21623 research outputs found
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Investor sentiment, stock returns and idiosyncratic volatility on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The convergence of modern finance theory and empirical evidence is explored to identify the impact of idiosyncratic volatility on stock returns. Whilst traditional financial theory indicates that idiosyncratic volatility should not significantly affect stock returns, real-world data indicates that investors often struggle to diversify effectively, rendering idiosyncratic volatility a relevant risk factor. Traders frequently rely on sentiment to gauge short-term price movements driven by investor behaviour. Therefore, this study argues that investor sentiment, which is not usually grounded in fundamentals, plays an important role in explaining idiosyncratic volatility, thereby influencing stock returns. Consequently, the research investigates the intricate relationship between investor sentiment, stock returns and idiosyncratic volatility within the various sectors of the JSE from January 2003 to December 2022. The study used monthly closing stock prices and dividend yield data from sector indices. PCA was used to gauge investor sentiment, incorporating various proxy indicators, including the rand/dollar exchange rate, repo rate, trading volume, volatility index, net migration rate, price of oil and price of gold, collectively providing an estimate of an investor sentiment index. Idiosyncratic volatility was estimated using computed sector and market returns, size, value, profitability and investment factors. To calculate idiosyncratic volatility, the study applied both the CAPM and the Fama and French 3 & 5 Factor models, which collectively generated a comprehensive measure of idiosyncratic volatility for the analysis. The objectives of the study was to develop an idiosyncratic volatility series for each JSE sector index, to determine the relationship between investor sentiment and idiosyncratic volatility across JSE sectors, to examine the impact of idiosyncratic volatility on stock market returns within the JSE sectors and to analyse the relationship between investor sentiment and stock market returns across JSE sectors. Thereafter, the NARDL model was used as the analysis method to achieve the study’s objectives. The study found a significant interplay among investor sentiment, stock returns and idiosyncratic volatility. These key findings highlight a dual relationship for all sectors: firstly, that investor sentiment substantially influences both stock returns and idiosyncratic volatility and secondly, that idiosyncratic volatility exerts a notable impact on stock returns. This underlines the important role of investor sentiment and idiosyncratic volatility as significant risk factors that offer valuable insights for investors seeking to apply valuation models to specific stocks listed on the JSE. Importantly, the quality of financial information distributed by the market and individual firms plays a central role in shaping both investor sentiment and idiosyncratic volatility
Micronutrient deficiency status in school feeding schemes: a case study of 5-9 year olds in Driefontein and Kleinfontein.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Malnutrition, particularly micronutrient deficiencies, remains a significant public health issue affecting millions of children worldwide, including those in South Africa. This study addresses the persistent problem of micronutrient deficiencies among Foundation Phase school children in Driefontein and Kleinfontein, Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, despite the implementation of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP). The study was guided by two critical research questions: (i) What is the current state of micronutrient deficiencies among Foundation Phase school children in Driefontein and Kleinfontein areas? (ii) What are the factors influencing the nutritional micronutrient status of these children? To answer these questions, a cross-sectional case study design using mixed methods was employed. Quantitative data was gathered through dietary surveys and nutritional assessments to determine the prevalence and severity of deficiencies in key micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamin A. Concurrently, qualitative data was collected through in-depth focus group interviews with various stakeholders, including cooks, suppliers, principals, and foundation phase teachers. The investigation was grounded in three pivotal frameworks developed by UNICEF: the UNICEF Conceptual Framework for Malnutrition (1990), the UNICEF Conceptual Framework for Malnutrition (1992), and the UNICEF Conceptual Framework on the Determinants of Maternal and Child Nutrition (2020). Findings for Research Question 1 revealed that inadequate dietary intake and poor dietary diversity are prevalent among the children in Driefontein and Kleinfontein. Despite the NSNP’s efforts, many children continue to suffer from deficiencies in essential micronutrients. Physical examinations showed that while most learners in School A were well-nourished with only mild deficiencies, School B exhibited more frequent signs of deficiencies, particularly in hair and skin health. The nutritional value of the meals provided by the schools lacked sufficient vegetables and fruits, essential for vitamins and minerals, and had limited sources of omega-3 fatty acids, indicating a need for more diverse protein sources. Findings for Research Question 2 highlighted the significant impact of socioeconomic constraints, lack of nutritional balance, limited nutritional education, and the absence of food gardens on malnutrition. The school-feeding program is widely supported and plays a crucial role in addressing food insecurity and supporting children’s health and academic performance. However, concerns about the adequacy and balance of the meals provided suggest a need for targeted improvements. The study also identified budget constraints, timely payments, and the need for increased funding and policy development as critical themes for the long-term sustainability of school meal programmes. Recommendations included the development and implementation of school nutrition policies, standards for healthy meals and snacks, and fostering public-private partnerships to enhance the overall effectiveness of the NSNP program.
