2694 research outputs found
Sort by
Tsenguluso ya thero ya vhuhovheleli kha nganea mbili dza Tshivenda dzo tou nanguludzwaho: "Tshi do lilwa" na "Murabeli"
No full textM.A. (Tshivenda)Department of African LanguagesVhutshiloni hu na vhathu vhane vha vha na vhuhovheleli. Kha vhenevho hu na vhaṅwe vhane vhuhovheleli havho ha vha vhuedza arali hu havhuḓi, na vhaṅwe vhane vhuhovheleli havho ha sa vha vhuedze arali hu vhuvhi, madzuloni a u vha vhuedza ha tou vha dzhenisa khakhathini. Vhohovheleli kha maṅwalwa a ḽitheretsha ndi musi muṅwe wa mubvumbedzwa a na lutamo lwa u swikela zwiṅwe zwithu sa u funzea, u pfuma kana u vha na mabindu. Musi a tshi tikedza muhumbulo wo bulwaho afho nṱha Merton (2016:370) u ri: “An ambitious person is someone always striving to reach a goal through hard work, dedication and perseverance”. Hezwo zwi amba uri muthu wa vhuhovheleli ndi muthu ane a lwela u swikela tshipikwa tshawe nga u shumesa, u ḓiimisela na u konḓelela. Ndivho ya mushumo uyu ndi u sengulusa thero ya vhuhovheleli kha nganea mbili dzo tou nanguludzwaho dzine dza vha Tshi ḓo lilwa (Phaswana, 2000) na Murabeli (Mamafha, 2019). Vhuhovheleli kha nganea dza Tshivenḓa a hu athu u vhuya ha itwa ngaho ṱhoḓisiso. Tshipikwa tshihulwane tsha mushumo uyu ndi u sengulusa zwi no vhangwa nga vhuhovheleli huvhi na vhuhovheleli huvhuya uri hu kone u tsivhudzwa vhadzulapo nga masiandaitwa a vhuhovheleli havho na zwivhuya zwine vhuhovheleli havho ha nga vha ḓisela zwone. Mushumo uyu wo shumisa ngona ya khwaḽithethivi. Kha tsenguluso ya maṅwalwa ho shumiswa tsenguluso ya ‘document analysis. Kha mushumo uyu ho tevhelwa thyori ya ‘Literary Criticism’. Mawanwa e a wanala kha uyu mushumo ndi u wanulula zwauri vhunzhi ha vhathu ano maḓuvha vha khou ḓidzhenisa kha vhuhovheleli vhuvhi uri vha kone u bvelela vhutshiloni. Nga ṅwambo wa hezwo hoyu mushumo u khou sumbedza uri naho vhuhovheleli kha maṅwalwa vhu tshi nga bveledza zwivhuya kha muṅwe wa vhabvumbedzwa, a si tshifhinga tshoṱhe hune zwa nga tou ralo ngauri tshiṅwe tshifhinga vhu nga bveledza khombo kha mubvumbedzwa onoyo kana kha vhaṅwe vhathu vhane vha vha tsini nae arali mubvumbedzwa onoyo a songo tevhela nḓila dzavhuḓi kha u swikela zwipikwa zwawe.NR
Investigating African indigenoues knowledge strategies to mitigate gender-based violence: a case study of Bushbuckridge Municipality, in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa
No full textM.A. (African Studies)Department of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Heritage StudiesGender-based violence has existed throughout the history of mankind, in South Africa and around the globe. South Africa has the highest global rates of gender-based violence, and regardless of national laws imposed against this phenomenon, it continues exacerbating. This raises a need for a different perspective in addressing this issue - an African indigenous-based one. This study was aimed at scrutinizing possible African indigenous strategies to mitigate gender- based violence, amongst the Mapulana people of Bushbuckridge. The rates of gender-based violence cases have been witnessed to be increasing in Bushbuckridge. This has been attributed to the communities’ ignoring indigenous methods of living. This study had the following objectives - to demonstrate communities’ understanding of GBV; to explore existing strategies to mitigate gender-based violence, to establish possible measures to mitigate gender-based violence. Sankofaism (Quan-Baffour, 2008) thoughts guided the paradigm of this study within the qualitative research method. Purposive sampling with the snowballing approach were used to draw out the sample from the Bushbuckridge Municipality focusing on – 7 traditional leaders, 7 IKS knowledge holders and 7 specific relevant members of the public affected by gender-based violence. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and focus-group discussions. Among the recommendations of this study is that the indigenous knowledge systems of the Mapulana people in Bushbuckridge should not be sidelined from mainstream knowledge. This would ensure that such knowledge form part of modern problem-solving tools. The study also recommends that future research can also focus on African communities’ indigenous response to gender-based violence against boys of all ages and men, for the purpose of equality, for although such violence also exists, attention has not been drawn to it.NR
Assessing the potential of biochar to restore degraded lands
No full textMENVSCDepartment of Geography and Environmental SciencesLand degradation and climate change are interlinked processes that negatively impact sustainable development. Globally, they pose a risk to human livelihoods, but their effects are even more prominent in developing nations, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Even with land degradation and climate change currently happening, communities, especially in developing countries, still need to adapt to the changes. This may be due to the high adaptation costs and the need for more knowledge. Biochar is the product of the thermochemical conversion of biomass through pyrolysis. Using biochar as a soil ameliorant has been increasingly advocated because of its effects on soil properties, crop productivity, and carbon sequestration. Biochar has been reported to improve soil quality, crop yield, and soil carbon sequestration potential. Despite this, little is known about the effects of biochar on soil physical properties, making it difficult to recommend biochar to improve soil quality in agriculture. Thus, this study aims to assess the potential of biochar to restore severely degraded land by improving soil properties and crop productivity and mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration