2694 research outputs found
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An exposition of micro-franchising and women’s entrepreneurship development, in Thulamela Local Municipality
No full textMaster of Commerce in Business ManagementDepartment of Business ManagementMicro-businesses, help, for instance, women to build their social, emotional, and economic capabilities in addition to increasing national productivity and creating jobs. Limited studies, however, have explored the exposition of micro-franchising on women entrepreneurship development in Thulamela Local Municipality, Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. This study was conducted to explore the challenges that are faced by women entrepreneurs in micro-franchising and to come up with strategies that can be employed to overcome those challenges. A qualitative research approach was employed, with a sample of 12 women entrepreneurs in Thulamela Local Municipality; convenience sampling technique was adopted to select the participants. Primary data was gathered through in-depth interviews using a structured interview guide. The study findings reveal that the contribution of micro-franchising to women’s entrepreneurship development includes employment creation, income generation, independence, and skills pooling. The study also established that the challenges that are faced by women entrepreneurs in micro franchising are – lack of access to markets; inadequate infrastructure; very stiff competition; unreliable customers; distrust by individuals; gender discrimination; inadequate knowledge; lack of capital; lack of financial literacy; lack of training; low profit, inadequate client base; having to sell on credit; poor time management and unsatisfied customers. Strategies recommended to enhance micro franchising for women entrepreneurship development, included – stakeholders conducting awareness events, campaigns and entrepreneurial workshops, financial literacy training; funding; infrastructure provision; mentorship, non-financial support and network opportunities; skills training and the municipality must create an enabling condition such as providing women entrepreneurs with stalls to sell from. The major limitation is that the study was done in Thulamela Local Municipality, Vhembe district, Limpopo which implies that it might not be possible to generalise the findings and recommendations to other municipalities or provinces
The effects of traumatic events, on the effective functioning of Police officers in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa
No full textMaster of Arts in PsychologyDepartment of PsychologyThis study was about the effects of traumatic events on the effective functioning of police officers at Thohoyandou SAPS, Limpopo province, South Africa. The aim of the study was to explore the effects of traumatic events on the effective functioning of police officers at Thohoyandou SAPS, Limpopo province, South Africa. The study was qualitative in nature and used non-probability sampling. The subtype sampling method was purposive sampling. The study population was SAPS members in the Vhembe District, Thohoyandou and the study sample size was 10 SAPS members from Thohoyandou SAPS that was determined by data saturation. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and the data collection instrument was an interview guide. Furthermore, the study used exploratory research design to conduct the study and used interpretative phenomenology analysis to analyse the collected data. The study findings indicate that most SAPS members are suffering from psychological problems such as trauma and PTSD. The study recommended that SAPS members be subjected to debriefing and psychological counselling when they encounter traumatic incidents while on duty
Mineralogical and chemical characterisation of terracotta clays and their application for dyes removal from aqueous solution
No full textMaster of Earth Science in Hydrology and Water ResourcesDepartment of Earth ScienceThe continuous discharge of untreated or semi-treated dye effluents is one of the global
leading causes of surface water quality degradation. The present research aimed at
investigating the potential of terracotta clay, herein termed (RTC) and its composite with zinc
oxide nanoparticles (RTC@ZnONPs) to effectively sequester cationic (Methylene Blue) and
anionic (Congo Red) dyes from aqueous solution. The mineralogical and chemical
characteristics of the clay prior to sorption were investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared
(FT-IR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope
coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and Brunauer Emmett Teller
(BET). The adsorbents’ point of zero charge was also determined. The clays’ characterisation
revealed that it was crystalline and mesoporous. Effects of variations in sorption time,
adsorbent dosage, initial adsorbate concentration, pH, temperature and water chemistry were
investigated in batch experiments. The optimum pH for MB adsorption was identified as 10,
and 2 for that of CR. The pseudo second order model provided the best fit for the kinetic data,
while Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms justified the state of equilibrium data. Both the
Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models provided explanations for the adsorption
processes. Thermodynamics investigations revealed that the reactions were viable,
spontaneous and exothermic. After five cycles of adsorption/desorption for the sequestration
of both MB and CR dyes from aqueous solutions, the composite RTC@ZnONPs
