11613 research outputs found
Sort by
The (non-)recognition of same-sex marriage in the recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998
No full textThe Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 provides for all people to be equal, including people of all sexual orientations, and at the same time guarantees the right to participate in the cultural life of one’s choice. This contribution examines the issue of same-sex marriage in South Africa through the combined lens of the right to equality and the right to culture. More specifically, it assesses whether same-sex couples are afforded the right to marry in accordance with their customary cultural beliefs and whether same-sex customary marriage is provided for in the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998. Following an analysis of Constitutional Court jurisprudence on the right to equality and to culture, certain provisions of the Recognition Act are examined for their in-/exclusion of homosexual persons. It would appear that the only gender-neutrally phrased section in the Recognition Act dealing with customary marriages in particular is sec. 3, which lists the requirements for such marriages to be valid. Whether this was an oversight on the part of the legislature, or whether it was intentional, is uncertain. However, several other sections, notably also the definition of lobolo in sec. 1, are phrased from a distinctly heteronormative perspective. A subsequent discussion of homosexual practices in Africa serves a dual purpose. It not only debunks some prominent African leaders’ contention that homosexuality is “un-African”, but also reveals that homosexual marriage along with a number of ancillary same-sex forms of customary marriage are not catered for in the provisions of the Recognition Act. In light of these findings, the contribution concludes with recommendations for the improvement of the Recognition Act to be less exclusionary and discriminatory. It is further argued that, by adjusting the phrasing of the Act, the South African legislature stands to gain much more than affording same-sex couples recognition in customary law. It would also go a long way towards promoting a culture of tolerance towards all people, in line with what the Constitution demands.Publisher's versio
Performing the erotic: (re)presenting the body in popular culture
No full textIn 1995, Mitchell suggested that spheres of public culture, and the academies that study them, are in the midst of a ‘pictorial turn’ which entails thinking about images in digital communication and mass multimedia as forms of life. In the study reported in this thesis, a critical semiotic analysis of mainstream, moving images that are designed, performed, mediated, and repeatable was conducted. The study focuses on the role of social constructs of gender, race, and class (along with size, age, and ability) in the ordering processes of society which are, in turn, sustained and reproduced by the (re)presentation of eroticised bodies in visual media in the twentyfirst century. The study is informed by the premise that rapid technological advancements, the deregulation of media industries, and ongoing convergence possibilities have made the availability and accessibility of mass media on numerous (personal) devices commonplace in modern life but not in the form of traditional media that deliver data or content to an audience. Rather, media now take the form of interactive communication and participatory culture. A critical semiotic analysis of the images used in the study, as well as an analysis of the relevant literature, confirmed this hypothesis with further insights that, in the contemporary era, the cultural constructions and political materialities of bodies, as well as normative understandings of beauty, desirability, and value, all congregate around questions of representation and global homologies. By way of synthesis, the study argues that the dynamics of ‘virtuality’ in the digital age are altering traditional demarcations of space, place, time, and community and have paved the way for formations of global cultures that are, at the same time, informative, expedient, empowering, homogenising, prescriptive, and imperialising. Global cultures are recognised as discursive formations that people can only reason about from within. With that limitation in mind, the study sketches the contours of a critical tool that the emergent imaginary critical consumer might be able to utilise. As one positions oneself within this imaginary, it becomes possible to treat the relation between consumer and commodity as dialectical. As a consequence of these analyses, the study expands the theory and application range of linguistic and cognitive metaphors by applying them specifically to modes of aestheticisation and performance of the erotic in contemporary visual media. The study uses metaphor theory to identify discursive markers on bodies at the surface (or representational level) that produce performative frames which sustain orderings of body prototypes (at the ideological level). These framings and orderings are critiqued as trading in ideologies and stereotypes that have long been in sociocultural production and circulation. The analyses of images and scripts show them to be sensationalist; however, they are not new, despite being presented as such in the expanding inundation of visual entertainment worldwide. The study argues that such orderings engage in a reiterable exchange of already circulating social and cultural capital in which not everyone may participate with equal opportunity and agency and some, not at all. Such forms of capital are primarily distributed as a means to generate more economic capital in an age where commodification and consumption, not the public good, are of central importance in human activity and action
Characterisation of intracellular gas bubbles in Saccharomyces
No full textThe yeast fermentation process is well established. However, until recently no
sign of intracellular gas bubbles had been reported. A paradigm shift emanated
when intracellular gas bubbles were discover using various microscopy techniques
thereby resolving the missing link between CO2 production and eventual release
from the cells. The lack of membranes around the gas bubbles served as a
distinguishing feature of the bubbles. However, there had been other non-enveloped
structure that had been reported as either lipid droplets or vacuole fragments. This
