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Determining entrepreneurial challenges among women entrepreneurs selling fruits in the Vhembe District
No full textM.Com (Business Management)Department of Business ManagementWhile women entrepreneurs in South Africa are making progress in overcoming gender biases and establishing their enterprises, they still encounter several structural and social challenges, many of which have been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. While past and current research has identified numerous challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, very few studies have focused exclusively on the specific challenges faced by rural women entrepreneurs or attempted to identify how these challenges affect women entrepreneurs. It is within this context that this study aimed to investigate the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs selling fruits in Vhembe District. This study was guided by the phenomenological research design and within the qualitative approach dictates. The convenience sampling technique was utilised to select the participants. The study interviewed 15 women entrepreneurs using face-to-face interviews guided by the structured interview guide. The collected data was transcribed using Microsoft Word and analysed using thematic analysis aided by ATLAS. ti. The findings will enrich the body of knowledge of the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.National Research Foundation (NRF
Effect of partial mutton meat substitution with Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) flour on physicochemical properties, lipid oxidation and sensory acceptability of low-fat patties
No full textMSCFSTDepartment of Food Science and TechnologyHealth concerns regarding fat consumption, as well as shifts in customer preference, have prompted substantial studies into low-fat products. This study examined the nutritional, colour, functional, and antioxidants properties of Bambara groundnut (BGN) flour varieties (cream, brown, and red-coated) grains as well as their influence on the physicochemical properties, lipid oxidation, and sensory acceptability of reduced-fat mutton patties. The patties were formulated with 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% of BGN flours for each variety, and 100% mutton patties were used as a control. The BGN flours showed significant (p ˂ 0.05) differences in their nutritional composition (except for ash content), colour, functional (excluding the emulsion stability), antioxidant properties. The inclusion of BGN flours significantly increased the fibre (0.00 to 0.79%) and ash (1.16 to 1.99%) contents of the formulated mutton patties. However, moisture, protein contents, and carbohydrates decreased. The cooking yield of the formulated patties significantly increased with values ranging from 76.39 to 86.80% but the diameter decreased. The inclusion of BGN flours significantly increased the lightness, hue angle, colour difference and whiteness of patties. Nevertheless, the redness, yellowness, chroma, and yellowness index of the patties decreased. The hardness and resilience of formulated patties significantly increased with values varying from 16.41 to 17.66 N, and from 0.35 to 0.48 J/J, respectively, whereas the springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness decreased. The lipid oxidation of formulated mutton patties significantly increased from day 7 to 21 but was still less than that of the control sample within storage days. The sensory properties of formulated patties were not significantly different from the control sample and were above the acceptable score of five. Different types of BGN flour varieties can each be utilised as additives in mutton patties without detrimental effects on the quality parameters of the patties.National Research Foundation (NRF
Characteristics and operational strategies of African immigrant owned SMME'S in Thulamela Local Municipality
No full textPhD (Business Management)Department of Business ManagementThe South African government acknowledges the contribution of entrepreneurship as a means to invigorate the country’s economy and development. It extensively encourages and supports entrepreneurial activities amongst its citizens by emphasising the importance of establishing Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). A major development problem in the southern African region is the high failure rate of SMMEs. Thousands of SMMEs start up every year in South Africa but a significant number of them fail. The statistics pertaining to the SMME failure rate in South Africa is deemed to be one of the worst in the world. The participation of African immigrants in the SMMEs sector in South Africa has not gone unnoticed. African immigrant-owned entities in South Africa are on the rise. Approximately 51.5% small businesses in townships are foreign-owned. These businesses have become one of the driving forces for the growth of national and regional economies. It is against this background that this study focuses on examining the entrepreneurial characteristics and operational strategies within the African immigrant-owned enterprises context. A mixed method approach was adopted as it facilitates extensive reporting and comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon under study. A pragmatism paradigm was adopted to address the research problem. Data was collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and a questionnaire survey. Purposive nonprobability- and snowball-sampling were adopted to select the sample for the study. A thematic framework analysis was used to analyse qualitative data using ATLAS. Quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 27 using descriptive statistics. The study found that African immigrant entrepreneurs operating in Thulamela local municipality possess certain entrepreneurial characteristics that contribute to the growth and sustainability of their enterprises. It also revealed that immigrant entrepreneurs apply various strategies to remain competitive and relevant. There are also success factors which contribute to the thriving of African immigrant enterprises. Lastly, the study developed the Immigrant Entrepreneurship Success Model (IESM).NR
