11613 research outputs found
Sort by
Mentoring as an intervention management strategy to improve academic success of Grade 12 accounting in selected Free State schools
No full textAccounting education in South Africa has been underachieving in terms of the expected pass rate of learners in Grade 12; learners are underprepared or unprepared for the real world. The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants demonstrates that the framework for a bright Accounting learner includes acquiring technical skills that match with the specific Accounting competencies in which the Grade 12 Accounting learners are not achieving. This study aims at applying an intervention management strategy to improve the academic success of Grade 12 Accounting learners. In order to carry out the study goals and objectives, the researcher used the parameters of critical emancipatory research and participatory action research. The research also focused on the mobilisation and establishment of a team of co-researchers and working out a strategic plan to address the problem within the critical emancipatory research lens. The identification and the relevancy of the co-researchers selected for this study are discussed in the design section. The data-gathering methods and techniques are highlighted. An interesting finding is that it was generally accepted that mentoring could contribute to the improvement of the academic success of Grade 12 Accounting learners if they were given the chance to perform optimally. Nevertheless, despite the assistance of government agencies, funding, training initiatives, such as theInternet Broadcast Project of the University of the Free State collaborating with the Department of Education, and the participation of the private sector, such as by Kagiso Trust and projects of Jenn, Grade 12 Accounting in South Africa is in a serious condition. The study, therefore, recommends that the teaching strategies used must conform to the contextual theory of learning where the purpose of education is the integration of the content learnt with the experience of the real world. So, teaching tools such as case studies, interactive simulations and games, and group work must serve in the framework of mentoring as an intervention strategy to improve the success rate of Grade12 Accounting learners
An assessment of groundwater contaminant source and evolution from underground coal gasification at the Majuba Pilot Plant
No full textThis study undertook to investigate the geochemistry of the potential sources of inorganic groundwater contamination from a spent UCG chamber. The Eskom Majuba UCG pilot plant in South Africa was the main study area for this research. Two core drills that intercepted the spent geo-reactor retrieved residue products (ash, char and heat affected host rocks). Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of UCG residue products was done to establish the inorganic groundwater contamination risk. QEMSCAN and XRD results indicated that most of the primary mineral phases were transformed into high temperature phases. Above average levels of high temperature minerals: mullite, cordierite, tridymite and cristobalite were detected in the roof of the spent UCG chamber. Pyrite transformed into pyrrhotite as recorded by the inverse relationship in the profiles of these sulphide minerals. In general, the results established that char and rocks in the vicinity of the gasification chamber contained relatively lower pyrite levels when compared with the original lithology. Total sulphur analysis of the char recorded comparatively lower sulphur levels as compared to natural coal and this rendered the spent geo-reactor more environmentally sustainable, as lower total sulphur equates to less risk of acid rock drainage. Most of the sulphur is converted to H2S during the gasification process and transported with the syngas to the surface, where it can be removed and captured as elemental sulphur. The second objective of the study dealt with the water-rock interaction in the spent geo-reactor. The assessment of the water-rock geochemistry was conducted through leaching tests under different geochemical environments. This task was achieved by subjecting different sections of the geo-reactor to leaching by the following mediums: deionized water, hydrogen peroxide and sulphuric acid. Elements showed a pH-dependent solubility as seen by the general negative correlation factor for each element. The water elution tests (no pH buffer), released the lowest concentrations of ionic species into solution and had an alkaline final pH in most cases. The water elution results were in the main, one or several orders of magnitude lower than the other elution tests results. The peroxide leaching results recorded lower pH levels as compared to the water elution results and consequently the solubility of elements increased. Peroxide elution induces full solution oxidation and this is the basis for acid rock drainage associated with coal mining. The decrease in pH is attributed