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Identification of marketing strategies to promote tourism: the case of Soetdoring Nature Reserve in the Free State province
No full textThe purpose of this study was to investigate and identify marketing strategies to promote tourism at Soetdoring Nature Reserve located in the Free State Province. The primary question that was explored was what recommendations can be made with regard to marketing of the Soetdoring Nature Reserve. For research objectives to be achieved, an in-depth literature review was undertaken. Additionally, a survey was also conducted to determine the current status of the Soetdoring Nature Reserve and data were sourced by means of self-administered questionnaires. The hypothesis was proven to be correct by a literature review, namely that marketing plays a significant role in promoting tourism and has the potential of attracting tourists and raising revenue. The recommendations were made within the context of empirical survey findings. To improve the current marketing at the Soetdoring Nature Reserve, it has been recommended that there should be a turnaround marketing strategy and that resources in a form of funds and staff should be augmented. Furthermore, the 7Ps of marketing, which are of paramount importance, were also recommended, as well as that there more marketing should be done on social media and on the internet
Integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into disaster management: a case of Kwazulu-Natal Human Settlements in response to October 2017 storm damage
No full textGeographic Information System (GIS) has been used internationally as the support system to better respond to disasters. Since South Africa is not immune to disasters the intention of the study was to establish whether GIS services are integrated into disaster management in KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements (KZN DHS) focusing on response to the October 2017 storm disaster experienced by the province. As the basis of the discussions in the study literature review was used to contextualise the study and to identify trends in the integration of GIS into disaster responses. A combination of both quantitative and qualitative research methods was considered for data collection and analysis. The results were presented in a tabular and graphical format to display the frequency of responses. The study revealed the existence of Disaster Management and GIS units in KZN DHS but limited interaction amongst the officials. More participants supported the notion of integration of GIS into disaster management in general in order to respond efficiently to disasters
Revision, molecular phylogeny and biology of the spider genus Micaria Westring, 1851 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in the Afrotropical Region
No full textThe genus Micaria Westring, 1851 (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) is a group of small (1.85 - 5 mm) ant-like spiders that can be distinguished from other gnaphosids by their piriform gland spigots that are similar in size to the major ampullate gland spigots. According to the World Spider Catalog, there are 105 species of Micaria in the world, of which only four species are known from the Afrotropical Region, namely M. chrysis (Simon, 1910), M. tersissima Simon, 1910,M. beaufortia (Tucker, 1923) and M. ignea (O. PickardCambridge, 1872). The objectives of this study were to revise Micaria in the Afrotropical Region, providing new and updated records for each of the species, evaluating the relationships between them using COI barcoding data, and providing information on their biology, mimetic relationships and feeding ecology. These objectives were met by collecting fresh material from the KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Free State provinces in South Africa. Fresh material of M. tersissima and M. chrysis were collected from their type localities, Komaggas and Port Nolloth (Northern Cape Province), respectively, for identification and DNA analyses. Material from eight collections yielded a variety of species of Micaria from countries throughout the Afrotropical Region. Male and female genitalia were dissected and cleaned using a pancreatin solution. The left leg II of male and female representatives of each species was preserved in absolute ethanol and sent to the Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding (CCDB) for DNA barcoding (COI gene). The data were aligned using Mega X software and molecular analyses were performed using MrBayes for Bayesian Inference (BI) and RaxML for maximum likelihood (ML) analyses. Morphological analysis of the collected and voucher material yielded 17 new species for the Afrotropical Region, namely M. basaliducta sp. nov., M. bimaculata sp. nov., M. bispicula sp. nov., M. durbana sp. nov., M. felix sp. nov., M. gagnoa sp. nov., M. koingaas sp. nov., M. latia sp. nov., M. laxa sp. nov., M. medispina sp. nov., M. parvotibialis sp. nov., M. plana sp. nov., M. quadrata sp. nov., M. quinquemaculosa sp. nov., M. rivo