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Wounded healing as a caring approach to female survivors of rape in South Africa
Full text linkMaster of Theology in Pastoral Studies, North-West University-- Vanderbijlpark CampusThis study investigates the application of the wounded healer metaphor from a Christian perspective to address the high prevalence of rape within the context of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa. Despite constitutional protections and societal efforts, rape remains a critical issue, exacerbated by cultural and systemic factors, including the insufficient engagement of some Christian communities. Employing a literature review methodology, this research systematically analyzed existing studies, theological texts, and relevant social science perspectives. Key findings reveal a significant gap between scriptural mandates for justice and healing and the practical responses of churches, highlighting the need for a more proactive theological engagement. Scriptural analysis emphasizes justice, victim dignity, and transformative healing through faith. Furthermore, the study proposes strategic interventions, including trauma-informed pastoral care, community-based initiatives, and the re-education of faith communities, to foster effective wounded healing care. This research concludes that a robust application of the wounded healer concept, grounded in biblical principles, can empower survivors and facilitate societal change in addressing rape in South Africa
Exploring the Use of Data in a Digital Twin for the Marine and Coastal Environment
Full text linkNorth-West University, Faculty of Engineering, Potchefstroom CampusThe ocean plays a vital role in our society and represents a constantly changing landscape that is not well understood and therefore needs continuous monitoring and research. Sustainable monitoring is essential to assess both the current and future state of our oceans. However, conventional monitoring faces significant challenges, including issues of accessibility, and spatial and temporal constraints. The development of digital twins of the ocean (DTO) offers an emerging technology that could revolutionise our understanding of marine and coastal environments. Current DTO have shown effectiveness in monitoring marine and coastal environments in the European context. However, there is a need for a DTO for the Southern African and Western Indian Ocean regions that addresses specific concerns that are relevant to these regions. Successful development of a DTO depends on the availability of high-quality data. Therefore, various data inputs are necessary to build an accurate digital twin. This paper explores the data that can be utilised in a DTO, detailing how different ocean variables are collected and integrated into the digital twin. As a first step towards the development of a DTO in these regions, the paper proposes a data management plan and its implementation in the development of DTO. The data management plan is based on the phases of data in a geospatial data life cycle. Challenges regarding the management of data in this DTO and possible solutions are presented in the conclusion
Accessible chemistry: the success of small-scale laboratory kits in South Africa
Full text linkJournal Article, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Chemistry-- Potchefstroom CampusChemical innovations enhance our quality of life by responding to challenges in e.g., energy production, medical care, and material development. Studying and understanding chemistry is essential for future solutions. However, chemistry is not accessible to all learners. In South Africa, the challenge is to make chemistry accessible to all participants, especially in the North West province, in poor schools without easy access to resources and with inadequately trained teachers. One way to make chemistry more accessible is through micro-scale chemistry. With this goal in mind, the MYLAB small-scale chemistry kit was designed. The kit was developed around the 5 ml test tube (our size determinant). We wanted all learners and teachers to have hands-on, minds-on chemistry practical experience. Thus, workshops were organised to (i) train the teachers in the use of the kits and (ii) to allow learners to experience practicals hands-on. This article gives an overview of how the use of the MYLAB small-scale chemistry kit was successful in making chemistry accessible to all
Legal Implications of Improper Municipal Solid Waste Management on Human Health and the Environment
Full text linkMaster of Philosophy in Environmental Law and Governance, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusThis study set out to determine the legal implications of improper municipal solid waste management on human health and the environment by consulting primary and secondary sources of law. Primary sources of law included international law, the Constitution, legislation and case law, and secondary sources included journal articles, books, book chapters and internet sources. Improper waste management has negative consequences for human health and the environment. People living within a five-kilometre radius of waste disposal are at greater risk of developing respiratory tract diseases. Leachate produced at landfill sites pollutes groundwater sources. Burning waste releases dioxins, particulate matter, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Illegal dumping introduces heavy metals into the receiving soil, leading to contamination of edible vegetables and affecting the quality of the soil. Waste management regulation is founded on the provisions of section 24 of the Constitution. The National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA) forms the legislative framework for environmental law. The NEMA provides for environmental management principles and cooperative environmental governance. The National Environmental Management: Waste Act 58 of 2008 (Waste Act) aims to ensure the implementation of a waste management hierarchy. It provides for the establishment and implementation of the National Waste Management Strategy. Environmental management inspectors (herafter EMIs)are designated in terms of the NEMA to enforce environmental laws. Only Grade 1 EMIs have full powers. Adding environmental health practitioners to the Environmental Management Inspectorate could help with the enforcement of waste regulations in the local sphere of government. Training of the National Prosecuting Authority and members of the judiciary and the establishment of environmental courts are essential for the proper enforcement of waste management regulations.-The District of LejweleputswaMaster
Advancing estuarine management through LEG instruments in law: the case of Knysna Municipality