at the Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, Waterberg District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. For this purpose, four treatments (biochar, biochar with fertilizer, biochar without fertilizer, and control) were applied to four plots, each replicated five times. A 14-species grass mixture was sown in each of the 20 plots. Soil physical and chemical properties, plant biomass, carbon stock, species richness, and species composition were then measured. None of the four treatments had a significant effect on soil bulk density while only biochar had a significant effect on soil chemical properties of soil Total C, Na and soil pH. No treatment had a significant effect on plant biomass. The analysis of similarity showed no significant difference in species composition for all treatments at month three and month six. The species composition for both treatments and sites for months three and six was mostly similar. The effects of biochar were not significant on soil chemical and physical properties as well as plant growth and biomass. Longer-term studies with higher rates of biochar application are required to confirm the effects of biochar on soil properties, plant growth, and species composition. The biochar feedstock (e.g., agricultural residues, forestry residues, and grassland cutting), biochar properties (such as porosity, bulk density, carbon content) and soil types need to be taken into consideration before application of biochar into the soil to enhance soil properties and plant growth.NR
Exploring the development of communication strategies for Indigeneous Knowledge -based agricultural produce in Tshidzivhe Village, in Thulamela Municipality of Limpopo Province, in South Africa
No full textM.A. (African Studies)Department of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Heritage StudiesIndigenous knowledge surrounding agricultural produce is an essential part of the lives
of the rural people. Their livelihood depends on their capacity to produce agricultural
and other produce for consumption and sale, to ensure sustainable livelihoods. In
South Africa, examples of common produce visible in rural areas are - millet, sorghum,
maize, nuts, beans, cowpeas, dried vegetables, sweet potatoes, melons - as well as
other produce which may revolve around herbs obtained from indigenous trees.
Communities relying on indigenous knowledge have always known how to maintain a
sustainable livelihood through crop production and other activities, however,
information about these is communicated through channels that can no longer be
sufficient nor relevant in the modern society. Existing traditional-cultural
communication strategies, mainly word-of-mouth, are largely village-bound, thus,
cannot reach larger markets. This study, therefore, aims to explore the possibility of
the development of alternative communication strategies for marketing indigenous
produce in Tshidzivhe village, using a participatory methodology. Data was generated
using the qualitative research approach and collected through, focus-group
discussions, storytelling and workshops. The key findings of the study are that,
agricultural produce from Tshidzivhe village that naturally grow or are cultivated,
include - maize, finger-millet, beans, indigenous vegetables, such as Tshibavhe
(Momordica charantia) and Black jack (Mushidzhi). The villagers who are also
Indigenous Knowledge Holders (IKHs) attest that produce take time before they are
sold. This, they believe, is due to limited access to modern communication and
marketing technologies, difficulties in accessing the village due to poor road
infrastructure, villagers’ minimal digital literacy and channels, as well as, no access to
the internet. In this environment, the communication strategies recommended entail -
effective use of community radios, local newspapers and bulletin; establishment of
marketing boards; cooperative marketing and appropriate attractive packaging, as well
as, innovative branding. Participants also acknowledged the urgency of sustained
deliberate partnerships and nurturing of the IKS produce ecosystem.National Research Foundation (NRF
Implementation constraints of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements: A case of Mopani District, South Africa
No full textPhDURPDepartment of Urban and Regional PlanningThe implementation of spatial planning tools to influence the distribution of people and activities on different scales and locations worldwide is often hindered by several constraints. Despite the constraints, and as the world is incessantly exposed to disaster risks, spatial planning tools remain cardinal to reducing disaster risks, particularly in informal settlements since they seek to promote effective planning for safe environments. It is therefore imperative that structured and decisive implementation of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements is an action, and urgent priority focus area. The problem is that Mopani District lacks an integrated implementation spatial planning framework for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements. Consequently, this study aimed to assess the implementation constraints of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements in Mopani District, South Africa. The objectives of the study were to (i) analyse the nature of disaster risks in informal settlements; (ii) examine spatial planning drivers of disaster risks in informal settlements; (iii) analyse the constraints of implementing spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction and (iv) propose a spatial planning framework for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements in Mopani District. A pragmatic paradigm