demonstrated outstanding reusability (88.75%) and (61.43%), respectively. The current study
showed that (RTC@ZnONPs) can be employed for the removal of other dyes such as Crystal
Violet, Indigo Carmine and Methyl Orange from wastewater. Moreover, both RTC and its
composite (RTC@ZnONPs) are ideal for the economical and environmentally acceptable
removal of MB and CR from aqueous solution.Department of Water and Sanitatio
The (MIS)Match between the Curriculum and Assessment Policy and Classroom Practice in English First Additional Language: A Case of Secondary Schools in Limpopo Province, South Africa
No full textPHD in EnglishDepartment of English, Media Studies and LinguisticsThis study explored the use of English First Additional Language (EFAL) as a
Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) in three Non-Native Speakers of English
(NNSE) rural high schools, in Limpopo province. This was triggered by the realisation
that the silence that arises in the classroom when learners exclusively use English as
a LoLT makes teaching and learning ineffective, and much unproductive than what
the curriculum policy was meant to deliver. In reaction, this study was conceived,
with the aim of exploring the (mis)match between the Curriculum and Assessment
Policy and the language practice that emerge when English EFAL is used as a LoLT
in Grade 10 EFAL classrooms. To achieve this, a qualitative approach grounded on
constructivist research paradigm was adopted, due to the social nature of this study;
and employed a combination of multiple case study design and action research for
data collection. Multiple data collection instruments including semi-structured
interviews; focus-group interviews; and observation were employed, to gather data
from 4 EFAL teachers and their 15 learners. These participants were purposively
selected from a population of Grade 10 EFAL classes in the selected high schools; to
gather data that explored (i) the teaching and learning patterns that emerge when
English is used as a LoLT; (ii) EFAL learners’ and teachers’ perceptions about the use
of English as a LoLT (iii) how the teaching approaches and LTSM employed shape
the learning process in EFAL classrooms. The findings from the study confirmed that
there are indeed patterns of policy-practice mismatches that arise from the three
objectives of the study, and this study treats them as the research gaps it sought to
address. These include knowledge and pedagogical gaps, among others. These
findings are critical because likely to have significant implications on language policy
direction, transformative impact on the current teaching practice and teachers’ indepth
understanding of the harms they cause to learners due to limited
understanding of their realities
The effects of gender-based violence on the psychological welbeing of exposed community members, in a selected rural village in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province
No full textMaster of Arts in PsychologyDepartment of PsychologyGender-Based Violence (GBV) is any form of violence or abuse that targets someone based on gender identity, expression, or societal role. It can affect anyone, causing trauma and psychological distress for the victims and their families, although it disproportionately affects women and girls. Literature reveals that massive studies have been previously conducted to explore the effects of GBV on victims, yet very little have been done to understand the effect on secondary and tertiary victims, who are community members who, directly or indirectly, witnessed incidents of GBV. The study explored and described. the effects of GBV on the psychological wellbeing of exposed community members in a selected rural village in the Vhembe District of Limpopo. The researcher employed the theoretical framework of the social learning theory and the concept of violence as trauma. The study used a qualitative research approach and an exploratory research design. A sample of 12 participants was selected from Khubvi village in the Thohoyandou policing area; participants were between the ages of 19 and 55 and were selected using purposive and snowball sampling methods because of the study's sensitivity. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews, with a semi-structured interview guide containing open-ended questions and data was analysed using thematic content analysis. The trustworthiness of the study was ensured, and all ethical protocols were followed. Finally, recommendations were made based on the study's findings
Parental involvement in English First Additional Language learning by Intermediate Phase learners from selected public primary schools in the Vhembe District Municipality
No full textM.A. (Linguistics)Department of English, Media Studies and LinguisticsThe linguistic development of children proceeds from the mastery of the mother tongue to the learning of the second language or rather known as the First Additional Language (FAL). The purpose of this study was to investigate the learning of English First Additional Language (EFAL) by Intermediate Phase learners in selected public primary schools in the Vhembe District Municipality. This study is grounded on two theories called the Social Interaction Theory and Krashen's Second Language Acquisition Theory. The two theories suite well in this study since they address the learning or acquisition of First Additional Language. The study employed a descriptive research design, and a qualitative method was used in data collection and analysis. A qualitative method was considered in the study because it permits openness to ideas, opinions, and views expressed by the participants during data collection. The researcher used non-probability, and its sub-type called purposive sampling method to choose appropriate participants for the study. The population of the study were parents of Grade 4 learners and educators in the selected primary schools at Sibasa Circuit in the Vhembe District Municipality. The study used semi-structured interviews as the method of collecting data. Thereafter, data was analysed using Thematic Analysis, which is relevant to a qualitative study. Research ethics were taken into consideration to avoid some forms of unethical conduct