study, using organelle-specific fluorescent probes, shows that intracellular gas
bubbles, lipid droplets and vacuole fragments are separate inclusions that can coexist
in the cell. Considering that intracellular gas bubbles compress and deform
organelles, coupled to the fact that yeast cells have an internal pressure of 2.1 MPa
and that pressurised CO2 has been reported to have adverse effects on
microorganisms warranted an investigation into the effect of intracellular gas bubbles
on cell function. This study concludes that the formation of intracellular gas bubbles
did not have a negative effect on mitochondrial activity. The observation of
fermenting S. pastorianus cells (more gas bubbles) having lower lipid content than
respiring cells (few gas bubbles) indicates that the gas bubble formation plays a role
in controlling the buoyant cell density of fermenting in this strain. This suggests that
the influence of bubble formation may be limited and strain dependent.National Research Foundation (NRF)University of the Free Stat
Enablement approaches to the upgrading of informal settlements: a case study of Misisi Compound in Lusaka, Zambia
No full textDissertation (M.U.R.P. (Urban and Regional Planning))--University of the Free State, 2019The main aim of the study was to improve the current process of informal settlement upgrading for Misisi Compound, an informal settlement in Lusaka, Zambia, through participatory and enabling approaches to the upgrading of informal settlements. Inadequate involvement of residents in planning, implementation and monitoring of urban settlement programmes has been widely cited as a major gap in the implementation of upgrading of informal settlement initiatives. This study contains an evaluation of the existing literature on participative and enabling approaches to the upgrading of informal settlements, wherein theories on human settlements and the evolution of cities, urbanisation, and informal settlements are discussed. The study confirmed the importance of informal settlements, resulting from rapid urbanisation, as special locations for living and engaging in economic, political and cultural activities. Informal settlements occupy an increasingly important position in the landscape of possibilities facing poor populations around the world. A case study methodology was adopted as an effective exploratory tool to understand the complexity of the subject and focus the study to answering how the current processes of upgrading informal settlements in Lusaka could be improved with reference to Misisi Compound. The case study methodology also provided the context within which the residents of the community live and where the actual upgrading of the informal settlement has to take place. It enabled the researcher to get a realistic picture of the study area and emphasised the interplay and relationship between the context and events. An integration of qualitative and quantitative research was used to determine how residents in Misisi Compound experienced the upgrading processes and to learn how engaged they were in the upgrading of their area. Purposive and random sampling was used to select the sample size of participants who were regarded as custodians of specific information to solve the identified problem. The research found that enabling opportunities contribute to the successful implementation of informal settlement upgrading initiatives. The study highlighted the benefits of a people-centred approach, allowing for the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders. To improve living conditions in informal settlements, residents prioritised security of tenure and municipal services as key to creating an enabling environment within which they could continue engaging in self-help housing or self-managed housing. The research concluded that an enabling environment is key to achieving the successful upgrading of Misisi Compound.University of the Free State Postgraduate Schoo
Identification of arboviruses circulating in mosquito populations in the Bloemfontein area, South Africa
No full textGlobally there are more than 3 500 different species of mosquito. Many of these are known to be the primary insect vectors of many medically important diseases. Adequate surveillance programs should be put in place to develop effective control strategies and to prevent outbreaks of disease. For a surveillance programme to be effective, mosquito vectors need to be identified accurately. This is done through combining morphological, molecular and environmental data to get more accurate identification results. Currently the diversity of mosquito populations circulating in the Bloemfontein area is not well defined. Mosquitoes were captured from three different sites in the Bloemfontein area. A total of 318 mosquitoes were collected in four different genera. A total of ten different species were identified using morphological identification. Six specimens could only be identified to genus level, because of extensive damage to their external anatomy. Representative specimens were selected from selected species. These included Anopheles squamosus, Culex theileri, Aedes aegypti, Mansonia uniformis and two Aedes subgenus Ochlerotatus species. The Ochlerotatus species include Ochlerotatus harrisoni and Ochlerotatus juppi. DNA was extracted from these mosquitoes and sequenced bidirectionally making use of the barcoding primers, HCO2198 and LCO1490. Anopheles squamosus and Aedes aegypti were identified successfully using the barcoding primers. The primers were less useful for obtaining adequate sequence data for genetic identification of Ochlerotatus spp., Culex theileri and Mansonia uniformis and it is proposed that additional sequence data be obtained subsequent to cloning of fragments. The field caught mosquitoes were sorted and pooled, according to species, capture site and capture date. An RT-qPCR assay was developed to detect Sindbis virus (SINV) using a primer and probe set specifically targeting a region of the nsp2 gene. Another RT-qPCR assay was developed to detect West Nile virus (WNV) and Wesselsbron virus (WSLV) using a primer and probe set targeting a region of the NS5 gene. The assays were validated using cDNA reverse transcribed from RNA extracted from wild caught mosquitoes to ensure that there were no inhibitors in the mosquitoes that would interfere with downstream reactions. These assays proved to work efficiently. RNA controls were constructed for WNV and WSLV to be used as the positive controls to validate the RT-qPCR assays.
