87 research outputs found
Sustainability of South African Homestays: an integrated approach for Tourism and Hospitality Development
No full textPhD (Tourism and Hospitality Management)Department of Tourism and Hospitality ManagementThis study aimed to develop a framework for enhancing the sustainability of homestays in South Africa, addressing the lack of standardized quality control and certification programs. This absence leads to inconsistent service quality, making it difficult for tourists to set clear expectations. The research assessed the current state of homestays by profiling various types through online surveys, including web pages and social media platforms like Facebook. A case study approach was used to evaluate the economic, environmental, and social factors influencing homestay sustainability. Six homestays (two per province—urban and rural) across three provinces (Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal) were selected for in-depth interviews. Surveys were conducted with 120 households near each homestay to examine local community perceptions.
The findings revealed the need for government intervention to establish clear policies for regulating homestay standards. This would address inconsistencies and improve service quality and sustainability. The study also emphasized the importance of adopting responsible environmental practices, such as solar energy, sustainable water management, and better waste disposal systems, to mitigate long-term environmental damage. It recommended training programs to encourage sustainable tourism practices among homestay operators. The research further identified the vulnerability of homestays to climate change, particularly in rural, ecologically sensitive areas. Strategies to enhance climate resilience, such as eco-friendly infrastructure and disaster preparedness, were suggested. Additionally, technological challenges were identified, particularly in rural areas where limited access to digital platforms restricts marketing efforts. The study recommended capacity-building initiatives to improve the visibility and profitability of homestays through digital marketing and online platforms.
Regarding community perceptions, the study found that local communities generally viewed homestays positively, with no major social or economic changes observed. However, the study suggests further research, including structured surveys targeting various community groups, to assess the broader impacts of homestays on the economy, society, and environment
The practice of green procurement in facilities management in higher education institutions
No full textA research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Building, 2020Applying sustainability principles in facilities management is vital as it assists in reducing and eliminating adverse impacts on the natural environment. Sustainability principles also have a significant impact in higher education institutions as they have numerous buildings on campuses. Several studies have confirmed that applying sustainability principles in facilities management can yield positive results such as water conservation, reduction of energy consumption and waste whilst increasing long term cost savings and producing green conducive environments. Green procurement is avital aspect of sustainability as it focuses on purchasing of environmentally friendly products and services. Therefore, green procurement practices are key in achieving sustainable facilities management. Even though literature exists regarding green procurement in facilities management, little is known about actual green procurement practices in facilities management in higher education institutions, the capacity to implement green procurement, knowledge of green procurement, readiness to implement green procurement and influencing factors faced in the quest to implement green procurement. The aim of the study was to identify the actual green procurement practices that are being implemented in facilities management in higher education institutions in South Africa. This study was carried out in the interpretivist philosophical manner. An inductive reasoning approach was utilised through the multi-method of semi-structured interviews and direct observations that was used in a survey strategy. The sampling methods used, was non-probability sampling. The findings of the study reveal that the current green procurement practices in the participating South African universities include energy efficiency, water conservation, innovative building designs, sustainable landscaping, building management systems, recycling of waste and energy efficiency on heating, ventilation and air conditioning. However, financial constraints were highlighted as an important factor influencing the level and frequency of green procurement implementationCK202
Bridging policy and practice: Governance and sustainability of community-based homestays in South Africa
No full textTourism is increasingly recognised as a catalyst for inclusive development in the Global South. In South Africa, community-based homestays (CBHs) empower rural communities while conserving cultural and environmental assets, yet implementation remains uneven. This study examines the governance and sustainability of CBHs through a case study of the Makwarani village in Limpopo Province. Using an interpretivist qualitative design, ten semi-structured interviews were analysed thematically within Collaborative Governance, Social Exchange, and Sustainable Livelihoods frameworks. Findings reveal that tourism both preserves and commercialises local culture, generates seasonal income, and fosters social cohesion while also producing inequality, environmental strain, and governance fragmentation. Participants stressed the need for equitable benefit-sharing, strong institutional coordination, and community participation. The study concludes that inclusive governance, capacity development, and collaborative management are essential to bridge the policy–practice gap and achieve sustainable, community-driven tourism in South Africa
Vegetation change detection using remote sensing and GIS in Makhado Town, Limpopo Province, South Africa