sp. nov., M. salta sp. nov. and M. scutellata sp. nov. The maximum likelihood analysis recovered Micaria (sensu lato) as monophyletic and the subopaca group as paraphyletic, sharing a clade with M. aenea Thorell, 1871, M. longipes Emerton, 1890 and M. alpina (L. Koch, 1872). The pulicaria species group was recovered as polyphyletic in both the BI and ML analyses. Four Afrotropical species were recovered sister to M. formicaria (Sundevall, 1831) and may possibly form a new clade with the M. rossica / M. foxi group. Twenty feeding trials using Collembola, Hemiptera, Blattodea and Hymenoptera on a combination of sub-adult and adult M. beaufortia individuals show that 40% (n=8) and 45% (n=9) of Collembola and Hemiptera prey items were accepted. The results were considerably lower for Blattodea (5%, n=1) and Hymenoptera (0%, n=0) prey items. The potential ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) models of four Micaria species were identified and are as follows: M. beaufortia is a mimic of Anoplolepis custodiens F. Smith, 1858 (Formicinae) ants; Lepisiota (Formicinae) ants could potentially be the model of M. quinquemaculosa sp. nov. and M. chrysis; M. felix sp. nov. is potentially a mimic of Monomorium spp. (Myrmecinae) ants. In conclusion, this study was the first to revise the genus Micaria for the Afrotropical Region and resulted in the description of 17 new species, bringing the total for the region to 20 species. Nine of these species now have COI barcoding data uploaded to the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD).National Research Foundation (NRF
Factors affecting the start-up and growth of Basotho-Owned MSMEs in selected districts of Lesotho
No full textDissertation (MBA (Business Administration))--University of the Free State, 2020study was carried out to observe issues encountered by Basotho-owned MSMEs in their quest to start and grow their businesses and to highlight the successful business strategies adopted by foreign MSME owners who outperform their local counterparts.
In trying to achieve the objectives of this study, a questionnaire method for data collection was utilised with closed-ended questionnaires distributed to 142 Basotho-owned MSMEs operating in the Maseru district of Lesotho, chosen through a stratified sampling technique. Out of 142 questionnaires distributed, 131 were returned, representing a 92% response rate. In order to get a holistic view of the respondents’ perspectives and their level of agreement with specific questions, five-point Likert Scale questionnaires with options ranging from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree” were utilised.
Based on the responses received through these set of questionnaires, the following findings were made: Many Basotho-owned MSMEs are survivalists and as a result their growth and expansion potential is limited. This is highlighted by the fact that 85% of the MSMEs that participated in this study employed fewer than 20 employees, with just 15% employing more than 20 people in their workforce.
A big chunk of MSMEs were retailers (68%), followed by those in the services (26%) sector, wholesalers (4%) and manufacturing (2%). Furthermore, the majority of the MSMEs were owned by men, with participation by women mostly hampered by social and economic constraints.
Only 17% of the respondents (MSME owners) were between the ages of 21-30, with the majority (45%) of the owners in the 31-40 age group. This indicates that there is an enormous gap in opportunities for the younger population to venture into entrepreneurship. Almost 50% of the MSMEs had been in operation for less than 5 years, while 31% had been in operation for between 6-10 years, and the rest had been in business for over 10 years. In terms of the legal status of the MSMEs, 57% were sole proprietors, while 27% were companies, followed by partnerships with 14%, and close corporations (2%) completed the total. The most common challenges faced by Basotho-owned MSMEs at start-up were a lack of access to finance, lack of business experience, high security costs to prevent crime eroding funds, and insufficient business networks. Furthermore, crime, a lack of managerial skills, lack of business training, lack of government support and difficulties in obtaining business licences were cited as additional challenges facing Basotho-owned MSMEs at start-up. Challenges encountered during the growth phase were a lack of access to expansion capital due to absence of security and high interest rate charges, increased competition from both locally and foreign-owned businesses, high taxes and sophisticated custom and trade regulations. One of the main successful business strategies used by foreign-owned MSME owners was their ability to sell products to consumers at a lower price due to them purchasing stock in bulk from suppliers, resulting in them obtaining significant trade discounts which they are then able to transfer to consumers. Other strategies they adopt include their ability to use technology and the formation of strong business relationships with their suppliers.