Knowledge and perceptions of youths towards COVID-19 vaccine in Tshino Village, Limpopo Province
No full textMPHDepartment of Public HealthVaccination is the most effective method of protecting the public against COVID-19. A
portion of the youth population is hesitant to get the vaccine for fear of contracting the
disease and the myths around the COVID-19 vaccines. Since COVID-19 vaccination has
begun worldwide, it is critical to assess the knowledge and perceptions of youth towards the
vaccine. Hence, this study assessed the level of knowledge and perceptions of youths in
Vuwani towards the COVID-19 vaccine. The study adopted the qualitative approach,
exploratory and descriptive research designs, and used convenience sampling. The data
collection tool was pretested to test the interviewer's skills and ensure participants
understood the questions. Data was analysed using the thematic data analysis technique.
Measures to ensure trustworthiness, such as credibility, dependability, conformability, and
transferability, were ensured. Ethical principles such as informed consent, confidentiality and
anonymity was ensured throughout the study. The findings of the study revealed that
majority of the youths hade negative views/ perception about the COVID 19 vaccine .
Overall findings revealed that vaccine knowledge among the youth is influenced by a lack of
confidence and high levels of complacency toward the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants
mistrusted the vaccine’s safety and the perceived intentions of the governments,
manufacturers, funders, and promoters. The study recommends community education and
engagement , to organise community education and awareness campaigns to provide
accurate information about the COVID 19 vaccine , addressing common myths and
misconceptions.NR
Fruit bat diet, foraging ecology and seed dispersal in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve.
No full textPh.D. (Zoology)Department of Biological SciencesAgricultural intensification, and a rapid human population growth have resulted in increased human wildlife contact. In the case of fruit bats, conflict with commercial fruit farmers has been a leading contributor to a decline of bat species populations, despite the vital ecosystem service of seed dispersal provided by fruit bats. Conflict between fruit bats and fruit farmers often stems from perceived or actual damage to their crops, especially during the harvest season. Such conflict often leads to the persecution of fruit bats, either legally or illegally. Therefore, a proactive assessment of bats diet in agroecosystems is important. South Africa is one of the major producers of litchi and its litchi industry is well established and continues to grow. This study provides insight into the diet, foraging behavior, and ecosystem service of seed dispersal of fruit bat species in litchi orchards and natural habitats to advise on management strategies on how to reduce crop damage. It also assesses crop raiding by fruit bats and other crop raider animals, and their activity patterns in response to litchi abundance during the harvest season using camera traps. This study also used a vertebrate exclusion experiment to quantify the effect of excluding crop raiders on yield, as well as a questionnaire survey to quantify the perceived damage in litchi orchards. The study was conducted in the subtropical fruit growing area of Levubu and the natural habitats of the Soutpansberg, Limpopo province, South Africa.
An introduction to the order Chiroptera and important fruit bats ecosystem service of seed dispersal as well as the disservice of crop depredation in agroecosystems is provided in Chapter One.
Chapter Two, bats were captured with mist nest in both agricultural and natural habitats during the litchi pre-harvest and harvest seasons. We sampled the litchi orchards as well as natural habitats from February 2018 to November 2020 and used GIS and R (ggplot2, iNEXT, lme4) to analyse fruit bats diet, their effect on seeds germination and habitat use with respect to litchi fruit abundance. Results show that fruit bat diet was dominated by wild fruit species (95%) during the litchi harvest season (December) when fruit bats are perceived to be feeding on litchi fruits. Ficus (Ficus spp.) seeds collected as fruit bats spit-out seeds had significantly lower germination rates than regular seeds, but a significantly lower germination latency, and a similar pattern was also observed for quinine tree (Rauvolfia caffra). Our results suggested that fruit bats inhabiting litchi orchards and surrounding natural vegetation feed primarily on wild fruits due to the high percentage of natural vegetation in our study area, which support the importance of natural orchard edges in mitigating crop raiding.