Representation of Afrophobia Violence on X in South Africa
No full textM. A. (Media Studies)Department of English, Media Studies and LinguisticsAfrophobia refers to prejudice, hostility, discrimination, or hatred against individuals and cultures from Africa and the African diaspora. This represents a new form of racism in South Africa. This qualitative study examined the discursive construction of Afrophobia on X (formerly Twitter) specifically focusing on how African immigrants were represented on X, through explicating discourses employed in the representation of African migrants on X, and explaining the possible implications of such social media discourses on society. The study analysed discourses on Afrophobia on X with special posts and reposts on Operation Dudula, a South African pressure group between 2021 to 2024. The study employed an exploratory case study research design which is a methodology that enables an investigation into research questions that have not previously been studied in depth. A software architecture that uses the X application programme interface (API) was used to retrieve relevant posts and reposts that focused on Afrophobia in South Africa. The posts and reposts were further selected through a purposive sampling technique, thematically coded and interpreted using the deductive or inference approach. The study revealed that there were several discourses associated with the “othering” of immigrants of African descent, where they were stereotypically associated with terms such as “illegality”, “criminality”, “invasion”, and “alien”, “dispossession”. The study argues that such discourses of “othering” demonstrate how narratives, language and discourse have practical consequences, but also undermine South Africa’s image on the continental and global stage. The study concludes that Afrophobia discourses in online communities potentially undermine South Africa’s foundational values of Ubuntu and the country’s Pan-Africanist project as well as its democratic cultural values
An exploration of ways of teaching and learning indigenous knowledge in the classroom: A case study of Patrick Ramaano Secondary School in Ha-Ramavhoya Village, Limpopo Province
No full textM.A. (African Studies)There is a growing recognition of the significance of including indigenous knowledge (IK) in the curriculum. Calls are being made for integrating IK in the modern education system, given that the previous education system was rigid and predominantly centred on ideologies of the colonisers, such as the British and Portuguese in most developing countries. The South African government is also making efforts to integrate IK in the science of teaching and learning. Teachers are expected to link indigenous knowledge to the specified curriculum guidelines; however, the problem is that there are no specific ways that are advanced in the curriculum statements on how that can be done. This study explored the ways of teaching and learning indigenous knowledge in the classroom from selected schools. The study is qualitative; a case study research design was used, and participants were recruited purposively. Multiculturalism theory was used in this study. The data was gathered using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with elderly indigenous holders, grade 8-12 learners and teachers from Patrick Ramaano Secondary at Ha-Ramavhoya village. The collected data was analysed using thematic data analysis. The envisioned study findings are essential in understanding to teach indigenous knowledge. The study showed that a primary obstacle to incorporating indigenous knowledge into the curriculum is the teachers' limited understanding of IK and the lack of learning materials based on IK. The research also showed that while challenges are unavoidable, there are certain advantages to be gained from integration such as thorough documentation of indigenous knowledge and a complete educational experience focused on cultural commitment. The study suggests that teacher training should be developed to effectively integrate IK content. The research also suggests the need for inclusive IK policies to acknowledge the significance of incorporating IK into education
Evaluating the biomass of palatable grass species in the communal rangeland using the integration of UAV data with high-resolution satellite data