RNA was extracted from mosquito pools and was screened using the RT-qPCR assays. All mosquito pools tested negative for the arboviruses that were screened for. Due to the small sample size and a low infectivity rate of mosquitoes, it is not surprising that no viral RNA was detected in this study. The number of mosquitoes caught in this study is too low to be used for surveillance but was rather used as a proof of concept for developing appropriate assays. Large scale surveillance programmes will be needed to determine the full extent of arbovirus circulation in the Bloemfontein area, Free State province, South Africa and the assays developed in this study can be used to execute such programmes.National Research Foundation (NRF)Poliomyelitis Research FoundationUniversity of the Free Stat
Re-interpreting the invisible boundaries of Bloemfontein: transforming the unconscious edges of familiarity into liminal spaces through architectural influences
No full textThe dissertation was derived from a concept on the geographical analysis of the Bloemfontein context. The investigation came to a realisation that there are invisible boundaries in the city that are created by its residents/inhabitants. These boundaries are formed when the inhabitants primarily participate in specific segments of the city. This is often a result of the day-to-day needs which are sustained by utilities including stores, filling stations, markets, etc. The city is divided into various communal districts, to distinguish between sectors and to aid orientation. Today, 54 percent of the world’s population occupies urban development globally. A proportion expected to increase to 66 percent by 2050 (United Nations, 2014). Concurrently, this particular phenomenon increases the vehicular use in the city context and consequently affects traffic cascade and efficiency. The effortlessness of daily commute around and within a city has a considerable effect on its participation, tourism enticement, daily enterprise and the quality of life. Bloemfontein has established a commuter bus system that assists the daily transitions of its dwellers. However, the system has not adapted to modern-day transit. With the increased automotive transport in the city, the roads have gained congestion since the inception of the system and have therefore lengthened the process of moving from point A to point B. Secondly, the city appreciation and unique experience have depreciated over the years, primarily due to the constraints of vehicle manoeuvre. This escalating phenomenon eliminates the narrative the city can tell, relinquishing the precious gems of Bloemfontein. With regard to the above-mentioned scenarios, the dissertation proposes a Bus Rapid Transit system. Utilising this type of system, the citizens can discover other parts of the city other than the ones they are familiar with. They can appreciate the visual treasures Bloemfontein offers, in the comfort of a transit system
Characterisation of the deep aquifers of South Africa - the Karoo Supergroup and Table Mountain Group
No full textAbstract not availableWater Research Commissio
Primary school subject leaders' perspectives and perceived competence on instructional leadership
No full textThe interpretation of instructional leadership by stakeholders in the South African education sector influences the quality of teaching and learning, including in primary schools. From the literature, it can be seen that instructional leadership is treated as the ambit of principals alone. However, the critical role played by heads of departments (HODs) as subject leaders in instructional leadership also needs to be considered. Owing to the criticisms and prospects of other stakeholders in education regarding the application of instructional leadership by HODs and/or subject leaders, their role became more complex and was interpreted differently. This study explores the primary school HODs and subject leaders’ perspectives and perceived competence in instructional leadership in order to develop suggestions for the improvement of instructional leadership among HODs and subject leaders.
The key premise is that the instructional leadership practices of HODs and subject leaders are constructed from their knowledge, understanding and beliefs about what instructional leadership is and is not. Therefore, the study investigates the nature of instructional leadership in primary schools.
The study was quantitative in nature and followed a post-positivism paradigm. A descriptive research design with a stratified sampling method was applied, and 20 primary schools were selected to represent each of the five districts in the Free State Province. Data collected using a questionnaire that was sent to 231 HODs from the sampled schools in September 2016. The final sample included 205 teachers who lead subjects in primary schools and who responded to the survey. All the respondents possess a minimum teaching qualification and up to 20 years of experience.