Chapter Three, we mounted 10 camera traps (from October 2019 to December 2020) on two litchi orchards for assessing fruit bats and other crop raider animal species richness and activity patterns in response to litchi abundance during litchi harvest season. Six time-triggered canopy camera traps were mounted (6m above the ground) to monitor the animals visiting litchi tree canopies during litchi pre-harvest (October/November) and harvest sessions (December). Additionally, four motion-triggered camera traps were mounted 30 cm above the ground to monitor animals visiting the litchi trees at the ground level. We used Digikam software to tag images and R (ggplot2, iNEXT, lme4, overlap, RSQLite) to analyse species richness, Relative abundance Index (RAI), and crop raider activity patterns. We recorded a significantly higher species richness index during the harvest season (December) compared to litchi pre-harvest season (October/November). Crop raider species richness was lower compared to incidentally observed species during the litchi harvest season. Fruit bats (which could not be assigned to either Epomophorus or Rousettus genus) recorded lower activity (RAI (of 2.49) compared to Dark-capped Bulbul (Pycnonotus tricolor; RAI (43.44)). Lastly, fruit bats did not show/exhibit any change in seasonal activity between the litchi pre-ripe and ripe seasons.
As reported in Chapter Four, we collected the litchi yield data on both vertebrate exclusion trees (caged) and paired open control trees during the December/January harvest season between 2019 and 2020, to quantify the effect of excluding crop raider vertebrates, weather, and insect damage on yield. We constructed a total of six vertebrate exclusion cages on two litchi orchards, each enclosing one litchi tree and paired them with open control trees marked with a tapper. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was conducted in Chapter Four from both commercial and small-scale litchi farmers to quantify the perceived damage caused by crop raiders and later compared the results to the total yield for trees inside the exclusion cages and paired open control trees. Our litchi yield results show that open control trees produced significantly higher yield than caged trees, which is contrary to our hypothesis. There was also a weak but non-significant trend towards higher vertebrate damage on control trees compared to caged trees. Questionnaire survey results revealed that weather (sun/rain) and monkeys were the main cause of damage in litchi orchards, when compared to fruit bats, and there was a strong agreement among farmers that the damage varied by vertebrate groups. Farm type (commercial versus small-scale) also show statistically significant difference in the perceived damage caused by bats, birds, insects, monkeys, weather and wild pigs. The results of our study also show lower crop raiding incidence were reported for fruit bats.
In summary, Chapter Five concludes that fruit bats prefer to feed on wild fruits over commercially cultivated fruits such as litchi, and potentially provide ecosystem service of seed dispersal, and that remnant natural vegetation at the orchard edges are important food sources, and assist in mitigating crop raiding, and need to be maintained or restored. The study also shows that fruit bats are not crop raiders of litchi fruits, and do not change their seasonal foraging activity in respond to litchi abundance during the litchi harvest season, as believed by farmers. However, further research on fruit bats crop raiding must be conducted in an area with known abundance of colonial species like Rousettus aegyptiacus, a known global pest of litchi crop. Additionally, the use of radio tracking should be considered, and could provide insight into fruit bats habitat use. Our study further revealed that vertebrate exclusions did not increase litchi yield, and that weather and monkeys were the main cause of damage when compared fruit bats. As a result, this study provides information to farmers on fruit bat`s important ecosystem service of seed dispersal and the benefit of maintaining natural orchard edges.NR
Effect of biofertilizers on phosphorus nutrition and grain yield of des chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) grown in different agro-ecologies
No full textMSCAGR (Soil Science)Department of Plant and Soil SciencesSouth African soils are predominantly acidic and have high levels of Al and Fe, giving a higher P sorption capacity and low P levels. Consequently, soil fertility has become a major constraint in South Africa’s farming, thereby threatening crop production and food security. Literature reveals, however, that biofertilizers have the potential to improve crop growth, grain yields and, acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in both the plant tissue and soil. Nonetheless, there is scant information about the biofertilizers’ effects on their co-application with rhizobium inoculation as most of the studies focused on the sole application of the biofertilizers such as Bontera, Kelpak, Mycorrhiza, and Rhizobium inoculation. This study evaluated the biofertilizers’ effects on the phosphorus accumulation in the rhizosphere soil, the acid and alkaline phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere soil and, the two chickpea genotypes’ growth and yields under different environments.