After observing the above findings, the study concludes by offering recommendations to owners of MSMEs, the Government of Lesotho, banks and other financial institutions in order to grow and sustain Basotho-owned MSMEs and have an effective influence on the Lesotho economy
An exploration in implementation of the performance contract policy (2011) in Lesotho high schools
No full textThe aim of this study is to explore the experiences of teachers, principals and other stakeholders regarding the implementation of the Performance Contracting Policy (2011) in Lesotho high Schools. In education, a Performance Contract (PC) firstly involves establishing a definitive set of performance teaching-learning objectives, followed by evaluating student progress over a period of time, and then reporting on such progress. This presupposes that teachers are accountable and responsible for the management of the school, student performance and output which defines the quality and standards of the school. To realise the aim of this study, a qualitative research methodology coupled with an interpretivist paradigm, was adopted. In line with this approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with various teachers, principals and officials. A purposive participation selection process was used to identify participants. In an attempt to conceptualise performance contracting, both internationally and nationally, a literature study was undertaken. The Lesotho MOET adopted the performance contract policy (2011) to improve the quality of education in the country. The findings of the study reveal various challenges that influenced the effective implementation of the Performance Contracting Policy (2011) which adversely affected the quality of education. Various recommendations were elicited from the data analysis; namely, MOET should embark on workshops and training to interrogate PCPs so that teachers know what is expected of them to improve the quality of education. The study concluded that MOET develop a support structure to promote effective and efficient evaluation and monitoring in order to assist teachers, principals and schools during the implementation of PC policies.University of the Free State (UFS
Extraction, variability, enzymatic biosoftening and evaluation of physico-mechanical properties of Agave americana L. Fibre
No full textUnconventional natural textile fibre and enzymatic biotechnologies have positive eco-socio-economic impacts. They are increasingly demanded to substitute the conventional natural and petroleum-based synthetic fibres. The Agave americana L fibre is considered as a potential alternative to synthetic fibres. It is a natural, local, long, strong, absorbent, organic, renewable, eco-sustainable and prospective lignocellulosic fibre which is negligible, understudied and underutilised in textiles. This is due to its high lignin content that causes high fibre coarseness, stiffness and less cohesiveness; the properties which make it difficult to spin into a textile yarn. The overall aim of this research study was to extract the Agave americana L. fibre with a triangulation water retting, investigate the inter-intra-plant fibre variability, enzymatic biosoftening and the physico-mechanical textile properties of Agave americana L. fibre. Agave americana L. leaves were hand-harvested, ribbon stripped and water retted in closed drums to conduct triangulation water retting. The retted fibre was then manually separated from the pithy leaf biomass, washed and dried. The enzymatic biosoftening of the fibre was conducted with individual and sequential methods through biodelignification with MnP, bioscouring with pectinase, bio bleaching with xylanase and biopolishing with cellulase. The physico-mechanical properties and variability of the raw and enzyme-biosoftened fibre were appraised through visual-hand and instrumental evaluation methods. The triangulation water retting was found highly effective, ecologically sustainable and produced good quality fibre at a comparable time for other plant fibres retted with other eco-friendly methods. Microscopic cross-sectional views revealed that the raw Agave americana L. fibre is an irregular, compact, multi-cellular, thick composite consists of overlapping ultimate fibres which have large, diverse and polygonal central lumens. The composite is embedded in the natural cementing extracellular fibre components; mainly lignin, hemicellulose pectin and waxes. The enzymatic biosoftened fibre appeared as a flat multi-cellular composite with lumens smaller than those of raw fibre. The longitudinal SEM images show that the raw fibre is an elongated dimensionally varied, compact, rigid, rough-surfaced multi-cellular composite entrenched with impurities and middle lamellae residues. The enzymatic biosoftening processes have eliminated surface impurities and most of the noncellulosic fibre components. This elimination caused