philosophical approach, supplemented by a mixed research approach and a case study strategy, underpinned the study methodology. The sample size of the study consisted of 608 household respondents and 87 experts. The sampling procedures adopted in this study included multistage, purposive convenience sampling and stratified proportionate sampling methods that resulted in proportional household distribution of the sample in the 15 informal settlements in the following Municipalities: Greater Giyani (117 household respondents), Greater Tzaneen (58 household respondents) and Ba-Phalaborwa (433 household respondents) and 87 experts from the municipalities and other related government sectors as key informants. The primary data sources for the study included spatial planning disaster risk reduction and Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) pairwise questionnaires, key experts, and telephone interviews, mapping, and observations. Secondary data sources included institutional documents, textbooks, library databases and internet. Quantitative data analysis was aided by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for descriptive statistics and vulnerability analysis to determine the nature and level of disaster risks. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Multinomial Logit Regression (MLR) were employed to determine spatial planning disaster risk drivers. The use of Expert choice and Microsoft Excel software were applied in the SWOT-TOWS Analytical Hierarchical Process to determine the constraints of implementing spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements and generated strategies that guided the development of an integrated framework for implementation of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic data analysis guided by deductive and semantic approaches within the range of the critical spatial planning and disaster risk theoretical framework. Besides, Lefebvre, vulnerability, resilience, and systems theories were used to holistically envision informal settlements as interactive elements to inform the development of an integrated implementation spatial planning framework. The findings of the study provide the following contributions to knowledge on implementation constraints of spatial planning tools in informal settlements: (i). Maps showing the nature of disaster risks in informal settlements in extremely high hazard areas, (ii). Spatial planning disaster risk drivers in informal settlements in Mopani District, (iii). A SWOT- TOWS AHP analysis depicting the constraints and strategies of implementing spatial planning tools in informal settlements in Mopani District, (iv). An integrated framework for implementation of spatial planning tools in informal settlements in Mopani District, South Africa.NR
Strategies to improve support for children heading families in Limpopo Province, South Africa
No full textPh.D. (Nursing Science)Department of Advanced Nursing ScienceBackground: The nonexistence of parents or adult caregivers in children’s lives is experienced by many children worldwide. Basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and protection from harm are among the many challenges faced by children heading families. Children heading families can be supported and live a quality life beyond the hardships they experience. A holistic approach can alleviate the hardships experienced by children heading families, through embarking on the identification of strategies to improve support for children heading families.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop strategies to improve support for children heading families in Limpopo province, South Africa.
Setting: The study was conducted at the homes of children heading families and chief’s kraal of Vhembe and Mopani districts in Limpopo province, South Africa.
Phase 1: Research methodology: This study employed a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive design. The population consisted of children heading families, children’s relatives, and community members. A non-probability purposive convenience sampling was used to select children heading families and snowball technique was used to select children’s relatives. Unstructured in-depth interview using an interview guide was used to collect data from children heading families and children’s relatives. Central questions were used to collect data from children heading families and children’s relatives. Focus group discussions were used to collect data from community members. The sample size of participants was determined by data saturation. Data was analyzed using Tech’s eight-step method. Data was transcribed verbatim, translated into English, and kept safe. A clearance certificate was obtained from the University of Venda Research Ethics Committee. Permission to conduct the study was requested from the traditional leaders of the villages. Ethical considerations and measures to ensure trustworthiness were considered. Children who agreed to participate voluntarily signed an assent form, and children’s relatives and community members signed consent forms.
Findings: The findings of the study revealed psychological, financial, social, and educational support challenges for children heading families, relatives, and community members. Children’s relatives and community members inadequately support children heading families.
Phase 2: Development of strategies
The researcher's 2020 study on the experiences of children heading families, revealed that children heading families were not receiving enough support from their relatives and community members. The findings prompted the researcher to conduct a study on the development of strategies to improve support for children heading families.