In 2019, three field experiments were conducted in three locations, namely Thohoyandou, Syferkuil, and Sikhwahlane, and two more were done at Thohoyandou and Syferkuil in 2021. The treatments consisted of a factorial combination of six biofertilizer levels (Mycoroot, Kelpak, Rhizobium inoculation, Kelpak+Rhizobium inoculation, Mycoroot+Rhizobium inoculation, zero control) and two chickpea genotypes (Accession 3 and Accession 7). These were arranged in a three-time replicated randomised complete block design. The intercepted radiation’s (IR) proportion was measured using the AccuPAR LP-80 ceptometer at Thohoyandou in 2019 and 2021. The chlorophyll content was measured at vegetative and reproductive stage using a chlorophyll meter (CCM-200 PLUS, Opti-Science) at Thohoyandou and Syferkuil in 2021. The stomatal conductance (gs) was measured using a portable porometer (AP4 DELTA-T Device) at the vegetative and reproductive stage at Thohoyandou in 2021. The normalised different vegetation index (NDVI) was measured using the portable GreenSeeker at the vegetative stage at Thohoyandou and Syferkuil in 2021. The chlorophyll fluorescence was measured at the flowering stage using the portable chlorophyll fluorometer at Thohoyandou, Syferkuil, and Sikhwahlane in 2019; and at Thohoyandou and Syferkuil in 2021. The acid and alkaline phosphatase activities were measured at the flowering stage at Thohoyandou, Syferkuil, and Sikhwahlane in 2019, and at Thohoyandou and Syferkuil in 2021. The inorganic phosphorus was measured at the flowering stage at Thohoyandou and Syferkuil in 2021. The yield and yield components (pod weight, shoot biomass, and harvest index) were measured at the harvest maturity stage at Thohoyandou, Syferkuil, and Sikhwahlane in 2019, and at Thohoyandou and Syferkuil in 2021. Data were analysed for variance (ANOVA) using the STATISTIX (2017) version 10.0. The Tukey’s honestly difference (HSD) test was used to
separate the means that were significantly different (P≤0.05). The Pearson correlation was used to test the linear association’s strength between the parameters studied.
The biofertilizers significantly increased the intercepted radiation’s proportion (%IR) at Thohoyandou in 2019 and 2021. The Kelpak sole and in combination with the rhizobium inoculation on 61DAE (86.71) and 75DAE (85.10) recorded the highest %IR in 2019 cropping season. The rhizobium inoculation recorded the highest %IR at 47DAE (50.17) & 83DAE (80.67) and the Kelpak+Rhizobium inoculation recorded the highest %IR at 61DAE (54.33) & 75DAE (68.67) in the 2021 cropping season. The genotype had no significant effect on %IR in both seasons but the interaction between M x accession7 gave the greatest proportion of the intercepted radiation in 2019. The chlorophyll content was significantly increased by the biofertilizers at Thohoyandou (clay soil) only in 2021 with the Kelpak combined with rhizobium inoculation recording the greatest chlorophyll content (2.13-3.10) in all measurement dates. However, the genotype affected the chlorophyll content at 74DAE with accession7 recording the highest chlorophyll content compared to accession3. However, the interaction between the biofertilizer and the genotype had no significant effects on the chlorophyll content in all sites. The stomatal conductance was significantly affected by the biofertilizer application with K+R recording the highest gs at 42DAE (529.25) and M+R recording the highest gs at 56DAE (473.08) at Thohoyandou in 2021. Both the genotype and interaction between the biofertilizer and the genotype significantly affected the gs at 70DAE with accession3 recording the highest gs compared to accession7, and the Mycoroot x accession3 recording the highest gs. The normalised difference vegetative index was significantly increased by the biofertilizer application at 28DAE & 42DAE at Syferkuil only (sandy soil) with Mycoroot and K+R recording the highest NDVI at 28DAE (0.56) and rhizobium inoculation and M+R recording the highest NDVI at 42DAE (0.68). Neither the genotype nor the interaction between the biofertilizer and the genotype had a significant effect on the NDVI in all sites.