Full text linkMaster of Laws in Aspects of Constitutional Law, North-West University-- Potchefstroom CampusThe Knysna Estuary is ranked highest in South Africa in terms of its conservational importance. In general, estuaries have been identified as the most threatened and least protected ecosystems in South Africa. The Knysna Estuary has been experiencing negative impacts from anthropogenic activities. While it is under the management of South African National Parks (SANParks), the current management strategy does not account for any external influences as these are typically outside the managing authority's control. Efforts at the local government level have the potential to contribute to the protection of the Knysna Estuary. South African municipalities have a constitutional and statutory duty to protect the environment. This duty is entrenched in local government framework law, and most importantly in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, which states that one of the objects of local government is to promote a safe and healthy environment. South Africa's national environmental law framework further requires municipalities to develop and adopt several instruments aimed at achieving so-called Local Environmental Governance (LEG) objectives. LEG refers to the environmentally relevant outputs and processes conducted at the strategic, tactical, and operational levels in municipalities, thus integrating environmental matters with local processes, plans, and policies. LEG instruments, such as the Integrated Development Plan, for example, are expected to help realise environmental objectives. Against this backdrop, this study aims to determine to what extent the Knysna Municipality's LEG instruments as provided in law are, or could be, utilised to advance the co-management of the Knysna Estuary.-North-West University (Faculty of Law)
-National Research FoundationMaster
The legislative framework regulating mine closure and rehabilitation in relation to sustainable development
No full textMaster of Philosophy in Environmental Law and Governance, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusSince the 1860s, South Africa's mining sector has matured, reaching its highest point in the 1980s when it made significant socioeconomic development. The mining industry has made remarkable socioeconomic development by contributing to taxes and generating job opportunities. However, the repealed Minerals Act 50 of 1991 was the first legislation to regulate the environmental impact of mining activities, albeit inadequately. The Minerals Act was quickly repealed following the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, which introduced environmental rights. Importantly, section 24 of the Constitution embraces the concept of sustainable development which requires integrating and balancing socioeconomic and environmental considerations into development. As a result, sustainable development is inherent in legislative frameworks such as the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 and the National Water Act 36 of 1998. This legislative framework regulates mining activities and their impact on water resources. Nevertheless, it is estimated that there are more than 6,000 abandoned and unrehabilitated mines that are a source of environmental issues such as acid mine drainage. However, most of these mines emanate from the past when there was no legal obligation to rehabilitate the environmental impact of mining activities. Considering the significant number of abandoned and unrehabilitated mines, this study analyses the legislative framework regulating financial provision for mine rehabilitation and environmental liability. This legislative framework safeguards environmental rights and prevents pollution while promoting reasonable socioeconomic development.-North West University Faculty of Law
-Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the EnvironmentMaster
Input Margins Can Predict Generalization Too
Full text linkArticle, Faculty of Engineering( Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering), Potchefstroom CampusUnderstanding generalization in deep neural networks is an active area of research. A promising avenue of exploration has been that of margin measurements: the shortest distance to the decision boundary for a given sample or its representation internal to the network. While margins have been shown to be correlated with the generalization ability of a model when measured at its hidden representations (hidden margins), no such link between large margins and generalization has been established for input margins. We show that while input margins are not generally predictive of generalization, they can be if the search space is appropriately constrained. We develop such a measure based on input margins, which we refer to as ‘constrained margins’. The predictive power of this new measure is demonstrated on the ‘Predicting Generalization in Deep Learning’ (PGDL) dataset and contrasted with hidden representation margins. We find that constrained margins achieve highly competitive scores and outperform other margin measurements in general. This provides a novel insight on the relationship between generalization and classification margins, and highlights the importance of considering the data manifold for investigations of generalization in DNNs
An exploration of the working conditions of women employed in mining operations at a platinum mine in South Africa
Full text linkMaster of Arts in Industrial Sociology, North-West University-- Potchefstroom CampusThis study explored the working conditions of women employed in mining operations at a platinum mine in South Africa. Historically, the mining industry has been male-dominated, and women’s employment in underground work in mines was legally restricted by the International Labour Organization’s labour standard titled Underground Work (Women) Convention, 1935 (No. 45), which was replaced by the Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176). Countries that ratified Convention No. 176 moved towards gender-neutral policies that focused on ensuring the health and safety of all workers in all operations, including women. In South Africa, particularly, the Employment Equity Act of 1998, the Mine Health and Safety Act of 1996, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002 and the Mining Charters of 2004, 2010 and 2018 have gradually facilitated women’s inclusion in the mining industry. Although women’s participation in the South African mining industry has significantly increased, the mining industry remains a challenging environment for women; they face various barriers, which are often indicated as reasons why women leave the industry and why mining companies do not meet their set targets as stipulated by the Mining Charter. This study investigated the ‘gender problem’ in mining companies through feminist theory and feminist treatments of organisations and change. This study employed a quantitative research methodology guided by an objectivist ontology, an empiricist epistemology and a positivist research paradigm. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire administered to women working in mining operations at a selected platinum mine in South Africa. The questionnaire comprised both closed- and open-ended questions, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of the factors affecting women’s working conditions. The data was analysed using exploratory factor analysis, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics to identify the key trends and relationships. The data yielded significant insights regarding respondents’ demographics and various aspects of their working conditions. Of the 200 questionnaires distributed, 196 were returned, indicating a high response rate. The majority of respondents were black African women aged 30 to 39, predominantly married with children and possessing secondary education. Most had 11 to 20 years of underground work experience, motivated by unemployment, job insecurity and the pursuit of stable employment. While the mining company provided housing, medical aid, pensions and maternity benefits, it was deficient in travel allowances, childcare support and other essential benefits, suggesting a need for enhanced support for female employees, particularly those with young children. Despite the implementation of effective gender sensitive policies, awareness of the company’s professional development programmes for women was limited, indicating a necessity for improved support for women’s career advancement. Women perceived themselves as physically capable but noted specific physiological challenges, highlighting the need for tailored support systems. Health and safety measures were generally adequate; however, there remains a need for gender-sensitive personal protective equipment and maternity-related support, particularly for underground workers. Regarding workplace practices, issues of gender discrimination and sexual harassment were prevalent, which have a negative impact on women’s experiences. This study significantly contributes to the academic discourse on gender equity in the mining industry by highlighting women’s unique challenges in this traditionally male-dominated industry. Providing empirical insights and recommendations equips policymakers and industry leaders with strategies to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment.-North-West University Masters Bursary Scheme
-Faculty of Humanities Postgraduate Bursary (NWU)
- NWU Social Transformation Focus Area
-NWU Staff Discount
-UCDG Staff Development: Focus Area 2 Project 10
-The University Capacity Development
Programme(UCDP
A legal analysis of the application of the FATF grey-listing standards on South Africa
Full text linkMaster of Laws with Mercantile Law, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusThe Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is a watchdog established to counter the abuse of the financial system by criminals for money laundering, the financing acts of terrorists and proliferation financing. For the FATF to achieve its mandate, it came up with a set of global standards in the form of Recommendations. The Recommendations seek to mitigate the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing and to assess whether FATF member countries are taking effective action to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. South Africa is a member of the FATF and therefore, is obliged to comply with the standards set to combat money laundering and terrorist financing and proliferation. The FATF uses assessments done through peer mutual evaluations. In other words, FATF members assess one another’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regulatory frameworks for compliance with FATF’s standards. Following the FATF's assessment in the years 2003, 2009 and 2018, South Africa’s AML/CTF regulatory framework was found to be weak leading to greylisting in 2023. The greylisting of South Africa follows the findings of strategic deficiencies in the country’s implementation of the FATF AML/CFT standards. Greylisting by the FATF carries various economic and reputational implications for South Africa such as increased scrutiny from international partners resulting in increased compliance costs for financial institutions, an estimated reduction in South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) and a decrease in foreign direct investment (FDI). Since the greylisting, South Africa has embarked on a legislative and regulatory journey to address the shortcomings with a view to be taken off the greylist. This dissertation provides a detailed analysis of the FATF standards, evaluates South Africa's legislative and institutional responses in the form of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998, Financial Intelligence Centre Act 38 of 2001 and the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act 33 of 2004, and assess their effectiveness in addressing the identified deficiencies. Recommendations are suggested to assist in fortifying South Africa’s AML/CTF regulatory framework.Master
A methodological approach to investigating lateral movement attacks using a threat hunting architecture
Full text linkMaster of Science in Computer Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusIn this study, the application of hypothesis-driven threat hunting methodologies to detect lateral movement attacks is investigated. Lateral movement attacks, as pivotal components of advanced persistent threats (APTs), enable attackers to stealthily navigate and exploit compromised networks by moving from one compromised system to another within the same network. One approach to detecting such threats is through threat hunting, which involves proactively identifying threats based on known tactics and behaviours. A key focus of this study is the Targeted Hunting integrated Threat Intelligence (TaHiTI) methodology. The primary objective is to investigate the applicability of TaHiTI and assess its potential for improving cybersecurity defences against lateral movement attacks. This is achieved using a simulation-based experimental design that replicates various attack scenarios within a controlled virtual laboratory. Through a structured qualitative approach supported by experimental simulation, this study assesses the applicability of the TaHiTI methodology in detecting lateral movement attacks. The findings highlight the strengths of the methodology in detecting stealthy attacker behaviours and its relevance for practical implementation in cybersecurity operations. Limitations related to simulation-based research are discussed, along with opportunities for future work, including real-world testing and expanded threat modelling. The study contributes to both academic and applied cybersecurity by demonstrating how structured, intelligence-driven hunting strategies can advance the detection of sophisticated intrusions.Master