to oxidation of sulphide minerals which acidify the solution thereby increasing the solubility of elements. Acid leaching was used to assess the leaching dynamics in the spent UCG geo-reactor if acidic conditions developed. Chemical dissociation of carbonates and silicates phases failed to buffer or counter the acidity by consuming the hydronium that is responsible for the low pH. It is therefore recommended that a drop in pH below 4 in mine water around a spent UCG geo-reactor must be countered by acid neutralization strategies such as lime injection to avoid development of acid mine drainage. The mine water elution was utilized to assess the leaching dynamics under field conditions as waterrock interactions were subjected to experimental temperature of 25 and 70 °C, respectively. The following elements showed general decrease in concentration with increase in temperature Mn, Fe, Ni, Sr, Ca, M and V. The following elements however showed general increase in concentration with increase in temperature: B, K, Cu, and SO4. The distribution coefficient was used to assess dissociation of elements between the mine water and the solid surfaces of the UCG residue products. Contaminant migration was confirmed with the heat affected roof releasing the most metals into solution at 25 °C while the highest concentrations of metals mobilized into solution at 70 °C emanated from both the roof and char samples. Aluminium and Fe were the main non-mobile elements across all sections of the geo-reactor and their relative mobility was not affected by change in experimental temperature. The semi mobile metals were Ba, Ni, Cu, Mn, V while metals with great affinity to leach into water phase were Sr, V, Co, Mn, Cu, B and Pb. The higher elution ability of Pb from char samples at higher temperatures is an environmental concern as generally this element was not mobilized from other sections of the geo-reactor from both deionized water and mine water eluates, which indicates that temperature plays a role in dissolving this element from the organic surfaces. Acid base accounting was used as a predictive tool to assess the acid producing capacity of the spent geo-reactor. The NNP (net neutralising potential) was calculated in terms of the difference between acid producing (AP) and neutralising potential (NP). The analysis utilized both the acid base accounting (ABA) and net acid generation (NAG) methods of acid generation prediction. Utilizing both NNP and NAG test for potential acid generation of samples provides a more reliable evaluation technique than either test used alone. NNP characterized around 13% of samples as acid generating with only 7.5% as non-acid generating. NAG classified 26 samples (49%) as high acid generating while only 13 (24.5%) was characterized as non-acid generating. In general, acid generation is a possibility in a spent georeactors however, UCG operations are usually at very deep locations (>200 mbgl) and there might not be sources of oxygen at this depths, for the oxidation of sulphide minerals. However, oxygenated water can be introduced into the chamber during quenching or through drainage of shallow aquifers via hydraulic connections with the spent geo-reactor. The risk to groundwater contamination from UCG activities was assessed in terms of the sourcepathway-receptor model. The spent geo-reactor was identified as the source, as it houses the residue material that contain toxic species as determined by the mineralogical assessment and leaching tests. The pathway was divided into two; (1) a borehole intercepting the spent geo-reactor which provided a vertical pathway from the coal seam aquifer to the overlying aquifers. (2) the in-seam groundwater pathway (lateral extent) that was assessed by monthly groundwater data from the coal seam aquifer taken from monitoring boreholes and compared with background. Stable isotope and hydrochemistry results show that the shallow aquifer and the deep aquifer are not hydraulically connected and therefore it is unlikely that groundwater from the gasification zone would contaminate the shallow aquifer. The deep aquifer had a distinctive isotopic signature for stable isotopes from the shallower aquifers which confirms that there was no groundwater mixing in these aquifers. There was stratification in all the boreholes (monitoring and verification) assessed in terms of EC and temperature. The stratification in EC showed that the quality of water that is sitting on top of the well is better than that in the bottom. This trend suggest that in the event of fractures forming due to roof collapse or any other event that could possibly create a flow path between the cavity water and the shallower strata, the water quality will not be uniform throughout the hydraulic connection. Better water quality will preferentially be at the shallow levels with low quality water concentrated at the bottom. Time series data displayed the chemical evolution of the coal seam aquifer. The results showed no evidence of inorganic contamination from UCG activities. In most cases, the water from the verification boreholes was of lower salinity than background and monitoring boreholes. This is due to surface water that was injected into the UCG cavity during quenching. The groundwater chemistry in the geo-reactor showed a general trend of degenerating to background levels