apparent fibre morphological surface smoothness with less irregular cell wall features than the raw Agave americana L. fibre. The structural fibre defibrillation was found subsequent to surface cleanliness and it intensified with the type and number of sequential enzymatic biosoftening processes applied. Thus, sequential manganese peroxidase, pectinase, xylanase and cellulase biosoftened fibre experienced the highest biosoftening smoothness and structural defibrillation. The fibre enzymatic biosoftening efficacy was designated by weight loss percentage. The weight loss percentage ranged from 6.2 % to 24 %. The fibre tensile maximum load ranged from 4.64-22.61 N, displacement from 20.12-50.40 mm and initial Young's modulus; from 0-598.3 MPa. The stress-strain curve showed typical viscoelastic behaviour of a brittle fibre with apparent intra-and-inter plant fibre variability. The fibre showed the bending length ranges from 5.6 to 7.4 cm, out of 8cm. The most improved Agave americana L. fibre physical properties were observed from the sequential biosoftening processes. The variability and stress-strain behaviour of Agave americana L. fibre are analogous to those of other lignocellulosic fibres. The enzymatic biosoftening of the local Agave americana L. fibre increases its serviceable efficacy without polluting the environment and endangering bioreserves. The Agave americana L. fibre is a sustainable potential textile fibre because it possesses satisfactory textile mechanical properties and the physical properties which have textile fibre draw-backs which can be improved by eco-friendly enzymatic biosoftening processes to upgrade its textile performance quality and appearance. The Agave americana L. fibre‘s potential textile alternative to synthetic fibres could preserve both synthetic and conventional natural fibre resources
Enhancing teachers’ self-efficacy for supporting visually-impaired learners in Lesotho schools through school support networks
No full textDissertation (M.Ed.(Psychology of Education))--University of the Free State, 2020The inclusion of visually-impaired learners in mainstream schools continues to be debated among many researchers as it places many challenges on the current functioning of the schools. These include the lack of teacher-training, high student-teacher ratio and a tertiary education curriculum which fails to equip teachers with basic skills for utilising assistive devices in teaching these learners. Despite efforts that the Government of Lesotho instituted according to many national and international policies in ensuring inclusion of people with disabilities, only a few schools accommodate visually-impaired learners. This is exacerbated by the fact that teachers remain academically and psychologically underprepared to accommodate these learners in their classrooms. Since teachers are positioned as the key implementers of inclusive education, it is therefore assumed that teachers’ self-efficacy is an important ingredient in embracing inclusive education. Considering this situation, the study drew from both a self-efficacy theory and an asset-based perspective to understand teachers' self-efficacy and how school-support networks could be used to enhance teachers' teaching-learning skills and knowledge regarding visually-impaired learners. This study was informed by a critical paradigm and situated within qualitative research. The visual participatory methodology was used to generate data using a purposive sampling technique to select participants with experience of interacting with learners with visual impairments in Lesotho (n = 21: 7 teachers of the visually impaired learners; 7 learners with visual impairment; 7 parents of learners with visual impairment). Participatory methods such as lesokoana were used as well as focus group discussions, where each group was asked to discuss the need and availability of school-support networks to improve the quality of educating learners with visual impairments. Also, teachers compiled a collage indicating the challenges and enabling factors concerning their self-efficacy. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that there are school networks that support teachers in dealing with visually-impaired learners, even though their engagement is perceived to be on an informal basis. The study recommends that schools should develop an asset-based map and establish school-support network committees that will engage in effective ways to support teachers
Common English grammatical writing errors among Namibian Grade 7 learners
