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The role of Radio Rwanda as a facilitator of positive youth development: a case study of Kazi Ni Kazi radio programme.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The study connects to the role of media and communication and its role in democracy, development and social change broadly in Africa. Its focus is the role of radio in Rwanda as a facilitator of positive youth development and social change. Radio played a significant role in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi by encouraging citizens, especially the youth, to participate in the genocide. Today, radio in Rwanda aims to facilitate socioeconomic development. There is limited scholarship that explores these efforts from a rich qualitative approach that includes the voices and insights from both radio personnel and youth audiences. This study thus contributes new knowledge in this area. The study falls within an interpretive paradigm that presents and analyses youths’ perceptions and reception of the Kazi ni Kazi radio programme messaging and its influence on their life experience. To ascertain the predominant messages, radio episodes were selected for analysis and interviews were conducted with one director of Radio Rwanda, one programme producer of Kazi ni Kazi, six contributors to the Kazi ni Kazi programme, two experts who have served on Radio Rwanda and ten directors of youth centres/leaders of Agakiriro market centres. Further, 69 youth participated in focus group discussions. The study was guided by three complementary bodies of knowledge in both its data collection and analysis: Positive Youth Development Theory (Lerner et al., 2005) which demonstrates that if youth can be engaged in development projects, they can become useful citizens; the Participatory Framework for Researching and Evaluating Communication for Development and Social Change (Lennie & Tacchi, 2013) that champions participation in emergent issues that should be examined holistically and critically; and lastly the Participation Paradigm in Audience Research (Livingstone, 2013), which brings to the study’s theoretical framework a guide on the study of audiences not as recipients of information, but as active meaning makers. The study applied the qualitative content analysis and reflexive thematic analysis as suitable
methods of data analysis. The qualitative content analysis was applied to the Kazi ni Kazi recorded programmes, while the reflexive thematic analysis was applied to the interview and focus group transcripts. Each method resulted in generating themes that were then interpreted in relation to the
theoretical framework The findings of the study reveal the changing role of radio and its impact on development and social change aspirations and issues affecting the Rwanda youths. The predominant Kazi ni Kazi messaging centres on encouraging youth to work for development, breaking what the radio
personnel deem a culture of idleness. Finding from the field data analysis revealed that the Kazi ni Kazi radio programme promotes major tenets of development such as communication, competence, character, connection, and caring among the youth in its efforts around shifting mindsets, encouraging innovation and showcasing the potential in different economic sectors
Impact of an infectious disease training module on the awareness regarding antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention and control practices among third-year medical students in Kwazulu-Natal.
No full textNo abstract availabl
Deaf preservice teachers’ learning experiences at an institution of higher learning.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The introduction of the White Paper 6, allowed students with hearing impairments to enrol in different Institutions of Higher Learning. However, their academic success was influenced by
the type and the level of support they received. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of Deaf and Hard of Hearing preservice teachers at the Institution of Higher Learning. This study intended to determine the kind of support that Deaf or Hard of Hearing preservice teachers’ need for their learning and development. The study was conducted in one Institution of Higher Learning that offers a Bachelor of Education as a teaching profession in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. An interpretive paradigm and an exploratory case study research
design approach were adopted in this study. Three Deaf preservice teachers were purposively sampled. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews, unstructured
lecture room observations, and reflective journals. The data were thematically analysed using inductive analyses, and the results are presented in this thesis as the collated key findings. The
study was underpinned by the Sociocultural Theory of Cognitive Development developed by Lev Vygotsky in year 1962. Findings from the study indicated that while Deaf students are
accommodated and supported in an Institution of Higher Learning, there are still some challenges that affect their learning and development. The Institution provided interpreters for
each student, dictation apps, PowerPoint presentations and videos, however, there were significant gaps identified. There is a clear need for the Institution to provide more advanced
learning technologies such as induction loops in lecture rooms, enhance Deaf awareness and provide more interpreters to improve Deaf students learning opportunities. Further research is
required for teacher educators to explain how they support Deaf and Hard of Hearing learning
The effects of anthropogenic disturbances on vegetation, birds, and nearby communities in selected Southern Mistbelt Forests in South Africa.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Globally, forests are threatened by several disturbance factors. Most of these include anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, land use, agricultural conversion, and fragmentation, driven by poverty and rapid population expansion. These disturbances have a considerable impact on forest structure and composition. In eastern South Africa, most rural communities are located near natural forest patches and, if not, are within travelling distance, which allows for unlimited access to forest resources. Overexploitation and harvesting are common in these regions. Nevertheless, forests provide valuable ecosystem services to local communities, while they are also crucial for biodiversity as they host most species, regardless of the small space they take up on Earth. Therefore, understanding the trends of disturbance and future implications is necessary. We explored the benefits and costs of mistbelt forest disturbance to the nearby communities and biodiversity. We compared lower, medium, and highly disturbed mistbelt forests in three different areas in terms of (1) bird species diversity, forest structural complexity and heterogeneity, and (2) the impacts, values, and perspectives of the nearby communities. Firstly, we investigated the response of bird taxonomic and functional diversity to local and landscape characteristics. Bird species were sampled using fixed radius point counts