The findings underscore the multifaceted nature of malnutrition, highlighting the need for nuanced theoretical models that consider local contexts. Practically, the study identifies critical areas for intervention, such as ensuring consistent funding and comprehensive nutritional education. Policy implications include the necessity for increased funding, robust school nutrition policies, and addressing logistical challenges. Methodologically, the mixed methods approach provided a holistic understanding, but future longitudinal studies are needed to establish causality. Overall, the study calls for improvements in meal quality, variety, and financial management to enhance the feeding scheme’s effectiveness
Exploring the role of transformational leadership in overcoming post-coronavirus challenges and building resilience in tourism SMMEs in eThekwini Municipality.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This study explores the role of transformational leadership in overcoming postcoronavirus challenges and building resilience in tourism SMMEs in eThekwini Municipality. It aims to understand the role of transformational leadership and resilience in navigating these challenges, focusing on how leadership styles can empower diverse workforce groups and foster organisational resilience. Using a qualitative approach, the research incorporated demographic insights through semistructured interviews with eighteen participants who included SMME leaders, managers, and employees who were purposively sampled. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse interview transcripts and document data. The findings revealed that demographic diversity, structural inequities, and a competitive digital landscape significantly impact SMMEs' operations. The study highlights that adaptive leadership is crucial for empowering teams and enabling them to withstand external pressures, emphasising the importance of tailored support mechanisms for diverse employee needs. Thus, this study recommends that policymakers should enhance financial support for tourism SMMEs. SMME leaders are encouraged to adopt transformational leadership practices that foster adaptability and team cohesion, promote resilience through community partnerships, and implement tailored communication strategies for their diverse workforce. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of digital transformation, the role of inclusive policy frameworks for black-led SMMEs and longitudinal studies to evaluate the effectiveness of resilience-building measures
Determinants of effective contract management in South African state-owned enterprises: the case of Transnet SOC Ltd.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Contract management is one of the most critical, sensitive, yet very important active monitoring and control tools of a contract between a procuring and disposing entity and the contractor, to ensure delivery of a cost effective and reliable service at an agreed standard, time, price and quality level of goods and services. It is the final stage in the bidding process and marks the beginning of a contractual relationship between all those involved. Contract management, workforce competence and organisational process capability becomes vital in this process. Thus, this study aimed to establish and evaluate the determinants for effective contract management using Transnet SOC Ltd as the unit of analysis.
The target population consisted of all the employees involved in contract administration within KwaZulu-Natal Divisions of Transnet SOC Ltd. To obtain data, both probability and non- probability sampling techniques were used, using a structured questionnaire and interviews. For quantitative data, a systematic sampling method was used, whereas for the qualitative data, a purposive sampling technique was employed. The study thus used a mixed methods approach. The sample size for the quantitative analysis was 192, while the qualitative analysis made use of ten interviews held with senior staff members.
Quantitative data were captured and analysed on Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) v22.0 and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) v 24.0 to yield descriptive and inferential statistics. Structural Equation Modelling was then used to provide estimates of the strength of all the hypothesised relationships. The principle of technical saturation was employed to ascertain the adequacy of the sample size for the qualitative aspect of the research. The data was analysed by means of NVivo. Thematic analysis was undertaken to create themes from the interview transcripts.
The determinants of contract management that were tested were contract administration; employee competency; information technology; risk management and supplier relations. The key findings from the study were that effective contract management was significantly and positively influenced by contract administration, employee competency and risk management. The hypothesised relationships between information technology and supplier relationship with effective contract management were not supported.
