourage open communication, and promote a just culture, which can also help reduce the frequency and consequences of workplace gossip
Sustainable Corporate Real Estate Management (SCREM) in uncertain times – avoiding Load Shedding in Lesotho
No full textThe Kingdom of Lesotho is facing a significant energy crisis characterised by critical challenges within its electricity sector. This has resulted in the introduction of load shedding to safeguard the limited available production capacity. Load shedding would exacerbate economic instability and lead to severe consequences for businesses, industries, and households, disrupting productivity, resulting in significant economic losses, and hampering the country’s overall development. Therefore, exploring alternative measures to deal with the situation becomes crucial.
The goal of the study was to explore comprehensive and sustainable measures to address the challenges of load shedding in Lesotho. The study employed a qualitative research approach to gather interview data from corporate real estate professionals. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview data with the aid of the NVivo qualitative data analysis programme. The current sustainable corporate real estate management (SCREM) measures implemented in Lesotho are the promotion and use of environmentally friendly materials and products, the promotion and use of energy-saving measures, the promotion and practice of proper waste management, and regular inspection and maintenance of equipment. However, the sustainable practices in place are insufficient to avoid load shedding in the real estate sector in Lesotho.
The implications of load shedding in Lesotho include the disruption of commercial, household, and other activities, and these activities have a negative impact on the economy. Also, there are no sustainable measures at the national level against load shedding in Lesotho. However, some sustainable practices are being implemented by companies even though there is no comprehensive national effort. These sustainable practices include smart meters, green building initiatives, and solar power.
Lastly, the proposed sustainable corporate real estate management strategies against load shedding in Lesotho include encouraging energy-saving behaviours, ending the monopoly of Lesotho Electricity Company, expanding solar energy use, increasing hydroelectricity power, increasing wind power, maintaining and upgrading plants, implementing a national power supply strategy, and promoting awareness of sustainability goals.
On account of the study results, proposed sustainable corporate real estate management strategies against load shedding in Lesotho should include ending the monopoly of Lesotho Electricity Company, continually expanding solar and other alternative energy use, increasing hydroelectricity power, continually maintaining and upgrading current plants and infrastructure, and establishing and implementing a national power supply strategy