UFS visual arts building: academic art in the public conciousness
No full textThis thesis dissertation seeks to discover how the disciplines of the academic arts may be exposed and promoted in the public conciousness, specificaly in the context of the University of the Free State student body. The proposal aims to create a space that enhances the study of the Fine art and Art History at the University of the Free State while transforming the perception of these disciplines in the public conciousness to a more accessible and inviting one. The conceptual and pragmatic catalysts of this project are: The pervasive misunderstanding of the discipline of fine art in the general public. The physical and social seperation of the Dept. of Fine Arts and the Dept. of Arts History & Image Studies from the rest rest of the UFS campus. The inadequate state of facilities currently accommodating the Dept. of Fine Art and the Dept. of Art History & Image Studies
Celebrating the natural romantic landscape of the Diepwalle forest through man’s explorative experience
No full textThe focus of the dissertation stems from a personal interest and experience in the mystical Knysna Forest. This curiosity was further strengthened by Dalene Matthee’s novel ‘Circles in the Forest’. This mystical forest was partially threatened in June 2017, due to the raging Knysna wildfire. The drought South Africa experienced since 2016 strongly contributed to this devastating threat. The wildfire led to the question of man’s ethical responsibility toward nature. The notion of providing layers of protection and conservation of the lush indigenous Knysna forest, became the golden thread that informed the aim of this dissertation. The aim for this dissertation is for man to celebrate and re-connect with nature, rather than being two separate entities. The site for this dissertation proposal is located 22 km east from Knysna, within the Diepwalle Forest Nature Reserve. The proposed Forest Exploration Hub offers the visitor a platform to experience and discover nature, through the various functions of the proposed design. The intention of the proposal is not to conserve the forest through the separation of man and nature, but rather to inform and educate the visitors on conservation measures, forest histories, facts and myths. Celebration of the indigenous forest take place through various sensory experiences that enhance man’s connection with the forest. Theoretical notions such as embodiment, narrative and architectural promenade steered the investigation towards creating a place where man and nature can co-exist
Unveiling the art of storytelling: Batho Book House “an educational node to tell stories of the place and its people” a Batho Library & Learning Centre
No full textBatho, one of South Africa's oldest townships has been known for its rich culture through its people and its history. It has become a place in Bloemfontein that one can explore and find extraordinary tales of how the past has impacted a community to the point of shaping an entire micro-society. This dissertation proposes the investigation of Batho and its residents through the implementation of a new Library and Learning Centre. The dissertation will come to describe the concepts of “connection”, “identity”, and “reflection” as a way of driving the design for the thesis proposal. This research will examine the chosen site within Batho, as well as exhibit Batho’s history and social spectrum through its local vernacular identity. This is all in effort for creating design drivers that contribute culturally and appropriately within the existing context. The thesis proposal is exhibited in an attempt to stitch itself into the existing urban fabric whilst complementing the existing local narrative through historical studies and modern adaptabilities
Biomechanical Hippotherapy Centre and Cultural Pavilion: investigating specialised [horse-assisted] therapy in the rural landscape of Semonkong, Lesotho
No full textHorses were first domesticated in around 3500 BC by the Steppe people of Euroasia, modern-day Kyrgyzstan (Kelekna, 2009; 398). The horse is an extremely fast, strong, courageous, and intelligent animal; qualities hard to tame, and yet most human exploration and conquest was done on the backs of horses. The horse has been instrumental to human achievement. The relationship between horse and man is significant throughout history (Kelekna, 2009; 398-403). This relationship runs deeper than the horse only being used as a tool. There exists a deep bond between man and horse
The petrogenesis of carbonatites: mineral variations and effects on the REE mineralization