It was generally agreed that although procurement policies exist in Transnet SOC Ltd, they need to be adhered to. Red tape and copious amounts of paperwork were cited as some of the key challenges. There was also a general feeling that supplier relationships were not at their best. Although employees were believed to be competent, there appeared to be a lack of adequate support in terms of resources. However, information technology was being harnessed to aid contract management activities. Workshops were recommended for sharing risk incidences and planning for their mitigation.
Based on the study findings, it was recommended that there should be clearly laid out contract administration procedures, technology policy and staff development to ensure effective implementation of contract management procedures. Furthermore, the organisation must increase the capacity of the Risk Management Unit to be able to adequately support contract management related risk processes. It was also recommended that the organisation build strong relations with suppliers to facilitate the effective management of contracts. Lastly, a model was developed to enhance effective contract management within SOEs
Assessing the role of inventory management in construction project cost overrun in a small and medium-sized enterprise in Witbank.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Material inputs are an important factor in the success of construction projects, directly impacting costs and timelines. Mabhele and Associates is a small-medium enterprise supporting or subcontracting infrastructure projects. Cost overruns are a recurring issue in South Africa’s infrastructure projects, affecting economic stability. This study explores how effective inventory management can mitigate cost overruns in construction projects at Mabhele and Associates in Witbank, South Africa. Eight participants were purposively selected from the 29 employees of the enterprise based on inclusion criteria, ensuring a diverse and in-depth mix of respondents capable of providing comprehensive insights. The dissertation comprises two critical parts: a comprehensive literature review and fieldwork. This study assessed the challenges associated with inventory management in construction projects. The research employed a qualitative design, using interviews as the primary data collection method. Thematic analysis of the interviews reveals several challenges impacting project efficiency, including procurement delays, material shortages, and inadequate storage management. These issues often stem from cumbersome procurement processes requiring multiple quotations and approvals, leading to delays in material availability. Additionally, limited storage space complicates on-site material management, contributing to inefficiencies. Findings indicate that cost overruns are exacerbated by poor project management, underestimation of project costs during feasibility studies, and scope creep. Regulatory factors like compliance sometimes result in less experienced companies securing contracts, leading to inaccurate quotes and inefficiencies. Inexperience with contract management, inaccurate project coding, and hiring uncommitted companies further contribute to project delays and increased costs. The study showed that improving procurement processes, storage management, and project planning can significantly mitigate cost overruns. Strategic recommendations include fostering clear communication with suppliers, monitoring delivery schedules, and ensuring proper contract and project management. This research's findings may apply to similar organisations within the construction industry, providing valuable insights for improving inventory management practices and reducing project costs across the sector
Exploring teachers’ experiences in the teaching of drama in early childhood education: a case of Life skills teachers in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Teaching life skills to children throughout the foundation phase (often ages 5 to 9) is crucial for their overall development, but it also comes with unique challenges. The effectiveness of life-skills education may be impacted if these concerns are not properly considered. Schools face many obstacles when implementing the life-skills curriculum, including teachers’ perceptions that the subject is not important; a lack of training to assist and equip teachers with relevant skills on how to teach life skills; a lack of resources, insufficient teaching time, and a curriculum that does not explicitly outline the specialised material needed to teach life skills. This thesis presents an interpretive case study that explores teachers’ experiences teaching drama in five primary schools in the early childhood education/foundation phase. Data were generated qualitatively from ten life-skills teachers through reflective activity, one-on-one semi-structured interviews, lesson observations, and document analysis for triangulation purposes. Purposive and convenience samplings were used in selecting teachers from five primary schools that teach life skills subjects in early childhood education/foundation. Thematic analysis was used to produce both themes and categories. The three key research questions that were formulated for this study include: What are the teachers’ experiences of teaching life skills (drama)? (descriptive); How do teachers’ experiences inform the teaching of life skills (drama)? (operational); and Why do teachers experience the teaching of life skills (drama) in particular ways? (philosophical/theoretical).