The findings give empirical evidence that HODs and subject leaders perceive instructional leadership as the jurisdiction of all stakeholders involved in education and the distribution of instructional leadership roles among staff members is preferred. The study also revealed that monitoring and control of teachers’ work is the main daily activity carried out as part of their roles, while other instructional leadership roles seem to be neglected. This provides empirical evidence that there is a need for the development of HODs and subject leaders in other features of instructional leadership as well as to increase the distribution of instructional leadership roles. It is recommended that HODs and subject leaders be developed in the aspects of instructional leadership, and that their development be carried out through formal training offered by accredited higher education institutions (HEIs)
Introducing sericulture to the rural: exploring how architecture can act as a hybrid model that can initiate change and transformation within a rural society
No full textThe focus of this dissertation stems from an interest in the physical and abstract parameters of the rural Bainsvlei community in Bloemfontein and their socio-economic problems that affects rural schools and children. This dissertation investigates how architectural hybridity can act as a model for change and transformation, particularly at Tjhabelang Primary School (figure 01) located in the rural community of Bainsvlei. Similar studies often confront the challenges of limited resources and education with traditional images of thought and fails to address the true root of the poverty cycle, that lies with the parental figures of children. Children are completely reliant on their parental sources for a better future and parents have the authority to install change. By disrupting the traditional image of thought and essentially habits, it can create place for change and new possibilities. This is done by introducing a platform where architecture act as a hybrid model of recognisable traditional methods within a larger scheme that speaks of change. This idea of change and disruption is already encompassed in the sericulture process, which is the rearing of silkworms for the production of silk. The Africa Silks Farm and Weavery as client introduce new opportunities in the community, such as employment, agriculture, trade and public events. Without change there is no room for development; this research explores a different view on how we can disrupt existing patterns in rural communities by creating new opportunities and essentially a pathway out of poverty
Characterization of T cell responses to the non-structural proteins of the M segment in survivors of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever
No full textDissertation (M.Med. (Medical Microbiology))--University of the Free State, 2019Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever orthonairovirus (CCHFV) is one of the most widely distributed arboviruses globally. The disease caused by the virus, Crimean- Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), continues to emerge and re-emerge across the globe. There are currently various vaccines under development for CCHF prevention. The non-structural M protein (NSM), GP38, highly variable mucin-like domain and N-terminus of GC regions in CCHFV have proved to be immunogenic in vaccine studies. Furthermore, both arms of the immune system have been found to be fundamental for protection in mice. However, there is limited information about immunity in patients following natural infection.
The aim of the study was to characterize T cell immune responses against the NSM, GP38 and the highly variable mucin-like domain of CCHFV in survivors of CCHF. This was achieved by first identifying immunogenic peptides in the regions of interest and determining the amino acid conservation of the identified peptides. An overlapping peptide library spanning the NSM, GP38 and highly variable mucin-like domain was designed using the South African CCHFV isolate SPU 103/87. The secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from 12 participants was screened using 24 peptide pools in an IFN-γ enzyme linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay.
IFN-γ secretion was detected in eight of the twelve participants. Two participants showed no detectable IFN-γ responses to any of the peptide pools, and another two were excluded from the analysis due to a high background in the negative controls indicating non-specific reactivity. Nine peptides were identified with the IFN-γ ELISpot, including five peptides in the GP38 region and four in the NSM region, thus confirming the immunogenic potential of these regions during natural infection. No immunogenic peptides were identified in the highly variable mucin-like domain, which is possibly because of the high genetic diversity in the region.
The identified immunogenic peptides were used to stimulate T cells of participants and a flow cytometry assay was performed to characterize the immune responses, with the focus on detecting the presence of the T cell memory subsets, the expression of CD107a, which is a cytotoxic marker, and the secretion of IFN-γ and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), which are antiviral cytokines.
Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells were detected in six participants in response to nine peptides. IFN-γ and TNF-α secretion within the CD4 and CD8 populations were comparable; thus, highlighting the ability of the CD8+ T cell population to secrete antiviral cytokines, even though the population is known to be predominantly cytotoxic. The secretion of IFN-γ was more frequent than TNF-α secretion in both the CD4 and CD8 populations. Polyfunctional T cells were detected with the phenotypes IFN- γ+CD107a+ and IFN-γ+ TNF-α+, in both the CD4 and CD8 populations. Therefore, the results indicate the possibility of efficient antiviral responses upon stimulation with viral epitopes in survivors of infection. Heterogeneous functionality of the T cell memory subsets was observed, however the terminally differentiated (TEMRA) subset was the most dominant and abundant, followed by the naïve (TN), effector memory (TEM), with the least abundant being the central memory (TCM) T cell memory subset.
The IFN-γ secretion detected with the IFN-γ ELISpot and the flow cytometry assay was used as basis for comparing the sensitivity of the two techniques. The IFN-γ ELISpot proved to be comparable to the flow cytometry assay. The ELISpot is suited for screening purposes, while the flow cytometry allowed further characterization of the T cell responses. Therefore, it is recommended that these complementary assays be used in combination.
In conclusion, T cell epitopes were identified in the NSM and GP38 regions of CCHFV. Polyfunctional T cells were found in both the CD4 and CD8 populations, thus suggesting the presence of effective long-term memory T cells responses in survivors of CCHF.Poliomyelitis Research FoundationNational Research Foundation (NRF)University of the Free Stat