The biofertilizer’s application significantly affected the acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in all sites except at Syferkuil in 2021 where the biofertilizers had no significant effect on the alkaline phosphatase activity. The co-application of K+R gave the highest APase at Syferkuil (sandy soil) and Sikhwahlane (loamy soil) in 2019, while at Thohoyandou (clay soil) the co-application of M+R gave the highest APase. In 2021, the co-application of K+R gave the highest APase at Syferkuil and Thohoyandou. The alkaline phosphatase activity was higher with the application of rhizobium inoculation at Syferkuil and Thohoyandou in 2019, and higher with the co-application of M+R (13.03) in Sikhwahlane in 2019. However, the zero control gave the highest AlkPase activity (74.14) at Syferkuil in 2021. At Thohoyandou (2021), however, the Kelpak’s application recorded the highest AlkPase activity (56.81). Inorganic phosphorus was significantly affected by the biofertilizers in both sites. The co-application of K+R recorded
the highest inorganic phosphorus at Syferkuil and the sole Kelpak (15.16mg/kg) gave the highest inorganic phosphorus at Thohoyandou in 2021. The genotype had no significant effect on the APase and AlkPase activities but significantly affected the inorganic phosphorus at Syferkuil with accession3 (55.61mg/kg) recording the highest Pi compared to accession7. The interaction between the biofertilizer and the genotype affected the APase and inorganic at Thohoyandou, and only the Pi at Syferkuil in 2021.
Among the various biofertilizers used at Thohoyandou, the rhizobium inoculation recorded the highest quantum yield of PSII (0.24 to 0.33) in 2019. The biofertilizers, however, significantly affected the PSII, Fv/Fo, and Fv/Fm at Syferkuil in 2021 with the rhizobium inoculation exhibiting the highest PSII, Kelpak exhibiting the greatest Fv/Fo, and the sole Mycoroot and Mycoroot combined with the rhizobium inoculation exhibiting the strongest Fv/Fm. Among the biofertilizers administered at Thohoyandou, the Kelpak and rhizobium inoculations gave the highest PSII, and the Kelpak sole gave the greatest Fv/Fo. The genotype significantly affected the minimal fluorescence (Fo) in Sikhwahlane in 2019. It was pronounced in accession7 than in accession3 and the genotype affected the Fv/Fm at Syferkuil and was more pronounced in accession7 than in accession3. In 2019’s cropping season, the biofertilizers increased the pod weight and grain yields at Thohoyandou to above-ground biomass and grain yield at Syferkuil, and pod weight to above-ground biomass and the grain yield in Sikhwahlane. In both sites in 2021, the biofertilizers increased the above-ground biomass, harvest index, and grain yield. Accession7 gave the highest value of pod weight at Syferkuil’s cropping season in 2021. The interaction between the biofertilizer and the genotype had no significant effect on the grain yield and yield components in all the locations and in both cropping seasons. Therefore, this makes the biofertilizers an effective tool for increasing the chickpea’s yield in these regions.National Research Foundation (NRF
Assessment of Occupational Health and Safety Standards of Employees Working for Water Programme in Tzaneen, Limpopo Province
No full textMPHDepartment of Public HealthOccupational health and safety have become a worldwide concern, particularly for those who operate in outdoor settings. Despite global attempts to address workplace safety and health issues, millions of work-related deaths occur yearly. The study assessed the occupational health and safety standards of the Working for Water employees in Tzaneen, Limpopo Province. The study was conducted in the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality. A quantitative, descriptive research design was adopted. A total population sample size was used since there are only a few workers in the Working for Water programme in Tzaneen. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire with open and close-ended questions and ethical concerns were considered. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27.0. Results showed that most respondents (63.6%) were male workers, indicating that females are underrepresented in the WfW programme. The age group with the highest rate of respondents was 31-35 years age group with 50%. The results also showed that employees were not taken for medical examination before and during work and very little or no training was being provided so that they could be fully equipped for work. The chi-square test was statistically significant, as it showed that education level influences the awareness of the potential hazards associated with radiation (P=0.003,df =2). Data showed that the WfW project gave little attention to all Occupational Health and Safety practices. The researcher recommends that the WfW project on occupational safety management practices should be prioritized. Thus, employees should understand that safety and health practices are the responsibility of both management and staff, and this will increase the work environment safety.NR