No full textM.Sc. (Ecology and Resource Management)Department of Ecology and Resource ManagementThe biomass of palatable grass species plays a crucial role in sustaining livestock within rural and communal rangelands. Accurate biomass mapping techniques are essential in providing insights into the quantification and distribution of palatable grass biomass. Assessing the distribution of biomass and the effectiveness of biomass mapping is one of the important steps for the provision of crucial information on the health of rangelands while facilitating effective land management and sustainable resource utilisation. This study aimed to evaluate the biomass of palatable grass species in communal rangeland by integrating the use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) obtained in December 2022 data with high-resolution PlanetScope(PS) satellite imagery (3 m spatial resolution) obtained in October 2022. The Supervised Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC) algorithm was employed in mapping land cover classes across the study and achieved overall accuracy of 99.29% and a kappa of 0.98, indicating high reliability in mapping grazing areas. The grazing area size was quantified as 33 695 hectares (ha) from the total 66 982 hectares (ha) of the study area, with grazing areas accounting for 50%, followed by built-up areas (26%) and water bodies (0.21%). The study also evaluated the performance of linear and non-linear regression models for mapping the Palatable grass biomass by comparing the model performance using remotely sensed data derived from the PS imagery. According to the results, non-linear regression models outperformed the linear models, and obtained a root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and coefficient of determination (R2) of 2.15, 1.69 and 0.11, respectively. Additionally, the study tested the performance of linear and non-linear models for mapping palatable grass biomass using the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and PlanetScope data. The comparison between the PlanetScope subset data and the UAV data obtained an RMSE of 2.36 , MAE of 3.22 and R2 of 0.35 for the subset image, and an RMSE, MAE and R2 of 9.83, 6.57 and 0.23, respectively for the UAV data. Both the satellite imagery and the UAV imagery were used to develop and test models for predicting and mapping palatable grass biomass with the use of integration of spectral bands, vegetation indices, and grey level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) features. These findings demonstrate possibilities offered by remote sensing techniques in improving rangeland management and sustainable resource planning.South African National Space Agency (SANSA
The role of good governance in promoting effective municipal service delivery: a case of Thulamela Local Municipality
No full textM. Admin.Department of Public and Development AdministrationGood governance has become a focal point in academic discourse due to its critical role in
enhancing living standards and fostering societal development. Ever since the present South
African government acquired power in 1994, the government prioritised improved governance
and service delivery, further making promises to transform the quality of citizens’ livelihood
through effective and efficient service delivery. However, South African local municipalities
experience critical service delivery problems due to poor governance and administration within
their jurisdiction. The study aimed to investigate the role of good governance in promoting
effective municipal service delivery and develop a framework that will be used to improve good
governance and service delivery in Thulamela Local Municipality. The study adopted a mixedmethod
approach for data collection to achieve the study's objectives. The convergent parallel
mixed method approach was used. The reason for using the convergent parallel mixed method
was to enable the researcher to merge or converge qualitative and quantitative data to provide
a comprehensive analysis of the research problem. A total of 120 respondents were sampled.
The sampling technique that was used to sample the study population is non-probability
sampling with its sub-type purposive sampling technique. Data was collected using
questionnaires and interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using statistical analysis
through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 29.0. The data was
presented in the form of tables, frequencies, and percentages. Qualitative data was analysed
using NVivo version 14. The data was analysed using thematic analysis, whereby data
collected through interviews were grouped into themes and presented in a narrative form. The
findings of this study inform the strategies for enhancing good governance practices to
improve municipal service delivery, potentially benefiting the broader community and similar
municipalities.
The Major findings of the study are:
• There is a relationship between good governance practices and effective municipal
service delivery.
• Thulamela Local Municipality faces challenges such as the lack of public participation,
poor infrastructure maintenance and poor responsiveness.
• The Municipality has several initiatives, such as the Integrated Development Plan
(IDP), Mayor-Mahosi and Imbizos, to promote effective municipal service delivery.
• Involving the communities in decision-making enhances governance and municipal
service delivery.
The following recommendations are therefore made based on the findings of the study:
• The study recommends that the Municipality implement stronger transparency
measures, ensuring that all stakeholders have access to information regarding budget
allocations, project timelines, and service delivery updates.
• The Municipality should improve the implementation of the IDP by involving the
community more actively in the formulation and review processes.
• The study recommends that the Municipality encourages public participation through
E-Participation so that community members can participate at the comfort of their
homes.
• The Municipality should strengthen the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to
improve service delivery