Phase 3: Validation of strategies
As stated in Chapter One, the study's objective guided the development of strategies. Validation of the strategy employed a qualitative approach using unstructured in-depth interviews. A group of expert panelists validated the results using the e=Delphi method. The expert panelists were retired registered nurses, retired educators, curriculum advisers, psychologists, social workers, pastors, self-employed, registered nurses, educators, traditional leaders, and ex-police. All experts had extensive experience and knowledge of taking care with children.
Findings: The study revealed that children heading families face numerous challenges without adequate support from their relatives and community members. The study focused on the development of strategies to improve support for children heading families.
Recommendations: Constant monitoring by children’s relatives and community members on the safety of children heading families. Protecting the safety of children heading families should be the Government's top priority and responsibility, especially in villages. Social workers are to visit the homes of children’s heading families regularly to constantly monitor the challenges faced by children. The traditional leaders play a crucial role in the communities and should be more involved in matters involving children heading families in their villages, and ought to have more authority over their roles and responsibilities. Educators should be provided with training on how to deal with children who come from families with no parent or caregiver.
Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that children heading families experience ineffective psycho-social, educational, financial, religious and spiritual challenges.NR
Tsenguluso ya thero ya vhuhovheleli kha nganea mbili dza Tshivenda dzo tou nanguludzwaho: " Tshi do lilwa" na "Murabeli"
No full textM.A. (Tshivenda)Department of African LanguagesVhutshiloni hu na vhathu vhane vha vha na vhuhovheleli. Kha vhenevho hu na vhaṅwe vhane vhuhovheleli havho ha vha vhuedza arali hu havhuḓi, na vhaṅwe vhane vhuhovheleli havho ha sa vha vhuedze arali hu vhuvhi, madzuloni a u vha vhuedza ha tou vha dzhenisa khakhathini. Vhohovheleli kha maṅwalwa a ḽitheretsha ndi musi muṅwe wa mubvumbedzwa a na lutamo lwa u swikela zwiṅwe zwithu sa u funzea, u pfuma kana u vha na mabindu. Musi a tshi tikedza muhumbulo wo bulwaho afho nṱha Merton (2016:370) u ri: “An ambitious person is someone always striving to reach a goal through hard work, dedication and perseverance”. Hezwo zwi amba uri muthu wa vhuhovheleli ndi muthu ane a lwela u swikela tshipikwa tshawe nga u shumesa, u ḓiimisela na u konḓelela. Ndivho ya mushumo uyu ndi u sengulusa thero ya vhuhovheleli kha nganea mbili dzo tou nanguludzwaho dzine dza vha Tshi ḓo lilwa (Phaswana, 2000) na Murabeli (Mamafha, 2019). Vhuhovheleli kha nganea dza Tshivenḓa a hu athu u vhuya ha itwa ngaho ṱhoḓisiso. Tshipikwa tshihulwane tsha mushumo uyu ndi u sengulusa zwi no vhangwa nga vhuhovheleli huvhi na vhuhovheleli huvhuya uri hu kone u tsivhudzwa vhadzulapo nga masiandaitwa a vhuhovheleli havho na zwivhuya zwine vhuhovheleli havho ha nga vha ḓisela zwone. Mushumo uyu wo shumisa ngona ya khwaḽithethivi. Kha tsenguluso ya maṅwalwa ho shumiswa tsenguluso ya ‘document analysis. Kha mushumo uyu ho tevhelwa thyori ya ‘Literary Criticism’. Mawanwa e a wanala kha uyu mushumo ndi u wanulula zwauri vhunzhi ha vhathu ano maḓuvha vha khou ḓidzhenisa kha vhuhovheleli vhuvhi uri vha kone u bvelela vhutshiloni. Nga ṅwambo wa hezwo hoyu mushumo u khou sumbedza uri naho vhuhovheleli kha maṅwalwa vhu tshi nga bveledza zwivhuya kha muṅwe wa vhabvumbedzwa, a si tshifhinga tshoṱhe hune zwa nga tou ralo ngauri tshiṅwe tshifhinga vhu nga bveledza khombo kha mubvumbedzwa onoyo kana kha vhaṅwe vhathu vhane vha vha tsini nae arali mubvumbedzwa onoyo a songo tevhela nḓila dzavhuḓi kha u swikela zwipikwa zwawe.NR
The exploratory study of psychological experiences of female victims of gender-based violence in Sekhukhune District Municipality
No full textM.A. (Social Work)Department of Social WorkGender based violence in South Africa, (especially on women and young women), is increasing. There is significant increase in those women who are in relationship. However, such relations have strong correlation to the high rates of murder, rape and assault with intend to do grievous body harm, resulting in a high prevalence of women exposed to gender based violence. Social workers are mandated to provide psycho- social support to the victims of gender-based violence and their families. Alternatively, the Victim Empowerment programs Centers (VEP) implements support to victims and survivors of crimes including gender-based violence, as well as their families to deal with the impact of the incident which he/she has experience. VEP also assist victims with management of trauma and ensuring that victims are educated to identify the symptoms of post-traumatic stress as common practice in South Africa, is not without challenges. One significant challenge is the role of support systems within the community. The aim of the study was to explore the psychosocial experiences amongst women exposed to gender-based violence in rural areas of Sekhukhune District. Qualitative approach using an exploratory research design was employed. The population of the study was women who experienced gender-based violence living in rural areas of Sekhukhune District municipality who were attending Victim empowerment services at the Non- Governmental Organization.Convenience sampling was used to select ten (10) women who experienced gender-based violence. Semi-structured interviews, in-depth individual face to face interviews were used to better understand the psychosocial experiences of gender-based violence as well as the role played by the support system within the community which was analysed using thematic analysis.NR