No full textThesis (Ph.D.(Geology))--University of the Free State, 2019Carbonatites have high economic potential and are important sources for a range of commodities, including P, Fe, F, Cu, high field strength elements (HFSE, e.g., Zr, Hf, Nb, U), and especially the rareearth elements (REE). About 10% of all known carbonatite occurrences (50 out of 550) are currently mined for those commodities and about 40% of all REE exploration projects target carbonatites and associated rock types. Despite their economic importance we have a limited understanding of carbonatite systems and their relationship with associated rock types. A range of processes result in strong variability in the mineralogy and mineral chemistry of carbonatites, and hence their economic viability. However, scientific interest in understanding the complex mineralizations and associations in carbonatitic systems has tremendously increased. Our studies focused on two carbonatite complexes, namely the Palabora Carbonatite Complex (South Africa) and the Kaiserstuhl Volcanic Complex (Germany), that display a variety of mineral assemblages and mineral chemistries. The Palabora carbonatite clearly indicates an insignificant orthomagmatic REE mineralization, a late-magmatic enrichment of REE mineral phases and an effective post-magmatic redistribution of the REE mineralization. The Kaiserstuhl carbonatites, on the other hand, show a greater diversity in their REE concentrations due to a wider range of petrogenetic processes. Some of the Kaiserstuhl carbonatite bodies experienced a strong hydrothermal enrichment of REE. In contrast, one Kaiserstuhl carbonatite body, namely the Badberg, shows strong retention of REE by apatite during early orthomagmatic stages. This carbonatite body lacks a late-magmatic to hydrothermal REE enrichment. The enhanced incorporation of REE into orthomagmatic apatite is attributed to a coupled substitution that is promoted by host rock contamination. Since the REE-hosting mineral type, its abundance and its mineral associations are some geological influences on a carbonatite being economically viable or not, understanding the causes and modifications of REE mineralization is of crucial importance. We use the Palabora complex (and the Fen complex, Norway) to illustrate the individual evolutionary stages of those carbonatites. At the Kaiserstuhl complex we illustrate the influence of external silicate contamination on the economic potential of a carbonatite. Furthermore, we present a new model that reconstructs the emplacement of, and relation between, carbonatites and associated rocks. This model predicts the ratio between carbonatites and associated rock types. It also explains the origin of phoscorite magmas
Evaluating families and breeding values of parental populations in sugarcane
No full textSugarcane is a complex crop which is under complex genetic control where chromosomes get eliminated after crossing, resulting in progeny performance deviating from the expected based mid-parent values. The early stage of sugarcane breeding is generally associated with low levels of precision and selection efficiency due to the significant genotype by environment interaction effects and competition among genotypes. The general aim of this study was to evaluate sugarcane families and assess the breeding values (BV) of genotypes to increase crossing and selection efficiency in sugarcane breeding programmes. The objectives were; to 1) determine the magnitudes of variability in family variance components, 2) broad-sense heritability (H) and to evaluate their implications in breeding for cane yield, 3) to evaluate BV of genotypes using best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP), 4) to determine the range of BV among the SASRI gene pool, 5) to investigate family by environment interaction and evaluate its implications in sugarcane varietal development breeding. Family data on stalk number, stalk height and stalk diameter were sampled from the first 20 genotypes per family plot across the SASRI regional breeding programmes and were used to calculate cane yield. Highly significant (P0.05). Evaluating families in multi-locations proved to be the need of the hour than its performance across ratoon crops. BLUP estimates identified elite families with significantly higher cane yield across locations and which were location specific compared to population mean. Results from this research could be used to guide future crossing (trait combinations) and selection at early stages of breeding thereby enhancing breeding efficiency.National Research Foundation (NRF)South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI
Attitudes of university students towards Sesotho: a case study of students enrolled in Sesotho modules