at a distance of 200 m apart. The bird functional indices were quantified using the functional richness and functional evenness. The overall results showed a positive response of functional richness and evenness to structural complexity and heterogeneity. The categorical disturbance had a negative influence on the functional richness and evenness of the bird community, including the specialists and generalist bird species. However, we found that the functional richness and evenness in highly disturbed patches increased compared with medium disturbed patches. The results demonstrated the importance of microhabitat covariates in promoting species diversity and conservation of endangered and vulnerable species. Moreover, monitoring of recovering forest patches is crucial given their possible future role in biodiversity conservation. Secondly, we conducted a total of 360 interviews in seven villages/communities situated near indigenous forest patches using the questionnaires between October 2023 and January 2024. The overall results indicated that local community members benefit from forest resources such as firewood and traditional medicine. They use these resources to build houses, and fences, and generate sales. Furthermore, during the dry season, the forests become primarily important for foraging for their livestock. This prevents the use of expensive supplements to supplement their livestock. Therefore, human-nature interactions are an important step in balancing ecosystem services and conservation. In addition, forest ecosystems are crucial for the provision of ecosystem services for biodiversity and human livelihood. The proper management and conservation of the Mistbelt Forests is recommended for a long-term supply of resources and biodiversity conservation
The implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system in government departments: a case study of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The study is centred on “The Implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System in Government Departments: A case study of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development”. The Ministry of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation began in 2009, and the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) was established in January 2010. The Department of Social Development (DSD) Annual Reports for 2017/18 and 2018/19 contained the Auditor General’s audit outcomes of the Department of Social Development performance information. The audit/s revealed undesirable audit outcomes, with the department. Government departments should be effective in service delivery and efficient in allocating funds for service delivery programmes. The government is expected to report on its budget, programmes and achievements. The South African government has instituted a range of legislative and policy changes. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development’s mandate is to be delivered according to the South African Constitution and provide an effective, transparent, accountable and coherent intergovernmental system for provincial governments. This study seeks to understand the implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation System in the KwaZulu Natal Department of Social Development. The study objectives examine the implementation of the M&E system in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development and understand the role of monitoring and evaluation in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development. The qualitative research study employed the qualitative research design. This included interviews for data collection and a thematic strategy for data analysis. The study employed the theory of change. The findings show capacity gap between national, provincial, and local government organizations influences evaluations' credibility.The study recommendations support the assertion that M&E contributes to effective programme implementation and a level of good governance; an integrated approach is recommended and emphasised to recognise the multi-faceted nature of social problems
Theoretical investigation of second electric-field-induced second-harmonic-generation (ESHG) virial coefficients.
No full textDoctoral degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The molecular theory of the second electric-field-induced second-harmonic generation (ESHG) virial coefficient Bγ describing the effects of interacting pairs of molecules on the molecular hyperpolarizability is reviewed, and then extended to include contributions arising from the permanent electric quadrupole moments and the dipole-dipole-quadrupole hyperpolarizabilities of the molecules. The classical long-range dipole–induced-dipole model is used to describe the interactions between pairs of molecules. The molecular (hyper)polarizability tensor components required in the calculations have been obtained by ab initio computation using DALTON. This investigation has been limited to non-dipolar species, where the permanent electric quadrupole moment is the leading multipole moment. The expressions obtained for contributions to Bγ are evaluated numerically for the H2, N2, CO2 and C2H4 molecules. For CO2 and C2H4, the quadrupole-induced and dipole-dipole-quadrupole hyperpolarizability contributions become significant, and the calculated Bγ virial coefficients indicate that the pair-interaction contributions arising for CO2 and for C2H4 are large enough to be comfortably measurable by Shelton’s ESHG apparatus and electrode arrays
Entrepreneurship , market access and the role of water security in Urban-based farming.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Due to the growing urban population and the need for food, urban farming (UF) has gained support and appeal globally in recent years. UF has gained attention from researchers due to the growing need for food in urban areas, and the COVID-19 pandemic constraints revealing the weakness of urban agri-food systems in developing countries. Urban residents have chosen to use their agricultural expertise to combat poverty due to unemployment and limited livelihood options in urban settings, which has led to the growth of UF. Through the construction of short food supply chains, job possibilities, and biodiversity enhancement, UF has enormous potential for social, economic, and environmental development. Urban-based farming has become essential to environmental sustainability, economic growth, and food security. As more entrepreneur’s venture into the urban agricultural sector, market access and water security become crucial to their success. There are opportunities and problems at the nexus of market accessibility, water security, and entrepreneurship. On the one hand, urban farmers have a large market potential due to the rising demand for food produced locally. However, their potential is constrained by poor infrastructure, scarce water supplies, and obstacles to market access. By thoroughly examining the effects of market accessibility and water security on urban farming entrepreneurs, this study seeks to shed light on tactics that can promote the growth of resilient, sustainable urban agriculture ecosystems. The specific objectives of the study were to (i) identify the determinants of market participation decisions and level of market participation among smallholder urban vegetable farmers. (ii) determine the drivers of agricultural entrepreneurship among smallholder urban vegetable farmers. (iii) assess the role of water security on market access and entrepreneurship among smallholder urban vegetable farmers. (iv) explore the relationship between water security, market access, and entrepreneurship among smallholder urban vegetable farmers. The study used primary data, which was collected from a total of 156 smallholder urban vegetable farmers who were selected using multi-stage sampling. The study focused on two areas in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, namely Sobantu