No full textMENVSCDepartment of Geography and Geo-Information SciencesVegetation is one of the most important renewable natural resources to play a role in the preservation of the environment and biodiversity. Various land use activities such as urbanization, population growth and other anthropogenic activities, as well as climate change have been some of the major drivers which alter vegetation cover and contribute to biodiversity loss. This research study uses remote sensing and Geographical Information System to quantify vegetation and land cover change in Makhado over a five-year period (2007 - 2012). This study used multi-temporal satellite image data to identify the dynamic pattern of vegetation change and the negative impacts it has on the environment. The research uses remote sensing techniques and GIS software to analyse data. In addition, satellite imageries were used to study the spatial and temporal distribution of vegetation. The results of the study show that settlement areas have been on a stable positive and mostly uncontrolled expansion from 17.73% of the study area in 2007 to 30.52% in 2012. Vegetation on the other hand, has been on a steady decline, from 10.65% in 2007 to 5.92% in 2012, as well as the ecosystems quality on which biodiversity depends for their existence and to a greater extent the climate conditions, with an increase in temperature, methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. The monitoring of vegetation change can play a vital role in knowledge generation, best practices and as well as Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation which can be abated in the near future. This study recommends that the South Africa Government and public agencies concerned develop policies and strategies to bring about balanced, coordinated and sustainable development in the municipality and its district
Gully Features Extraction Using Remote Sensing Techniques
No full textGullies are large and deep erosion depressions or channels normally occurring in drainage ways. They are spectrally heterogeneous, making them difficult to map using pixel based classification technique. The advancement of remote sensing in terms of Geographic Object Based Image Analysis (GEOBIA) provides new possibilities to extract gullies with relative ease. This study investigates and tests a GEOBIA technique called Imagine Objective for gully features extraction in the Capricorn District Municipality of Limpopo Province. IO extracts gullies by firstly group the pixel information and then subjects them to raster and vector conversion and refinement algorithms. For the purpose of assessing the accuracy of the IO created gullies, reference data were created by manual digitising gullies from SPOT 5 satellite imagery on the background. The error matrix was computed and the results indicated a user's accuracy of 98.67% and 54% for non-gully and gully class respectively; a producer's accuracy of 68.20% and 97.59% for non-gully and gully class respectively; a overall classification accuracy of 76.33% and a kappa statistic of 0.95, 0.36 and 0.52 for non-gully class, gully class and total kappa statistic respectively. Although the accuracy levels are considered moderately acceptable, it is recommended that much higher spatial resolution imagery such as Quickbird be used in future and other functionalities of IO be tested
An assessment of the potential for sustainable community tourism development in the villages affected by the Nandoni Dam
No full textDepartment of Business ManagementMP
Operationalising Sustainability: A Framework for Enhancing Community-Based Homestays in South Africa
No full textCommunity-based homestays are growing as alternative accommodation providers in South Africa. They promote cultural exchange, decentralise tourism benefits, and support rural development. However, dominant sustainability models in tourism still focus mainly on economic outcomes. They do not fully address the institutional, socio-cultural, and environmental factors that shape the resilience of homestay ventures. The objective of this paper is to develop a multidimensional framework that captures these broader dimensions of sustainability for community-based homestays. The paper is grounded in conceptual approach and uses a mixed method design. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected in three South African provinces, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. The results present a four-dimensional sustainability framework. The dimensions include economic viability, socio-cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and institutional support. The framework demonstrates the need for coordinated strategies that respond to national priorities and global sustainability agendas. The implications of the study are significant for policy-makers, tourism planners, and homestay operators. The framework reframes sustainability as a systemic and multi-level concept that supports inclusive tourism development in the Global South. Further empirical research is recommended to refine the model and guide its application in real-world contexts
The effect of sulfur treatments on growth and phytoextraction of cobalt and nickel by Berkheya coddii.
No full textOne of the environmental concerns associated with mining waste is the contamination of
soil. This study addresses the decontamination of soil, particularly of Co and Ni using
Berkheya coddii (B. coddii). B. coddii is a hyperaccumulater plant that is able to
decontaminate Co and Ni from the contaminated land. The use of B. coddii to
decontaminate soil or waste must be based on a cognizance of the complicated, integrated
effects of pollutant sources and soil-plant variables.
Phytoextraction pot trials using B. coddii were carried out under green house condition,
with controlled watering. A contaminated metallurgical waste residue known as
Rustenburg Base Mine Refineries waste (RBMR waste soil) collected from Rustenburg
while a serpentine (native) soil (N soil) where B. coddii grows naturally was collected
from Mpumalanga. The experiment involved the addition of sulfur doses to both soils in
order to test whether acidification and higher sulfur availability could enhance the uptake
of both Co and Ni by B. coddii. The results indicate that the addition of sulfur from 2.0 to
8.0 g per kilogram decreased pH in both substrates. RBMR waste soil pH was found to
have decreased from 7.8 to 7.4 while the N soil pH was found to have decreased from 6.4
to 4.7. The reduction oxidation potential (redox potential) in both substrates was observed
to have decreased along with the increase in sulfur dosage. The mean redox potential for
RBMR waste soil was found to be 350 mV and 506 mV for the N soil after the addition
of sulfur. Conductivity increased along with the increase in sulfur dosage in both
substrates. The mean conductivity for the N soil was found to be 961 μS/cm while that of
the RBMR waste soil was found to be 1453 μS/cm after the addition of sulfur.