The literature reviewed shed light on the questions that guided this study. Hence the study sought to establish that experiences are categorised into three levels which include: actual action, consequences, and individual internal intelligence in teachers’ experiences. Through the natural identity framework (NIF) the findings of the study outlined that teachers’ experiences of teaching life skills (drama) are informed by actual action experiences and consequences experiences as teachers implement life skills curriculum. Thus, teachers expressed that teachers must balance curriculum concepts so that life skills (drama) teaching would produce quality results that are expected at the end of the year. The study introduced four key propositions aligned with themes that emerged: Content of life skills (drama) teaching; teaching environment, and resources; roles, responsibilities, and learning activities of teaching life skills (drama); and assessment of life skills (drama) teaching. Based on these propositions, the study outlines a modified framework, the drama teacher experiences (DTE). This framework promotes teachers’ natural drama experiences which are underpinned by reflection, and re-critiquing of teachers’ actions during the process of teaching and learning
On the beach – A critical analysis of the ownership and public trust provisions of the national environmental management: integrated coastal management Act 24 of 2008.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Section 2 of the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act 24 of 2008 (the “NEM: ICMA”) provides that one of the objects of the Act is to “preserve, protect, extend and enhance the status of coastal public property as being held in trust by the State on behalf of all South Africans, including future generations”.
In order to give effect to this object, section 11(1) of the NEM: ICMA vests ownership of coastal public property in the “citizens of the Republic” and declares that “coastal public property must be held in trust by the state on behalf of the citizens of the Republic”. Section 11(2) goes on to provide that coastal public property is “inalienable and cannot be sold, attached or acquired by prescription and rights over it cannot be acquired by prescription”.
The state’s duties and responsibilities as the public trustee of coastal public property are set out in more detail in section 12 of the NEM: ICMA. This section declares that the state, in its capacity as the public trustee of all coastal public property, must:
“(a) ensure that coastal public property is used, managed, protected, conserved and enhanced in the interests of the whole community; and
(b) take whatever reasonable legislative and other measures it considers necessary to conserve and protect coastal public property for the benefit of present and future generations”.
While sections 11 and 12 of the NEM: ICMA regulate the classification, legal status, management and administration of coastal public property, section 13 of the Act regulates public access to the coast. It provides, inter alia, that:
“(1) Subject to this Act and any other applicable legislation, any natural person in the Republic:
(a) has a right of reasonable access to coastal public property; and
(b) is entitled to use and enjoy coastal public property, provided such use:
(i) does not adversely affect the rights of members of the public to use and enjoy coastal public property;
(ii) does not hinder the state in the performance of its duty to protect the environment; and
(iii) does not cause an adverse effect.
(1A) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), no person may prevent access to coastal public property”.
When these provisions are compared with the equivalent provisions in the NEM: ICMA’s predecessor, namely the Seashore Act 21 of 1935, the following points may be made:
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First, unlike the Seashore Act, which regulated the classification and legal status, the right to access and use, and the power to manage and administer, the “sea” and the “seashore”, the NEM: ICMA regulates a new public thing (res), namely “coastal public property”, which encompasses a much broader area than the sea and the seashore and a much wider variety of natural resources.
Second, also unlike the Seashore Act, which vested ownership of the sea and the seashore in the State President, section 11(1) of the NEM: ICMA vests ownership of coastal public property in the citizens of the Republic of South Africa. It thus brings to an end what Professor Johan van der Vyver has eloquently referred to as the étatisation of public property.
Third, while section 11(1) of the NEM: ICMA vests ownership of coastal public property in the citizens of South Africa, it does not vest the right to access, use and enjoy this space in the citizenry. Instead, section 13 of the Act separates these rights from the ownership of coastal public property and vests them in “any natural person in the Republic”.
Fourth, apart from separating the right to access and use coastal public property from the ownership of this space, sections 11 and 12 of the NEM: ICMA also separate the right to manage and administer, as well as to conserve, protect and enhance, coastal public property from the right of ownership of this space and vests it in the state as the coastal public trustee.
As these points indicate, a distinction may be drawn between those provisions of sections 11, 12 and 13 that regulate the classification and legal status of coastal public property, those provisions that regulate the management, administration, conservation and protection of coastal public property and those provisions that regulate public access to coastal public property. The first set of provisions may be referred to as the “ownership provisions”, the second set as the “public trust provisions”, and the third set as the “public access provisions”.
These three sets of provisions give rise to a number of complex and difficult questions. Among them are the following:
(1) Have the ownership provisions of section 11(1) of the NEM: ICMA simply codified the common law principles governing the classification and legal status of the sea and the seashore as res publicae, or have they introduced an entirely new form of statutory public ownership into South African coastal law?