Township, which is an urban area, and Mphophomeni Township, which is a peri-urban area. While analyzing the factors affecting the decision of smallholder urban vegetable farmers to participate in the market, the logistic model revealed that market participation decision among smallholder urban vegetable farmers was significantly influenced by credit use, access to market information, access to labour, and owning a smartphone. Moreover, the fractional response model revealed that the level of market participation among smallholder urban vegetable farmers was significantly influenced by age, cooperative membership, free input, storage, and market training. The study also investigated the factors influencing agricultural entrepreneurship among smallholder urban vegetable farmers. The agricultural entrepreneurship index was created using principal component analysis and used as a dependent variable to determine factors influencing agricultural entrepreneurship in a two-step generalized least-squares (GLS) model for dealing with multiplicative heteroskedasticity. The results indicated that entrepreneurial spirit, entrepreneurial attitude, farming interest, gender, education, farming information, selling produce, and the distance to input suppliers were significant factors that influenced agricultural entrepreneurship among smallholder urban vegetable farmers in the study areas.
The study further investigated the entrepreneurship, market access, and water security nexus in the context of smallholder urban farming using a Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach. The results revealed a significant inverse relationship between water security and entrepreneurial engagement, suggesting that higher water security may reduce the motivation for risk-taking and innovation among farmers. Conversely, market access did not have a statistically significant influence on entrepreneurship underscoring the need to explore other factors that might be more critical in driving entrepreneurship. These findings challenge conventional assumptions and highlight the need to consider local barriers beyond resource availability, such as market conditions and institutional support. This study contributes to the understanding of the complex association between entrepreneurship, market access, and water security, highlighting the complex dynamics influencing entrepreneurship in the urban agricultural sector and suggesting policy interventions to address non-resource-related constraints on entrepreneurial growth. The results point to an essential nuance in the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), where resource availability, while facilitating operational aspects, might reduce the perceived necessity for entrepreneurial action.
This study recommends that local municipalities should develop urban policies and programs that strengthen market training activities and form farmer co-operatives to meet market requirements and improve market participation among smallholder urban farmers Support institutions must be strengthened immediately because of the impact that institutional elements have on the agricultural production systems smallholder farmers. This might entail setting up strong extension services, offering technical support, and making credit and storage facilities more accessible. Furthermore, the study recommends urban policies and programs that strengthen urban farming activities, market information sources, and entrepreneurship training to improve agricultural entrepreneurship endeavors among smallholder urban farmers. It is suggested that conducting longitudinal studies would be beneficial in tracking how changes in resource availability, such as land, water access, and market conditions, influence entrepreneurial activities over time
Investigating security threat of e-banking services on pensioners: a case study of Hammarsdale, Mpumalanga Township, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This thesis has made inquiry into the security threats confronting pensioners who rely on e-banking services, with a focus on Hammarsdale, a township situated within the Mpumalanga region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A comprehensive understanding of the myriad risks inherent in e-banking is indispensable, especially in the contemporary digital epoch, where electronic financial transactions have burgeoned exponentially, especially among segments of the population characterised by their susceptibility, such as pensioners. Employing a qualitative research methodology, this study used in-depth interviews to engage directly with pensioners and security officers, exploring their perspectives, lived experiences, and adaptive behaviours concerning e-banking security. Through qualitative analyses, the research examined the challenges and anxieties encountered by pensioners in Hammarsdale concerning the security of their e-banking transactions, from phishing scams and malware attacks to social engineering tactics and account hijacking. The study undertook a critical examination of the efficacy and adequacy of security protocols and measures implemented by financial institutions and regulatory bodies in fortifying e-banking transactions within the unique socio-economic setting of Hammarsdale. By examining socio-economic factors, technological landscapes, and regulatory frameworks shaping e-banking security in Hammarsdale, this research aspired to offer practical and actionable recommendations for policymakers, financial institutions, and community stakeholders, with the overarching objective of bolstering trust, resilience, and inclusivity of e-banking services for pensioners across South Africa. Through its interdisciplinary approach, this study sought to contribute meaningfully to the broader discourse on financial empowerment, digital literacy, and cybersecurity, ultimately advocating for the equitable access and enhanced security of e-banking services for all pensioners, thereby fostering their financial well-being and societal participation in the digital era
Natural Polymorphisms at gag cleavage sites and their potential impact on the substrate envelope structure of HIV-1 Subtype C.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Limited studies have investigated the natural variations within the gag gene of HIV-1 subtype C, particularly at the cleavage sites (CSs), with most existing research focusing on subtype B.