The decrease in soil pH was significant (p = 0.00115) in the N soil than RBMR waste
soil. Despite the increase in sulfur dosage and decrease in soil pH in both substrates, B.
coddii observed growing. Although it was evident that B. coddii is able to grow in the
RBMR waste soil, it was observed that the RBMR waste soil limits the root depth of the
B. coddii, reducing chances for the roots to penetrate into the ground especially when dry.
The RBMR waste soil becomes more compacted than the N soil when dry. It is therefore crucial to ensure that there is enough moisture to allow for the B. coddii being able to
survive effectively in the RBMR waste soil. B. coddii plant height in the RBMR waste
soil after four months was observed to be in the range of 190 to 200 mm tall. This was
found to be less than the height observed for the B. coddii planted in the N soil, which
was in the range of 350 to 400 mm.
Nonetheless, plants grown in both substrates were able to absorb Ni and Co into their
tissues. More Co and Ni were found to have accumulated into the leaf tissues than in
other parts of the plant. This could be an advantage since one would harvest only the leaf
part or the canopy (shoots) and allow B. coddii to resprout in order to continue taking up
more Co and Ni from the same waste substrate to remediation levels that could be
stipulated by Government as desirable for the ecosystem and the protection of human
health. Although the accumulated Ni and Co can be recovered from biomass, this alone
might not provide sufficient economic justification for phytoextraction due to the low
concentrations that could be recovered.
B. coddii was found to absorb higher concentrations of Co and Ni from the N soil than
from the RBMR waste soil. However, the results found in this study may not be
conclusive. This could be due to many variables that could control metal uptake which
were not investigated. These include mycorrhizal fungi and metal forms in the soil.
Moreover, this study was performed in a green house and not in the outdoor environment.
Ni is generally toxic to most plants, hyperaccumulators (i.e. B.coddii) contain elements that
nullify the toxic effect of nickel, and in this case the accumulated nickel is bound to malate to
form a harmless nickel complex which could be absorbed by the plants as nutrients
Development of a Conceptual Framework for Adoption and Sustainable Utilization of Biogas as an Alternative Source of Energy for Emmission
No full textPhD (Geography)Department of Geography and Geo-Information SciencesImproved access to modern affordable, sustainable and reliable energy supply is fundamental in the development of any economy and in the achievement of sustainable development goals. However, energy as a resource is increasingly and becoming scare in many countries and subsequently expensive, with a substantial impact on the socio-economic progress, especially in any country that lacks the financial, physical, social and human capital to secure its energy supply. Energy can also be produced though the anaerobic fermentation of biological waste, such as animal excrement, which is methane-rich. Fermentation also produces a nutrient-rich digestate. Biogas can be used for domestic purposes, such as cooking and heating. Furthermore, it can be converted into electricity. Biogas technology is of particular significance in rural households, where energy crisis are common. This thesis therefore aimed at developing an adoption and sustainable utilisation framework of biogas as an alternative source of energy for greenhouse gases emission reduction in the Limpopo Province. The sample involved 72 households with biogas digesters, which were purposively sampled and 128 households without digesters, which were randomly selected. The study was based on the primary data that were elicited using open and closed-ended questionnaires. Empirically, the results of this thesis developed a sustainable, simplified, appropriate and comprehensive framework for biogas adoption and utilisation, including an analysis of important factors that could influence the adoption of this desired technology, for cost-effectiveness and sustainability.NR
Assessing the impacts of riparian land use on gully development and sediment load : a case study of Nzhelele River Valley, Limpopo Province, South Africa
No full textMENVSCDepartment of Geography and Geo-Information SciencesHuman activities on land degradation have triggered several environmental problems especially in rural areas that are under developed. The main aim of this study is to analyse the contribution of different land uses to gully development and sediment load on the Nzhelele River Valley in the Limpopo Province. Data was collected using different methods such as observation, field data techniques and experiments. Satellite digital images, topographic maps, aerial photographs and the sediment load static model also assisted in determining how land use affects gully development and sediment load. For data analysis, the researcher used the following methods: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient and statistical correlation methods. The results of the research illustrates that high land use activities create negative changes especially in areas that are highly fragile and vulnerable. Distinct impact on land use change was observed within settlement area (9.6 %) within a period of 5 years. High correlation between soil organic matter and soil moisture (R=0.96) was observed. Furthermore a significant variation (p ≤ 0.6) between the soil organic matter and soil moisture was also observed. A very significant variation (p ≤ 0.003) was observed in bulk density and extreme significant variations (p ≤ 0.0001) were observed in organic matter and soil particle size. The sand mining and agricultural activities has contributed significantly to the amount of sediment load in the Nzhelele River. A high significant amount of total suspended sediment (55.3 %) and bed load (53.8 %) was observed within the agricultural area. The connection which associates the development of gullies to various land use activities determines the amount of sediment load. These results are consistent with other previous research and suggest that land use activities is likely to exacerbate the development of gullies and sediment load in the Nzhelele River Valle
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