(2) Given that the entitlements to access, use, manage and administer coastal public property have been separated from the ownership of coastal public property and vested in other entities, does the right of ownership confer any meaningful entitlements on the citizenry, or is it simply a bare or nude form of ownership?
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(3) If the ownership of coastal public property does not confer any meaningful entitlements on the citizenry, as appears to be the case, what purpose do the ownership provisions of section 11 of the NEM: ICMA serve, other than to confirm the public nature of coastal public property? Do the ownership provisions have any jurisprudential significance?
(4) Have the public trust provisions of sections 11 and 12 of the NEM: ICMA simply incorporated the renowned United States (US) Public Trust Doctrine into South African coastal law, or have they established a uniquely South African public trust concept for managing, administering, conserving, protecting and enhancing coastal public property?
(5) Apart from the environmental management principles set out in section 2 of National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA) and the specific provisions of the NEM: ICMA itself, do the public trust provisions of sections 11 and 12 confer any additional powers and rights or impose any additional duties and obligations on the state as the public trustee?
(6) If the public trust provisions of sections 11 and 12 of the NEM: ICMA do impose additional powers and rights, or duties and responsibilities, on the state as the public trustee, what is the nature, scope and content of those powers, rights, duties and responsibilities?
The goal of this thesis, therefore, is to investigate and address these questions through a critical analysis of the ownership and public trust provisions of sections 11 and 12 of the NEM: ICMA. More particularly, the goal of this thesis is to investigate the classification and legal status of coastal public property; the legal nature and purpose underlying the right of ownership of coastal public property vested in the citizens of the Republic; the legal nature and purpose underlying the coastal public trust concept; and the powers, rights, duties and responsibilities this concept imposes on the state as the public trustee
Assessing the efficacy of iodine seed priming in enhancing the tolerance of wheat (triticum aestivum L) genotypes to water stress conditions.
No full textWorldwide, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a vital cereal crop that provides over 20% of daily protein
intake and calories. However, research has predicted that its production will continue to decrease due to
climate change which will accelerate environmental stresses such as drought stress. Drought remains a
significant environmental factor that negatively impacts wheat growth and development from
germination to maturity stages, ultimately affecting yield and seed quality traits. Although iodine
application has the potential to stimulate growth and development and enhance responses to tolerate
abiotic stresses, there is a lack of knowledge on its effects on agronomic and physiological traits under
drought stress conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of iodine fertilizer on seed
quality, growth, physiological traits, and yield of wheat genotypes under drought-stress conditions. The
study was conducted through a series of trials, including laboratory, tunnel, and field trials, which were
carried out Controlled Environment Research Unit (CERU) and Ukulinga Research Farm of the
University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg. The laboratory experiment focused on determining the
optimal iodate dose and its effects on seed quality parameters. The pot trials aimed to investigate the
impact of iodine priming on wheat seed quality, yield and physiological traits under drought stress
conditions. Finally, the field trial evaluated the efficacy of iodine fertilization on wheat yield and yield
parameters under rainfed and irrigated conditions.
In a laboratory experiment, a 3 x 5 factorial experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block
design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The wheat genotypes (SST806, SST8135 and PAN3111) and
five iodine concentration (0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5 M IO3-) were used as treatment factors. The results
revealed that wheat seeds primed with iodate doses higher than 0.01 M (IO3-) did not germinate,
rendering concentrations of 0.1 and 0.5 M (IO3-) unsuitable for the experiment. However, the study found
that iodate priming significantly (p < 0.05) influenced germination tests, such as germination rate index
and meantime germination in wheat genotypes. The final germination percentage was not significantly (p
> 0.05) affected by iodate concentration or wheat genotype. The vigour tests showed insignificant (p >
0.05) differences between the interaction genotypes and iodate concentrations, except for the cold test
and seedling length. Despite these findings, genotype SST806 had higher seed quality than other
genotypes.