Constitutional protection of animal “rights” in South Africa and India: A legal comparison
No full textLLMDepartment of Public LawThe human-animal relationship has several inconsistencies. This is because of the contradictions on how human beings treat animals. In certain instances, human beings have shown love and affection towards animals, while in some instances, there has been a highest level of cruelty towards animals. Animal cruelty has long been a concern; however, society has occasionally accepted this behaviour as usual. This is because humans have power over animals and view them as property. A number of anti-cruelty Acts have been passed in South Africa in response to the current trend in the plight of animals. However, South Africa's anti-cruelty laws are insufficient, incoherent, and disjointed. Their anthropocentric as opposed to the ecocentric nature raises ethical and legal concern relating to the adequacy of legal protection of animals. Yet, ecocentric focus has emerged as a feature of legal protection in several legal systems; including India, which has used progressive interpretation of its Constitution for legal protection of animals. Using a doctrinal methodology, this study interrogates the various ethical and legal approaches that support the protection of animal rights. It then determines whether the legal protections for animals under South African law are adequate, and whether there are any lessons to be learned from India's constitutional protection of animals. It was found that Courts in South Africa prefer anthropocentric arguments to protect animals, while Courts in India prefer ecocentric viewpoints. Various provisions in the South African Constitution have been used to protect animals. There are, however, some constitutional provisions that can be used to protect animals, taking into account lessons in India, where Courts have readily extended constitutional provisions that protect humans to cover animals as well.NR
Role of bats as natural pest control agents of moth pests (false codling moth and carob moth) on citrus orchard
No full textM.Sc.(Zoology)Department of Biological SciencesOver the years, the change in farming practices has caused a tremendous decline in the diversity of flora and fauna within agricultural landscapes through intensification of land use. An increase in agricultural intensification has resulted in increased farm sizes and reduced landscape heterogeneity. In the past two decades, the interest in services that insectivorous bats provide within agricultural landscapes through insect pest suppression has gained recognition globally. Multiple studies have thoroughly examined the vital role played by insectivorous bats within agricultural landscapes as biological control of insect pests for crops such as rice, cotton, pecan, corn, and macadamia. However, little to none is known about the impact insectivorous bats have within citrus landscapes. This study specifically focuses on how insectivorous bats inhabiting different landscapes respond to insect pest outbreaks, especially that of false codling moth (FCM) and carob moth (CM), important pests of citrus. The study first gives a general introduction of the importance of landscape heterogeneity within agricultural landscapes, beneficial effects that insectivorous bats have in agricultural areas, and the use of advanced molecular methods to analyze the diet of insectivorous bats. Secondly, we investigated the influence of land use heterogeneity, temperature, and insect pest activity on bat species richness and different foraging groups. Our results demonstrate higher bat activity in natural areas (wet riparian zones and orchard edges) compared to orchards, and further illustrate that bat species richness and activity were highly influenced by temperature. Lastly, we investigate the moth pest consumption by different bat species of different foraging groups. We found that all bat foraging groups, open-air and clutter-edge foragers, had a high consumption rate of agricultural pests including FCM and CM. The results of this study emphasize how crucial it is to preserve natural habitats and bat populations in citrus landscapes. Including bats in integrated pest management (IPM) programs can benefit both agriculture and biodiversity.The SARChI Chair in Biodiversity Value and Change, The African Institute for Conservation Ecology (AICE) and The Citrus Research International (CRI