No full textThe writing component for English Second Language (ESL) learners is a challenge in most Namibian schools. Learning the complexity of the English grammar through writing remains a challenge for many learners in schools especially with regards to the case of the English Second Language learners. This study examined common grammatical writing errors in a corpus of 300 essays written by Namibian Grade 7 learners. The 300 learners’ essay scripts were collected from three different schools in the Walvis Bay circuit, Erongo Region, Namibia. The participants for this study came from a non-English speaking background. The study used a mixed-method approach and a sequential explanatory model. Quantitative data was collected and analysed using The Error Analysis Theory (EA) to identify the common grammatical writing errors that are made by learners in their essay scripts (Corder, 1967). Quantitative findings indicated that Grade 7 learners made numerous grammatical errors in seven different error categories: tenses, articles, prepositions, singular/plurals, subject-verb agreement and word choice. The qualitative sample comprised of five Grade 7 ESL teachers from three targeted schools. The qualitative data was collected through face to face semi-interviews with ESL teachers to explore the teachers’ views on grammar teaching, the causes of errors and ways to minimise the learners’ grammatical writing errors. The possible causes of errors were attributed to first language (mother-tongue) interference, intralingual errors, lack of knowledge about the grammatical rules and overgeneralisation. The ESL teachers used different approaches, namely, inductive, deductive and teaching grammar in context to present grammar instructions. Error correction, corrective feedback and more practice writing on grammar exercises were used to minimise errors and enhance the learners’ writing skills. The study sheds light on how the Namibian learners internalise English grammar rules. Furthermore, the study has theoretical, pedagogical and practical implications for curriculum designers, study material compilers and providers as well as for the teachers of English
Principals’ narratives on balancing leadership, management and instruction in South African schools
No full textThesis (Ph.D. (Education Studies))--University of the Free State, 2020: The role that a Principal plays in a school has become very complicated and very demanding. Scholars such as Fullan (1991) have been following the changing trends in Education and are convinced that the part played by the Principals in schools has truly been evolving, transcending from being instructional leaders to transactional leaders, and now lately to transformational leaders. Mestry (1999) asserts that Principals’ expectations have evolved from focus on management and control, to that of being entrusted with the responsibility to develop staff, encourage and increase parental involvement, and soliciting community support and learner achievement. This is supported by Blasé, Blasé and Phillips (2010), where they maintain that new responsibilities and activities have been compounded on the already demanding roles Principals currently have. On the other hand, Naicker and Mestry (2013) argue that the role of Principals have become riddled with controversy involving conflicting demands. Earlier studies by Hallinger and Murphy (1985) reveal that one of the main challenges of Principals was to establish balance between administrative roles and instructional leadership functions. They assert that one person cannot fulfil all the duties of a Principal, and go further to suggest that there was a need for empowering others to exercise leadership (Spillane, 2012; Katewa & Heystek, 2019; Peters-Hawkins, Reed & Kingsberry, 2018). Hence this study sought to answer the research question: How do Principals go about carrying out their dual mandate as instructional leaders and managers in South African schools? It is intended to explore how other Principals succeed and others do not, and what is it that sets them apart.
: This study is rooted in instructional leadership as a framework, using grounded theory, following interpretive paradigm. I followed a qualitative research methodology through the multiple case-study design (Creswell, 2013). Data were collected through observations, interviews, and documents analysis.
: Four school Principals, purposively selected from prominently high-performing secondary schools in two provinces, the Free State and Gauteng, took part.
: In a nutshell, the policies on which the Principals relied appear to represent a mixed bag, with some providing more of an enabling context for them to balance the management and instructional leadership demands with some degree of success. The same policies, however, sometimes compound their ability to successfully navigate this balance in their schools. The findings also suggest that mounting pressure is being exerted inadvertently on school Principals to focus on Grade 12 learners’ performance, and that Principals rely on the teachers in their staff to volunteer their services beyond the normal school day programme. The study recommends that school principals undergo counselling in order to deal with the high stress levels they encounter on daily basis