In the first pot trial, the experiment was laid out using a factorial design arranged in a complete block
design (CRD), where irrigation (well-watered (WW) and water deficit (WD)), wheat genotypes
(PAN3111, SST806 and SST8135) and iodine concentrations (0, 0.001 and 0.01 M IO3-) were the
treatment factors replicated three times. Tolerance growth indices, membrane stability index (MSI),
relative water content (RWC) and photosynthetic pigments were determined in the study. The results
demonstrated that iodine priming during early stages of growth significantly (p < 0.05) improved plant
height stress index (PHSI), root length stress index (RLSI) and dry matter stress index (DMSI) and
decreased carotenoids compared to control. Between iodate concentrations, genotypes primed with 0.001
M IO3-
performed better than genotypes primed with 0.01 M IO3-
. Overall, genotype SST806 had more
resistance to drought than other wheat genotypes.
The second pot trial evaluated the agronomic and some physiological responses of wheat genotypes
using iodine application (seed priming and foliar spraying) under drought stress conditions at different
growth stages. The two season trails were conducted using a factorial design where wheat genotypes
(SST806 and SST8135), iodine application [seed priming (0.001M) and foliar spraying (0.05% w/v)] of
IO3-
and water stress levels (water deficit (WD) at tillering, WD at flowering, well-watered (WW) at
tillering and WW at flowering) were the treatment factors replicated three times. Data collected included
plant height (PH), leaf gas exchange variables, relative water content (RWC) and yield and yield-related
traits that were determined during the trial and at harvest. The findings showed that drought stress
significantly (p < 0.05) affected all the studied traits, however, the application of iodine through seed
priming and foliar applications significantly increased ((rate of photosynthesis (Pn), transpiration rate
(Tr), number of tillers (NT), number of spikelets per spike (SPS), number of grains per spike (NGS),
1000 grain weight (TGW) and biological yield (BY)) under water stress and normal conditions in wheat
genotypes. Nevertheless, some traits showed not only increases but also significant decreases (p > 0.05)
compared to the control. Interestingly, genotype SST806 performed better than genotype SST8135.
The two-season field trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of iodine fertilization on wheat yield
and yield parameters under rainfed and irrigated conditions. The experiment was arranged in a split-split
plot design with three replications. Irrigation (well-watered and water deficit) was assigned to main plots,
while wheat genotypes (PAN3111, SST806, and SST8135) were assigned to subplots. Iodine
concentrations (0, 0.001 and 0.01 M IO3-) were assigned to sub-subplots. Wheat genotype transplanted
seedlings were irrigated for one week after planting thereafter irrigation was withdrawn for rainfed plots.
Plant height, days to maturity and yield and yield-related parameters were collected during the trial. The
results of the study showed that iodate seed priming in wheat genotypes ameliorated the negative effects
of drought stress experienced by the genotypes by improving yield traits such as spike length, number of
kernels per spike, spikelet per spike, number of productive tillers, and grain yield. Based on the findings,
it was concluded that iodine application has a potential to improve wheat growth, development and yield
under drought stress conditions and the effective iodate seed priming concentration recommended is
0,001 M IO3
In conclusion, this study demonstrated that iodine fertilization has the potential to enhance the tolerance
of wheat genotypes to water stress conditions. The findings provided valuable insights into the use of
iodine as a means to improve crop productivity and mitigate the effects of water stress on crop growth
and development
Being a born-again man: engaging the masculinity construction and negotiation of pentecostal men in KwaZulu-Natal, midland’s region.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This study explores how born-again Pentecostal men in Kwa-Zulu Natal navigate, negotiate, and construct their masculinities within the intersecting contexts of media, religion, and culture. Informed by the theoretical underpinnings of African masculinity theory, redemptive masculinity theory and media theory, the research employs a qualitative participatory methodology as a systematic method of enquiry and direct collaboration with those affected by the phenomenon being studied for the purpose of change or action. Individual interviews, focus group discussions, and auto-photography were as data collection tools. The findings reveal that despite adopting a born-again identity framed by Pentecostal redemptive theology, men remain deeply influenced by dominant heteropatriarchal discourses that frame masculinity through roles such as provider, protector, and leader. The study highlights the persistent tension between religious expectations, cultural norms, and lived realities, particularly as men attempt to reconcile their faith-based transformation with enduring patriarchal privileges. Furthermore, the study highlights the complex process in which born again-men navigate the negotiation and construction of masculinity in their everyday life. Through the engagement with data collected from the study and analysis, it is evident that critical men and masculinity scholarship within the South African context does not provide an alternative methodology to studying masculinity, thus offering one singular dimension based on a cis-heteropatriarchal framework. The study proposes queering masculinities as an alternative, which refers to queer as form a systematic resistance to the hegemony that is stuck and to counter the cis-heteronormative hegemonic masculinity while creating space for all men as it interrogate the normativity of gender and masculinity. Instead of constructing masculinities within a heteronormative framework that does not give men autonomy, agency and space to envision an alternative masculinity, we must then queer masculinities. Queering redemptive masculinities within the Pentecostal context creates space where men can explore alternative ways of being a man while also giving them language in which they express their lived masculine experiences
Leveraging thermal remote sensing and unmanned aerial vehicle high-throughput phenotyping for assessing and monitoring the water status of neglected and underutilised taro crops in smallholder farming systems.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.As threats posed by climate change and variability continue to intensify, smallholder farming systems are challenged by the urgent need to sustain crop production and ensure food security.
Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L)), a Neglected and Underutilised Crop Species (NUS), has emerged as a promising future-smart crop due to its resilience to drought and heat stresses, holding great potential for diversifying existing cropping systems and enhancing smallholder farming resilience. Despite its reported adaptive capabilities, taro remains vulnerable to prolonged water stress. Such conditions can disrupt internal water balance, leading to reduced equivalent water thickness, increased foliar temperature and decreased stomatal conductance, which can ultimately compromise taro’s tuber quality and productivity. Therefore, accurate and robust monitoring of taro crop water status indicators is essential for the rapid detection of water deficits, facilitating proactive and targeted interventions aimed at mitigating stress impacts and maintaining optimal productivity. Cutting-edge remote sensing technologies, particularly Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) equipped with high-resolution thermal cameras integrated with multispectral sensors, have revolutionised precision agriculture. Such technologies have emerged as invaluable tools that enable near-real-time crop monitoring at ultra-high spatial and temporal resolutions, suitable for continuous field-scale assessments of water status. Hence, this study sought to evaluate the utility of UAV thermal remote sensing in assessing and monitoring the crop water status of neglected and underutilised taro crop within smallholder farming systems. Taro is classified as a NUS owing to its limited inclusion in mainstream agricultural research and policy, particularly in Africa and many other regions worldwide, despite its potential to support food security in climate-vulnerable regions. Specifically, this study first adopted a systematic approach to review the progress, challenges, and opportunities in utilising UAV thermal remote sensing to assess and monitor the water status within crop farming systems. The findings revealed that studies utilising UAV thermal remote sensing to assess crop water status are disproportionately concentrated in the global north, with a limited focus on neglected and underutilised crops (> 4 %) and smallholder rainfed systems in the global south (2.3 %). Furthermore, results highlighted that while UAV-derived thermal datasets have gained significant traction, integrating thermal imagery with multispectral data is crucial for leveraging their complementary strengths, enhancing accuracy, and providing a more
comprehensive assessment of crop water status. The findings further highlighted the importance of advanced image segmentation techniques in mitigating soil background interference, which can distort crop thermal signatures and compromise the precision of crop water status assessments. As a result, the second objective of the study was to assess the utility of indexbased image segmentation techniques and UAV thermal remotely sensed data in enhancing the estimation of smallholder taro equivalent water thickness (EWTcanopy) as a proxy of crop water status. To achieve this objective, a comparative analysis was conducted to assess the predictive performance of models with and without the thermal band, while also evaluating the effectiveness of Excess Green (ExG), Excess Red (ExR), and Excess Green minus Excess Red (ExGR) image segmentation techniques in improving taro EWTcanopy estimations. The findings revealed that incorporating the thermal band and applying image segmentation, particularly using the ExGR technique, significantly enhanced the prediction accuracy of taro EWTcanopy, leading to a substantial increase in the R² value from 0.32 to 0.92, while the rRMSE was significantly reduced from 60.51% to 15.31%. Having established the importance of integrating thermal data with the ExGR image segmentation technique, the third objective aimed to evaluate the utility of UAV remotely sensed data for high-throughput crop phenotyping of taro equivalent water thickness, fuel moisture content, stomatal conductance, foliar temperature and chlorophyll content as proxies for water status within smallholder farms. The findings revealed that a multi-modal approach, integrating thermal and multispectral data outperforms singlemodal methods, yielding R2 values greater than 0.91 and rRMSEs less than 14.15%. Notably, the thermal waveband and derived thermal indices emerged as the most influential variables for estimating stomatal conductance and leaf temperature, with R² values of 0.96 and 0.95, respectively. In contrast, for equivalent water thickness and fuel moisture content, other spectral variables ranked higher in importance. However, incorporating thermal spectral variables substantially improved the prediction accuracy for these traits, increasing R² from 0.73 to 0.95 (rRMSE reduced from 33.82 % to 14.15 %) for equivalent water thickness, and from 0.77 to 0.94 (rRMSE reduced from 6.55 % to 3.32 %) for fuel moisture content. Subsequently, the