Effects of orange-fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)-Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) composite flour on quality properties of pasta
No full textMSCFSTDepartment of Food Science and TechnologyNon-wheat flours are being used to partially replace wheat flour. This is expected to increase the utilization of local raw materials while easing demand for wheat. The goal of the study was to investigate how composite flour derived from orange fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) LAM) and Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean (L.) Verdc) affects the quality of pasta while also improving its nutritional characteristics. Orange fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) were produced at the Agricultural Research Council Roodeplaat Campus in Pretoria, and Bambara groundnuts were sourced from the Thohoyandou area, Vhembe district in South Africa. The OFSP were peeled, sliced, dried for 10 hours at 60℃ using a hot air oven drier and ground into flour. Bambara groundnut flour was made by soaking the seeds in water for 24 hours, dehulling them, drying them in an oven dryer for 24 hours at 60℃, and they were then ground into flour. The pasta was produced from a mixture of semolina, OFSP and Bambara groundnut flours in the ratios 90:5:5; 70:15:15 and 50:25:25. The functional and physicochemical properties of the pasta, as well as its cooking and sensory qualities were investigated. The samples were analyzed in triplicate using a randomized complete block design. The data was subjected to ANOVA and the Duncan multiple range test was used to differentiate significant means. Pasta produced from composite flour significantly affected the proximate composition and cooking quality compared to 100% wheat pasta. Good nutritional quality pasta was obtained from the blend of 50:25:25 semolina, OFSP and Bambara groundnut flour which exhibited a high value of protein (9.73%), ash (4.38%) and fibre (2.27%), vitamin A (1.95mg/100g) and vitamin C (8.93mg/100g) content. The pasta enhanced with composite flour of 70:15:15 semolina, OFSP and Bambara groundnut was mostly preferred during consumer acceptability testing compared to the pasta produced from 90:5:5 semolina, OFSP and Bambara groundnut flour; 50:25:25 semolina, OFSP and Bambara groundnut flour and 100% wheat.National Research Foundation (NRF
An evaluation of Expanded Public Works Programme as a policy intervention measure in Sekhukhuni District Municipality: A social justice perspective
No full textPhD (Public Administration)Department of Public and Development AdministrationThis study aimed to assess how well the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is being implemented as a policy intervention measure, in Sekhukhune District Municipality, Limpopo Province. A Social Justice Perspective was used as theoretical framework to establish the implementation of the programme as envisaged within the South African policy framework. Empirical evidence was obtained from a sample of population within the target group. The study intended to link the challenges faced in the Implementation of EPWP Projects and the effects of the contradictions in the attainment of the EPWP objectives as a government programme. The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is one of government’s short-to-medium term programmes aimed at alleviating and reducing unemployment. It implements this aim through the provision of work opportunities coupled with training for vulnerable individuals. It is a national programme covering all spheres of government and state-owned enterprises (SOEs). There is still a knowledge vacuum about the social justice component as it relates to the implementation processes and obstacles involved in carrying out EPWP initiatives, despite all of the research that has been done. The study also focused on the persisting inequalities in terms of the participation rates of the groups that are supposed to be served by the EPWP programme, rhetorical “hype” regarding social justice as the discourse of choice in EPWP projects. An integrated approach, synthesizing and aggregating different assessment methods in assessing social (in) justice and inequalities experienced in the implementation of EPWP projects, was adopted. Such an integrated approach required the adoption of both a qualitative and quantitative research design to achieve the series of research objectives, hence, a mixed-method approach was used whereby both qualitative and quantitative research paradigms were exploited. A positivist approach was used to measure the quantitative aspects of social justice as it relates to Sekhukhune District and the phenomenological paradigm was employed with the qualitative data which focused on respondents’ ideas, feelings and inner expressions in relation to social justice.