No full textLanguage attitudes towards Sesotho remain a largely unexplored area of sociolinguistics in South Africa. African languages in parts of Africa did not enjoy the parity of use in business, justice system, politics and media during colonial and apartheid eras. This limited function given to indigenous languages in formal functions or settings has significantly affected the perceptions of speakers of African languages about their languages. The depravation of African languages an opportunity for equivalent usage in various prestigious domains by the governments that ruled South Africa until the collapse of apartheid has dented African languages. Linguistic practices observed in the education, business and legal system prior democratic rule in South African have not significantly changed. The hegemony of English is still observed. Indigenous languages have yet to play significant roles in society and in strategic sections of the state. This study, therefore, aimed at establishing university students’ attitudes towards one of the formerly marginalised indigenous South African languages, Sesotho. While the primary objective was to establish students’ attitudes, attention was also given to factors which are responsible for the attitudes possessed by university students enrolled in Sesotho towards Sesotho. The study used a multipronged approach in its elicitation of data. Employing both questionnaires and interviews. The findings indicate that there are positive attitudes towards Sesotho among students enrolled for Sesotho modules. Students’ responses largely suggested that they want the language to be meaningfully developed so that it can be actively used in education, particularly higher education. Students also realised the benefits inherent in getting education in their own languages. Moreover, students indicated bilingual practices in teaching practices within lectures may prove to benefit their education in higher education especially at the university which this study used as its research site. This study therefore recommends that practical steps must be taken to advance the use of Sesotho in higher domains. The language question in higher education must be taken seriously. Independent structures and bodies must be established within universities to monitor and enforce adherence to prescriptions as provided in institutional language policies. Institutions must quickly realise impact that indigenous languages can have in the development of the country. The government together with its chapter 9 institutions must actively engage institutions with clear-cut programmes on the elevation of indigenous languages.Sesotho: Ditsela tseo batho ba bonang Sesotho kateng e dutse e le karolo ya phedisanopuong ya
linkwistiki e sa natsweng haholo Afrika Borwa. Dipuo tsa Maafrika dikarolong tse ding tsa
Afrika ha di a ka tsa fumana monyetla wa ho sebediswa kgwebong, ditshebeletso ho tsa
toka, dipolotiking le bophatlatsing ba ditaba nakong ya bokoloniale le dinakong tsa
kgethollo. Tlhokeho ena ya tshebediso ya dipuo tsa lapeng mesebetsing e amohelehileng
kapa ditikoloho tse tshwanelehileng e behile tjhebeho ya dipuo tsa Maafrika ka mosing
mabapi le tshebediso ya dipuo tsa bona. Taba ya ho kotela dipuo tsa Maafrika, ho se di
nehe tokelo ya ho tshwana le dipuo tse ding tshebedisong ya Makala a mmusong wa
Afrika Borwa, ho entse hore seriti sa dipuo tsa Maafrika se we. Ho boha tshebediso ya
dipuo tsa Maafrika thutong, kgwebong le tshebetsong ya toka pele ho puso ya tokoloho
Afrika Borwa ha ho a fetoha ho hang. Taolo ya puo ya English e ntse e bonahala. Dipuo
tsa lapeng di ntse di na le kabelo eo di lokelang ho ba le yona setjhabeng le mafapheng
a mang a hlokolosi mmusong. Ka hoo, sepheo sa boithuto bona ke ho utolla pono ya
baithuti ba yunivesithi ho e nngwe ya dipuo tsa lapeng e neng kgellwa fatshe dipuong tsa
Afrika Borwa, Sesotho. Leha sepheo sa motheo e ne e le ho utolla pono ya baithuti, ho
ile ha boelwa ha shejwa dintlha tse ding tse nang le seabo ponong ya baithuti ba
ingodiseditseng Sesotho. Boithuto bona bo sebedisitse mawa a mangata a fapaneng ho
bokella datha, ho sebedisitswe mmoho le mathatama a dipotso le diinthavui. Diphetho di
bontsha hore ho na le pono e ntle ka Sesotho ho baithuti ba ingodiseditseng dimojule tsa
Sesotho. Dikarabo tsa baithuti di lekanya hore baithuti ba lakatsa ha puo ya Sesotho e
ka ntshetswa pele hore e tle e kgone ho ka sebediswa thutong e phahameng.
Baithuti ba boetse ba hlokometse molemo wa ho fuwa thuto ka dipuo tsa bona.
Haholoholo, baithuti ba elelletswe tshebediso ya dipuo tse ngata ha ho rutwa ke barupelli
ba bona le kamoo ho etsahalang kateng thutong e phahameng haholo yunivesithing moo
boithuto bona bo etseditsweng teng. Boithuto bona bo kgothaletsa hore mehato e
bonahalang e lokelwa ho nkuwa ho phahamisa tshebediso ya Sesotho thutong e
phahameng. Taba ya puo thutong e phahameng e lokelwa ho tsotellwa haholo. Mekgatlo
le dibopeho tse ikemetseng di lokelwa ho hlongwa ka hare ho diyunivesithi ho lekola le
ho hatella tshebediso ya maano le dipholisi tsa tshebediso ya puo. Ditheo di lokela ho
elellwa ka potlako sekgahla seo dipuo tsa lapeng di nang le sona ntshetsopeleng ya naha.
Mmuso hammoho le ditheo tsa kgaolo ya 9 di lokela ho kenyeletsa ditheo tse ding tse
nang le mananeo a ho phahamisa dipuo tsa lapeng.UFS Postgraduate Schoo