fourth objective sought to conduct a multi-temporal analysis of NUS taro crop water status using multi-modal UAV remotely sensed data and deep learning techniques to estimate stomatal
conductance and foliar temperature as key physiological indicators across different growth stages of smallholder taro crops. The findings highlighted distinct trends in stomatal conductance and leaf temperature, with the emergence stage exhibiting the highest leaf temperatures and lowest stomatal conductance, while the vegetative stage showed the lowest leaf temperatures and a peak in stomatal conductance. Notably, the vegetative growth stage exhibited the highest prediction accuracies for stomatal conductance (R2 of 0.96, RMSE of 29.34 mmol m−2 s −1 and rRMSE of 12.86 %) and leaf temperature (R2 of 0.95, RMSE of 0.33 °C and rRMSE of 1.11 %). This pattern may be attributed to the limited canopy cover during the emergence stage, where exposed soil temperatures to interfere with crop thermal signatures, in contrast to the vegetative stage where increased foliage reduces soil influence and supports optimal physiological activity. Finally, the fifth objective evaluated the utility of a data-driven approach using UAV thermal and multispectral remotely sensed data, along with topographic variables, to estimate the stomatal conductance and leaf temperature of smallholder taro crops across different growth stages (emergence, vegetative, and maturity) as proxies for crop water status. While integrating multi-source datasets provides a comprehensive evaluation of crop water conditions, it is recommended that advanced feature selection and model optimisation are employed to address challenges of redundancy, multicollinearity and overfitting because of combing large feature subsets. To this end, the findings highlighted the utility of integrating diverse yet relevant datasets, including thermal, multispectral, and topographic data, into a unified data-driven framework for estimating crop water status. Additionally, this study applied critical water stress thresholds (50 mmol m−2 s −1 for stomatal conductance and 35 °C for leaf temperature) to the optimised models, enabling the spatially explicit identification of waterstressed areas within the taro field. Results revealed significant stress during the emergence stage, with 14.18 % of crops showing low stomatal conductance and 37.14 % exceeding the leaf temperature threshold. In contrast, minimal stress was observed in the vegetative growth stage (1.85 %), while the maturity stage showed a slight increase in stress, with 9.36% of the area exceeding the leaf temperature threshold. The findings of this study highlight the critical importance of early-stage monitoring and targeted interventions, especially during the emergence stage, to manage potential negative impacts caused by water stress on taro. Overall,
the findings of this study demonstrated the transformative potential of integrating UAV thermal remote sensing with advanced deep learning techniques in providing rapid and robust spatially
explicit information on smallholder taro crop water status for ensuring crop productivity and developing early warning systems of water stress. The findings make a significant contribution
to the anecdotal knowledge of neglected and underutilised crops, such as taro. Additionally, they play a crucial role in promoting climate-smart agriculture and enhancing climate resilience
within smallholder farming systems. Lastly, the implications of this study are aligned with global and regional developmental goals, including Sustainable Development Goals (2 and 13) and the African Union's Agenda 2063 Goals (5), contributing to sustainable agricultural practices that enhance food security and climate resilience. Ultimately, this study is a pathway towards transformative, data-driven frameworks and actionable solutions that could empower decision-makers to support smallholder farmers in proactively adapting to climate variability, enhancing long-term crop viability and fostering resilience and sustainability in the face of intensifying climate stress