On a social justice perspective, the study findings revealed that EPWP objectives were fairly met in the research study. However, creation of job opportunities for the poorest communities remains a debatable issue, as this has been experienced through lack of transparency in the recruitment of project beneficiaries as well as unwillingness to work from some employed beneficiaries. If EPWP has to effectively achieve its targets six intervention measures have to be put in place according to the policy reform framework proposed in this study. First, skills training development needs to be strengthened to build capacity. Second, strengthen
recruitment processes. Thirdly, good governance needs to be put in place. Fourthly, adherence to OHS requirements need to be achieved. Tightening project administration and management practices becomes the fifth aspect. Finally support from both national and local government is paramount importance.
The study concluded by developing an EPWP policy reform framework. Such framework would require major reforms in six main areas. The first one focusing on skills training and capacity building among EPWP stakeholders, secondly there is need to strengthen existing recruitment processes. Third, effective implementation of good governance processes. Forth, strict adherence to OHS regulations. Fifth, need to improve public administration and public management practices. Sixth, putting in place institutional arrangements to ensure maximum support from the national and local government.NR
The attitude knowledge, the use of contraceptives among teenagers at Matome Malatji High School in Mopani District, Limpopo Province
No full textMPHDepartment of Public HealthBackground: Lack of utilisation of the contraceptives, use of less effective methods and lack of consistency in the utilisation of contraceptives contribute to high rate of unwanted pregnancies. The attitude and knowledge of teenagers regarding the usage of contraceptives remains a major concern in South Africa as it is evidenced by high rate of teenage pregnancy in the country.
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the attitude, knowledge, and the use of contraceptives among female and male teenagers at Matome Malatji High School, Mopani District, Limpopo Province.
Methodology: The study adopted quantitative approach. The target population was male and female teenagers from grade 8 to 12 at Matome Malatji High School. The study used stratified random sampling with 50% proportional. Sample size was 256 respondents. The study included female and male teenagers between the ages of 13-19 years at Matome Malatji High School. The research method that was used was a survey where a questionnaire was used as a tool to collect data. The instrument was pre-tested with 10% of learners at the nearby High School (Lepato M. High School) as they shared the same characteristics. In this study, validity was ensured by means of face and content validity. In this study, test re-test methods were used to measure the reliability of the instrument. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Ethical considerations of the study included, requesting permission to conduct the study, ensuring privacy and confidentiality, informed consent and asset form and autonomy and respects for the respondents.
Results: The study found that the majority of the respondents 48,34% (n=123) have neutral attitude towards contraceptives. The study also found that majority of the respondents, 54,30% (n=139) have knowledge about contraceptives. Majority of the respondents, 54% (n=117) are not on contraceptives. Out of those using contraceptives, majority are on injectables, 82,91% (n=97).
Conclusion: The attitude, knowledge, and the use of contraceptives among teenagers remains a major concern. In order to reduce teenage pregnancies, the use of contraceptives should be emphasized.NR