This study extended prior findings by comparing the natural variability at the CSs between HIV-1 subtypes B and C, extending the analysis from 5AA to 10AA and 15 AA on either side of the scissile bond, highlighting differences that may contribute to protease (PR)-substrate interactions and viral fitness. In addition, this study provided a more comprehensive understanding of how natural polymorphisms at the CSs (5AA) influence the substrate envelope, the substrate's consensus volume, which serves as a template that the PR uses to recognize and bind to a specific CS. The findings revealed distinct patterns of CS variability between subtypes B and C. Notably, subtype C sequences exhibited high variability at the P2/NC and P1/P6 CSs. The P2/NC CS showed the highest variability, with 100% of sequences in subtype C being polymorphic at this site. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that the increase in sequence length from 5AA to 15AA amplified the variability, particularly at the P2/NC and P1/P6 sites. While this was expected, it was interesting to note that the greatest variability was seen where the extended sites overlapped. This suggests that subtype C may have a more diverse and mutable PR CS profile. However, this requires further investigation.
The structural analysis of the CSs showed that strong binding affinities were linked to extensive hydrogen bonding and π-alkyl interactions, often involving conserved residues, while unfavourable interactions such as steric clashes weakened binding. Subtype B generally had more diverse and distributed interactions, including extensive hydrophobic contacts (e.g., Val32, Ile50), salt bridges, and favourable hydrogen bonds involving the D25, Asp29, and Asp30 residues. Subtype C often formed fewer but stronger hydrogen bonds (shorter distances), with specific π interactions (e.g., with Val82), but also displayed unfavourable donor–donor clashes, especially in MA/CA and NC/P1 complexes. For P2/NC, subtype B had a wider interaction network, while subtype C relied on localized binding. Although subtype C sometimes showed slightly higher binding affinities (e.g., -8.3 kcal/mol), subtype B’s interactions were more varied and involved more structural and catalytic residues, suggesting potentially more stable binding overall.
In conclusion, natural polymorphisms at the gag CSs impacted the structure of the substrate envelope of HIV-1 subtype C which could impact the cleavage by PR. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding the distinct mutation profiles of HIV-1 subtypes B versus C, which is important for the advancement of effective therapeutic strategies to combat HIV-1 globally
Pre-service teacher education lecturers’ constructions and enactment of critical thinking.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Critical thinking (CT) is mandated in South African education policy as essential for educational transformation, yet its implementation relies heavily on individual practitioners. While extensive literature explores CT's theoretical value, limited empirical research examines how lecturers actually understand and practice CT in their everyday teaching contexts. This study investigated how Pre-Service Teacher Education (P-STE) lecturers construct and enact critical thinking, and the factors influencing their practices. The research employed an interpretive single-site case study design at one independent higher
education institution in eThekwini, South Africa. Six P-STE lecturers participated through lecture observations and semi-structured interviews. The study used currere as a theoretical lens to examine curriculum and policy documents mandating CT, while the Forcefield Model of Teacher Development helped identify influences on lecturers' CT constructions. Thematic analysis was applied to generate findings addressing the research questions. Key findings revealed that education policy mandated CT implementation without providing conceptual clarity about what CT entails or how it should be taught and learned. This gap left lecturers with limited practical guidance for implementation. Lecturers' understanding of CT was primarily shaped by their disciplinary backgrounds, which drew heavily from Western university traditions encountered during their own undergraduate education. Their CT enactments reflected these experiential encounters, with additional minor influences from home environments and high school experiences. The study concluded that in South Africa's complex educational context, lecturers draw from diverse sources, including disciplinary knowledge, higher education experiences, schooling, and personal backgrounds, to create their own approaches to CT. These self-constructed assemblages reflect lecturers' ingenuity in addressing the absence of clear implementation guidance. The research recommends that CT development would benefit from more deliberate national and institutional support that clarifies not only CT's theoretical importance but also provides practical implementation strategies, thereby better supporting P-STE lecturers in fostering critical thinking skills